ICHI ICHI KITCHEN BRAND CREATION

A RENOVATION PROJECT

ICHI ICHI KITCHEN

Working on the development of Ichi Ichi Kitchen was a great opportunity for me to use the full range of my skill set. I was involved with the project right from the conception of the idea, through to managing the daily running of the business.

My role included developing the business plan, financial forecasting and viability assessment, pricing and technology implementation, project management of the renovation, interior design, brand creation, website development and ongoing marketing,

The owners wanted a name and brand that represented one of their sons. Alex, whose name in Japanese is Ichi, one, was the inspiration for the brand. I worked to create a logo to capture the “kawaii” (cute) face of 3 year old Alex in a cartoon form similar to the style used in many Japanese children’s animations.

The challenge working on Ichi Ichi was to find a balance between appealing to high end clientele and a more local Japanese market at the same time. Using a bespoke font to accompany the logo icon helped to bring this balance to the overall branding.

For the interior design I wanted to create a homely and natural space that was in line with the company ideals. Ichi Ichi Kitchen’s food is 100% handmade, uses natural quality ingredients and supports local farms and businesses. I utilised a range of wood tones along with a batton finish on the walls to bring a unique look and feel to the space. Furniture was sourced from all over Japan from the southern Islands of Okinawa to the nothern most point of Hokkaido.