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An illustration of a crowded cafe filled with people and anthropomorphic animals. Figures sit at small round tables, eating and chatting, while a cat waiter carries trays of stacked pancakes.

Illustration: Jackson + Rye gets the Jazz-Age treatment from the brilliant Bjorn Rune Lie

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Date
8 January 2014

Bjorn Rune Lie proves himself time and again to be an illustrator of exceptional prowess. His technical skills and traditional image-making processes require an acute understanding of print techniques and an ability to balance colours with remarkable skill. Coupled with that he has an unprecedented nous for creating characters that evoke a golden era of western history with their jazz-age attire.

In spite of this skill it’s still surprising to see a Soho venue commission an illustrator to take charge of their entire visual identity. But Jackson and Rye have done just that, inviting Bjorn to create all the visual collateral for their brand new bar, from the logo emblazoned on the signage and windows to menus littered with exuberant anthropomorphic characters. The imagery lends a sense of warmth to an eatery we’d otherwise know little about and creates a massive point of different for a restaurant located in an area already packed with great places to have dinner.

The storefront of Jackson + Rye restaurant at night, featuring a large, glowing orange awning. The brand name “JACKSON + RYE” is printed in white on the front edge.
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Bjorn Rune Lie: Jackson + Rye

An illustration of a person and an elephant-headed figure in suits sitting at a round orange table. The figure on the right holds a sign that reads “OPENING MONDAY”. Below them, bold text reads “JACKSON + RYE”.
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Bjorn Rune Lie: Jackson + Rye

An illustration of a person and an anthropomorphic bear walking side by side. The bear wears an orange suit and bow tie, while the person wears a black dress, pearls and a wide-brimmed hat.
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Bjorn Rune Lie: Jackson + Rye

An illustration of a cat walking while balancing food and drink. They carry a burger on a tray in one hand, a coffee pot in the other, and a tray of drinks balanced on their tail. Below them, stylized text reads “Jackson + Rye”.
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Bjorn Rune Lie: Jackson + Rye

Two scalloped coasters and two business cards for “Jackson + Rye”. The coasters feature an illustration of a cat waiter carrying a burger and drinks. The cards include the brand name, a London address and a drawing of two people dining at a red table.
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Bjorn Rune Lie: Jackson + Rye

An illustration on a card reads “JACKSON + RYE” in bold, stylised lettering. Below the text, a bustling city scene is populated by anthropomorphic animals dressed in mid-century clothing.
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Bjorn Rune Lie: Jackson + Rye

An illustration of a city street at night, split into two scenes. On the left, a figure in a suit and hat stands outside a bar under a sign that reads “Cocktails”. On the right, a crowd of stylised people and animals gather beneath a large sign reading “Jackson + Rye”.
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Bjorn Rune Lie: Jackson + Rye

A folded pop-up illustration of a crowded mid-century bar. People in formal attire sit at tables and stand in groups, with a sign on the left reading “Cocktails” and “Bar”.
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Bjorn Rune Lie: Jackson + Rye

An illustration of three people sitting around a yellow cafe table. A person with cat-like features wears a black dress and holds a glass of white wine.
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Bjorn Rune Lie: Jackson + Rye

An illustration of a crowded, surreal cafe where people and anthropomorphic animals sit together at small round tables. A cat waiter carries stacks of pancakes, while a giraffe in a suit and a dog in a tuxedo mingle with the guests.
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Bjorn Rune Lie: Jackson + Rye

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About the Author

James Cartwright

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James started out as an intern in 2011 and came back in summer of 2012 to work online and latterly as Print Editor, before leaving in May 2015.

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