LOUNGE

katjalysator for graphic design
by Beatrice Fankhauser

At the Bellevue Zurich there is a new Sushi Place with a colourfull light-hearted aura called Yooji's seeking attention. In the vibrant interior graphic elements will surprise you. Inspector vector was at work, known as Katja Peter. She leaves, beside her talent and skills, enough space for humour and is not taking herself to serious. The brilliant design concept shifts the gastronomic concept of Höschgasse Gastro AG on a unique level. Mentioned that it takes skills, phantasy and courage to apply graphics without any compromise to the interior. For Yooji's, the client allowed even futher steps, applying the design elements on walls, packagings, printed communication material and even the chat screen. The colour system and the formal qualities show the remarquable style of the artist, the flagship store of Höschgasse Gastro AG, it remains us of her art work serie "identity". Lounge was meeting the extraordinary artist while enjoying some delicious Green Goddess Sushis, of course at yooji's.

Your visual design elements are harmonically integrated in the interior. How did you proceed?
Due to the client's proposel to use for example Cherry flowers or the colour green, we developped an indivual clip art collection of many different vector-based illustrations, to apply them versatile in the project. Sometimes only of the size of a few pixels up to the size of five meters. Along a 1:50 model we simulated the mood. The style was ment to be timely but timless at the same time, to guarantee a longevity without getting bored.

What would you consider as the biggest challenge?
The time frame of eight weeks from briefing to opening, the dimensions, the colour management. The colour attunement an vary materials was tricky, because colour obviously only appears exposed to the light, depending on the illumination, the material and the finishing techniques it reflects different. As a reward of the grattitude of the BOST team, the result is stunning. It is impossible, to achieve above-average goals with an avarage attitude. We can't push bounderies if we don't go to the limit. At this point many thanks to the unweary staff.

With the leight-hearted colour selection, different moods are created in every of the three rooms: the juice bar spreads inviting freshness. The especially precious turquoise stands for the liquid element and triggers an impression of unlimited abundance. In contrary, the second floor invites us to dwell on romantic feelings. The brand, sliced in half tru the seal, continues up here. The discretely branding shows up as an interesting decoration element. The wasabi green acts as dominant as the cherry flower silhoutte, a CNC laser cutout of Aluminium plated synthetic boards.  

At visual dope, the laboratory for visual high experiences, as Katja Peter calls it since 1995, she puzzles out not only ideas, actually a branding system for a kids-and teens psychiatrist in kusnacht, she also works on art projects such as Identity, vector based radically realistic illustrated characters.

What is so fascinating in regards to your favorite technique, the vector based software?
Beside the unbeatable precision, vectors allow any scale whitot loosing details, compared to pixels. Many of my art works are vector based, such as «Pure Beauty of Disillusion», the illustration of an antartic landscape in the size of eight meter.
I draw with a tablet and a pen according a photo. The challenge seems to keep the style distinctive, althoug the software is used by numberless designers.

Which role play forms and colours in your private interior?
A dominant one, but I don't like every colour everywhre, aside of an arbitrary combination. I would not appreciate the colour orange in a bed room. Colour is essentially affecting the mood. My bed room contains vanilla, combined with Gold, black and white. It's aura tends to nostalgia, with an ancestor gallery, stuffed animals, furs. In the chill out section you will find about fifty pillows out of fabrics from Djerba, stitched by my self. From time to time I love to collect curiosities with character. There will be also a swissair business class seat as well as a british electric cheminee.

How important are those divers moods for you?
I think that human beeings basically are contradictory, destructive and always pursuing the paradise. I love the diversity as well as the unity. I use various styles, naturalistic, radically realistic, phantastic, infantile… hopefully without loosing my individuality.

What wish do you articulate for the creative future?
More audacity, that fits all of us, one night more and ofcourse bigger etats for everybody.