Helsinki restaurant Elm

Helsinki restaurant Elm · Brand Identity

For the Helsinki restaurant Elm, Classmate Studio developed a comprehensive brand identity that merges artisanal printmaking with editorial design. The system leans into an atmospheric, tactile aesthetic, anchored by a series of vibrant cyanotype prints that incorporate botanical forms and abstract cutlery silhouettes. This use of analogue film techniques and traditional chemistry provides a distinct, deep blue visual foundation that carries through the restaurant’s menus, signage, and environmental collateral. Illustrator Linda Linko provides the project’s expressive, handwritten script and fluid ink compositions, which balance the structured, clean typography seen across menus and entrance signage. The brand’s identity is further documented through photography by Sofia Kulianu, who captures the restaurant’s architectural heritage and hospitality through a documentary lens. By layering these graphic elements with authentic interior and culinary shots, the identity achieves a cohesive, craft-focused presentation that emphasizes texture and organic detail.