Isä Camillo – Throwback to 2013
A long tradition inspired a renewal
Isä Camillo is one of the most esteemed and beloved restaurants in Kuopio. It is part of Ravintolamestarit, a gastronomy group offering delightful experiences in their restaurants set in Kuopio’s historical locations since 1997. Known for its quality, Isä Camillo is perfectly situated in a distinguished old bank building at the heart of our city, alongside the well-known Snellman Park.
In 2013, the restaurant underwent a complete modernization of its food offerings and interior design. Along with this came the need for a fresh visual identity. Since the restaurant’s inception, its look has been accompanied by Don Camillo, the main character and parish priest from a satirical book series originating from the Po Valley. It was important to keep his part of the brand in the new era, as the renewed, seasonally driven menu combined local Kuopio countryside ingredients, Old World wines, and Southern European recipes.
Simplicity is timeless and beautiful
The guiding principles for the new design were minimalism, elegance, and maintaining the character of Isä Camillo. During the renewal process, the client suggested keeping the logo unchanged while updating the rest of the brand’s appearance. The goal was to ensure that the visual elements would easily translate to the restaurant’s interior, signage, products, and menus.
The breakthrough in the visual design came from a clever idea that formed the backbone of the new look: the “I” at the beginning of the name and the “O” at the end together created a recognizable figure of a priest with a wide-brimmed hat, encapsulating the new concept. We were bold enough to propose a new logo, as the old one seemed to dilute the impact of the renewal. Yet, the recognizability of the previous design remained well-preserved.
The new look has been implemented across the restaurant’s interior, products, and online presence, allowing Isä Camillo to continue honoring European culinary traditions with a fresh visual identity.
Watch the video below to see the transformation of a logo.
“The fact that Ahooy dove into our request, even with a tight deadline, and had the courage to propose a bolder refresh than we initially envisioned, was exactly the right approach. Years later, we still receive constant praise for Isä Camillo’s visual identity, which, in hindsight, makes the investment incredibly worthwhile.”
Erkka Isotalo – VP, Co-founder, Ravintolamestarit Oy
