La Casa del Pan de Queso
La Casa del Pan de Queso
La Casa del Pan de Queso
Overview
Client: Brazilian Cafe-Bar located in downtown Valencia.
Project Scope and Goals:
Scope: Develop an A4-sized print menu in both Spanish and English and a digital menu accessible via QR code, also in both languages.
Goals: Simplify and enhance the readability of the print menu, infuse it with personality, and ensure the digital menu is user-friendly and consistent with the print version.
Time Frame: 1 week.
My Role: As the sole designer, I was responsible for graphic design, UI design, and the no-code implementation of the digital menu.
My contribution
UX Design
Branding
Graphic Design
No-code Implementation
The team
Solo Designer
Year
2024
Overview
Client: Brazilian Cafe-Bar located in downtown Valencia.
Project Scope and Goals:
Scope: Develop an A4-sized print menu in both Spanish and English and a digital menu accessible via QR code, also in both languages.
Goals: Simplify and enhance the readability of the print menu, infuse it with personality, and ensure the digital menu is user-friendly and consistent with the print version.
Time Frame: 1 week.
My Role: As the sole designer, I was responsible for graphic design, UI design, and the no-code implementation of the digital menu.
My contribution
UX Design
Branding
Graphic Design
No-code Implementation
The team
Solo Designer
Year
2024
Overview
Client: Brazilian Cafe-Bar located in downtown Valencia.
Project Scope and Goals:
Scope: Develop an A4-sized print menu in both Spanish and English and a digital menu accessible via QR code, also in both languages.
Goals: Simplify and enhance the readability of the print menu, infuse it with personality, and ensure the digital menu is user-friendly and consistent with the print version.
Time Frame: 1 week.
My Role: As the sole designer, I was responsible for graphic design, UI design, and the no-code implementation of the digital menu.
My contribution
UX Design
Branding
Graphic Design
No-code Implementation
The team
Solo Designer
Year
2024
Process
Problem Statement
Background and Context: The client recently acquired the business and needed to update the menu to reflect new offerings. The existing setup, with only one printed menu, hindered efficient order-taking in a 12-table cafe. Located in a tourist area with a significant number of foreign customers and a staff that doesn't speak English, the need for a bilingual menu was critical, especially with the summer season approaching.
Challenges:
Dynamic Menu Content: The menu items were not finalized, requiring frequent adjustments during the design process.
Limited Photos: Only key items had photos, and there was no budget for new photography.
Time Constraints: The QR code needed to be launched within a few days.
Budget Constraints: No budget for user research, necessitating reliance on industry standards and market analysis.
Technical Constraints: The solution had to be implemented using a free no-code platform due to budget and skill limitations.
Design Process
Colors: With no existing brand identity, I created one starting from the green entrance banner of the restaurant, a color also found in the Brazilian flag. Complementing green, I selected bright yellow, symbolizing the cafe's key dish, Pan de Queso, and conveying warmth and friendliness.
Typography: The old menu's all-caps serif font was hard to read and visually monotonous. I retained the serif font for the restaurant name to maintain consistency with the entrance banner and used all caps only for category titles. I chose Lato for titles and Raleway for the main paragraph text, creating a contemporary, polished, and elegant look with enhanced readability.
Process
Problem Statement
Background and Context: The client recently acquired the business and needed to update the menu to reflect new offerings. The existing setup, with only one printed menu, hindered efficient order-taking in a 12-table cafe. Located in a tourist area with a significant number of foreign customers and a staff that doesn't speak English, the need for a bilingual menu was critical, especially with the summer season approaching.
Challenges:
Dynamic Menu Content: The menu items were not finalized, requiring frequent adjustments during the design process.
Limited Photos: Only key items had photos, and there was no budget for new photography.
Time Constraints: The QR code needed to be launched within a few days.
Budget Constraints: No budget for user research, necessitating reliance on industry standards and market analysis.
Technical Constraints: The solution had to be implemented using a free no-code platform due to budget and skill limitations.
Design Process
Colors: With no existing brand identity, I created one starting from the green entrance banner of the restaurant, a color also found in the Brazilian flag. Complementing green, I selected bright yellow, symbolizing the cafe's key dish, Pan de Queso, and conveying warmth and friendliness.
Typography: The old menu's all-caps serif font was hard to read and visually monotonous. I retained the serif font for the restaurant name to maintain consistency with the entrance banner and used all caps only for category titles. I chose Lato for titles and Raleway for the main paragraph text, creating a contemporary, polished, and elegant look with enhanced readability.
Process
Problem Statement
Background and Context: The client recently acquired the business and needed to update the menu to reflect new offerings. The existing setup, with only one printed menu, hindered efficient order-taking in a 12-table cafe. Located in a tourist area with a significant number of foreign customers and a staff that doesn't speak English, the need for a bilingual menu was critical, especially with the summer season approaching.
Challenges:
Dynamic Menu Content: The menu items were not finalized, requiring frequent adjustments during the design process.
Limited Photos: Only key items had photos, and there was no budget for new photography.
Time Constraints: The QR code needed to be launched within a few days.
Budget Constraints: No budget for user research, necessitating reliance on industry standards and market analysis.
Technical Constraints: The solution had to be implemented using a free no-code platform due to budget and skill limitations.
