Par4 Menu Redesign

the task

Designing a print-ready menu layout that is on-brand, intuitive, and captivating.

My Role:

UI & Graphic Design

Duration:

2 Weeks

Tools:

Figma, InDesign, and Illustrator

Par4 Kitchen & Bar is a sports bar and restaurant based in Surrey, BC. The business was expanding their menu and wanted to revamp their current menus from a booklet to a simple double-sided 11"x17" menu. On one side, the menu would feature food items from the west while the other side would feature those from the east.

This project allowed me to not only work with the restaurant owner and marketing manager but also the printers to prepare the physical copies.

Check out the menu on their website or in person at Par4's location!

Research

Setting the Foundation

A meeting with Par4's marketing manager helped me gain an understanding of the scope of the project and the desired outcomes from the stakeholders. This meeting provided me with a better idea of the overall look that Par4 wanted to capture in their menu.

Crafting the Ideal Menu

It was also important to identify user issues that were brought up by the previous layout. The new menu design required a balance between functionality and aesthetic. The owner and marketing manager wanted the menu to look fun and vibrant while also being on trend and easy to read.

The business provided me with inspiration pieces, a mood board, desired colour scheme, as well as a rough draft with menu items, categories, and details.

Ideation

The Diner's Journey

With a rough outline of how menu items would be grouped together, I created a greyscale wireframe that would give me an idea of where to arrange menu elements.

This process allowed me to move things around without fully committing to a layout and typing food descriptions.

I treated the menu layout like a customer's flow when dining at a restaurant. This meant that elements would be arranged based on how a user's eyes would naturally flow in the same way that a customer would eat a multi-course meal. This also helped me arrange the visual hierarchy of elements and the real estate occupied by menu sections.

Final Product

Bringing the Menu to Life

The end-product of this project was a double-sided menu layout that was ready for print and available to diners.

I really enjoyed working on this project as menu design has always been intriguing to me. A restaurant's menu is a crucial touchpoint that reflects a brand's identity and sets an impression to a customer's experience.

It was important to allow breathing room between menu sections and to let elements guide the eyes of users without friction. I wanted to incorporate design elements that were not too distracting or loud but were able to make the overall theme of the menu look cohesive.