OVERVIEW

Located in middle of downtown Austin, Russian House is a restaurant & bar fully authentic in its food and decor. It was founded by Vladimir Gribkov, a Russian-born executive chef with over 25 years of experience, whose mission is to give every guest a true taste of Russia. With a full range of Slavic cuisine, a collection of over 100 house-infused vodkas, weekly tango nights, and kitschy Russian props to try on, Russian House serves an offbeat cultural dining experience that’ll transport you back to the Old USSR.  

With many unique restaurant and bar concepts moving into town, Russian House faces the challenge of standing out against the pack and spreading the word of the rich flavor and experience they offer. In a saturated industry often driven by appeal, I saw an opportunity to embolden the brand and messaging in a way that feels modern and relevant, but also pays homage to the history of Old Russia. 

With historic nostalgia at the heart of the Russian House experience, the approach for the rebrand was to find the right balance between modernism and antiquity. Drawing inspiration from Russian Constructivist and Suprematist art from the Russian Revolution, the visual identity utilizes bold typography, color, shape, and collage elements to convey a sense of propaganda-like fervor and expressiveness. The messaging tone developed for the brand is a blend of friendly, eccentric, and ironic. The rebrand also includes an ad campaign, social media campaign, menu designs, packaging concepts, merch, and promo material.