Le Youkounkoun
Le Youkounkoun 1965
A rare culinary jewel reimagining Franco-Caribbean cuisine in the heart of Kigali.
Some restaurants serve food. Le Youkounkoun serves an experience.
From the founder of Boho Lounge comes a fine dining destination that fuses French technique with Caribbean soul, all set against Kigali’s iconic skyline. Le Youkounkoun isn’t just a place to eat. It’s where art meets appetite, and where every plate tells a story.
My role? To visually match the magic.
From brand discovery to visual storytelling, I was brought in to shape the restaurant’s identity: elegant but unpretentious, modern yet rooted in heritage. We wanted diners to feel like they had entered a secret, luxurious corner of the world, even before they tasted a thing.
01
Problem Statement
Le Youkounkoun 1965 had all the right ingredients ,visionary founders, exquisite cuisine, and an unforgettable ambiance. But something was missing: a visual identity that could carry the same emotional weight as the dining experience.
The brand needed to whisper luxury, not scream it. To feel exclusive, but never cold. They wanted a look that matched the experience, modern, soulful, and full of flair, yet nothing off-the-shelf could do it justice. Every element had to feel intentional, bespoke, and timeless. The challenge was clear, create a brand system as artful and memorable as the dishes themselves.
02
Solution
We set out to build a brand that felt as curated as the restaurant itself, elegant but not uptight, warm but not overly familiar.
Starting from a clean slate, we developed the full visual identity from logo and colors to typography and layout systems. The goal was to create a brand that could live beautifully across touch points, from menus and signage to social media and cards, while still feeling cohesive and timeless.
We leaned into refined type, rich color palettes, and layout structures that allowed photography and design to coexist without competing. Everything was built to mirror the Le Youkounkoun experience: intentional, elevated, and designed to leave an impression.
03
Result
The final brand identity set the tone for everything that followed. From signage to menus, print materials to digital assets, every detail spoke the same language of quiet elegance and refined flair.
The brand helped position Le Youkounkoun 1965 not just as a restaurant, but as an experience. It gave the space a visual presence that matched its culinary ambition, timeless, expressive, and unmistakably premium.
Today, Le Youkounkoun stands out in Kigali’s fine dining scene with a brand that feels just as curated as its menu.
Project contracted under Africamile Agency
