Tra Due is a brand identity for a wine bar based on the Italian aperitivo tradition. The identity is built around the hours between 6 and 8 PM, when guests gather before dinner. A set of marks inspired by European maker's marks and hallmark systems represents shared moments within that timeframe. The main mark is placed between the two parts of the name to express balance and exchange. Each mark follows a modular grid with consistent proportions, allowing clear use on menus, coasters, labels, signage, and embossed surfaces.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Tra Due is an identity system based on the Italian aperitivo ritual, focusing on shared moments between 6 and 8 PM. The design transforms time into a visual framework through a set of hallmark-inspired marks representing gathering and anticipation before dinner. The mark logo is set between the name of the restaurant, expressing balance and exchange, while the adaptable seal system ensures consistent application across print and spatial contexts.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Primary logo files were created in AI, SVG, and EPS for scalable, lossless use. Print assets were set at 300 dpi in CMYK. Standard sizes include menus, coasters, labels, and signage, with clear space and minimum size rules to ensure legibility across all formats.
- Tags
- Wine bar branding, experiential design, emotional space, menu architecture, European inspired, typographic system, relational design, Italian restaurant, Manhattan
- Production Technology
- The identity was developed using a modular, grid-based system with precise vector construction. Each mark follows consistent proportions for scalability and balance. It was refined for applications across print, embossing, and signage, with color and material testing ensuring clarity across formats and surfaces.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was balancing concept and clarity. Multiple visual directions were explored and refined to avoid overcomplication. It was important to translate Italian aperitivo culture without falling into stereotypes, while keeping the marks legible across all sizes. The process focused on simplifying elements and making clear, deliberate decisions to maintain a coherent system.
- Project Duration
- The project was developed between December 2026 and February 2026 in New York.
- Operation Flow
- The identity shows the energy during the aperitivo hours. The marks appear across tableware, packaging, and signage, gently reminding guests that this is a shared time before dinner. The mean logo suggests connection, while the smaller marks add subtle variations that reflect conversation and gathering. As guests interact with different touchpoints in the space, the system unfolds naturally and consistently. Instead of acting as a static logo, the identity helps shape mood, rhythm, and anticipation within a specific timeframe.
- Research
- This project is based on cultural and visual research, exploring how a specific time of day can shape a restaurant identity. It draws from Italian aperitivo culture, hallmark systems, and existing branding. Through sketches and mockups, the study found that focusing on a shared time creates a stronger emotional connection and clearer brand structure, framing dining as an experience, not just food.
- Inspiration
- Tra Due is a wine bar based on the Italian aperitivo tradition, where the hours before dinner become a time for conversation and transition. Inspired by European maker's marks and hallmark systems, historically used to signify time and origin. The design develops a visual language where each mark represents a shared moment within a defined timeframe. The design centers identity on time rather than food, framing the 6-8 PM period as a ritual of gathering.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Creator Yi Chun Lin (Designer), Branding Environmental Design, 2026.
Image #2: Creator Yi Chun Lin (Designer), Whispers (Photographer), Signage Design, 2026.
Image #3: Creator Yi Chun Lin (Designer), Tablewear Design, 2026.
Image #4: Creator Yi Chun Lin (Designer), Label Design, 2026.
Image #5: Creator Yi Chun Lin (Designer), Poster Layout, 2026.
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