Link to Project Page on Website
Emerging dessert parlour, Dyce approached FormRoom to develop a dynamic and fantastical interior brand identity. Whilst the brief called for an ‘Instagramable’ interior, FormRoom pushed to develop the concept even further, incorporating elements that invite playful interaction in movement to also appeal to video sharing platforms like Tik Tok or Snapchat.
Evolving upon the three brand pillars; Approachable, Unexpected and Immersive, FormRoom created a memorable aesthetic with a fusion of youthfulness and Salvador Dali inspired surrealism. The space illustrates a conceptual take on the desert ingredients, including melting ice cream and bubble tea. A moment of childlike escapism balanced with a contemporary edge.
The bustling hub of James St, Marylebone provides the design blueprint and first permanent space for the Dyce brand.
Insight and Strategy
Researching the market trends and consumer insights, alongside the competitor landscape enabled FormRoom to design a memorable and experiential interior.
“Dyce is a place where people can escape the real world and enjoy a moment of joy away from the everyday,” Zahra Khan, founder of Dyce.
It was important too to consider how the store could feel approachable to all ages while catering to the different needs of social sharing demographics. While the bubble feature chairs appeal to the Instagram driven millennials, Gen Z look for complete store experiences where they can captureand share the whole journey through video. A more authentic representation of their experience.
The amphitheatre-style seating allowed the space to feel welcoming to families while limiting excessive dwell time in favour of a faster customer journey and experience.
Design + Manufacture
The colour palette expands upon the on-trend ‘pink’ with unexpected but complimentary colour contrasts. The bold shapes, textures and pastel coloured interior ignite customer curiosity while catering to the demand for shareable moments.
The curvaceous two-tiered seating is inspired by the smooth dripping nature of soft serve ice cream. Bespoke upholstered cocoon seating sits parallel, nestled within a field of soft pastel bubbles and surrounded in a warm neon glow. Above, the brand signage is accented by LED trimming and set against a pastel pink backdrop.
Dessert visual cues continue throughout the space with curved floor artwork to mimic the ripples of ice cream; an unexpected wayfinding and subtle nod to the surrealist aesthetic. The use of a corrugated metal panels treated with an iridescence vinyl continue the juxtaposition of playful and rustic edge to the counter.
The striking ceiling installation combines suspended concave and convex iridescent mirrors, representing bubbles from Dyce’s core product offering. Subtle accents of black trimming give the soft colour palette a defined finish.
The mirror wall acts as an extension to the ceiling installation, bordering a large convex mirror encircled with the brand phrase ‘Don’t Burst My Bubble.’ A unique ‘fish-eye’ effect and light-enhancing feature. The distorted visuals reflect the interior space and cater to the young demographic drawn to spaces with shareable moments.
Café Interior Design
With a more discerning customer, we are seeing a rise in cafe and restaurant interiors that create a sense of curiosity and exploration. Dyce has received an unprecedented response online from customers who have shared their experience on social media platforms. This engagement has helped elevate the brands presence online while creating a community of ice-cream lovers and raving fans.
FormRoom are at the forefront of cafe design that invite playful interaction and shareable moments throughout our spaces. We explore this topic along with the food and beverage trends in our latest article.
