Kuki is a Japanese vegan fine dining restaurant nestled in Taman Tun, Kuala Lumpur. When we were invited to craft its brand world, we began with the spirit of its founder: a woman who stands strong in all seasons, like a reef in the wetland. This resilience, rootedness, and grace in the face of adversity became our guiding inspiration.
Kusa is a space for contemplation, comfort, and slow nourishment. A place that moves with the seasons, but always feels like home.
At its core, Tan Puay Tee’s collection of artwork, bound in a three-part book, is a vessel of memory and devotion in honour of his beloved wife.
Our challenge was to shape a design that could hold this depth of sentiment with clarity and care. We approached the book as a gift that held the journey of remembrance.
We designed the book to echo this unfolding perception. Three chapters trace her vision, while die-cut windows and folded inserts shift scale and perspective, mirroring the act of looking closer, deeper, and differently.
Kuki’s name comes from the stem of a plant, the part of a flower you rarely notice, but without which it cannot exist. We designed Kuki’s identity with this same philosophy: a restrained visual system inspired by Japanese woodblock prints, minimal graphics, and natural textures that let the space speak for itself. The result is a tranquil, meditative experience that elevates every moment.
The typography is deliberately understated to serve asa quiet companion to each imagery. From material to layout each book echos the artist’s own intent and pace, to create a work that is both an archive and a love letter.
