THE RAHAMANI — Branding, Interior Concept & Visual Identity
A rich, story-driven brand identity and spatial concept inspired by maritime history, crafted for a distinctive restaurant experience in Aqaba, Jordan.
Overview: THE RAHAMANI is a restaurant concept rooted in centuries-old maritime heritage. Its name comes from the historic “Rahamani” — a naval guidebook used by sailors and captains to navigate safe passages, avoiding rock peaks and underwater obstacles. Derived from the Persian Rahnāmah (“book of the road”), it holds deep significance in Arabic history, symbolizing exploration, guidance, and safe harbor. The client envisioned a brand that would immerse guests in this seafaring legacy, not only through visual identity but also through the interior design, murals, and overall dining atmosphere. I was commissioned to create the entire brand from the ground up, including coming up with the name, ensuring a seamless narrative across every touchpoint — from menus and signage to wall art and digital presence.
My role: Lead Designer — creative direction, logo design, brand strategy, visual identity system, interior design inspiration, mural concepting, packaging and menu design, environmental branding, and production-ready artwork.
Challenge: The challenge was to create an identity that felt authentic to the rich history of The Rahamani while also appealing to a modern dining audience in Aqaba. The brand needed to capture the romance and mystery of maritime exploration, blending tradition with a contemporary hospitality experience. It also had to translate consistently across diverse applications — from the smallest printed details to large-scale environmental graphics.
Approach: I began by immersing myself in historical research, studying naval charts, maritime artifacts, and traditional Rahamani illustrations. Moodboards explored textures reminiscent of aged maps, deep ocean blues, sun-weathered wood, and metallic accents inspired by old navigational tools. I developed three distinct brand concepts, refining the chosen direction into a unified system where typography, color, and iconography told a coherent story. Beyond the logo and visual identity, I designed murals and interior mood concepts, weaving in cartographic elements and sea navigation motifs. Every detail — from menu layouts to wayfinding signage — was carefully crafted to enhance the guest’s journey through the space.
Deliverables: Logo design, brand style guide, mural concepts, interior moodboards, signage designs, menu layouts, packaging concepts, social media templates, and environmental branding assets.
Outcome: The final brand identity brought THE RAHAMANI’s maritime narrative to life, creating a distinctive destination restaurant in Aqaba. Guests are welcomed into an environment where history, storytelling, and cuisine merge seamlessly, fostering a memorable and immersive dining experience. The cohesive design system ensured brand consistency from the first glimpse of the logo to the final bite of a meal, setting the restaurant apart in a competitive hospitality market.
Want to turn your restaurant into an unforgettable experience? Let’s talk — I design brands that people can taste, see, and feel.
