The first step was creating a mark that could be clearly identified as the Elk Room while expressing the idea of a cabinet of curiosities. For the logo, we decided to take an emblematic approach, with a hand-lettered type. This emblematic structure would contrast nicely with the idea of a structured cabinet-like grid. The mark itself is composed of a series of swashes interacting with the type. Within the type is a subtle nod to the concept of a speakeasy, a martini glass masquerading as an “I”. 

The final Cabinet of Curiosities involved many design attributes that helped to create the experience of opening a cabinet full of curiosities. These elements ranged from technical aspects such as creating foil and dielines, to illustrating each drink as a curiosity.  

The emblematic mark can be found foiled in gold on the front of the menu. The back tells the story of this cabinet of curiosities is told from the perspective of the collector himself.  Behind all of these elements, a faint wood grain texture can be found. This is done to reinforce the idea of the menu being a cabinet.

In the interior of the menu are all 12 cocktails illustrated as their respective curiosities inside of a cabinet-like structure. In order to discern which illustration relates to which cocktail each curiosity is marked with a figure marker. The price for the cocktails can be found punched into the wooden structure on a handing priced tag. Within the interior of the menu is a secret “Drawer of Oddities” which contains an additional 3 cocktails. These cocktails had to be separate from the rest of the menu because they were Elk Room favorites and did not have names correlating to curiosities.