Ak Yol is a mobile coffee shop on the Altai that promotes cultural code and history through coffee. The concept of the mobile coffee shop evokes the nomadic lifestyle of ancient Altai peoples and follows the popular «pop-up» format.
The identity and color palette are based on some of the most popular petroglyphs in the Altai region—the colored petroglyphs in the Karakul Valley. They consist of black, white, and red colors.
Each letter of the logo is stylized after a specific element of Altai: A — is drawn to resemble one of the figures from the petroglyphs. K — is depicted as the point where the sacred rivers Katun and Chuya meet. Y — represents the rare, red-book mountain goat, the argali. O — is bisected by the road and the sun, because «Ak mol» means a bright, straight road. L — is again a figure from the petroglyphs.
The arrangement of elements within the yurt is not arbitrary. According to tradition, the yurt is always divided into significant zones. For instance, the hearth among the Altai people is in the center, which is why the order fulfillment and pickup station is located centrally. Apparel merchandise is also placed on the right because the right side of the yurt is traditionally designated for women, meaning all clothing-related items are kept there; conversely, the left side is for men, so items pertaining to travel are located on that side.
Leaving the yurt with just a white covering would be boring, so the canvas was adorned with prehistoric sun imagery, as well as the familiar petroglyph featured in the letter A of the logo.
The bandage dispenser plays a very significant role in the project—it’s through it that the transition from one point to another occurs. Such a machine can easily navigate complex paths, and the design will help locate a favorite coffee shop from afar.
The crafts at my coffee shop are all handmade, so to see what they will look like in real life as soon as possible, we decided to sculpt them.
But what’s a cup without a drink in it? The photographs on the right show served options from the menu of the «Ak Yol» coffee shop.
The coffee shop menu is filled with Altai products: seasonal local berries, pine nuts, and milk from local animals. At Ak Yol Coffee Shop, you can taste the Altai.
Postcards are a beautiful way to preserve memories—and in a conveniently small format that allows you to carry the item with you at all times. Photographs from the postcards were taken in three different zones of Altai: 1. Forest zone, Taiga 2. Mid-belt 3. Tundra and semi-desert strip
coffee—for people, and hay…?
In Altai, there are many animals grazing freely: horses, cows, yaks, and goats. We have prepared a special treat for them. By bringing a bundle of hay, you can always delight and feed them.
