
In central Athens, around Kaniggos Square, the neighbourhood’s connection with arcade culture became the spark for a new hospitality concept. We saw an opportunity to give travellers more than a place to sleep: a shared setting with the energy, colour and playful attitude of retro gaming.
Retroverse brings together “retro” and “universe”. Nostalgia becomes the starting point for discovery, connection and new memories. That idea gave the project a direction from the very beginning, before it became a logo or a sign.
A bold RV emblem, a star, emphatic typography and a vivid palette of red, blue, green and yellow create a recognisable visual language. Its influences reach beyond pixels to the graphic energy of 1990s music television and street culture. The identity is designed to work as a complete family, from a compact mark to a large architectural application.
We carried that language through external and internal signage, room identities, floor, bed and storage numbering, environmental graphics, decorative posters and all neon sign designs. The reception becomes a “Checkpoint”; movement through the building becomes a journey through levels; messages such as “Level Up Your Stay” give each room its own voice.
Practical information and playful expression share the same system. A number helps a guest find their bed. A poster invites a second look. A neon message changes the mood of a room. Together, they make the brand tangible in everyday moments.
Τhe identity across signage, print, clothing, packaging and digital visuals.
The result is a hospitality identity that guests can encounter, navigate and remember. It gives the space a distinctive voice and a consistent presence in photographs and social content. Our contribution extends from the first concept and naming to the detailed artwork prepared for production.
Brand concept, naming, identity & all graphic applications: Hello Design.
Architecture & design/build: MAMAproject.
Architectural photography: Panagiotis Voumvakis.
Explore Retroverse · Instagram
Read the story: how branding transforms the hostel experience ↗
Press start. Stay curious. Retroverse is a hostel with an entire world of its own. Hello Design conceived its arcade-inspired brand concept and created the name, logo, colour system, visual identity and every graphic expression of that world throughout the space.
ClientRetroverse HostelServicesBrand Concept, Naming, Branding, Logo Design, Visual Identity, Environmental Graphics, Wayfinding, Posters, Neon Sign DesignLinkretroverse.grYear2024