Located in Riyadh, SA

Identity & Interior Design

Manifold is a woman’s multibrand retail store based in Kuwait. From the beginning, we were challenged to create a concept as playful as the clothes that would live in it. While our inspiration grew out of the Miami beach scene, we combined it with a futuristic approach as we aspired for the brand to have a theme of its own.

This conception translated into a pink and nude tone palette paired against a cobalt blue accent, which was key in order to bring in the vibrancy we sought after. This can be seen in the brand’s core touch points, art direction, and most importantly, the space.

You’ll find yourself greeted by arches and curves featured in the fitting room, racks, and along the perforated spiral staircase – our favorite element in the store. The unique experience of this store is truly manifold in character - trendy, yet timeless.

No one in the office thought they’d expose their greedy competitive side so quickly during a trial run of COUP. Naturally, our team labeled this time as “research” - and continued to play a few more rounds to really understand the nature of the game.

COUP, a game created by Rikki Tahta from La Mame Games, revolved around the simple concept of power and influence. To win, you must strategize and bluff your way to the top. The card game was originally created and popularized in English, however our client wanted creatively adapt the concept and characters for the Arab market. With the client’s vision and the character illustrations from Robert Schilling, we were asked to envision how all these moving parts could come together as a whole. Tackling everything from the identity of the product down to the packaging and currency, this project was a unique experience that we truly enjoyed creating.

We’re holding ours hostage, but you can order your own here.

GIA’s been popping up in the city, and their new branch in AlHamra Mall has a new look to unveil. Working with GIA again was rewarding as we were able to see how loyal their customers have been over the years. Being tasked to enhance the look meant staying true to the original ethos. A casual go-to eatery, but now with a drinks bar to also satisfy the on-the-goers who sneak out for a quick caffeine or juice boost.

To enhance the elements and spaces, we played around with curves and arches to separate the areas. Curves were incorporated in furniture and counter designs as accents. The open-space layout created an airy atmosphere which was supported by an earthy color palette. Enlarged terracotta and charcoal marble bits in the terrazzo flooring flow into the walls of the cafe, and also camouflages itself into the built-in curved benches to highlight the center. White elements in the subtly textured walls, elongated subway tiles and sheer side curtains soften the colder materials, whereas natural tones in the travertine and wood panels warmed up the bigger portions of the space. To maintain the clean character of the room, we opted to have the lighting built into the stone overhead to eliminate the appearance of a kitchen track light. This can also be found within the arch behind the drinks counter . The pendant fixtures, arch-shaped mirrors and the green-filled arch (around their fridge) were used decoratively to compliment the prominent shapes.

We hope GIA fans embrace this new location as the brand continues to flourish.

Breakfast? Egg buns? Yes please! We were approached by Eggcellent to design their second, bigger, egg shop. A new beach-side spot where they would be serving freshly-made delicious egg sandwiches all day long. Once we knew what we were working with, we started to cook up our own ideas about the kind of experience we would want from this space. We were all on the same page, our inspiration would be our hero, the egg.

By studying the anatomy of an egg, we started to pick up visual cues that we wanted to translate into the design: The symmetrical form, the layers, textures and colors. This became our basis.

Taking into consideration that they already had an existing branch, their new location was meant to reflect a more youthful/playful design that would attract all ages. The design began with the outer shell. The oval shape of the egg gave us the idea to create an arch in the ceiling made from wire. This arch allowed us to help create symmetry in the space, which almost hugs everything below it. It became our focal structure and our inside attraction. We developed graphics for the brand to display along the ceiling the arches in neon tubes. We wanted the lighting to play an interesting, and not so typical role in the space. We then designed wall sconces that protrude at an angle towards the ceiling. The aim was to want the customer to be drawn to look up.

