When chef Bert travels, as he likes to remind us, his favorite spot is a sunny terrace in the shade, with a good plate of food and a glass of wine in hand. That "nothing has to, everything goes" feeling was exactly what he wanted to capture in his new venture. Together with his partner and sommelier Caroline, and after the success of their wine bar Bar Terroir on the Groentenmarkt, they created a second Ghent hotspot for bon vivants: Ombra.

The symbol of that blissful feeling? The name itself, Ombra, meaning "shade" in Italian. We carried that sense of timeless simplicity into the branding. Graphic designer Sander used a cardboard cutout of the name as a stencil, literally playing with light and shadow to reflect the calm, southern ease that defines the concept.

With a strong logo as the foundation, we built out the full brand experience for Bert and Caroline. Warm teal and terracotta red became the base colors, and we designed a functional website with a seasonal menu, reservation tool, and atmospheric photography. Through words, we captured the duo’s culinary vision and invited both the Ghent locals and fellow food lovers to take a seat.

What started as a feeling has grown into a solid brand. Today, Ombra is no longer just a southern daydream, but a true Ghent gem: a bistro where food is honestly good, wine flows freely, and time seems to slow down just a little. Santé.