Building a Place That Feels Like You

This project centers on translating personal history into a physical, hospitality-driven brand experience. Led by chef Rachel Ponce and brewmaster Eric Ponce, The Staviary is a soon-to-open wine, food, and beer destination in downtown Paso Robles—designed to feel intimate, thoughtful, and deeply personal.

The brand was inspired by a formative moment in their shared story: a Taste of Chicago trip, where Rachel and Eric fell in love with the way food, beer, and culture could coexist in a single experience. That influence carries through the concept—moving beyond the journey and into the juice—where every detail is driven by intention, flavor, and soul.

The name The Staviary draws from Eric’s time working at Goose Island Brewery, where the barrel room was located inside a former aviary. It was also the place where Rachel and Eric were married, making the name a meaningful symbol of both craft and commitment. The Staviary became the perfect expression of their next chapter together.

Eric’s beer program sets the space apart, featuring a curated selection of international bottles with personal stories behind each label, traditional European pouring techniques, and rare Czech foam certification—bringing authenticity and reverence to the ritual of beer. Paired with Rachel’s chef-driven food and a carefully considered wine list, The Staviary is designed as a place where hospitality feels lived-in, not manufactured.

The result is a brand built from memory, craft, and emotion—a space that doesn’t just serve food and drink, but feels unmistakably like the people behind it.

Client: Rachel Ponce and Eric Ponce

Brand Designer: Me