We wanted to incorporate the two main colors of the egg into the furniture: a vibrant yellow, reminiscent of the yolk, and an eggshell to mimic, well, the shell. Promoting symmetry, we mirrored the seating and included customized yolk back seat cushions, which can be moved freely around the space. The circular yolk shape can also be found as an added detail in the wooden benches. Color also played a crucial part in the operations area which we pushed to the back of the space. This area was blocked off from the dine-in area by a long order counter hovered by floating shelves. With the use of wood to balance the warm yellow tones and cold white tones used, the counter was cladded with wood paneling.

We hope you enjoy the space along with your egg bun!

Creating this concept was creatively engaging as we worked hand in hand with the great team at AlHajery Group to bring their mediterranean concept to life. Starting with name development, we first envisioned a female persona with the name of ‘Solia’ - a woman from the mediterranean who caters to the care-free & natural lifestyle that inspired the brand. The Solia team & Chef John looked into the ingredients and dishes that come from Greece, Spain, Italy, Palestine, etc. when creating the concept and menu. This allowed us to focus on a direct approach when working with an earthy color palette and natural materials from the region which we incorporated in both the branding and the interior design. 

With nature in mind, The olive tree was placed in the heart of the space given that this plant is native to a majority of the mediterranean countries. We wanted the entire foundation of the space to revolve around this focal element which blends into the seating built into the base. We also opted for an exposed kitchen in order promote plenty of customer interaction.

To soften the raw materials used in the foundation, decorative elements were crucial. We suspended large linen lanterns to enhance the ambience at night while also creating depth. Hand-painted baskets hung on the wall add contrast against the natural-colored stone. To also inject color, the sofa seats were lined with a forest-green leather, bringing in a touch of nature. 

Keep a look out for their next location opening soon! We can’t wait :)

Nothing makes you want to skip your no-carb diet like the aroma of fresh bread! With Baix, there was a lot of drooling happening when they started listing all the goods they were going to supply at the bakery. They wanted to introduce themselves to the market as an international bakery that serves all kinds of baked goods, not limiting themselves to a certain region. With that in mind, our approach was to strip this brand from any association to a country or culture, yet have it feel unique on its own. The two main ingredients in most baked items are wheat & water - which drove us to develop the main icons that represent Baix. With their interior design in mind, we focused on neutral colors to make the pattern pop on the packaging when decorating their shelves and -soon- on your dining table!

Signing with an internationally renowned brand like Sunkist definitely felt like a big win for our team! We were given the task of creating a new look for their new juice boxes which needed to highlight their new & improved flavors. Studying the brand and familiarising ourselves with their guidelines pushed us to really think about utilising every side of the box. Looking at the old design, we first had to understand the issues at hand. Most of the elements contradicted their brand manual, so we had to tackle that first. The next step was checking out the competition, setting the standard and updating the design to feel more relatable to this time and age. Although the goal was to contemporize the design, we wanted to promote their long history in the Gulf region, inspiring us to choose a traditional typeface instead of a modern one. Sunkist was also in the process of adapting their juice consistencies, opting for fresher ingredients, therefor we needed to showcase the fruits in the juiciest way possible. Sizes and colors of the fruit itself needed to be highlight of the design. Seeing as the old design had colorful backgrounds to indicate the flavors, we created a new color system more relatable to the content. The client wanted a fresher look with white backgrounds, so the placement of the color system needed to be different from the existing competition designs. Oddly enough, none of the other brands applied any importance to the top view of their juice boxes. This allowed us to be more creative when the juices were packed in their crates, emphasising the design. Each project is a learning experience taking us on new journeys to find new solutions to our client’s needs. We’re happy to have had the chance to take part in a design that (we hope) would live on the shelves for generations to come!

