A coffee shop that is accessible to everyone.

A long-time neighbor of Graphéine in Lyon, La Boîte à Café is much more than just a café. It is a living space, a true cultural crossroads. A warm and lively old-style café where people enjoy putting the world to rights, sketching ideas at the corner of a table, and letting projects take shape through conversation.

Since the agency was founded, this place has been part of our creative daily life. It therefore felt only natural to put our expertise at the service of this local institution by designing its new visual identity.

Far removed from large-scale metropolitan or institutional projects, this work reminded us that design ultimately draws its strength from the uses and human connections it creates. Designing an identity for such a singular place, nestled in the heart of the slopes of Croix-Rousse in Lyon, was a deep source of motivation for us.

Located on Place du Forez, just below the slopes of Croix-Rousse in Lyon, La Boîte à Café sits around a circular square that has become a true neighborhood meeting point.

The logotype was designed around this unique geography. Conceived as a minimalist box, it incorporates a stylized coffee bean whose central negative space echoes the round shape of the square. This space then becomes a living field of expression, capable of hosting different types of content ; illustrations, text, or messages ; allowing the identity to evolve alongside the life of the place and its cultural programming.

The pigeon ; a familiar yet often overlooked figure of the urban landscape ; quickly emerged as a natural character for the identity. We were drawn to the idea of giving this everyday city bird a more affectionate and popular dimension by turning it into a true brand character.

At times playful, lively, or quietly contemplative, it appears across the different communication materials: wearing a bicycle helmet on the espresso packaging or comfortably settled inside an oversized tea cup. A way of bringing warmth, humor, and a sense of closeness to the world of La Boîte à Café.