Relish Works

Relish Works, the innovation research arm of a well-known family-owned food distributor, is a model of creativity and ingenuity within the foodservice industry. During a brand overhaul, the company engaged IA’s experiential design team to infuse its downtown Chicago workplace with the unique Relish Works persona. The IA team brought the company’s vibrant personality to life, emphasizing its ongoing strategic problem-solving methods and creative outcomes while honoring its roots and evolution from a spirited tech environment leaning into hospitality.  

Throughout, the entire Relish Works family of companies and the broader foodservice ecosystem is represented. Everyday materials including utensils and food trays transcend their practical intent, becoming whimsical elements of the inspiring design. Playful illustrations and witty references create a narrative educating visitors about the brand's mission and methods, establishing a sense of connection through humor and culture.

Approached from a shared corridor, a series of restaurant-related objects—plates, bowls, and utensils—eschew their intended purpose and initiate a level of playfulness at first impression when crossing the threshold, setting the tone for the creative journey to come. Employees and guests are greeted with a series of illustrations and thought-provoking questions along with an illuminated Imagining the future of foodservice message.

A series of custom illustrations applied to colorful cafeteria trays anchors the central gathering space with its variety of work settings and natural light. From the International Women’s Day Brunch to the annual St. Patrick’s Day Dyeing of the Chicago River, each tray references a specific aspect of the team’s rituals and collective activities. A dedicated showcase next to the bar displays successful developments and products that reflect the team’s breadth of interests and influences.

A conference room intentionally designed to stand out from the rest of the workspace features frosted film on its glass wall outlining the shape of a crown that frames the customers within, emphasizing one of the parent company’s key values—The Customer is King. Custom wallcovering with illustrated playing cards featuring the king and a variety of food-related references rendered in new brand palette colors underscores the customer’s importance.

The journey ends at the far end of the office where an open collaboration area displays an illuminated Order Here sign on a wood wall where a hand-drawn mural depicts the foodservice ecosystem, telling stories about the supply chain, the impact of technology on restaurants, and the Relish Works design strategy. A door in the wall opens to a speakeasy with a hidden lounge that references Relish Works as the parent company’s secret weapon.

Photography by © Kendall McCaugherty