May 2nd, 2007 Opening for the Stoli Hotel in Hollywood, CA

I’ve had myself deep in the history books for the last few months, investigating the spirit (sorry) of all things uniquely Russian, to figure out what ideas, concepts and design elements can be characterized as “uniquely and authentically Russian” to help express the history and depth of the Stolichnaya brand. What a fantastic project! Our investigations gave us the chance to ask some interesting questions about design: what iconic emblems translate across time and culture? What is considered a design icon and what is considered a design stereotype? How relevant to a brand is the history of a culture, and how can that relevance be expressed without seeming too themed? And more importantly, how can I build a Stoli Onion Dome?! Everyone who saw the onion dome design immediately says “Russia”!!! That was the important connection we were trying to make, tying the artifacts of Russian culture to the brand.

I have been watching the design develop on paper and emailed photos for months, and am intimate with its details, but I was REALLY caught off-guard by how fantastic the space looked when I finally got to see it in person last week for the Opening Party. I’m certain that I uttered a few expletives in amazement when I toured the space, and I definitely overheard similar descriptive language being used by other guests - including our client - upon their arrival. I got to rub elbows with Paris Hilton, Danny Masterson, Andy Dick, Bai Ling and a few other celebs, but the real joy for me was seeing the design realized beautifully by Cinnabar, and experiencing the stellar event produced by Legacy Marketing Partners, that’s generating a mammoth buzz for Stolichnaya.