When entering Bowl'd, you immediately sense the tropical atmosphere through the lively tones & the summer soundtrack playing in the background. Inspired by their travels, the creative partners wanted their space to feel like a little island getaway made accessible to the locals. Working with small spaces is usually a challenge, therefore we try to work with shapes and materials to manipulate the eye. To create depth in this 21 square meter space, we used a lot of linear elements to add perspective. The vertical lines in the floor and wall panels guide the eye to the greenery hanging from the ceiling from the metal rod installation. The plants embedded in the rods compliment the vibrant shade of forest green used for the seating fabric and striped floor pattern. Like Bowl’d, we’re coco for coconuts! The pendant lights suspended from the ceiling were picked to resemble the texture, shape & shade of this exotic fruit. Their delicious acai bowls and juice blends are bursting with vibrant ingredients, so it was crucial for us to showcase them prominently in the shop. Hanging off the wooden crates over the counter and in baskets on the wall, the customer is ensured of the freshness of their order by the access to the fresh produce. We highly recommend checking out their bowls if you’re in need of a Caribbean escape!

At LIQUID, it’s summer all year round. Their fresh juices and bowls are not only appealing in color, but are aimed to heal you from within too. Practicing what they preach, the partners wanted to bring that Californian way of life to Kuwait City. Inspired by the beach waves and juice’s liquid form, the wave icon was created to bring it back to its core form. The black and white used in the branding creates a delicate contrast with the vibrant colors of the tropical juice blends on display. We wanted to stay true to the fruit’s rawest forms, bringing graphics of the blueberry, pineapple and pitaya in to play with the cup sleeves for color. The brand is designed to be minimal in style, however is also heavy in voice. In order to transition smoothly into this movement, Liquid educates their customer with the benefits of their blends, allowing you to pick the right mix for your needs. However, we also poke fun at those who might have a bit more difficulty transitioning, with the use of tongue-in-cheek statements that can be found around the shop. With Liquid, it’s easy to feel good about the choices you make to start the healing process.

When hearing about most brewery start-ups, the one common factor is that they almost always start out small from their very own garage. This thought approach impacted our design decisions moving forward with the client. Run by a team of hardworking partners, The Brewery was born out of motivation. They came to us wanting to develop their brand image, mixed with just the right amount of an urban mood they were going for. In creating the brand we looked at their surrounding environment and themes we wanted to showcase in the space. Overlooking the street, we wanted those who walked into the space to come in through the garage, mimicking the atmosphere of where it all would’ve started, entering the world of this local brewery. The yellow brand color was inspired by the sidewalk markings to grab the attention of the customer. Used in their signature coffee cups, our approach was to use color to decorate the space with their packaging. Using concrete as a skin, we wanted it to wrap the walls, floor and furniture to create one major element in the space. The tan leather back rests were used to soften the sleek molded concrete seating to ensure comfort for those who wanted socialise in the cafe. The Brewery welcomes you to experience a good cup of sweet brew in an environment that would surely lift you up when you’re in need of that buzz.

This client was interested in both brand development and interior design. Arc is a local Pilates Studio focusing on quality workouts for a reasonable price. The logo was developed based on all that Pilates stands for. The length in the letters symbolizes the lengthening benefits of Pilates on your body. The clean long lines mimic the various forms that can be found when practicing Pilates. The name is bilingual and symmetrical in the number of letters in English and in Arabic. This made the logo even cleaner and sharper which ultimately embodies the brand.

The interior was all about simplicity. The idea was to create something simple and bare enough for the clients to feel relaxed and give them space to move. With this in mind, we kept the design extremely airy and full of light by using plenty of light wood and glass creating a clean professional environment that people would feel comfortable practicing good quality training in.

One of our boldest clients, DOH! took our advice to go all pink! It wasn't an easy decision for them to make, but it was worth the risk. Our approach in the branding was to be unmissable. The customer needed to see the sugar rush before taking their first bite - and what better way than to shove some pink in your face. We focused on color-blocking the entire brand, all the way down to the metallic foil-stamp on the packaging. Our clients live and breathe the brand we created together and therefore we wanted the space they’d call home to their acclaimed donut to feel the same! The purpose behind the all pink shop was to give the customers that same feeling they get when the receive that all pink box. The space was designed to feel like the ultimate DOH! playground. Doughnuts are never serious, and it was our chance to help the client make a statement by showing how playful they could be while also putting a smile on their customer's face. DOH! - a name we developed as well - needed to deliver the visual punches always to allow the customer to take a bite from the brand, before biting into the product.

