Kitsune, Japanese Restaurant Branding, Dubai

A fresh take on Japanese traditions.

A restaurant in Dubai, Kitsune was developed as a holistic response that blurred the lines between branding and interior design.

Kitsune, corridor with red drapes and a lantern-lit floor leading to the entrance

Kitsune, dining room with gold-framed chairs and white and black tables

Interior

Exclusivity and escapism were central characteristics of the overarching direction for Kitsune. Designed to appeal to a savvy, discerning audience, this meant forgoing obvious Japanese symbolism for a deeper, more intriguing solution.

The name Kitsune, meaning fox, was chosen as it represents faithfulness and intelligence in Japanese folklore, while opening up myriad visual directions that were reﬂected in the logo and installations. Hachem completely re-designed the interior space with speciﬁc roles for the entrance, furniture, landscape and sculpture to amplify and convey a premium Japanese dining experience.

Kitsune, white sculptural chairs at a black table beneath a folded ceiling

Kitsune, black chairs at a gold lattice wall, with a pool reflection below

Kitsune, white sculptural chair at a black table beside a pool with a tower view

Marketing

The dramatic entrance, previously a utilitarian space, makes a powerful ﬁrst impression. Textures and patterns for ﬂoors, ceilings and walls were carefully chosen to enhance the ambience. The overall result is a magical, serene and fantastic setting for patrons.

Kitsune restaurant poster, landscape version with a veiled figure and gold orb

Kitsune website on an iMac mockup, three food and interior photos

Kitsune, seared beef with greens and cherry tomatoes on a white plate