Design Challenge and Design Ideas

“This brand identity was inspired by the unique building the business was based in.
Remaining sympathetic to its architectural features, we drew inspiration from the typography inside the location, from the carved wood, to ornate tiles and antique terrazo flooring.

The location itself, an architectural listed building from 1902, as designed by Terrance McDonald, fed into the brand design and inspired us to produce a brand that was complementary to the character and soul of a very historic building.

The brand colour red being a nod to the oxide red brick colour used on facade synonymous with Dundalk and its famous brewery heritage.

There was also a challenge around the name itself ‘Mo Chara’ and it not being interpreted as an Irish tourist bar. We wanted this to have its own modern identity with a nod to the past.”

How the brief was fulfilled

“Three long life friends with the one dream, to open their own pub.

Based around the concept of friendship and unity, we interpreted the Celtic circular symbol for friendship, to create a “Grecian, Wildean eternal circle of pint drinking” motif for the brand identity.

Using the typeface Lydian, with its humanist calligraphic characteristics, a nod to Uncial type and tied in with the Gaelic premises name.

We worked with the Mo Chara team to ensure all the original features of the facade and entire were given the shine they deserved, highlighting rather than covering over.

This included working with signwriters, painters, joiners, and carpenters, to ensure the brand was applied consistently and coherently, without impeeding on any of the unique architectural features and facates of the interior and exterior.”