The client came to us with a luxurious but attainable nail salon concept. They wanted their customers to feel like they were getting a special sort of treatment without letting the price scare them away. We decided to use word play to soften some of the rigidness associated with luxurious brands and felt that Base had multiple connotations in this context. It refers to the various coats involved in a manicure as well as a place where you feel at home. We kept the logo clean yet luxurious with a large amount of black to add some depth.

For the interior of the nail spa we opted for a semi-industrial loft style that is minimal with darker accents to keep the luxury aspect as well as add contrast. We included the word play concept in our design by placing a phrase on the floor at the entrance that reads, “you’ve touched base”. We felt that this would help promote brand awareness as encourage clients to take a picture with their pedicured toes and post it on their various social media platforms.

If there's anything you won't be able to miss on your communal walk, its the music you'd hear echoing through the underground tunnel from Common's speakers. The first artisanal granola bar of its kind, Commons is located in quite a historical spot inside a central tunnel in the midst of Kuwait City. The location was everything when developing the concept, and we were excited to get started! We developed the name 'Commons'  in relevance to bringing together the commoners that walk through the tunnel during their daily routines, and bringing together people of all ages and backgrounds who shared common values. The client wanted their brand to reflect the lifestyle of the urban local, the logo had to represent that look and feel. You can't come together without collaborating with one another- and that was our brand ideology.

Developing their interior was a very enjoyable challenge. Although the space used to be a Bangladeshi Cafeteria, one would never guess that by the final outcome! The subway tiles were vital in preserving the underground feel which we complimented with the use ofblack iron beams, custom steel stools and light-box signage. The space was small but enough to create an unforgettable experience.

Clean eating doesn't have to feel boring, lifeless or even bland - and SINLESS made sure of that. SINLESS is a product of two worlds, good & evil. The marriage of these two opposites allowed us to tap into a new category to visually represent the nature of the healthy lifestyle. If the action of eating is making you feel constantly guilty, they promise to convert you to the new kind of dark side, the sinless menu. Aside from showcasing their values, their name promises you to do just that, sin less. A healthy lifestyle doesn't always have to look leafy and organic. To break the mold, the branding had to stand on it's own, paving its own way into the local market. We developed the voice of the brand by animated wordplay which revolve around the theme of repenting for your sins and the "dark side" which can be found in the brand's packaging and merchandise. 

Urban Creamery is a special client to Grid as they are good friends of the owning partners. The client came to us with a logo designed by Tala Ali that had a clean look emphasizing the artisanal feel of the brand. The client’s product are meant to envoke a sence of emotion and nostalgia. Flavors such as “Chai Haleeb” and “Mohallabiya” remind customers of nights in with the family or a gathering with friends. We wanted to find a middle ground between Tala’s clean logo and UC’s personal feel. We took inspiration from local ice cream bikes, usually found on every street corner during the summer, and gave it a modern twist and feel to mimic the brand identity.

This project was a pleasure to work on as we were extremely fond of the initiative. The clients goal was to donate a bowl to hunger for every bowl purchased. These bowls consist of natures healthiest ingredients which inspired the material selection of wood and greenery.

Sometimes, we meet with clients who come to us asking to start the branding phase with no restrictions. Although that was also what the partners behind Sweat Studios wanted, they had one unconventional request: to match the brand color to a pen they had and loved, which happened to be a metallic shade of pink/purple. It was a challenge we were willing to explore! We used a variation of that color as the brand accent, and was able to develop the sweat drop icon which has become the face of Sweat Studios today. Offering a range of classes in their studios, the brand had to be energetic and friendly to promote an environment that pushed you to break a sweat! 

In designing the interiors of the space, we wanted to preserve the existing industrial details to compliment the raw urban details. The brand color was able to come into play in the piping, display areas and way-finding in gym. The two studios needed to be flexible to support the Les Mills lifestyle - who happen to be overlooking one of the greatest views in the city. One of our favorite details in the space is definitely the whiteboard locker doors, which allows the member to mark their territory, voice their opinion, or even get their creative juices flowing before/after a class! 

