Independent wine retailer, Pacific Wines, came to us for cohesive retail interiors and branding services that reflected the North American roots of their wines, and a sun-baked ode to a Californian way of life.
Mission.
The client’s aim was to establish a unique venue, offering an open, relaxed atmosphere evocative of the Californian locations from which many of their wines originate. Earthy, sun-baked, and with a rich Californian soul and an ode to wide skies and barefoot living, paired with a host of contemporary design twists, our interiors simultaneously endeavoured to reflect the sophistication and craftsmanship of the products on display.
In addition to full interior design services, we were also asked to create Pacific Wine’s brand identity from scratch, including complete brand guidelines, tone of voice, digital, web, photography and social guidelines, as well as a colour palette and logo that incorporated both a stylish wine glass shape and the brand initials.
” The dramatic wine retail wall rolls across the wall of the interior like the hills of the American wine regions, drawing visitors further into the space to bask in the glow of this little slice of American heaven in the middle of London.”
Emily Ditton, Head of Design
Approach.
Our design of the main retail space effortlessly unites form and function, featuring a statement undulating bottle display unit inspired by the rolling Californian hills, formed from light oak to compliment the terracotta tiles below, and micro cement on the opposing wall for a fresh take on a rustic materials register. High stools encourage dwelling, and open display encourages visitors to interact with the wine on display. In true Californian spirit, the space is kept flexible with stackable tables that can double as product displays when not in use. Simple, refined lighting amplifies key design features, and cactus editions and hints of illumination sprinkle the space with personality.
We also designed a more intimate tasting and events space within the store. This included patterned glass imbues the space with soft and fractal light, and a reimagined soft wave bottle display above the central tasting table as a glass holder and a makeshift ‘chandelier’. Retail units take cues from domestic design throughout pacific wines, a reminder of friends, family and home being the perfect accompaniments to beautiful wine.
In terms of branding, we created a new logo for Pacific Wines, which is minimal with contemporary flair, appearing as understated yet impactful. We adopted a fine-line illustrative motif across the assets for a visual style that, in keeping with the brand attitude, is informal yet clean. Taking from an earthy palette inspired by the variety of the wines themselves and the Californian earth, we worked with natural coloured card and paper as a basis for our packaging, accented with the brand colours.
“The warm glow that would exude from the interior on a cold and dark night as you walk by should feel like it is inviting you into another world. I wanted there to be a level of escapism that came with entering the space.”
Emily Ditton, Head of Design
Results.
Our use of raw and earthy textures, paired with intelligent design features, gave Pacific Wines an impression of understated sophistication, enabling a sales culture of ease and Californian hospitality.
The overall result of our work with Pacific Wines was a multifaceted space, perfect for retail, as well as the social aspect of wine-tasting and in-store experiences. This is something which was fluently translated into the overall branding guaranteeing a seamless experience for any customer, exceeding the walls of the physical store.
“We wanted to design a brand that conveyed the product’s quality and the brand’s expertise but also allowed the customer to feel at ease to explore and be inspired.”
Emily Ditton, Head of Design
