“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”
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Carl Jung
“…there are times when we stop. We sit still… We listen and breezes from a whole other world begin to whisper.”
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James Carroll
As time passes, with the dawn of each new day greeting every individual with a kiss of morning light, it seems that in contemporary society people are getting more and more tired, drained, sometimes a little grumpy and not surprisingly with high levels of stress. As humans, there is a need to step back and let go of all the things that are intoxicating the mind, body and soul; and people do it best by sharing these burdens and worries over Friday nights/weekend drinks and dinners with close friends. These social encounters are inarguably every generation’s holy grail, their cure to balancing out a stressful working life.
'Barter' 'is an Apothecary themed, hypothetical wine bar and restaurant located on Sussex St, catered to a working demographic aged between 20 to Mid 30s. It seamlessly fuses together the role of apothecaries and the idea of bartering; hence, the name of the secret hideout. Traditionally, the idea of bartering is the trading of goods and services by exchanging with other goods and services; and apothecaries were the people to see for all medicinal needs, they are the equivalent of today’s doctors dating back into Ancient History. ‘Barter’ incorporates the two concepts by allowing individuals to bring with them all their stress and worries in exchange for a good meal and drink, set in a relaxing and calming environment. It is the perfect atmosphere for long talks and catch ups, to simply forget about the stresses of the past week and to replenish the mind with good, positive thoughts.
The logo puts a modern twist on the beautiful Script handwriting typically belonging to apothecaries. It gives the identity a sense of boldness and personality, but with a touch of elegance and class. The gentle swoop of the 'T's' cross stroke similarly mirrors the way some people may sign off with their signature. In this sense it is the sealing of the brand's identity, it's own personal signature. The curved letterforms aim to capture a sense of comfort and security, warmly welcoming individuals to come in and relax. This is further enhanced by the free flowing nature of the photographic background, suggesting a fusion of elements - in this case of health remedies.
All flora illustrated for Barter's identity are specially chosen for their healing properties, especially relating to de-stressing and mental health. Some of the plants and herbs used and their healing properties include: Rosemary (improve memory, boost immune system), Lavender (anxiety, insomnia, depression, restlessness), Larkspur (insomnia, stress, anxiety, helps mind and body to relax) and Chrysanthemum (clears the mind, improves memory, relieves stress and tension). Above are two coaster designs.
The concept of apothecaries and the different concoctions they can brew is further explored through expanded graphics onto the venue's interior through a feature wallpaper design. The design consists of a single teardrop shape (similar to the a drop of oil/remedy that may be brewed) in a repeating pattern. It is made up of various stress reliving plants and herbs, transforming the space into a therapeutic environment. It is almost as if Barter itself is the individual's medicine.
A close up swatch of the wallpaper in actual size.
