In a city that’s bustling with some of the most renowned (and delicious) restaurants, spanning a wide variety of cuisines and notorious culinary talent, it is no easy feat to stand out amongst the crowd. Lucky for us, we’ve had a chance to work with the best in the business, the BOKA Group, to illuminate some of Chicago’s most well-known and innovative menus and destinations. 

In honor of some exciting new collaborations that we’re cooking up together, our Founder Avi Mor is spotlighting the recipe to our long-standing, successful collaboration with the BOKA Group.

Setting the Table for a Long-Lasting Partnership

The first opportunity that we had to work with the BOKA Group was actually via another frequent Morlights collaborator – Studio K – on Girl and the Goat, Stephanie Izard’s staple on Chicago’s Restaurant Row. The concepts we put into place here set the standard for our working relationship for the years to follow. 

Following Girl and the Goat, our first full-fledged design collaboration with BOKA was at Momotaro, an award-winning Japanese fusion spot in the same neighborhood. This is where we learned of their team’s shared appreciation of light and what it brings to their restaurants. We were able to show co-owner Rob Katz that all he needed to control the dimming was an iPad, rather than being beholden to the wall itself to control the lighting. This gave him the ability to specify fade times, keeping guests engaged in the atmosphere and ambiance each and every night with no user error – all at his fingertips! 

Ever since then, we like to think that Rob and Kevin Boehm, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, know they are in good hands with Morlights, as we always look to not only support their design, but elevate and enhance its accessibility, aesthetic, and longevity through lighting.

Lighting Design Process for Hospitality 

In the highly competitive hospitality industry, it can be a challenge to establish an efficient and successful process when completing a design project, as every designer and every firm is a bit different when it comes to their overall expertise and knowledge of lighting design. That’s where we get excited to come in – education and collaboration is our strong suit! 

At the start of all hospitality projects, we have a conversation with our partners about the desired mood and feel of the restaurant space, and what technology will be best suited to support those goals. Oftentimes, we assist with ensuring that decorative fixtures – typically designed by other team members and often the focal point of the space – function adequately. One way we do so is when choosing the lamps. 

The standard lamps for these fixtures tend to be G9 LEDs, but our team much prefers to use incandescent lamps as they dim well, accurately control the voltage, and are easy to change, all ensuring that the fixture has a long lifespan. If this solution does not work for the project at hand, we support the designers in selecting a different source for the fixture. Just by educating our partners on lighting technology, like the lamps, in this case, we illuminate solutions that guarantee long-term success, and leave restaurant-goers with a lasting impression of the space and meal!

The Recipe for a Long-Term Synergy

So, what’s the recipe for a successful restaurant collaboration? One part talent that’s brought to the table, a dash of open and engaging communication, and a sprinkle of education amongst a few others – a chef can’t give away all of their secret ingredients!

We’re incredibly proud of the work that we’ve brought to the table in collaboration with the BOKA Group. Each restaurant we’ve done has a unique (and delicious) story to tell, and we’re looking forward to writing the next chapter in our story with BOKA, as we have quite a few new collaborations coming in 2022 that include more chances for us to support their team in creating the curated and unique environments that make their dining experiences so memorable. 

I hope you will join us for a meal in these new collaborations soon!