In the role of Design Manager in-house at PizzaExpress, I briefed, directed and worked closely with leading design agencies to design and deliver new restaurants and refurbishments across the UK.
With operational needs as a priority, restaurant layouts were honed until perfect. Working within a house style and a tight budget, across a diverse range of sizes and types of unit (listed buildings through to shopping centres), each restaurant was treated individually.
We expressed the brand clearly through the iconic b/w stripes and shopfront signage using the original 1960s nouveau lettering. Contemporary seating styles were combined with banquettes to achieve flexible seating arrangements. We introduced timber flooring in the dining areas, improving sound via acoustic ceiling details and artworks. We designed bespoke artworks for each site that referenced local culture or heritage to make each restaurant a unique experience within the PE brand.