Chapel Hill, NC
about the project
“The Agora” (greek translation for an open marketplace) is a student dining facility located within a private, off-campus dormitory at University of North Carolina / Chapel Hill. An environmental graphics and merchandising package was developed for 4 serving lines, a salad bar, dessert bar, deli bar, dish return and dining room.
Working with the project architect, interior designer and food service planner, our design team developed graphics, brand signage, menu presentation and merchandising for 5300 s.f. marketplace renovation.
Our goal was to create brand identities and graphic presentation that would appeal to the residents while highlighting the marketplace concept and presentation style cooking. Four brand logos were developed to complement menu styles at each serving line and a facility identity logo was developed for the new “Agora” brand.
Dimensional signage and broken tile menu frames were suspended from the ceiling in a synchronized pattern with the layout of the serving line. Merchandising props were selected to reinforce each brand concept and to complement the rich interior finish palette and furniture style equipment. A custom tile mural with an outdoor market scene was used to create an art niche above tray return areas.