Fire, land and sea: Crown Creative’s symbolic brand world for Nina draws from Quechua roots

Crown Creative has crafted an identity for Nina that transforms ancient Peruvian mythology into a contemporary dining experience at Dominican resort, St. Regis Cap Cana. Named after the Quechua word for fire, the restaurant concept centres on three elemental forces – land, fire and sea – that chef Diego Muñoz envisioned as the foundation for his signature Peruvian grill. “The brief set to us was to bring his dream to life. Chef Diego came to us with a beautiful name and three cornerstones for the dining experience, along with such a love and pride for his culture,” explains Lead Designer Kate Tracey. The challenge lay in balancing the vibrant energy of Peruvian culture with the refined elegance expected from a luxury resort’s signature restaurant. The identity builds on a custom symbol system that draws from ancient Peruvian iconography without directly replicating historical forms. “We wanted the symbol system to reflect those elemental forces that shape Nina; while grounding the brand in its cultural roots. Our research into Peruvian iconography revealed such a wealth of abstract, geometric forms that convey these powerful elements,” Tracey notes. Each symbol evolves from the letter ‘N’ in the wordmark, creating a cohesive family of marks that appears across every detail from menu pages to ice stamps.