Modern Comfort Meets Historic Charm
Built in 1928, voco The Tiger Hotel is a historic landmark in Columbia, Missouri. The historic hotel is also the umbrella to a family of onsite food and beverage brands: Glenn’s Cafe, Vault, and Twain: Missouri BBQ & Taproom.
My goal since I joined the team in 2023 has been to keep harmony within this family as I design for each of them, as well as for the hotel itself.
Come On In
The first of three pillars within the voco brand, Come On In, is all about first impressions. A warm welcome and simple check-in process give a guest ease of mind. I’ve designed a series of works to aid in this process.
Entryway Outlet Information
As you enter the hotel's front doors, you’ll be greeted by friendly faces and a unique environment. With just how much there is to do at the hotel, information about our outlets Vault and Twain—including location and hours—are readily available at the front entrance with enticing photography.
Keycard Jackets
In addition to the entryway signage, hotel details are included in the small folder received at check-in. From hotel history to Wi-Fi password to outlet information, the jacket and insert card have all the details you need for a perfect stay.
Me Time
This second pillar of the voco brand focuses on the details of comfort: cozy bedding, luxury bathroom amenities, fast Wi-Fi, and everything else you need for a truly relaxing stay.
Engraved Bathroom Scales
The smallest details often make the biggest impressions, like these custom-engraved glass bathroom scales. I engraved more than 60 scales to accommodate each room, as well as a few backups.
While the project definitely had a steep learning curve, I immensely enjoyed learning all the processes involved and seeing the final project come to fruition.
In-Room Prints
With comfort being one of our top priorities, guests should always know they’re cared for.
When a guest first enters their room they’re greeted with a room service order form, as well as a card signed by the housekeeper that cleaned the room before they arrived.
voco Life
When venturing outside your room, The Tiger Hotel has several options for a relaxing lunch or an exciting evening. The third voco pillar emphasizes lifestyle and food and beverage.
Cocktail Jars
These cocktail jars are a simple and fun gift for hotel guests and friends alike that communicates the fun and vibrancy of voco Life. The personalized jar is adorned with the voco branding, and the accompanying postcard includes two recipes and instructions for infusing the ingredients.
Modern, Southern Comfort Food
Glenn’s Cafe, like The Tiger Hotel, has deep roots in Columbia. The original location opened around 1943, and over several moves has found itself within the hotel, serving southern classics and hosting an award-winning wine list.
Menu Books
This series of menu books—drinks, brunch, dinner, and wines—was a drastic step for the Glenn’s Cafe brand. A visual overhaul was implemented to give Glenn’s a more sophisticated feel, including a new set of brand standards and embracing the iconic wallpaper illustrations.
Outdoor Signage
With the outdoor patio and original neon sign, Glenn’s Cafe can catch any eye strolling down 8th St.
Engraved patio seating signage and a shadow box with hours and menu information allow any passerby to know just what Glenn’s is all about at just a glance.
Dinner & Wine Series
On the second Tuesday of every month, Glenn’s Cafe hosts the Dinner & Wine Series, a four-course dinner with exquisite wine pairings.
This event takes a special spin on the typical Glenn’s branding, opting for a more elevated feel.
By using the on-brand typefaces and a bold red color, I was able to create a logomark with that familiar Glenn’s signature, yet bold and moody.
Photography
Below is a selection of my photography work from Glenn’s Cafe. When taking these photos, I try to capture the comfort within the recipes and the care behind the craft of the food and drink, from the plating of a meal to the garnish of a drink.
Missouri’s Best in Beer, Spirits, Wine, and BBQ
Twain: Missouri BBQ & Taproom is The Tiger Hotel’s tribute to the state of Missouri. Featuring only products made in the Show Me State, Twain is a cozy space to meet friends new and old.
Branding
Upon starting my career at voco The Tiger Hotel, my first project was to refresh Twain’s brand with their addition of BBQ to their offerings.
I created a logo that represented the rustic nature of Twain but didn’t stray too far from the previous logo: a round emblem with the iconic author’s silhouette. I designed the look of a wax seal around the original wordmark, aiming for a down-to-earth and authentic feel.
Alongside the refreshed logomark I also implemented a new typeface pairing, color scheme, and custom illustrations.
The Brand In Action
Print Menus
These menus for Twain utilize my illustrations and brand elements to make a cohesive and easily-read list of BBQ options and cocktails. The off-white background and typewriter-esque typefaces lean into the Twain-age literature and cozy feel of the taproom.
Website
Twainbbq.com includes everything you’d need to understand Twain as a brand, including our story and a full menu.
Catering Boxes
Leaning into the college football culture of Columbia, these catering boxes are the perfect easy solution for a great tailgate. The box is large enough to fit BBQ options for 6-8 people, and the design conveys the message of the brand and includes call-to-actions for following Twain on social media, as well as visiting the website.
Twain Holiday Hideaway is a Christmas-themed pop up bar that runs in Twain through the month of December. Festivities include Christmas movies, themed food and drink, and the taproom covered floor to ceiling in decorations.
Columbia’s Underground Hideaway
Vault is a modern cocktail lounge with echoes of the past. This cool and casual cocktail lounge is located underneath the hotel and is known for its award-winning cocktails.
