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LUNCH MEN OF MUMBAI

Multi award-winning Street Food Pioneers Dabbawal approached us to help them refresh their brand. Winners of the British Curry Awards 2015, Dabbawal have two popular restau­rants in Newcastle. One in High Bridge, in the heart of the city, and the second in the leafy suburb of Jesmond.

Inspired by the famous Dabbawala lunch delivery men of Indian cities, they created their urban kitchen concept long before the craze for street food hit the UK. And they’re still breaking the mould, serving up unique dishes derived from tra­di­tion­al street favourites, in busy kitchens which buzz with con­ver­sa­tion and comings and goings – just like home.

LUNCH MEN OF MUMBAI

Multi award-winning Street Food Pioneers Dabbawal approached us to help them refresh their brand. Winners of the British Curry Awards 2015, Dabbawal have two popular restau­rants in Newcastle. One in High Bridge, in the heart of the city, and the second in the leafy suburb of Jesmond.

Inspired by the famous Dabbawala lunch delivery men of Indian cities, they created their urban kitchen concept long before the craze for street food hit the UK. And they’re still breaking the mould, serving up unique dishes derived from tra­di­tion­al street favourites, in busy kitchens which buzz with con­ver­sa­tion and comings and goings – just like home.

UNBRANDED BRAND

More a brand ‘evolution’ than a rebrand, we started by devel­op­ing a bold new colour palette, also refresh­ing the core logo.

But to keep Dabbawal at the cutting edge, we decided to develop a rev­o­lu­tion­ary ‘unbrand’ style. Not just one logo, but a set of logos. And rather than one business card, we created a range of them. Different colours and styles, yet clearly from the same brand family.

We also created a suite of assets including press ads, in venue graphics and a complete website overhaul.

UNBRANDED BRAND

More a brand ‘evolution’ than a rebrand, we started by devel­op­ing a bold new colour palette, also refresh­ing the core logo.

But to keep Dabbawal at the cutting edge, we decided to develop a rev­o­lu­tion­ary ‘unbrand’ style. Not just one logo, but a set of logos. And rather than one business card, we created a range of them. Different colours and styles, yet clearly from the same brand family.

We also created a suite of assets including press ads, in venue graphics and a complete website overhaul.

GLORIOUS INDIA

The Indian sub continent is bursting with vibrant colours, and we wanted Dabbawal’s brand to reflect that. Zingy lime greens, hot pinks, acid yellows and dark purples.

Weaving layers of equally bold pattern within the mix, and playing with unex­pect­ed colour clashes which would literally pop from the page.

GLORIOUS INDIA

The Indian sub continent is bursting with vibrant colours, and we wanted Dabbawal’s brand to reflect that. Zingy lime greens, hot pinks, acid yellows and dark purples.

Weaving layers of equally bold pattern within the mix, and playing with unex­pect­ed colour clashes which would literally pop from the page.

STREET FOOD PIONEERS

A key deliv­er­able for us, was to create a roundel stamp that proudly heralded the brand’s role as one of the early pioneers in the street food rev­o­lu­tion.

We developed a few ideas, including char­ac­ter­ful themes of Indian Elephants and Dabbawalas, as well as a nod to the Angel Of The North. And in keeping with our new brand unbrand direction, they decided to use them all!

We also have re-imagined some areas com­plete­ly and sprinkled a little bit of new thinking to others.
For High Bridge, a dusky new paint palette of muted tones allows caged pink neons and colourful new Dabbawal montage wallpaper to really pop.

dabbawala, n. also dab­bawal­la, dab­bawal­lah, 1a. One who delivers delicious home cooked food to hard­work­ing people in the city.

IN THE BACKGROUND

We also developed a range of wallpaper and pattern designs that can be used in multiple ways. Some will be used on takeaway packaging and table top pre­sen­ta­tion. Others will be used as in-venue graphics, and can be used online as back­ground patterns and overlays. All of the designs created have effec­tive­ly formed an entire gallery of assets which can be used in marketing col­lat­er­al for many years to come.

dabbawala, n. also dab­bawal­la, dab­bawal­lah, 1a. One who delivers delicious home cooked food to hard­work­ing people in the city.

IN THE BACKGROUND

We also developed a range of wallpaper and pattern designs that can be used in multiple ways. Some will be used on takeaway packaging and table top pre­sen­ta­tion. Others will be used as in-venue graphics, and can be used online as back­ground patterns and overlays. All of the designs created have effec­tive­ly formed an entire gallery of assets which can be used in marketing col­lat­er­al for many years to come.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE

We really enjoyed shaping such a fun and multi-layered brand.

