Kyiv in 6 Drinks Menu
Team: Shadows Project
Role: As the lead in historical research and creative development, I crafted the character narratives, designed visuals, and directed the project’s concept.
Objective: To create an immersive cocktail menu that celebrates Kyiv’s cultural heritage through six archetypal characters from the city’s 19th-century history.
Approach: When developing Shadows projects, I focus on these core elements:
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A historical connection
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A personal relevance to modern audiences
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A layer of authentic storytelling
The Kyiv in 6 Drinks bar menu brought these elements together, allowing patrons to experience Kyiv's past in a modern, social setting.
Find the limited-edition menu at a local bar in Kyiv very soon.
Discover the project preview for yourself
Why a cultural menu?
Amidst the backdrop of war, people crave connection—connection to each other, to shared experiences, and to their cultural identity. For Kyiv’s residents, like many others, connecting with culture and history offers comfort and solidarity.
The challenge was to bring this connection to life in an engaging, memorable way, letting patrons explore their city’s past through the simple act of ordering a drink.
The first step was defining a clear narrative. I wanted each cocktail to tell a story—one drink would embody a sugar oligarch, another a bold theatre actress, yet another a criminal bandit. Each character would have to offer a unique aspect that reflects an era that shaped Kyiv.
Through an initial creative session, I settled on six figures who represented the city’s diverse social landscape, with enough intrigue to invite patrons into their world for a few moments.
Focusing on the essentials
Working with a limited format—a single-page menu—I had to make each story concise yet impactful. This meant selecting key details from each character’s life that were relatable to a modern audience. Rather than a lengthy historical background, I crafted each description to evoke a feeling, a glimpse into the character’s world, and how their personality might translate into a cocktail. This intentional brevity allowed the menu to remain visually clean while retaining an authentic historical essence.
The visual storytelling
The aesthetic of the menu was critical. Drawing inspiration from minimalist 19th- and early 20th-century cocktail menus, I wanted the look to feel vintage yet timeless. I sourced historical photographs, using them to recreate the attire and essence of each character in a way that felt authentic to Kyiv’s past.
Keeping the design simple but impactful was essential; I wanted each aspect, from the descriptions to the visuals, to make Kyiv’s history accessible and engaging without overwhelming patrons.