Through a focused exercise of restaurant branding, Douglas Riccardi will guide participants through a general approach to branding that can be applied to diverse projects and many client types. In this intensive workshop, participants will work on a project of their choice — developing a concept, analyzing competition, devising an identity and palette of brand assets, and applying these to appropriate collateral materials. Students will also hear best practices and insights gathered through the instructor's many years of work in this field.

• Session 1 — group meeting
• Session 2 — group meeting
• Session 3 — group meeting
• Session 4 — individual one on one meetings with instructor
• Session 5 — group meeting with external critic(s)
• Session 6 — individual one on one meetings with instructor

The format will be a combination of lectures by the instructor, group critiques and discussion, and individual meetings (both during and outside of scheduled class time). Class size will be limited to 16 to allow for plenty of individual feedback.

Required Materials

• computer with drawing software installed, i.e. Adobe Illustrator
• reliable internet connection
• free Zoom app

Douglas Riccardi is the owner and Creative Director of Memo Productions, a Manhattan-based agency specializing in branding for culinary entrepreneurs working on food halls, brands poised for growth, and restaurant startups. Memo’s work spans the gamut from high-end single-unit restaurants to multiple-unit fast casual concepts. Memo helps clients express their mission, fuel connections with their customers, and create sustainability. His favorite foods are: Chiles rellenos, a classic fried shrimp basket, his mother’s chicken parmigiana, and any cocktail containing tequila. He also bakes a mean linzer tart. Follow Douglas on Instagram @memonewyork