DINO is an Italian restaurant located in Cleveland Park, Washington, DC. The restaurateur, Dean Gold, describes it as an eatery that "serves rustic, simple foods featuring the flavors of Southern Tuscany and Venice." He commissioned Iridesco to come up with an identity system for the neighborhood establishment, from the logo to the signage to staff apparel.
Update! The DINO identity system placed Gold in Neenah Paperwork's Regional Quarterly Contest. As a Gold winner, our entry will automatically be competing for the Text and Cover of the Year Design Award with Neena Paperwork.
Services provided: art direction, graphic design, copywriting
The concept revolved around two elements: the Venetian-winged lion and the Montalcino Ilex Oak tree. Dean's vision for the restaurant's flavor involved influences specifically from both of these areas in Italy, and it was important that the mark represented that. The result, from our own bio-engineering labs, the Panthera Leo Ilex, a proud Venetian-winged lion with characteristics of the unique Ilex Oak tree. If you look closely, you can see the lion's mane, wings, and tail have all taken on characteristics from this symbolic tree.
The restaurant opened to great fanfare in July 2005 and the signage has created its fair share of interest for those who pass by.
Going to be in the DC area? Visit our friends DINO at:
3435 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (map)