Brand Identity
Celestino's Restaurant is a fictional casual dine-in restaurant inspired by the culture of plantation-era Hawaii. For this branding project, I focused on graphic and mixed media imagery of local ingredients and plantation workers to pay homage to tradition and community.
A local staple for those seeking the comfort of a home-cooked meal, lightly elevated for a modern palate. The restaurant serves as a welcoming communal space, offering hearty farm-to-table dishes rooted in local flavors and heritage.
College Project
Photoshop, Illustrator
By tracing the plantation era’s evolution from homemade recipes to modern dining, I distilled the core themes necessary to bridge tradition with contemporary design. This research acted as a compass, guiding my visual exploration until I achieved a concept truly authentic to the brand’s heritage.
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Inspired by the tradition of restaurant souvenirs, I chose to design postcards and postage stamps. To complement the color palette of the historical photos, I played with hues of orange, yellow, and deep blue. The stamp designs feature vector-based imagery of calamansi branches and yellowfin tuna (ahi). These elements tie together to ensure that Celestino’s homegrown roots and handcrafted identity travel authentically beyond the table.
The Celestino’s logo features a portrait of a fictional Filipino grandfather carrying a shoulder yoke on a plantation. I wanted this design to celebrate and recognize the identity of hardworking immigrants of the past. This legacy is why Hawaii is recognized as one of the most culturally diverse places in the world—something we continue to experience through our food.
