Merrow

Portland, Oregon

At the seafood pop up Merrow, oysters are for everyone. Alec and Olivia, the team behind Merrow are working hard and they’re working hard each week to rotate a new menu of sophisticated dishes that balance experimentation with seasonality. From chanterelle stuffed Pacific squid to allium soaked petit beans, paired with rare, minerally pours, Merrow celebrates the fluidity of the sea – and with a dynamic and imperfect look that hopes to translate the freeing feeling of moving through water. Fluidity, thanks to hand felt touches of its craft – watercolor script, pencil lines and inky imagery of fish drinking wine – Merrow is like a celebratory late night dinner at your dear friend’s place (where everyone is fighting for the last bite). 

The menu’s understated typography and varying blues alongside muted primaries juxtapose the bold flavors and bright palette of the steaming plates hitting the table. Merrow’s visual spirit draws inspiration from the elegant grit of the baroque, (or barraco, which translates to "misshapen pearl”), Hellen Frankenthaler’s diluted brush, and exquisite corpses from medieval linework to all the way to David Hockney’s imagination. A simple landing page was developed and showcases the ethos and upcoming events on their calendar. The dynamic visuals emphasize the intentionality behind the hand, especially the ethereal brininess Alec and Olivia’s hands put out each week.

Roles:
Creative Direction | Branding | Graphic Design | Illustration