Balena is an Italian-inspired restaurant focusing on foods sourced from the farms of the Midwest. Its beverage program showcases wines from all regions of Italy, and its amaro-based cocktails are offered on a 1-to-10 scale of bitterness.
True story designed Balena’s brand identity, including the logotype and chef’s chop, menu design, to-go packaging, stationery, collateral and website.
The mnemonic upside-down “a” in the logo was inspired by early team discussions in which the name was voiced conversely as either “ba-LAY-nuh” or “ba-LEE-nuh” (the former won.)