M35 recontextualises Greek artefacts as playful graphics for Olympus

The taverna sits at the heart of Greek dining culture – communal tables, abundant food, and a warmth that makes strangers feel like family. For Olympus, Sydney-based design consultancy M35 captured this spirit through an identity that balances ancient sculptural forms with contemporary refinement, creating a visual language where classical references feel alive rather than reverential. At the centre of the identity sits the circle – a motif pulled directly from architect George Livissianis’ design for the restaurant. “The central form and flow of the space are built around a circular structure; a modern echo of the tholos found in classical Greek architecture,” Creative Director Jamie Mitchell explains. The tholos is a domed round building from ancient Greece, symbolising unity and gathering. M35 abstracted this architectural element into a recurring graphic device that anchors layouts and compositions across the identity, serving both structural and symbolic roles whilst evoking the view upward through the circular opening to the sky. The sculptural elements that populate the identity emerged from a deliberate search for pieces with personality. M35’s research focused on Greek sculptures that conveyed humour and humanity rather than formal grandeur. “We began by sourcing pieces that felt fun, cheeky and slightly irreverent,” Mitchell shares. These artefacts were recontextualised as graphic elements within layouts, using their playful expressions and gestures to bring warmth and character to the brand. By reducing them to bold, monotone cut-outs, the studio created a cohesive language that removes any sense of museum-like formality whilst maintaining their sculptural integrity.