DongBei Home 东北人家
Personal Project
Role
Brand Identity, Interaction Design
Duration
1 week sprint
A rainy day challenge to myself to brand a fictional North East Chinese restaurant. Tucked into the western suburbs of Sydney, DongBei Home serves honest, soulful food from China's northeastern heartland — a region as bold and beautiful as the dishes it's known for.
Inspiration
The identity relies on the Chinese Kang (炕) a traditional heated platform bed central to life in Northern China.
Color
The color scheme draws from the vivid, lived-in warmth of northern Chinese homes, particularly the decorative textiles and furnishings surrounding the kang. Saturated reds, magentas, and purples echo embroidered pillows and patterned quilts, while bright teal, cobalt, and orange reflect the layering of everyday objects in these spaces. The result is a palette that feels cohesive and inspired.
Photo by Gilles Sabrié, On the Kang: A Chinese Family Album, ChinaFile, 2015.
Logo System
A flexible logo system built around a central seal mark referencing The Kang. Three lockups — emblem, stacked, and horizontal — give the brand flexibility without losing cohesion.
Pattern
The pattern system generates an endless variety of textile-like designs from a tight set of rules. Six core patterns combine with a two-color palette to produce thousands of distinct combinations.
Application
Patterns and colors were incorporated into menu design and a poster series highlighting signature dishes from the kitchen.
