Visual identity for neighbourhood café in Oslo
Flott Gjort
Østensjø Havn is a lively neighborhood café in Oslo. Originally initiated by Flott Gjort, it was thoughtfully designed to be a welcoming meeting place for the local community in Oppsal, east of the city centre. The café offers a simple yet comprehensive menu, as well as a full bar service and events for all ages. With a small stage and a playroom for children, it’s a space that brings people together.
We were tasked with developing the visual identity of the venue. This included the logo, menus, brand pattern, illustrative posters, wall murals, and interior design concepts. Creating a cohesive identity across such diverse visual elements was such an exciting challenge. This approach not only makes the branding process more fulfilling for us as designers but also creates a more engaging experience for the viewer.
The café’s interior tells a visual story that brings nature indoors. Colourful bird posters, hand-painted murals, and tactile details—such as a bespoke door in the shape of a bird—all contribute to a charming and colourful atmosphere. The cafe quickly became a favourite amongst locals who might just want to enjoy a light refreshment or a place to socialice close to home.
Our favorite detail? The sliding glass door, beautifully adorned with a bird in mid-flight
When creating the series of illustrations, we aimed to use strict, graphic shapes to construct the characters, drawing inspiration from classic mid-century artists like Charles Harper. These illustrations became key elements across all printed materials and interior surfaces, helping to unify the café’s visual identity.
To further reinforce the brand, we deconstructed the bird characters into graphic shapes to create a dynamic, repeatable brand pattern.
The color palette was carefully selected to complement both the natural surroundings and interior materials. Soft, earthy tones blend with brighter accent colors, inspired by bird feathers and foliage, resulting in a harmonious yet playful visual language. This approach mirrors nature, where subdued, organic hues are occasionally punctuated by vibrant, unexpected bursts of color.
The final interior design was beautifully brought to life by Radius, who realized our vision with care and craftsmanship.
The colour palette mirrors nature—where subdued, organic hues are occasionally punctuated by vibrant, unexpected bursts of colour
Images by: Østensjø Havn / Vintage bird images by Charles Harper / The Y-Block illustration by Pablo Picasso
The café’s interior tells a visual story that brings nature indoors. Colourful bird posters, hand-painted murals, and tactile details—such as a bespoke door in the shape of a bird—all contribute to a charming and colourful atmosphere. The cafe quickly became a favourite amongst locals who might just want to enjoy a light refreshment or a place to socialice close to home.
Our favorite detail? The sliding glass door, beautifully adorned with a bird in mid-flight
When creating the series of illustrations, we aimed to use strict, graphic shapes to construct the characters, drawing inspiration from classic mid-century artists like Charles Harper. These illustrations became key elements across all printed materials and interior surfaces, helping to unify the café’s visual identity.
To further reinforce the brand, we deconstructed the bird characters into graphic shapes to create a dynamic, repeatable brand pattern.
The color palette was carefully selected to complement both the natural surroundings and interior materials. Soft, earthy tones blend with brighter accent colors, inspired by bird feathers and foliage, resulting in a harmonious yet playful visual language. This approach mirrors nature, where subdued, organic hues are occasionally punctuated by vibrant, unexpected bursts of color.
The final interior design was beautifully brought to life by Radius, who realized our vision with care and craftsmanship.
Images by: Østensjø Havn / Vintage bird images by Charles Harper / The Y-Block illustration by Pablo Picasso
The colour palette mirrors nature—where subdued, organic hues are occasionally punctuated by vibrant, unexpected bursts of colour
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