Gerarnya Case — Branding & Identity

An author-driven neo-bistro by restaurateur Denis Ivanov and Gérard Depardieu.

A blend of French and Russian cuisine set in a historic early 20th-century mansion.

Challenge

To create an identity that, on the one hand, would serve as a backdrop for the restaurant’s vibrant interior and, on the other, would fit seamlessly into the architecture of the historic mansion while presenting the partnership with the renowned French actor as its “face.”

Solution

We took the style of French caricature as a foundation to create both the face and the mascot of the new restaurant — an illustrated Gérard, vividly and emotionally inviting guests to taste the food and drinks. Gérard himself supported the idea, as he enjoys drawing and appreciates good humor. By combining a “serious,” classic logotype typeface with expressive illustrations, we achieved the desired balance between refinement and everyday ease. In the copy, we introduced well-established French loanwords that have long since become idiomatic expressions in our culture.