Studenttainment Student Café Design
Location: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Scope of services: Interior Design and Logo Design
Date: October 2017
Client: Yousif Al-Sharif
In a city teeming with coffee shops and cafes, the Studenttainment Café in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, sets itself apart by catering to a very specific client niche. Located close to a student dorm, the student café design takes its inspiration from the classic British style inspired by Cambridge University.
From its inception, the owner, Mr. Yousuf Al-Sharif, envisioned this as a space that would offer students a relaxing, comfortable environment in which to study and focus. Hence the name, which signifies a place of study and entertainment for students.
Comfort is the cornerstone of this café design, which takes you back to the era of vintage classic British interior design. The vibe is that of a library, with paneled walls and ceilings, where knowledge is attained over a steaming cup of coffee with delicious accompaniments.



The café front is a double-story, glass-paneled façade that allows a glimpse into the interior and lets natural light filter through. Sporting the logo of the student café design, the café front melds seamlessly with other store-front façades. Once inside, students are transported to a retro British era, where classic English design is uplifted by vintage accessories.







The café is designed on two levels: the lower level for boys and the upper, more private area for girls. The layout of the student café design is clean and aims to simplify circulation for both guests as well as employees.
A classic wooden stairway at the entrance to the café leads to the upper level so that ladies can enter and ascend upstairs without having to walk through the gentleman’s section. The service areas are located at the rear of the café for ease of work flow.
Dark colors define the lower levels. Painted gray wall panels topped with soothing agave green walls create a warm, inviting atmosphere that is perfectly suited to studying. The earthy colors are reassuring and calming, helping with focus and concentration. They complement the rich wooden staircase, which has a homely touch to it.








The upper ladies’ level is decorated in light colors. Light wooden floors are paired with pale gray wall panels topped with white painted walls. A low, coffered ceiling is also painted white to help reflect light and give the mezzanine level a cozy, cheerful vibe.
Pale gray-and-white latticed partitions offer privacy for individual study desks. Wooden desks with ample lighting and comfortably upholstered chairs create a study area that is ideal for focused work. Vintage light fixtures add a retro look and feel to the entire design, perfectly complementing the classic vibe.
Group study and reading areas are furnished with large leather armchairs that are luxuriously comfortable for long periods of reading or discussion.








The service areas, located at the rear of the ground level of the café, are simply and functionally designed to ensure quick and efficient service for customers. The color palette follows through from the rest of the café, with dark gray panels and a wooden service counter. Vintage trolleys enhance the retro vibe of the café.
State-of-the-art coffee machines create a delicious brew and can be accompanied by a selection of snacks.





The café caters to a variety of activities, which is why it is separated into areas for individual and group study, reading, dining, and gatherings. While the vibe of each space ties into the overall concept of the student café design, each area is furnished with customized furniture and accessories designed to maximize student productivity.
For the paired studying area, one-legged tables with wooden mosaic tops and cafeteria style chairs provide a comfortable work space. The green agave walls and the vintage wall lighting create a warm glow and a soothing vibe that is ideal for study.





Individual cubicles are private work spaces enclosed by wooden lattices. Comfortable chairs and wooden tables allow students to work in comfort. Vintage lighting illuminates chalk boards in each cubicle, which are great for jotting down ideas.


White-and-black retro flooring tiles define service areas, keeping them neat and orderly in appearance. Gray paneling on the walls and molding on wall panels give the spaces a true classic vibe.


The essence of the design concept is captured in the logo design for the student café. Bringing together the ideas of study and coffee, the “U” in the word “student” is designed as a coffee cup topped by a flipped book for a touch of whimsy.
This charming student café design targets the youth of the city, giving them a place to focus in comfort and relaxation. The vintage classic look chosen for the interior is welcoming and imbued with warmth and coziness. The décor is designed to encourage work and study in an atmosphere that is both fun, entertaining, and conducive to study.