ATTIKA
Brands To Remember
Where creativity, passion and obviously a lot of talent meet, Katja Peter is involved. The owner of Visual Dope Ltd., a company dedicated to creative goods, is always there for surprises with unique branding solutions. Many well-known businesses in the greater Zurich area used her unique branding systems.
by Edith Moosbrugger
Mandates for branding but also conception of restaurants and businesses like Aux Carrées, Cuisine de Vietnam, are what Katja Peter loves to do. All of her skills and talents where put to good use for City of Zurich’s owner of the premises: starting with the branding and the room conception. It was obvious for her that the existing Carrées on the facade were a trigger point. The brand, the signature writing, the room filling illustrations and lets not forget the “Cut out” of the prints - all based on the unique Carrée and its metaphers, respect deeply the Asian culture. The distinguished illustrations are reflected in the flyers, menu card, table sets and the wall decoration.
Visual Dope® uses established print technics like Metallicor Changeant Effects for interior rooms. Katja Peter loves stringent settings. As colours and lights depend on each other, lightning has to be set accordingly. Of course Katja Peter is then present on the premises giving instructions to the staff. Katja does not shy away from any efforts, she loves opulence.
Her work always encompasses various elements, illustrations and colours, applicable in various settings and individually compatible. Katja Peter calls this “playing material”, what she creates is playful, colourful and light - but never superficial. Very often, small details pop up to the observing person divulging little stories. "Thirty years ago", she says, "a branding consisted just of a logo, a tag line and maybe a distinct colour. Sooner or later this does not create associations, it becomes numb”. Katja’s philosopy is different.
Katja Peter deals with the subject right at the base, defining the spirit of the visual product. "As long as you stay superficial, the chance is big to get stocked in cliches. Make up does not build a character." Developping a branding system is a process. The visual language should be timely but not trendy, to guarantee the longevity without bore out. The important question is always: Which mood should be inflicted at whom?
At the very beginning stands Dr. Tosho’s sushi power injection. Katja Peter started out with the work for asian inspired companies in a tiny room in Meilen. Dr. Tosho, a musician and jack of all trades with japanese genes, produced 1997 some outstanding sushis. She developped a stunning design concept not only he liked but obviously his clients too. Most of the handcrafted menu cards disappeared, were never found again and became secretly a collectors item.
Due to this succsess, she was asked from contributors to create a name, a braning system and a world for "yooji's" in the year 2000, meanhwile a higly popular and even international recognized food chain. Who ever enters those restaurants will be amazed by the authentic atmosphere and the carefully developped and orchestered illustrations by Visual Dope® , out of the especially for this project compiled clip art box. They show up eighter huge as wall designs or applied an packaging and other communication material. But Katja Peter is to versatile to get clubbed in designing asian restaurants. Recently she is asked to do a way finding system for the largest University in Germany: the Goethe Univesity of Frankfurt, comissioned by the Department of Building, Hessen. Mentionend the exhibition and Wall Design work for Grube Messel in Darmstadt, a Unesco Nature Heritage visitors center of information. Visual Dope is responsible for the all embracing exhibition design in regards to visual content. Futher projects of this enthusiastic power woman will be attended with curiosity.
