La Loulou: Bar à Vin

The Challenge

Create an immersive, Art Nouveau-inspired environmental branding system for La Loulou, a boutique wine bar in Oakland, CA. The project required a total visual transformation of the physical space, moving beyond traditional graphic design into the realm of design for fabrication and custom architecture.

The Solution

I developed a cohesive visual experience that utilizes the organic, flowing lines of Art Nouveau to unify the bar's interior and exterior. By treating the architecture itself as a canvas, working side by side with the owners we created a "total brand" environment where every physical touchpoint reinforces the bar’s artisanal identity.

The Concept: The Living Line Inspired by early 20th-century French aesthetics, the design uses a continuous, undulating line to guide the eye. From the custom-carved French doors to the intricate wall stencils, the visual language emphasizes craftsmanship, fluidity, and a high-touch manual feel.

Project Pillars & Strategic Execution

1. Structural Branding: The Entry Experience I designed the architectural focal points of the bar, including the primary entryways and interior transitions and mirrors.

The French Doors: Symmetrical, interlocking glass-and-wood designs that required precise vector templates for fabrication.
The Back Walkthrough: Decorative arched frames that integrate historical champagne posters directly into the structural woodwork and matching frames.
The Front Door: A custom-designed portal based on the bar’s interior column motifs, featuring intricate floral geometry.

2. Technical Illustration for Fabrication: A major component of this project was the production of architectural-grade templates. I provided the high-detail line work used by fabricators to create.

Custom-framed mirrors that echo the bar's Art Nouveau motifs.
The "Molded Bar Column," which served as the geometric anchor for the entire space’s visual theme. That shape off the bar column is repeated in the front door.

3. Environmental Typography & Signage: To ensure the street presence matched the interior luxury, I developed a custom typographic system.

Hand-Painted Aesthetics: Designed the gold-shadowed "BAR A VIN" and decorative window border treatments, bringing the soul of old-world sign painting to a modern storefront.
Scalable Identity: Created a logo marks and concepts that translates from a 4-inch coaster to a 4-foot transom window.