A team from FÖDA Studio that includes a Department of Design lecturer and an alumnus was recently named as a finalist for two James Beard Awards for restaurant design.
Design Lecturer Jett Butler and alumnus Dale Wallain (M.F.A., Design, 2011) were part of the design team nominated for their design of the interior of Japanese restaurant Otoko in Austin. They were nominated in the category of restaurants with 75 seats or fewer.
Butler was also part of a team that was named as a finalist for their design of the restaurant The Preacher’s Son in Bentonville, Arkansas in the category of restaurants with 76 seats or more.
“I’m proud to have led my team on both projects, but The Preacher’s Son represents a breakthrough for FÖDA,” said Butler. “It was a holistic, 360° design effort with our studio stepping in to lead an adaptive reuse team, re-concepting, renaming, interior selections, identity. From aprons to door handles, seating plan to typography. It was a rare opportunity.”
The nominees were selected based on their work in restaurant design or renovation in North America since Jan, 1, 2015. Winners will be announced May 7, 2018.
Photos: Top, The Preacher's Son restaurant in Bentonville, Arkansas, designed by a team from FÖDA Studio. Photo by Mark Jackson.
Bottom, a customized knife for Otoko restuaruant in Austin, Texas, designed by a team from FÖDA Studio. Photo by Nick Simonite.