Sumo Kitchen
I collaborated with a local restaurant owner in Champaign to redesign the interior of a struggling sushi restaurant, formerly known as Moki Sushi. The goal was to completely transform the space and atmosphere to create Sumo Kitchen, a bold and culturally inspired dining experience that could attract new customers and better reflect the brand’s modern Japanese concept.
Year
2025
Industry
Hospitality / Restaurant
Role
Interior Designer
Challenge
The previous interior from Moki Sushi felt outdated and lacked a cohesive theme.
Dim lighting and dark color tones made the space feel smaller and uninviting.
Poor spatial layout caused inefficient table placement and limited seating capacity.
The restaurant’s identity was unclear, resulting in low customer engagement and weak brand recognition.
Solution
Concept Development: Created a new interior identity centered on modern Japanese culture, using bold colors, sumo-inspired graphics, and traditional design elements.
Space Planning: Reorganized seating layouts to improve flow and increase seating capacity while maintaining comfort and privacy.
Materials & Lighting: Introduced warm wood finishes, accent lighting, and brick textures to balance modern and traditional aesthetics.
Brand Integration: Incorporated custom wall art, signage, and decor that tied together the visual identity of Sumo Kitchen.
Impact
Revitalized the restaurant’s atmosphere, attracting a younger, trend-conscious audience.
Significant improvement in customer satisfaction and overall dining experience.
Positive feedback from the client and visitors on the cohesive, modern Japanese theme.
Sumo Kitchen established a stronger presence as a contemporary dining destination.
Deliverables
Interior layout and decorations.
3D visualizations and renderings for client presentation
Custom wall art and branding integration concepts
Final styling and installation direction
