The making of Pelmennaya logo and sign
Receiving the task to create a sign for a pelmeni restaurant. Going to Zheleznodorozhny to get acquainted with the object. The building looks trendy and futuristic with a modern interior inside.
![pelmennaya process 02](pelmennaya-process-02.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 04](pelmennaya-process-04.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 05](pelmennaya-process-05.jpg)
The sign should match the unusual façade. We have an idea to suggest a handwritten text, although not in a classic calligraphic tradition but in a more free and radical style. Taking the instruments and starting to write.
![pelmennaya process 06](pelmennaya-process-06.jpg)
Choosing the better designs and trying them on the façade.
![pelmennaya process 07](pelmennaya-process-07.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 08](pelmennaya-process-08.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 09](pelmennaya-process-09.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 10](pelmennaya-process-10.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 11](pelmennaya-process-11.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 12](pelmennaya-process-12.jpg)
And a couple more of crazy grotesque faces for good measure.
![pelmennaya process 13](pelmennaya-process-13.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 14](pelmennaya-process-14.jpg)
Showing everything to the art director.
Art director: Looks a bit monotonous right now. I suspect this is due to the fact that all the letters are equally active. In the handwritten ones you shouldn’t use uppercase letters only, while in the grotesque you shouldn’t try to make every letter unusual.
Writing some more.
![pelmennaya process 15](pelmennaya-process-15.jpg)
And testing the results as signs.
![pelmennaya process 16](pelmennaya-process-16.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 17](pelmennaya-process-17.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 18](pelmennaya-process-18.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 19](pelmennaya-process-19.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 20](pelmennaya-process-20.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 21](pelmennaya-process-21.jpg)
Some more experiments.
![pelmennaya process 22](pelmennaya-process-22.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 23](pelmennaya-process-23.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 24](pelmennaya-process-24.jpg)
Showing to the art director.
The art director sends his own sketches and asks to generate more ideas.
![pelmennaya process 25](pelmennaya-process-25.gif)
![pelmennaya process 26](pelmennaya-process-26.gif)
![pelmennaya process 27](pelmennaya-process-27.gif)
Continuing our calligraphic exercises.
![pelmennaya process 28](pelmennaya-process-28.jpg)
Choosing and testing.
![pelmennaya process 29](pelmennaya-process-29.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 30](pelmennaya-process-30.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 31](pelmennaya-process-31.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 32](pelmennaya-process-32.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 33](pelmennaya-process-33.jpg)
Elaborating the art director’s ideas and adding a few of our own. Discussing.
![pelmennaya process 34](pelmennaya-process-34.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 35](pelmennaya-process-35.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 36](pelmennaya-process-36.jpg)
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![pelmennaya process 38](pelmennaya-process-38.jpg)
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![pelmennaya process 41](pelmennaya-process-41.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 42](pelmennaya-process-42.jpg)
The art director sends in another design.
![pelmennaya process 43](pelmennaya-process-43.gif)
Trying it on the façade, too and finalizing chosen ideas from the previous batch.
![pelmennaya process 44](pelmennaya-process-44.jpg)
How about this?
![pelmennaya process 45](pelmennaya-process-45.jpg)
Looks trendy, but would fit a pasta place better.
Ultimately, creating a short list of ideas.
![pelmennaya process 52](pelmennaya-process-52.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 53](pelmennaya-process-53.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 54](pelmennaya-process-54.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 55](pelmennaya-process-55.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 56](pelmennaya-process-56.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 57](pelmennaya-process-57.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 58](pelmennaya-process-58.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 59](pelmennaya-process-59.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 60](pelmennaya-process-60.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 61](pelmennaya-process-61.jpg)
The client likes two of the designs. Working with them further, spending more time on the colors, night backlight, size and position of the sign.
Designer: I suggest to implement it as flat letters with a metallic reflection and a night backlight. It would look more futuristic than volumetric lightboxes and will be cheaper to produce. Also, the first design (not the calligraphic one) will be easier to install.
![pelmennaya process 62](pelmennaya-process-62.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 64](pelmennaya-process-64.jpg)
Art director: Matte and glossy metal would look nicely dramatic but wouldn’t really fit a food establishment. Try to think of a color maybe (including white).
Experimenting some more.
![pelmennaya process 66](pelmennaya-process-66.jpg)
Ultimately choosing deciding to go with white with a wooden texture (coziness and all that) and lime (to maintain the spirit of originality).
![pelmennaya process 67](pelmennaya-process-67.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 68](pelmennaya-process-68.jpg)
The client makes the final decision and says that due to technical limitations we won’t be able to attach the sign directly to the façade and will have to anchor it to the roof.
Thinking of a way to solve the problem and suggesting two designs with a background bar. Deciding to go with purple color which is unusual and matches colors of the interior well.
![pelmennaya process 69](pelmennaya-process-69.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 70](pelmennaya-process-70.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 71](pelmennaya-process-71.jpg)
![pelmennaya process 72](pelmennaya-process-72.jpg)
The client chooses the first design. Preparing the mock-up.