If you happen to be traveling to Budapest anytime soon, definitely check out one of it’s newest bars, Trafiq, a visually stunning space and branding concept that is definitely what typographers’ dreams are made of. Alas, if you are not in the habit of traveling so far to visit the globe’s newest hotspots, you can just just check out their spot on branding and interior design style here.
Designed by Kiss Miklos, a designer and visual artist based out of Hungary, the Trafiq branding has a modern, yet distinctive vintage feel that comes from it’s reference to broadsheet newspapers and french cards, which also happens to be where the name of the bar originates. Historically, a ‘Trafik’ was a type of tiny shop that sold tobacco, sweets, newspapers and other knick-knacks such as playing cards, which were the essential accessories of early 20th century clubs. So it is fitting enough that there is not just one business card for Trafiq, but a whole deck. They serve as not only business cards, but are also playing cards. This gorgeous branding is continued onto the menu and adorable packaging designed to be reminiscent of cigarette boxes and match boxes, that would have been sold at the original ‘Trafik’, while still maintaining the elegant and streamlined look of the Trafiq brand.
This sophisticated visual identity created by Miklos is vivid and even playful in the way that typographic posters that reference club culture in a humorous nature. And if posters weren’t enough to get the point across, the walls of entire rooms are covered in well thought out phrases and typography- even the restroom has not been forgotten, you know, just to make sure you don’t pass out in the loo after a few too many. The quotes on the walls are room-specific, so in the lounge you will find erotic literary quotes, and in the restroom the walls are covered in collected restroom graffiti from around the globe. Not only does the Trafiq brand evoke a sense of modernity and contemporary class, but it is a monument to Hungarian culture and style, which really makes it all the more interesting – definitely a bar worth bookmarking for future travels.
+ Trafiq