Stealing the hearts of young girls everywhere, GIA has become a local hangout for those who crave guilt-free comfort food. The client came to us wanting to brand themselves in a more casual and playful way. Gia is an informal dining eatery offering salads and deli foods with a health conscious attitude. We reflected this brand image by using Kraft as the material of choice for all stationary. This helped to emphasize the ‘home cooked’ feel of Gia. In addition, we designed custom illustrations of popular menu items to add some personality and playfulness to the menu. These illustrations were sometimes used as substitutes for letters giving the menu a distinctive look and feel.

This project was near and dear to our hearts as one of the owners is also a managing partner here at GRID. Etheco is an all natural and organic skincare e-shop bringing up and coming brands from the USA. We developed the name for this brand by combining two of the key adjectives that describe their ethos; Ethical and Eco Friendly. The logo is clean, simple and playful. The incorporation of the leaves add an animated feel that can be manipulated and used for things such as the website. We used the khaki to add some green to the logo and make things feel organic and eco-friendly while cool and on trend at the same time. For the packaging we used Kraft paper to give off the organic and recyclable feel. For the business cards we experimented with texture and color by using various types of recycled paper. This gave off the unique feel making every business card look slightly different.

If you're anything like us, you probably like your coffee blakk! While developing this brand, we found that we needed the logo to make a bold mark equally strong as the kick you'd get from their coffee. The darkness presented in the brand is inspired by black coffee, and creates a sharp contrast with the branding elements which are featured in white. The team wanted to reposition the logo on the packaging elements, the simple rotation of the logo allowed us to present the logo as a brand graphic, not only as the brand's logo. This rotation worked best with the coffee cups which feature the logo twice, a side in white, and the other in black. This was done to compliment the color of the coffee poured inside.  

To jaunt is to go on a short excursion or journey for pleasure, which is exactly what this concept promises. This membership-based brand allows its customers to experience to an array of luxurious sailboats available for the day. Offering a boutique service, unique to the local market, the brand not only had to look trust-worthy but also needed to represent the freshness of the sea. "Luxury beyond the horizon" - the tag line we developed, reflects the nature of the experience, as unlimited as the horizon itself - the possibilities are endless with JÔNT. The brand colors are inspired by the sea and sand, juxtaposed with serene imagery which displays the variety of experiences achieved with JÔNT. 

We've had a lot of clients from the F&B industry, but we blame Cluck's for the extra kilos gained collectively at our office. Tempting us with juicy visuals of one of the best fried chicken sandwiches we've ever tried, this brand challenged us in more ways than one. Brainstorming on this brand, we knew we wanted to avoid the commercial look in the visuals of this boutique brand. The client mentioned that although they seemed to have a familiar menu, the ingredients were of the highest quality and the flavors were far from mainstream. We wanted to mesh two looks: commercial & boutique, and we did this through bold iconography and color choices, and tapped into some bad ass copywriting. We were able to implement our vision through the packaging designs which had to  reflect the theme at hand. We highly recommend you try The Hen from their menu, it was pretty cluckin' good. 

SUPER/FOODS is a vibrant health spot located in Shuwaikh Industrial Area, Kuwait. We integrated the healthy concept S/F provides with the design of the space. We worked with natural materials such as wood & concrete and used the high ceilings and windows to our advantage of letting in all the natural light. 

Whoever said it never gets cold in the desert clearly hasn't been to Below Zero! When we developed the name for this local ice park, we had the idea to submerge the desert in snow in all ways possible. The brand's characters were inspired by existing skating buddies found in the ice-skating rink, however can be seen exploring different forms of activities on ice offered at the space. With the help of the talented Adela Rezna, these whimsical illustrations were created as wall murals for the location.

