scents of dao

over the last 5,000 years, the teachings of shen nong, the father of eastern restorative herbal medicine, have been crafted into a precise methodical philosophy centred around the body’s balance and free-flowing energy systems.

adopting these learnings into the modern day, scents of dao was formed.

just as the moon circles the earth and the earth the sun, human bodies are energy systems that abide by the act of diurnal living. scents of dao unites two key elements, the sun and the moon, characterised through the merging of the two chinese symbols to become an anchor for day to night rituals that create natural harmony in our cyclical lives. this is the practice of balance and the discipline of opposing forces which create a harmonious tranquillity to our natural state.

to practice scents of dao, is to pay tribute to the healing properties of nature.

photographs by: vita mak & judy chen

fukuro

after a long day of work, wearied salarymen of tokyo trail back to the comforting glow of izakayas, where they take refuge and unwind with food, drinks and uninhibited conversations. echoing these nocturnal waterholes, fukuro embodies a mystical ambience, whilst exuding a warmth that sparks spirited interactions between visitors. as a messenger of the night and a protector from hardship in japanese symbolism, the owl icon manifests the outlet’s identity. the profusion of wood crafted by simple carpentry oozes an intimate and relaxed atmosphere for visitors to indulge in a spin on a quintessential japanese experience.

ebisoba ichigen

ebisoba ichigen has achieved cult status amongst japan’s most discerning ramen aficionados – the secret to its success has been the pairing of ramen with a shrimp based broth for an innovative twist to an old and popular recipe. for its first hong kong location, we designed a space that reveals the power of the flavour by using colors that reflect the ingredient, resulting in the bold and instantly recognisable ebisoba red. reminiscent of the ribbed and curved shell of a shrimp, a sculptural canopy made up of individual pine strips runs from the street to the kitchen, paying tribute to the food while adding a touch of quirkiness to ship street.

the fleming

we were tasked to redesign and rebrand the fleming hotel, originally opened in 2006. a new take on the architecture, interior, products, and identity transformed the fleming into a 66-room boutique hotel that is a true reflection of hong kong. occupying a building from the 70s’, the hotel stands in wan chai close to victoria harbour front. the multilayered design concept draws inspiration from the location and history, leveraging Hong Kong’s maritime heritage and 70s’ industrial era to create a cultural, social and efficient character. one landmark that embodies these three elements is the star ferry — having connected people across the harbour for over a century, it is a piece of hong kong’s collective memory and identity. the star ferry, a unique and elegant icon of Hong Kong’s past and present, became the foundation for every design detail, including the custom designed furniture and lighting. nostalgia is further evoked by colours and scents: Carmine reds and bottle greens — hues seen on the hull of Hong Kong’s ferries, fishing boats, delivery trucks, and temples —and apothecary-inspired toiletries and custom aroma of sandalwood and amber notes, to deliver an authentic sense of place.

Identity

khromis

like a prism dispersing monochromatic light into a spectrum of colours, khomis is a catalyst for transformation. each frame empowers the individual to reveal a whole palette of emotions and personalities. resembling a pair of glasses, the logo is also an expression of refracted light paths. the interior uses mirrors to create reflections and perspective, manoeuvring light to display the product in the best possible way. a touch of wood warms up the interior, along with the coffee bar in the corner, creating a comfortable atmosphere for a multi-sensory experience.

trudon

founded in 1643, maison trudon is the oldest candle manufacturer. maison trudon extends its savoir faire and unveils a line of personal fragrance. substance accompanied the brand with its communication strategy, global branding, packaging, print and digital design. our challenge was to subtly express the rich brand heritage whilst reinterpreting a modern approach.

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Brand Identity

Digital

financial times

« Shape your knowledge » est une opération de marketing globale, intégrée, réalisée sur une année, destinée aux annonceurs et aux media-planneurs de la zone d’Asie Pacifique.

Afin de les sensibiliser à l’importance du monde digital, un bonsaï symbolisant à la fois la confiance, l’intégrité et la sagesse du Financial Times est envoyé à chacun d’eux. Un kit de soins ainsi qu’un ensemble de ressources en ligne sur les profils du lectorat du quotidien et des études de cas accompagnent l’envoi, liant allégorie et informations tangibles.

Direct Mailing

Advertising

Digital

a boy named sue

“a boy named sue”, un multi-marques en ligne nommé ainsi en référence à la chanson de johnny cash, propose une collection d’objets socialement et écologiquement équitables. un système de formes nouvelles est adapté et décliné sur tous supports physiques comme numériques. au cœur de ce système visuel, le site internet a été ainsi pensé comme une pièce maîtresse, un espace interactif, de navigation facile pour une expérience intuitive.

Identity

Digital

la vache!

paying homage to the classic parisian steak & frites la vache! brings forth the parisian bistro culinary staple to hong kong’s restaurant scene.

we were inspired by the french cartoonist jean-jacques sempé’s humorous style and created a playground for him to express his witty la vache! moments: tables, walls, coasters, wine labels, toilet paper…

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Identity

Digital

madam sixty ate

we created the exploits of a mythical person that reflected the chef’s vision and the surprise pairing of ingredients. madam sixty ate is a mysterious adventurer and eclectic writer who delights us with her palate and imagination. her world view is modern with a twist, mirroring the style of food. her surreal experiences and astounding stories are reflected consistently throughout the brand using paintings, journal entries within menus, coasters and ultimately through the cuisine. the journey from discovering a new restaurant to after dinner farewell is a reflection of the journey madam has when she discovers the variable species which capture our imaginations.

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