Caol worked with collaborators Bountheng Tanakhone and Abigail Shobajo to refresh the identity of Ciro’s Tavern and design a new mark for its adjacent venue, Hampton Court. The project spanned both branding and digital work, with an emphasis on historical detail, visual storytelling, and modern adaptability.
During the conceptual phase, Caol met with the tavern’s owners to learn more about the character and story behind both spaces. Site visits and documentation played a key role in research, with particular attention given to historical features, textures, and architectural patterns across the building façades and interiors.
The original “Tavern on Cherry” logo featured a vintage horse and carriage illustration. Without access to any original files or high-resolution versions, Caol recreated the mark from scratch, referencing print materials and low-quality image scans. The goal was to preserve the spirit of the original while improving visual balance and scalability.
The final design is a modern emblem rooted in the tavern’s identity—refined, historically aware, and flexible for digital and print use. The new name-mark is set in Monotype’s Old English Text MT and paired with Montserrat, giving the logo a contemporary edge without losing its old-world charm.
Unlike Ciro’s, Hampton Court had no prior branding. After a collaborative concept session, the team agreed the design should reflect the space’s most striking feature: a pair of two-story stained-glass windows that frame the dining hall and facade.
Caol translated the geometry and grace of those windows into a new symbol—one that feels architectural and light-filled, and that nods to the role of the venue as a gathering space.
In the later stages of the project, Caol took over as Design Director and rebuilt the Ciro’s Tavern website. The original late-2000s theme was overhauled to create a more modern, image-driven experience. Caol repaired navigation, redesigned multiple pages, added a news feed, and updated CSS animations, including parallax scrolling and other subtle interactive elements.
The finished site showcases the tavern’s interior spaces, food, and live events, giving new visibility to a local institution while honoring its story.
