Characters for the cafe

•

The task: create characters for a cafe based on 3 dishes

The main wishes of the customer:
1. Cartoon style
2. Compliance with the palette of the mudboard or the palette of the dishes themselves
3. Simple character shapes
4. It is possible to add an outline, since the characters will be used as a sticker pack

I started my work with the selection of a palette...

...and the search for an interesting ideas:

First, I depicted individual elements of dishes (cream, cotton candy, etc.) in the form of dormant dogs, as an allegory of a dormant flavour that needs to be tasted

Then I tried to use a single template to enhance the consistency of the images. The color and attributes refer to the name of the dish:
Pavlova pancakes -> cap and apron;
Strawberry cheesecake french toast -> beret and scarf that are associated with something French;
ALPS BRUNCH -> hat, vest and pipe like those used by the Alpine people.

Such characters are easy to animate:

Another illustrations are minimalistic, which can be used as stickers, labels to sew on clothes. And you can make enamel jewelry based on them (earrings / rings / pendants).

In the following set of illustrations, the headdress and accessories of humanized dogs refer to the dish, but at the same time do not directly indicate it, which stimulates to look closely, understand, get interested.

But my most favorite and final idea was the kitchen puppies, angels of cooking. Puppies with wings instead of ears and a chef's hat can become the mascot of a restaurant chain. They are easy-going, love to travel and have already flown around the world. Now they share their impressions the way they know how best - in the form of delicious dishes.