Start-up international brand Chaps and Co Barbershop brought us on board in 2014 to design their first barbershop in Jumeirah Lake Towers in Dubai. Their brief was to create a stylish and welcoming barbershop for the modern gentleman that transformed an everyday task into a sensory and sociable experience, something that was impossible to find in Dubai at the time.

Our holistic design approach works across interiors, brand identity and graphics to create a coherent and seamless experience for customers, from online contact through to marketing material and, ultimately, sitting in the barber’s chair.

In order to create the brand elements needed to reflect and embellish Chaps & Co’s core values, we studied the origins and evolution of the barbershop to arrive at a fusion of contemporary and historical references unique to the brand. Inspired by historical illustrations showing spaces with intricately carved wood panelling where people could not only get their hair cut but hang out, play a game of cards or strum on a guitar, our concept centres around a large lush lounge space for informal socialising. A dark and atmospheric lighting concept is inspired by the barbershop in popular culture.