Creating a buzz in Kuwait's pop-up scene, Tigertiger was ready to create an experience like no other. Specializing in Pan-Asian dishes, they were looking to create a brand that was edgy, memorable and fun. We were able to develop imagery that follows the theme of twos in the brand: 2 "tigers" in the name = 2 tiger visuals in the brand. The color choice had to be as unique as the concept itself, and our pick of a fuchsia with red undertones aimed to do just that. There's more to expect from the team behind Tigertiger, we'll all just have to wait and see.

This contemporary sushi spot in the city needed to look as simple as the dishes they promise their customers - but being simple doesn't mean being basic. The flavors found in the range of poke bowls and makis are explosive. When we were designing the logo for this brand, we wanted to stay true to the minimalist design approach the Japanese are famous for. To make sure they stand apart from the local competition (which are heavy in generic oriental visuals), we opted for vibrant pastel tones which were inspired by the colors found in the various types of fish from their menu. We also developed a brand pattern of the streaks found in raw salmon which allowed us to add subtle graphics that compliment the brand colors.  

No one knows chocolate like AYA COCOA knows chocolate. Their approach to the quality they provide their customers was refreshing, offering a variety of ways to gift. However the client felt they were lacking the packaging to match their vision. To keep up with the nature of the market, they needed to have a packaging line that was elegant as the existing branding (which was not designed by us) and contemporary in function. We developed two different types of boxes for event giveaways, and a series of box designs that matched the volumes they had to offer of chocolate & flowers. Inspired by the way hat boxes are easily carried away with one hand, we wanted the customer to handle the boxes effortlessly, regardless of what went inside. English in feel, we wanted to explore an unconventional handle, opting for an elastic handle on some designs, and a traditional ribbon on others to seal the boxes.

B10 is a unique gym concept fully developed by our team. Our client trusted us wholeheartedly to develop all aspects of this brand, from name to branding and all the way down to its interiors. Collectively, we went for a mysterious industrial feel as the place was named after the plot location in the complex plans. The neon tubes in the interior were derived from the lines used in the logo and peripherals. The studio specializes in a unique workout plan which focuses on developing your balance with the use of surfboards. The surrounding heightens the gym-goer's experience, not only are your feet submerged in sand, your clothes start to glow due to the use of blacklights used in the studio. 

5 Stripes, the e-shop specializing in selling custom blended cereal, came to us looking for a facelift. Their success is owed to the hardworking team of guys running the show. The clients came to us saying they had basically hit a wall from a branding stand-point. They wanted our help to develop original content for their website so that all their icons have a unified look and feel. With that in mind, we created 40 custom illustrations of various ingredients available for creating a custom blend. The key part of these illustrations was to keep them modern and clean-cut however generic enough to work commercially on future packaging that could live on a co-op shelf one day. 

Full of natural light and clean simple lines, we are crushing on Hazelnut House's second branch! The client wanted to tie in original elements found in her first branch, however came to us to rework the overall design of the new location with a level of sophistication she felt was missing. Salvaging a series of wooden horizontal panels from her original branch, this influenced the wall behind the counter. We decided to etch their logo onto the wood to make it pop within the space. With the use of lines of the back wall, our approach was to create a contrast with a series of vertical marble slabs at a 45 degree angle which made up the entire bar. The client also wanted to make sure the space was approachable for those who wanted to read or study in the space, this pushed us to opt for a large communal table upstairs along with an open library which overlooks the ground floor.

The client came to us with a concept for an app that helps book services such as salons and gyms. We wanted to keep the design simple so as not to hinder the ease of booking a service. With this project, design to aid utility was key. We did custom illustrations of all the icons that were simple and recognizable to make the booking experience even smoother. The client wanted her logo to be italic, which we initially advised against due to proportion issues. Even so, the client was really set on having the logo be italic so we worked with her to develop a logo that was italic but also simple enough so as not to face any proportion issues. In terms of color, we tried to find something unisex just incase the client wanted to branch out into male services as well. This blue is vibrant with enough teal to keep it masculine but enough aqua to keep it feminine as well.