Work Related : Hello Kitty Gourmet Cafe, Grand Launch

Last Monday was the Hello Kitty Gourmet Cafe's grand launch ! 

At last, after a while. The project started around 10 months ago and the soft launch was held a month back when I was in Tokiyo. So I couldn't make it during that time and I didn't go to visit the cafe since it was opened. I've been waiting for the grand launch. Partly because I want free gourmet foods, partly because I want the free gifts. Hah. This is the invitation card :

*

We waited at the Subway near my office, ordered a chicken slice sandwich and discussed about the illustration works for my latest freelance work. The event started around 7.30pm but we were stuck in the heavy rain until 8pm+. We were late, and missed the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and Kitty herself. But we both got in nonetheless. Yeay!

I saw Mandy, Nicole, and Ally afterwards. They were all dressed up and looked presentable. AF and I was drenched wearing our casual office attire. But oh-well. 

My phone's battery was slowly dying when I tried to take some pictures to bring back home. I saw stuffs that I designed and things that we all created together for so long. It is finally there T^T This picture was taken from their official Facebook account. Here is Kitty in front of the artwork that I did. Not to say that I'm fully proud of it - it won't even be in my portfolio because I feel like there are disturbing empty spaces in the artwork that I thought of filling later while designing it but got approved and I didn't managed to make any changes. I'm proud of the spaghetti though. It was really hard to illustrate it using that stroke :

*

And I also designed the mascot for the grand launch : one in the kitchen suits and another one in a dress. The Sanrio HK did some changes a bit, they added things that they felt suited Kitty better. In any ways, I'm still a proud mama :

*pictures from HK Facebook

*

It felt surreal for me to see all these things in real life. We've been looking at it on the monitor for almost a year, can you imagine the wait? I even forgot about some of the little things that I designed early in the process. This is such a great experience for me, other than Begadang Backpackers, I enjoyed this project. Can you see the Coffee chart poster on the wall? Well that was from me :D

*picture  from HK Facebook

*

The buffet was all special and 'gourmet' as they mentioned. I wouldn't know the differences, I'm not a food appreciator in any way :D I ate minced fruits topped with salmon, spaghetti with mushroom and wild mushroom soups and several mini cupcakes. We were 2 very awkward peoples among all the pretty bloggers and celebrities. Oh, how I love AF for being as simple as we both are. 

*

I was expecting more sweets and pastries buffet - it was a French themed cafe, and coffee perhaps? But there was none. I can't believe that I'm complaining about the free foods =.= But that's fine, I'm going to feed this random sugar-craving tonight.

*

Amber Chia arrived when we were preparing to go home. *Did you heard about the chaos over the Hello Kitty's limo and Rajnikanth? Hah. I couldn't be bothered with all the crowds so we just went out afterwards. Oh yes, I also received 3 Kitty macarons, a small cake, HK water bottle and a paper bag as the gift :

*

Congratulation Hello Kitty Team ! :D

Work Related : Hello Kitty Cafe 3

The soft launching for the cafe is this Saturday!
It's in Sunway Pyramid :D 

Finally, after 10 months work it is ready to be opened and see the world. T^T
I was in Japan during its trial openings, so I'm not quite sure what to expect from the restaurant yet.
My colleague shared some behind-the scene images :

Credit : HK Design Team

*

Us in the design team (around 4 designers) were in charge of making moodboards and researches, designing all the advertisements, posters, menu, wall decals and any printed items in the cafe. We were not in charge of the interior designing because that was from the other design group *so everything about the interior like chairs, wall, lamps and such weren't exactly ours. Food designing is also made by the chef and our art director.

We are all proud parents.

And we will keep on improving, as it is still a newborn please give us some time to improve.  

Do come to the cafe to take a look, the grand opening will be due in October.

:)

Work Related : Hello Kitty Cafe 2

Last weekend after work, we went to Sunway Pyramid to see the "Hello Kitty Gourmet Cafe" in making. This second baby of mine will be due end of August 2015, we will be having a soft launch and later a grand opening :D It is located right in front of the Sunway entrance door *I noticed there are a lot of entrance door, this would be one of it. 

PS : Images are a bit pixelated and dark due to the moody rainy afternoon.

*

This would be the main entrance :

*

*

This is the side corridor :

It is already painted !

*

This is the side view, right next to the main road.

It is supposed to be 2 levels, but I only did the panels for the lower level :

*

And here's for the back door :

That's Hello Kitty wearing the main dress as a chef.

:D

I also did 2 of the mascots for the launching, I can't wait to see them *I hope it won't be ugly. 

Although I'm not a big fan of Hello Kitty myself, I personally cherish this project. Plus, the stroke for this Hello Kitty version is challenging enough for me. But I managed to do it - along with another partner of mine at the office. I'm really thankful for this.

Thanks to AF for bringing me here right after work :D

Work Related : Hello Kitty Cafe

It's no longer a secret! 

We've been working on this project for almost a year and as much as I wanted to share, I had to keep it as P&C project until it is ready for public. But it is almost near to the launching date and they've put up some teaser stickers last week :

( These images were taken from my boss's )

*

This would be my final and biggest project while I'm with LGM. And because I am there from the initial start of the project until it is ready to be born, I feel super excited and proud. I designed those sticker panels along with so many other things, I never have physical things printed and put up in a mall - so I'm going to mark this amazing year. My teammates and I worked very hard for this project.

I hope the launching will be scheduled soon.

*

PS : And I will go there soon and do selfies and take more overly-excited photos.

The cafe is located in Sunway Pyramid by the way :D