The sensual sensation of two worlds overlapping is the inspiration for RIA, a new fine dining venue
nestled in the Elysian — Chicago’s first home-grown luxury hotel.
Our challenge in developing the brand identity for RIA was to blend terra firma with undulation.
Our point of departure was the literal translation of RIA — “where the land meets the sea.”
The RIA website launched recently provides a stylish window into the fulfillment of this sophisticated
brand identity. Every element — from presentation of food to rippling menu and shimmering business
cards— expresses the tantalizing milieu of transition. The website extends the RIA concept of fluidity
even in the photos of the food: each shot — whether a tower of shaved foie gras, or a woven basket
of chocolate crowning a dessert — is cropped to echo the sensual flow of the ocean or the landscape
it meets.
