We created a logo and full visual identity for WERF, a bar and bistro in Rotterdam. The logo takes inspiration from the city’s historic wharfs, specifically the launch ramps and slipways that lower ships into the North Sea, and the fully operational shipyard that houses WERF. It reflects the effort to bring the docklands closer to a new generation of Rotterdammers and to the city’s guests. The logo is tilted at a sharp 20° angle, mimicking both the steep edges of the ramps and the diagonal lines of the gastronomic world, every time we raise a glass or tilt a champagne bottle during fermentation.
That same angle and set of maritime references shaped the overall brand identity, paying homage to Rotterdam’s seafaring history without succumbing to clichés. The color scheme of the seasonal menu, for instance, is dictated by whichever ship is docked at the shipyard at the time, keeping the identity as alive and responsive as the harbor itself.
