Qatar Museum Authority: IDAM RESTAURANT BY ALAIN DUCASSE

Credits & Description:

Client QATAR MUSEUMS AUTHORITY

Product RESTAURANT, IN THE MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART

Entrant LANDOR ASSOCIATES Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Type of Entry: Design

Category: CORPORATE IDENTITY SCHEMES

Title: IDAM RESTAURANT BY ALAIN DUCASSE

Product/Service: RESTAURANT, IN THE MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART

Entrant Company : LANDOR ASSOCIATES Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Advertising Agency : LANDOR ASSOCIATES Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Name Company Position

Luma Shihabeldin Landor Design Director

Hani Baghdan Landor Senior Designer

Shaun Loftman Landor Creative Director

Mariagrazia Deangelis Landor Client Director

Muna A. Hadi Landor Designer

Dalia Nosseir Landor Designer

Caroline Amand Landor Strategist

Wasim Ajlyakin Landor Production Manager

Aleksandar Sandorov Landor Motion Designer

Brief Explanation:

The brand positioning and identity had to clearly reflect a sophisticated mix of literature, fine cuisine, art and culture. And bring together the timeless relationship of food and art. IDAM had to reflect a brand reaching for great new heights. It should be a celebration of the best of the best. Both in terms of world class cuisine by Alain Ducasse, and also its location above one of the regions greatest collections of Islamic art.

Describe the brief from the client:

The Museum of Islamic Art invited the world-renowned French chef, Alain Ducasse, to bring a unique restaurant experience to Qatar. Ducasse created an exiting yet sophisticated menu of French haute cuisine enthused with local Arabic flavours. This heralded a new standard for fine dining in Qatar. An extra dimension was brought by acclaimed designer Phillipe Starck, who was commissioned to conceptualise the interior – which pays homage to great Arab cultural achievements and the literary works of Arabic philosophers and writers. The interior scheme features a remarkable pair of luminous five metre high bookcases.

Description of how you arrived at the final design:

The visual concept is anchored by the idea of creating a sense of height and drama. The use of graceful, linear visual elements communicates that the brand is reaching new and higher standards. The monotone look and feel allows the primary focus to fall on the ‘food as art’. To highlight the literary theme of the interior, we drew attention to the dying art of calligraphy by ‘illuminating’ it as a series of elegantly crafted light patterns. These shards of light bring energy, movement and radiance that reveal the art of fine dining and the height of Arabic culture.

Indication of how successful the outcome was in the market:

Since its opening, IDAM has brought an exciting new dimension to the Alain Ducasse brand, and elevated the stature of the Museum of Islamic Art, by breaking new ground in Arab fine cuisine and restaurant branding.