The word 'DESIGN' written in large, black, outlined letters.
Open book with minimalist abstract art and text on glossy white pages, set against a black background.
Black textured box with a geometric pattern and the word 'SILHUE' embossed on it.

TEXTURE IS EVERYTHING

GRAPHIC DESIGN | ART DIRECTION | PRINT DESIGN

Texture is Everything is the third annual menu of London-based cocktail bar Silverleaf, exploring the interplay of textural experiences within tactility, design, and cocktails.

In keeping with Silverleaf’s meticulously curated and artistic menus, Texture is Everything presents an abstract perspective on the way we experience cocktails through touch. Initially inspired by the textures found throughout the bar, the menu is split into six categories, each representing the texture of the drinks. 

In order to translate the concept into a multi-sensory experience, each section is blind embossed to represent a mouthfeel, accompanied by abstract illustrations that represent the flavours of each cocktail. The goal of Silverleaf’s third menu is to present the experience of cocktails as a multi-sensory and immersive one.

A menu page with abstract watercolor art, featuring a section titled 'Delicate' with items 'Blueberry/Orris' and 'Cucumber/Caviar' along with their descriptions and prices.
An open art book displaying abstract watercolor paintings on a white background with minimal text.
Person holding a white box labeled 'Hyper Drinks' with an illustration of a pair of lips, wearing a black long-sleeve shirt.

HYPER DRINKS: THE BOOK

GRAPHIC DESIGN | ART DIRECTION | PRINT DESIGN | PHOTOGRAPHY

HYPER Drinks is a book of cocktail recipes and personal stories written by Angelos Bafas, focusing on hyper-local and hyper-seasonal ingredients. It marked the launch of the HYPER brand, for which Studio Highball was commissioned to create the branding, produce photography and book design.

Open book showing a photograph of a yellow quince fruit and a sliced half with seeds on a black background, held in a person's hand on a wooden table.

The book features a hard cover with a custom debossed and foiled Illustration, and follows the visual language of the HYPER brand, with a minimal aesthetic, a custom made handwritten font and bespoke photography.

 

Author: Angelos Bafas

Editor: Millie Milliken 

Drinks photographer: Carla Barber

Produce & drinks photography: Studio Highball

Art Direction, branding & graphic design: Studio Highball

Open book with text and a photo of a white onion with green shoots, next to the onion, handwritten text says 'ROAAAR!!!', on a wooden table.
Open notebook showing a handwritten note that defines a journal as a record of thoughts, observations, personal anecdotes, recipes, or facts, using simple techniques.
A red booklet with gold embossed text that says 'LOVE' on a black background.
An open menu with artistic illustrations of Lychee and Rambutan fruits, featuring a red cover, gold accents, and Asian-style seals.

GONG BAR: NATURE & EARTH

GRAPHIC DESIGN | ART DIRECTION | PRINT DESIGN

Nature & Earth is Gong Bar’s latest menu, exploring the different stages of a plant’s lifecycle through drinks. Each drink is represented by an illustration that reflects a point in this cycle. The design direction focused on grounding the concept in natural forms while maintaining a sense of refinement.

Open red book on black background displaying pages with illustrations and descriptions of botanical ingredients for cocktails, including plant drawings and text.

The menu was printed on textured paper to reinforce the organic theme, with the proposal of gold foiling to introduce a tactile detail and subtle luxury edge. Colour choices and layout referenced Gong Bar’s existing brand identity, while incorporating Asian influences present in the bar’s design language.

Open book with text about 'The Evergreen' and illustrations of branches, leaves, and berries on cream-colored pages, resting on a red surface against a black background.