Kinoshniki Restaurant celebrates a century of local cultural evolution, dedicated to elevating fine dining and setting new benchmarks in the Eastern European hospitality industry.
Kinoshniki can be translated as Filmmakers or Cinematographers
Most of the names below are clever wordplays originally in Ukrainian that I have transcreated, preserving the original ideas and concepts while ensuring the brand’s tone remains consistent.
🔗 Kinoshniki on Instagram
My role and responsibilities:
When I took over as Brand Manager, Kinoshniki was undergoing major transformations, primarily in brand identity, concept, and digital performance. We began with this design: the menus, packaging, and social media content are displayed below.
The new identity and design for digital and printed materials that we developed with a team including an art director, designers, and myself are shown below. We integrated a film tape motif into the brand pattern and used it for all illustrations, which appeared in various forms:
Menus:
Brand Pattern:
To go/ delivery box:
Logo on the ice-cube in a cocktail:
Menu - click to view the video:
Promotional Coupons:
Lemonade labels & packaging:
Tickets to events & parchment paper:
“Table reserved”
Instagram Stories - digital posters with upcoming events:
Originating in a historic location in the heart of Kharkiv — the first capital and the second largest city of Ukraine — the building that now houses Kinoshniki has undergone many transformations. This place, once a vibrant Film Club in the 1950s and 60s during Soviet times, was a haven for the elite — artists, scientists, and other prominent figures from various industries. They gathered here for movie nights, parties, celebrations, and even unofficial debates.
Back then, it was a sanctuary for exchanging ideas, discussing politics, and, behind closed doors, watching forbidden movies and reading banned literature. It was a community where people lived their own reality, despite disagreeing with the oppressive government regime. They were determined to create, develop themselves, and foster a sense of community among like-minded individuals.
For many, this place was more than just a second home; it was a sanctuary for their souls, a source of empowerment. Although no pictures or floor plans of the former film club could be found, we learned about this magical place through word of mouth from those who worked there in its heyday. In 2018, they gave us a tour of the abandoned building, which they remembered as once being full of life and laughter.
They showed us where the big film screen was, where the seats were, and where people used to refill their beer glasses. We promised to take care of the club — and we did. After about 30 years of abandonment, a family of young entrepreneurs bought the place in 2019, aiming to revive its story and bring the Film Club back to life as a restaurant and event venue.
This story is known by every team member and is shared with anyone interested in learning more about the place. As Brand Manager, I often gave tours to new visitors curious about our concept. I also wrote scripts, trained the staff, and ensured everyone communicated the story accurately.
“Like in your favorite movie” — this slogan is the core of our concept and is used in various marketing communications, including social media, product packaging, and advertising. We wanted our guests to feel as if they were stepping into a legendary movie when they walked through our doors.