Charis Listening Bar

Charis (pronounced care-iss) Listening Bar is a take on the Japanese Kissa—but make it midwestern, lively, and vinyl-only (no requests!). Located in Bridgeport, Chicago, Charis offers spirit-free versions of nearly every cocktail on the menu.

Upon request, the wordmark styling is a nod to the city of Chicago’s park signage, while the brand colors reflect the natural tones of Midwestern landscapes and the warm, welcoming ambiance of wood-paneled lodges and supper clubs. The menu features a set of icons that indicate the flavor "genre" of each cocktail. Above the bar sits a backlit stained glass sign incorporating the logo.

For Charis Listening Bar's 2026 cocktail menu, Dead Reckoning, I developed a visual theme inspired by the ships lost to Lake Michigan and the stories they carried. Using historical maps and research from the Chicago Maritime Museum, the design draws on nautical charts and archival materials to create a mysterious, atmospheric experience that honors the lake's maritime history.