Yo! Sushi

London based YO! Sushi approached MODE to design the first YO! Sushi food outlet in the southern Hemisphere at Sydney Domestic Airport.

Client: SSP
Location: Sydney Airport, NSW
MODE Expertise: Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Design
Completed: 2019

YO! Sushi, Terminal 2, Sydney Domestic Airport

London-based brand YO! Sushi partnered with MODE to design its first outlet in the Southern Hemisphere, located at Sydney Domestic Airport. The goal was to create a vibrant and playful space that reflected YO! Sushi’s urban identity while adhering to stringent airport authority, BCA, and NCC guidelines. MODE’s interior and graphic design teams worked closely with the client’s London-based design team, local artists, and material specialists to deliver a visually striking and functionally efficient flagship store.

Design & Construction
The design transformed a compact footprint into an immersive brand experience, integrating intuitive layouts that prioritised both customer engagement and efficient food preparation. A bold material palette of black chrome framework, polished concrete joinery, solid timber panels, and handmade white ceramic tiles set the foundation for a contemporary yet industrial aesthetic. The interior walls combined stainless steel workbenches with graphic storytelling, featuring a collage of deconstructed visuals designed by MODE’s graphics team and hand-painted by a Sydney-based street artist. Neon lighting elements and a signature black bolt ceiling graphic completed the urban-inspired design.

Outcome & Impact
Successfully balancing brand identity with airport functionality, the YO! Sushi outlet became an instant success, attracting travellers with its dynamic visuals and high-quality food service. The innovative layout optimised workflow efficiency while reinforcing the brand’s ‘live fast, eat well’ ethos. Within hours of opening, the store had sold out of sushi, moving over 24 kilograms of salmon—solidifying its place as a standout destination within Sydney Domestic Airport