The Engine Room
Doha, Qatar - 2023
Logo Design
Brand Design
Visual Identity Design
Typography & Color Systems
Illustration
Overview
The Engine Room is a high-end hotel lounge and bar located in Doha, Qatar. Designed to evoke an atmosphere of quiet prestige, the brand needed to reflect sophistication while offering a subtle nod to the mechanical origins behind its name. More than a hospitality venue, it’s a curated experience, where storytelling, ambiance, and visual detail intersect.
Challenge
The main challenge was to translate the venue’s distinctive identity into a cohesive brand that feels luxurious but not over-designed. The concept called for a visual system that could carry narrative weight, referencing vintage engineering, while still functioning within a contemporary, upscale hospitality context. The branding had to balance formality with warmth, and communicate both cultural richness and cosmopolitan ease.
Approach
We developed a logo rooted in typographic elegance, enhanced by mechanical cues that reinforce the venue’s name. A palette of deep greens, warm browns, rich golds, and muted neutrals set the tone for a refined yet immersive atmosphere. Graphic elements, such as engraved mechanical illustrations, serve as subtle storytelling tools throughout printed and digital applications, adding texture and intrigue. Typography was carefully chosen to blend timeless character with modern legibility, forming a visual language that is both atmospheric and versatile. The result is a brand identity that elevates the guest experience through detail, depth, and a distinctly crafted narrative.
Refined Mechanics
Brand Systems
The visual identity rests on a foundation of deep, earthy tones, burnished gold, dark green, warm burgundy, each echoing the materials and mood of an old-world engine room. Typography is both elevated and legible, blending classical serif and contemporary sans serif forms to mirror the lounge’s duality: classic and current.
Engraved-style mechanical illustrations function as graphic elements across touchpoints, reinforcing the name and concept while adding texture and intricacy to the overall design language. Used subtly across menus, coasters, and signage, these elements evoke craftsmanship and intentionality.
