CANLIS
A CASE STUDY
PROJECT OVERVIEW
For the past decade, we’ve had the distinct honor of serving as art directors for Canlis—Seattle’s most iconic and storied restaurant. With a legacy that stretches back to 1950, Canlis isn’t just a fine dining institution; it’s a symbol of generational care, hospitality, and vision. Being trusted to help shape the visual language of such a revered place is something we don’t take lightly. The Canlis family—who’ve become dear friends—are endlessly creative, thoughtful, and wildly supportive. Their commitment to excellence is unmatched, and their ideas are always bold, fresh, and full of heart. They’ve consistently invited us to dream big—and then given us the freedom to make those dreams real. Their service feels otherworldly, like stepping into a parallel universe where every detail matters. It’s been one of the great creative joys of our career, and we’re grateful for every single project, meal, and memory shared along the way.
Project Credits
- (Art Direction / Design / Illustration) Don Clark
- (Creative Direction) Mark & Brian Canlis
- (Photography) Kevin Scott
A BRIEF HISTORY
A STORY 75 YEARS IN THE MAKING
Canlis, founded in 1950 by Peter Canlis, is a Seattle fine-dining icon known for its modernist design and Pacific Northwest cuisine. Now run by the third generation, it remains a nationally acclaimed, family-run institution.
A FAMILY LEGACY
Canlis was founded in 1950 by Peter Canlis, a visionary who brought fine dining to the Pacific Northwest with a focus on impeccable service, architectural beauty, and warm hospitality. His son Chris and daughter-in-law Alice took the reins, honoring Peter’s legacy while evolving the restaurant into something even more personal and enduring. Their leadership solidified Canlis as a multigenerational family-run landmark, beloved by Seattle and beyond.
HISTORICAL AND VISUAL
Canlis is a masterclass in timeless design—its mid-century architecture and interiors blend beautifully with the Northwest landscape. In the early days, even the graphic design—from matchbooks to menus—reflected the restaurant’s refined vision, setting the tone for a brand that has always cared deeply about the details.
A DECADE OF COLLABORATION
When Brian and Mark Canlis took the reins of their family’s iconic restaurant, they redefined what it meant to lead with vision, hospitality, and heart. Since then, they’ve become not just trusted collaborators, but two of the most influential creative partners we’ve ever had the honor of working with. Their generosity, imagination, and belief in our ideas have shaped our career in ways we’re still grateful for every day. Simply put, no one has had a greater impact on our creative journey than Brian and Mark. The work below is a smattering of all the fun we've had together.
HOLIDAY GIFTS
Designing holiday gifts for Canlis friends and family has become one of our favorite traditions—a yearly opportunity to surprise and delight with something wonderfully unexpected. From custom snow globes to ant farms (yes, ant farms), Brian and Mark are constantly dreaming up the coolest ideas, then handing us the reins to bring them to life.
We've partnered with Invisible Creature for the better part of a decade, and every collaboration reaffirms why: their exceptional creativity is matched only by how genuinely enjoyable they are to work with. Their beautiful designs consistently inspire us to think bigger, be bolder, and push our own creativity. Remarkably, they're also the rare firm that is fast, punctual, and reliably hits deadlines every single time. They're the creative partners you always hope to find.
Brian Canlis
Owner / Canlis
THE UNAUTHORIZED LEGO CANLIS SET
Canlis brought to life in (unauthorized) LEGO. The set includes Chef Aisha in her whites, the Canlis brothers mid-idea, and of course, the legendary Japanese maple tree. Designed with help from Zac Schwiet and The Minifig Co.
POSTERS
If you live in Seattle (or anywhere for that matter), you know that Canlis parties are something special. We’ve had the joy of commemorating these moments with posters, turning every memorable bash into wall art.
MATCHBOOKS
Our friend Dana Tanamachi beautifully resurrected the Canlis matchbook program. When it was time to pass the torch, we were honored to take the reins. Matchbook art featured here by us, Jordan Kay, Pam Wishbow, Kyler Martz and Jonathan Ball.
2020 HAPPENS
When COVID shut down Seattle, Canlis made the bold decision to keep their entire staff and pivot. Overnight, everything changed.
QUICK DRAW
There was no time to overthink—design had to move at the speed of Canlis. Each new pop-up came with its own wild idea, and we matched their energy with quick-turn visuals that captured the moment. The look was proudly anti–fine dining: scrappy, local, lo-fi. Think Xerox'd flyer. It was chaotic, it was thrilling, and honestly, it was what we were made for. Here are a few “logos” we whipped up on the fly.
CANLIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
In the fall of 2020, Canlis launched one of their most creative pivots yet: Canlis Community College—and asked us to help bring it to life. From soba-making to jazzercise, every class was unexpected, joyful, and deeply rooted in community. We got to design a visual identity that felt like a mix of public access TV, local college and cafeteria nostalgia.
Keep 'em coming
As Canlis reinvented itself week after week, we got to create a flurry of illustrations for Thanksgiving, Mothers Day, Easter and more.
They can do it all. Find any reason to collaborate together. You'll be a better human, and anything IC touches turns to gold
Mark Canlis
Owner / Canlis
CAMP CANLIS & THE YURT VILLAGE
Camp Canlis and the Yurt Village was the final—and maybe most magical—pivot during those wild pandemic years. It was their last reinvention before reopening the dining room, and it felt like the perfect sendoff: cozy, playful, and totally unexpected. A surreal little campground tucked into the city.
471 days
To mark the 471 days that Canlis’s dining room remained closed, we created a commemorative poster featuring every logo we designed during that time—each one representing a wild, heartfelt pivot the brothers dreamed up to keep things going. From burger stands to bottle shops, crab boils to community college, every mark told a piece of the story.
WATCH THE FILM
Here’s a beautiful little film the Canlis crew put together—it captures the heart of those unforgettable 471 days.
THANK YOU
Mark & Brian