Southern Cross Hospitality: Doki Doki Ice Creamery
Southern Cross Hospitality, the proprietor of acclaimed Savannah restaurants The Collins Quarter and The Fitzroy, first partnered with SCADpro for a 48-hour sprint designing a new Japanese street food restaurant in the city. Following the opening of Ukiyo in Savannah's Starland District, Southern Cross teamed with SCADpro for a second ambitious design sprint: create a new ice cream parlor unlike any other in Savannah.
48
hour design challenge
6
months from concept to opening
1
student hired
Project approach
SCAD students explored ice cream options in the Savannah area and identified four areas of focus for their design: brand purpose, interior experience, made-to-order options, and delivery strategy. Their conceptualization centered around the Japanese phrase doki doki, or a heart beating in anticipation of something wonderful.
"It is so wonderful to be able to walk through Savannah and see something that I have worked on and touched, and see the community enjoy it so much."
Madeline Jensen | M.F.A. preservation design; B.F.A., interior design, 2022
Project outcome
SCADpro students conceptualized Doki Doki with the goal of creating "Savannah's most diverse, playful, and future-forward ice cream experience." The resulting design, a brightly colored, brightly lit space, welcomes in the curious and the creative eater alike. In addition to designing the storefront on Savannah's busy Bull Street corridor, the SCADpro student team developed a comprehensive brand strategy for Doki Doki: everything from social media and packaging to merchandising and advertising, all the way down to the delivery vehicle's graphics. With the help of SCADpro, Southern Cross Hospitality opened Doki Doki adjacent to The Collins Quarter in summer 2023, just six months after the design sprint was completed.