Design Process
Colors: With no existing brand identity, I created one starting from the green entrance banner of the restaurant, a color also found in the Brazilian flag. Complementing green, I selected bright yellow, symbolizing the cafe's key dish, Pan de Queso, and conveying warmth and friendliness.
Typography: The old menu's all-caps serif font was hard to read and visually monotonous. I retained the serif font for the restaurant name to maintain consistency with the entrance banner and used all caps only for category titles. I chose Lato for titles and Raleway for the main paragraph text, creating a contemporary, polished, and elegant look with enhanced readability.
Outcome
Implementation
Final Design: The final designs included both the print menu and the digital menu, accessible via QR code, available in Spanish and English.
Technical Constraints: Due to the urgent need for a digital menu and the client's limited budget and technical skills, I chose a no-code solution that I could implement quickly and effectively. This solution allows for easy future updates, including adding photos when available.
Prioritization: I prioritized the digital menu to immediately address the issue of limited menu availability. I opted for a free tool to create a user-friendly database and design, avoiding a PDF format due to its poor readability on mobile devices. The chosen solution also supports future enhancements, such as adding images for better visual appeal and easier decision-making for customers.
Results and Impact
Outcome: All 12 tables now have QR codes linking to the digital menu, allowing customers to view the menu without waiting for staff or a print menu, streamlining the ordering process. The menus are available in both Spanish and English, catering to both locals and tourists.
Client Feedback: The client expressed high satisfaction with the results, particularly praising the print menu for its modern, easy-to-read design. Positive feedback from customers further validated the effectiveness of the redesign.
Lessons Learned
Lesson 1: Flexibility in Requirements: Not every project starts with a set of final requirements. Throughout this project, the menu categories and items changed multiple times. This taught me the importance of being patient and flexible, creating high-level sketches for the print menu that could be easily adjusted based on the final content.
Lesson 2: Prioritizing Functionality Over Perfection: Initially, the client planned to have professional photos of all menu items. However, due to delays, the digital menu had to be launched without these photos. This experience reinforced the principle of "better done than perfect." The digital menu was structured to easily accommodate photos in the future, but its current functionality was sufficient to meet the business's immediate needs.
Outcome
Implementation
Final Design: The final designs included both the print menu and the digital menu, accessible via QR code, available in Spanish and English.
Technical Constraints: Due to the urgent need for a digital menu and the client's limited budget and technical skills, I chose a no-code solution that I could implement quickly and effectively. This solution allows for easy future updates, including adding photos when available.
Prioritization: I prioritized the digital menu to immediately address the issue of limited menu availability. I opted for a free tool to create a user-friendly database and design, avoiding a PDF format due to its poor readability on mobile devices. The chosen solution also supports future enhancements, such as adding images for better visual appeal and easier decision-making for customers.
Results and Impact
Outcome: All 12 tables now have QR codes linking to the digital menu, allowing customers to view the menu without waiting for staff or a print menu, streamlining the ordering process. The menus are available in both Spanish and English, catering to both locals and tourists.
Client Feedback: The client expressed high satisfaction with the results, particularly praising the print menu for its modern, easy-to-read design. Positive feedback from customers further validated the effectiveness of the redesign.
Lessons Learned
Lesson 1: Flexibility in Requirements: Not every project starts with a set of final requirements. Throughout this project, the menu categories and items changed multiple times. This taught me the importance of being patient and flexible, creating high-level sketches for the print menu that could be easily adjusted based on the final content.
Lesson 2: Prioritizing Functionality Over Perfection: Initially, the client planned to have professional photos of all menu items. However, due to delays, the digital menu had to be launched without these photos. This experience reinforced the principle of "better done than perfect." The digital menu was structured to easily accommodate photos in the future, but its current functionality was sufficient to meet the business's immediate needs.
Outcome
Implementation
Final Design: The final designs included both the print menu and the digital menu, accessible via QR code, available in Spanish and English.
Technical Constraints: Due to the urgent need for a digital menu and the client's limited budget and technical skills, I chose a no-code solution that I could implement quickly and effectively. This solution allows for easy future updates, including adding photos when available.
Prioritization: I prioritized the digital menu to immediately address the issue of limited menu availability. I opted for a free tool to create a user-friendly database and design, avoiding a PDF format due to its poor readability on mobile devices. The chosen solution also supports future enhancements, such as adding images for better visual appeal and easier decision-making for customers.
Results and Impact
Outcome: All 12 tables now have QR codes linking to the digital menu, allowing customers to view the menu without waiting for staff or a print menu, streamlining the ordering process. The menus are available in both Spanish and English, catering to both locals and tourists.
Client Feedback: The client expressed high satisfaction with the results, particularly praising the print menu for its modern, easy-to-read design. Positive feedback from customers further validated the effectiveness of the redesign.
Lessons Learned
Lesson 1: Flexibility in Requirements: Not every project starts with a set of final requirements. Throughout this project, the menu categories and items changed multiple times. This taught me the importance of being patient and flexible, creating high-level sketches for the print menu that could be easily adjusted based on the final content.
Lesson 2: Prioritizing Functionality Over Perfection: Initially, the client planned to have professional photos of all menu items. However, due to delays, the digital menu had to be launched without these photos. This experience reinforced the principle of "better done than perfect." The digital menu was structured to easily accommodate photos in the future, but its current functionality was sufficient to meet the business's immediate needs.