BrandWorks is proud to introduce the first issue of Minded, our very own design newspaper showcasing the latest trends in hospitality, design, and lifestyle. 

In this issue, we celebrate winning both the 2016 New York Hospitality Design Awards and 2016 London Restaurant and Bar Design Awards with So 9, our international show stopper! Learn how to make the old new again with the strategy 'Anchor and Twist'. Discover Australia's newest hospitality openings and the hospitality's hottest trends right now. Sit down with us as we chat to Dean, founder of Melbourne's Empire Steak, about his mission to bring back the Australian steak sandwich.

For the curious aesthete, anyone venturing to make things more beautiful, and trendsetters who want to stay on top of their game, Stay Minded.

Branding as something more.

With the new year on our doorstep, have you made the resolution that you will do what you love? Will 2016 be the year to start your own business, call the shots and live your passion day to day? Before you take the plunge, have a read about how four ordinary people made 2015 the year they brought their idea and passion to market and achieved amazing success. 

As we enter the holiday season and end of year break, many of us look to get away for a little while to rest and recoup before the upcoming year. Whether it be travelling around locally, heading interstate or overseas we find ourselves making use of hotels and encountering the inevitability of hotel dining.

Scroll through the notes on my phone and you’ll find a formidable list of over 50 burger joints, Melbourne and beyond, with a good ninety percent of these ticked off with a burger emoji. My obsession with burgers, and the burger culture of Melbourne, ignited shortly after I returned from the US, ready to see what we could offer up to rival the In-n-Outs and Shake Shacks of the world.

One of our favourite cuisines to enjoy here in Melbourne is Vietnamese and, luckily, there are plenty of great places to get a bite locally. What we really love are great Vietnamese eateries with a twist, whether it be an interesting design or just a cool vibe. Here are 5 of our favourites from Melbourne, interstate and abroad:

When you hear people talking about restaurants and eateries, more often than not they are talking about what’s new or who’s just opened down the street. But what happened to the classics? The stalwarts... the institutions?

Melbourne is emerging as a city food precinct, which has helped stamp its position as the World's most liveable city. Tucked away in Katherine Place – just off Flinders Lane is a fine example of this. The businesses here are passionate about their craft and dedicated to delivering an experience worth sharing. We take a look inside The Archway to discover what makes this community so special.

We love travelling! More often than not, the highlight of our travels are found off the beaten track, or wherever the creative community can be found coming together. Here are a couple of our favourite discoveries.