A look at designer Suin Choi’s identity project for Bodega, a dual-purpose space that shifts from daytime grocery to evening dessert and wine bar through bold typography and thoughtful visual design. 

Some spaces don’t just serve different purposes, they shift personalities. Bodega is one of those gems. By day, it’s a neighborhood grocery offering fresh bread, coffee, and everyday staples. By night, half the space eases into a warm dessert and wine bar, turning the familiar into something a little softer and moodier. We love this concept and how designer Suin Choi captures the daily transformation with an identity that’s equal parts utilitarian and atmospheric, a visual system built to live comfortably in two worlds that is equal parts utilitarian and atmospheric. It’s a visual system built to live comfortably in two worlds.

A Visual Language Built on Contrast

At the center is a big, confident logotype, the kind you might see painted on the side of an old corner store. It’s intentionally oversized and unapologetic, designed for clear communication across signage and posters. Grocery. Wine. Desserts. The posters don’t overthink it; they simply broadcast the essentials, letting the concept do the talking. This clarity during the day becomes a framework for the more intimate tone of the evening.

Typography as Time of Day

Choi uses typography as the anchor for Bodega’s duality. A sturdy block typeface channels the practical, unfussy spirit of a daytime bodega. It feels functional, grounded, and familiar. Come evening, a serif typeface steps in that is warmer, quieter, and subtly elegant. The pairing doesn’t try to hide the shift; instead, it celebrates it. The result is a single identity that feels completely coherent while still expressing two moods.

Design That Mirrors Everyday Rituals

Bodega’s identity works because it echoes the rhythms of the space itself: bright and pragmatic when the sun is up, softer and more indulgent once it sets. Choi’s approach is a reminder that graphic design can embrace multiplicity without losing its center. A place that sells coffee at 9 AM and pours wine at 9 PM deserves an identity that can hold both and here, it does so beautifully.