roundhouse cafe | ~2 min read TIME

Forging a industrial visual identity for a community staple.

Nestled in a restored 1888 train depot converted to a community centre in downtown Vancouver BC, the café called for an identity that honoured its industrial roots while feeling warm and current. I designed a vintage-inspired logo with subtle nods to locomotive curves, anchoring a cohesive system built on deep blue and warm cream tones, blending grit with comfort, heritage with polish.

The Brief

Create a brand that’s industrial yet inviting, and built to last like the 1888 trainhouse it calls home.

The Concept

I created a logo inspired by rail signage, with bold type, and memorable visual identity.

The Identity

A logo, website, and marketing collateral built to last, much like its 130‑year‑old home.

Logo

Researching & gathering inspiration.

I visited the 1888 roundhouse to capture its atmosphere and architectural details up close. I also gathered & studied vintage railway posters and industrial signage online to draw inspiration from to their bold, condensed typography and structured, no-nonsense layouts.

Rooted in steam and steel.

Inspired by the roundhouse’s curved architecture and the bold typographic language of railway posters, the logo balances symmetry with strength. Its condensed letterforms reflect industrial signage, while its circular form anchors the brand in its historic 1888 home - confident, timeless, and built to last.

Motion graphic logo in cream palette.

Marketing Collateral

Bringing the brand to life.

Menus, cups, packaging, and signage were designed to make the brand feel cohesive at every customer touchpoint. The bold logo, deep blue tones, and industrial type treatments carry through with confidence, giving Roundhouse Cafe a strong, ownable presence in both print and physical space.

Roundhouse menu and business card on a wooden table

Latte and croissant on a Roundhouse-branded serving board

Person holding a navy Roundhouse coffee cup

Cream Roundhouse pastry wrap on navy patterned paper

Extending the brand system.

Train-inspired loyalty stamps, branded wraps, and vertical signage reinforce the identity in subtle, memorable ways. These details were crafted to echo the spirit of railway travel - durable, directional, and thoughtfully engineered.

Vertical navy Roundhouse banner on the side of a brick building — Large Outdoor Signage.

Website

Carrying the brand online.

The brand’s bold typography and structured layouts translated seamlessly to the web. I built a clean, responsive UI that reflects the brand’s industrial roots while keeping the experience smooth and modern.

Website UI built for online usage.

Results

Reflection & Learnings

This was a self-initiated project created to explore how a brand identity could capture the soul of a local institution. While not a live commission, I approached it as if it were, visiting the space, studying vintage railway posters, and building a system rooted in place and story. I’ve since reached out to the owners of the community centre to try at the very least, spark a conversation.A self-initiated project built around a real café. I visited the space, researched its history, and designed a brand rooted in story and place. While not a commissioned project, I’ve since reached out to the owners to share the work and start a conversation.

What I Took Away

This project reminded me how much stronger design becomes when it’s grounded in real context. Starting with on-site visits and historical research helped shape a brand that feels both rooted and relevant. It also reinforced the value of treating self-initiated work with the same discipline as client projects. Every detail, from typography to layout, had to earn its place.Designing with real context made all the difference. This project sharpened my thinking around storytelling, heritage, and consistency - proving that even fictional work can push real skills forward.