Verge Hotel, capturing the dynamic
color schemes of Havana…

Overview

Verge is a passion project for a hotel business in Havana, Cuba, introducing the converging worlds of Havana’s preserved charms with a contemporary take. The core of Verge’s identity is rooted in RISO which complements the city's powerful color palettes.

Havana is a unique place where time has been frozen since closing it’s door in the 1950’s. Instead of mass-produced digital billboards and ads, the city is filled with hand-drawn lettering, colorful vintage cars, and textured walls. Verge Hotel aims to provide a one-of-a-kind experience that captures the city’s vibrant color palettes and restores dynamic Cuban culture and architectural legacy.

Category

Brand Identity, Print

Recognition

Winner, Communication Arts – 65th Design Annual 2024

Logo can be used as an expressive design element. “Verge Hotel”, divided by this slanted angle, opens up, transforming into a sort of “picture frame” for the central image, which signifies the concept of “unlocking” Havana’s time capsule.

The slightly angled letterform was inspired by 1940s - 1950s custom letters, adding a touch of “dated” atmosphere.

Traditional analog printing meets modern digital screen printing—the core of Verge’s identity is rooted in print, specifically Risograph printmaking. The bold and eye-catching RISO inks complement the city's powerful color palettes.

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This self-mailer-style envelope is cost-effective and suits the country’s limited resource circumstances. The fully unfolded page retains the brand’s iconic angle. It also comes with a RISO-printed postcard inside.

Though RISO colors are limited, the inks are translucent and can be overprinted to make new colors and depth, which is aligned with the compounding stories of what Verge aims to create. Also, RISO’s imperfect, inconsistent, and analog printing process produces fun quirks and beautiful visual accidents.

View the brand book printed in RISO here.

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