There is a lot of flex­i­bil­i­ty in the new brand to go a little off piste here and there, which we took full advantage of in the design of quirky pro­mo­tion­al materials, postcards and press adver­tis­ing.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE

We really enjoyed shaping such a fun and multi-layered brand.

There is a lot of flex­i­bil­i­ty in the new brand to go a little off piste here and there, which we took full advantage of in the design of quirky pro­mo­tion­al materials, postcards and press adver­tis­ing.

WEBSITE EVOLVED

We wanted the bold, colourful vibrancy of the restau­rants to be reflected online.

Starting afresh, we built a new respon­sive WordPress website. Taking inspi­ra­tion from Indian signage, we wanted the site to be playful with an approach­able and friendly tone of voice, making it fun to explore.

The menus are clearly and stylishly presented. A bespoke reser­va­tion system that we developed to be integrate seam­less­ly into the site making it easier for our customers to book a table.

www.dabbawal.com

VIEW WEBSITE

WEBSITE EVOLVED

We wanted the bold, colourful vibrancy of the restau­rants to be reflected online.

Starting afresh, we built a new respon­sive WordPress website. Taking inspi­ra­tion from Indian signage, we wanted the site to be playful with an approach­able and friendly tone of voice, making it fun to explore.

The menus are clearly and stylishly presented. A bespoke reser­va­tion system that we developed to be integrate seam­less­ly into the site making it easier for our customers to book a table.

www.dabbawal.com

VIEW WEBSITE

MENU MAYHEM

We love designing menus, par­tic­u­lar­ly when you have a brand that is brave enough to run with some of the crazy ideas and designs our team came up with. Menus full of elephants, Indian mash up montages and cheeky Dabbawalas. We created a whole raft of different menus, from one tapping into the current trend for table-top dis­pos­able craft paper menus, to large size colourful Dabbawal At Home takeaway menus. Some single page lunch special menus and a beautiful book-bound hard cover drinks menu.

MENU MAYHEM

We love designing menus, par­tic­u­lar­ly when you have a brand that is brave enough to run with some of the crazy ideas and designs our team came up with. Menus full of elephants, Indian mash up montages and cheeky Dabbawalas. We created a whole raft of different menus, from one tapping into the current trend for table-top dis­pos­able craft paper menus, to large size colourful Dabbawal At Home takeaway menus. Some single page lunch special menus and a beautiful book-bound hard cover drinks menu.

MAKING AN ENTRANCE

We helped them design the rusty metal corten stencil sign that welcomes you into the restau­rant.

MAKING AN ENTRANCE

We helped them design the rusty metal corten stencil sign that welcomes you into the restau­rant.

THE LAST WORDS

“Being a inde­pen­dent operator situated in Newcastle upon Tyne, we began by being brave, bold & seeking to work with a leading design house in the UK!! Our ambition was not to play catch up with the UK’s best restau­rant operators but stay ahead. The team at Run for the Hills have simply blown us away.  They are savvy, quirky, creative and have the strategic nounce to see the big picture. They took the time to under­stand our brief and ambitions first, they then propelled our ideas to a space beyond our imag­i­na­tions. We are just so proud of ourselves for taking this brave step and feel fortunate we have had the oppor­tu­ni­ty to work with such a unique, spe­cial­ist design house. Thank you for your amazing work…it’s been enlight­en­ing. ”

JAF ALI
Founder, Dabbawal

THE LAST WORDS

“Being a inde­pen­dent operator situated in Newcastle upon Tyne, we began by being brave, bold & seeking to work with a leading design house in the UK!! Our ambition was not to play catch up with the UK’s best restau­rant operators but stay ahead. The team at Run for the Hills have simply blown us away.  They are savvy, quirky, creative and have the strategic nounce to see the big picture. They took the time to under­stand our brief and ambitions first, they then propelled our ideas to a space beyond our imag­i­na­tions. We are just so proud of ourselves for taking this brave step and feel fortunate we have had the oppor­tu­ni­ty to work with such a unique, spe­cial­ist design house. Thank you for your amazing work…it’s been enlight­en­ing. ”

JAF ALI
Founder, Dabbawal

Services used

Brand Identity
Logo Design
Website Design
Brochure Design
Illustration

Branding
Graphic Design
Interior Design
Exterior Graphics & Signage