Ongoing project Cycling · Coffee · Community

CHAIN by Yas Cycles

A place to ride, refuel and reconnect.

I’m developing a creative direction for CHAIN: a space that brings a bike shop, workshop and future café together around the people who use them.

This is a look inside the process, from the site visit and moodboards to the identity and spatial ideas currently taking shape.

Project snapshot · September 2026

Active Social Club moodboard: olive and sage accents, pale wood, coffee, cycling and relaxed social spaces — Active Social Club — olive & sage direction. Concept moodboard with AI-generated imagery; spatial design in development. Click to enlarge.

The starting point

More than a stop after a ride.

The brief brings cycling, coffee and everyday community life into one place. CHAIN should feel welcoming to riders, gym members and neighbours dropping in for a coffee.

A site visit helped ground the concept in the real space: an existing bike shop, a workshop at the back and an area intended for the café and indoor seating. An outdoor seating area is also being explored.

Existing CHAIN storefront with orange opening-soon signage and a shaded outdoor area — Site visit — the existing storefront and outdoor area.

Existing CHAIN interior with an exposed ceiling, counter and workshop area towards the back — Site visit — the interior before the café concept is developed.

Creative direction

Active Social Club

A light, relaxed atmosphere with cycling at its heart.

01 / Atmosphere

Warm, airy and grounded

The direction pairs olive and sage with ivory, sand and pale wood. Small orange accents can connect the space to CHAIN’s existing visual identity.

02 / Community

A reason to stay

The café concept gives people a place to meet after a ride, pause after a workout or simply spend time together over coffee.

03 / Everyday use

Details that work hard

Furniture and finishes need to suit an active setting. Durable, easy-to-clean seating and clear circulation are guiding the next design studies.

Identity in progress

Exploring the symbol

Eight studies inspired by cycling components and the idea of connection.

Click to explore ↗

These early vector studies were developed from AI-assisted concept explorations and are under review. The final selection and geometry are still being refined.

CHAIN symbol exploration 01 — cycling cog study — Exploration 01

CHAIN symbol exploration 02 — cycling cog study — Exploration 02

CHAIN symbol exploration 03 — cycling cog study — Exploration 03

CHAIN symbol exploration 04 — cycling cog study — Exploration 04

CHAIN symbol exploration 05 — cycling cog study — Exploration 05

CHAIN symbol exploration 06 — cycling cog study — Exploration 06

CHAIN symbol exploration 07 — cycling cog study — Exploration 07

CHAIN symbol exploration 08 — cycling cog study — Exploration 08

What’s next

Bringing the direction into the space.

Confirm the practical details. Map dimensions, seating needs and circulation between the café, retail area and workshop.
Explore the layouts. Develop two to three seating options and shortlist furniture suited to daily use.
Refine the visual concept. Develop the selected identity direction and test the palette and materials through mockups using photographs of the actual space.