Manndrake Cafe Redesign

University Cafe Re-design

Mann Library’s iconic Mandibles Cafe closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cornell Dining took on the space and approached my class for a brand identity and space design to return the cafe to the unique feel while relating with the library and enhancing the elements nearby.

We proposed a unique, welcoming, and sustainable cafe environment that enables staff to work efficiently and provides its patrons with a relaxing and memorable experience.

I led the research and brand identity development.

Concept

Circulation and Adjacency Analysis

Concept

Best known for roots that resemble small human bodies, mandrakes are flowering herbs from the genus Mandragora with a rich folklore. Middle Age Europeans considered them a significant medicinal and magical plant, thought to be capable of curing practically everything including anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Due to the lore surrounding proper harvest, they are also tied to ideas of rarity.

Mandrakes have also been present in literature such as the Bible, Homer’s Odyssey, Shakespeare, and the Harry Potter series.

The cafe's proximity to the library and plant sciences building made the mandrake concept particularly appropriate.

Circulation and Adjacency Analysis

With the existing space we conducted site visits and observed what worked and what didn't in the space.

Survey Responses

We posted a survey to pin point existing issues, wants, and desires for the cafe in addition to feedback on a more risky branding concept. With 50 responses this allowed us to incorporate our focus on human centered design as well as provided qualitative data to justify our decisions to Cornell Dining.

In short-response sections, respondents indicated hope for a more modern and illuminated spaces.

Proposed Layout

Site visits, stakeholder interviews, and user surveys were studied to improve the largest complaint about the existing cafe: circulation and crowding.

Expected circulation paths in the proposed floor plan.

Final Renderings

Branding Reception

We posted a survey to get feedback on a more risky branding concept. With 50 responses, we found the student population reacted positively to "Manndrake".

Logo Design

Originally conceptualized as a full body mandrake mascot for the logo, this logo was developed to be more subtle and pallet-able while still retaining mandrake elements, such as the leaves reminiscent of steam floating off a hot cup of coffee and the top of the root peeping out.

For the color palette we abstracted from the green and roots seen in mandrakes, to maintain a focused yet cheery ambiance for both the space and brand identity. While mostly white to make the space feel larger, the accent colors were terracotta-pinks to compliment and accentuate the greens, and the blue to add cohesion to the space.

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