Setting a mood: Inspired art for restaurants
As a team of designers working on restaurant websites, we are inspired daily by our customers’ established branding, unique menus, and curated interiors. Which led us to wonder… Could we go beyond a website and translate this into artwork? Below is our exploration of possible art pieces that could work within each individual restaurant.
Featured in Michelin Guides, the Flower Shop is located on the border of L.E.S. and Chinatown in Manhattan. Most come for its delicious cocktails, but will stay for the good grub. The Flower Shop offers menu items as classic as a spicy chicken sandwich, all the way to a platter of crispy fried brussels sprouts. The eclectic menu perfectly complements the 70s nostalgic interior of the bar.
I picked The Flower Shop because it is my favorite place in New York and I wanted to celebrate my go-to order of their ‘Pirate Rose’ cocktail. My drink illustration is showcased on a mix of fun backgrounds, nestled between some of its ingredients. It even has a full description and price below it. The poster serves as a sort of advertisement for indecisive patrons. It will feel right at home on their wood-paneled collage wall in the heart of the restaurant.
Written and designed by James Coviello.
Sullivans Fish Camp is on the top of my list of places to visit. From the abundant seafood menu, to the rustic interior, this Sullivans Island institution has everything to reel you in. Their branding immediately inspired me due to its unique characters, nautical elements, and handwritten typography, setting a fun foundation for an art piece.
I chose to make a print of their staple “seafood basket.” This robust menu item deserves its own place on the wall, right by the hostess stand. Utilizing their current colors and typography, I created a color blocked layout inspired by old news advertisements. With the addition of a few subtle patterns and a texture created with the seafood elements in the basket, this print is meant to draw attention.
Written and designed by Kayla Scheidel.
We are…
Your Friday afternoon sweet treat
Your ‘that’s too pretty to eat’
Your best pastry ever
We are here…
To spread the baked goodness
To support those less fortunate
To bring dessert to those without
We are your sidekick, so you can be the hero.
The concept behind the poster was inspired by the overall design of Sidekick’s website. Using unconventional color combos and ‘clashing’ patterns to catch the eye, not much text is needed, so the poster is able to focus on graphics and the ‘feel’ without worrying about content. Sidekick currently has an Ukraine-relief pastry on their menu so I decided to run with that and turn it into an entire bake sale event. Assuming the Sidekick space has a coffee shop feel, the ideal place for the poster would be on the counter where people order their coffee and treats. No branding is needed other than the Mercy Chefs’ branding because of the colors so the poster should speak for itself.
Written and designed by Kai Malowany.
Betelgeuse is a restaurant in Houston that serves my two favorite things: Pizzas and cocktails. The branding is a total star (pun intended) with heavy metal halftone illustrations, astrologically-inspired pizza names and even funnier named drinks.
I chose to make a grungy, graphic piece that would look right at home in the restaurant, next to their taxidermy squirrel. I turned Betelgeuse’s star-shaped mascot into a pizza cutter and added color blocks and textures to make it feel like a risograph print. As a final touch, I included the name of one of their cocktails I’d like to try the most, the “Might as Well”.
Written and designed by Robine Nucum.
For this post, I decided to create a promotional flyer for Oak & Iron and their upcoming Bartending Classes. Oak & Iron offers an innovative garden-to-glass cocktail program centered around local ingredients, seasonal whims, and inspiring spirits. Throughout their site, Oak & Iron features whimsical collage illustrations, with fun color overlays and half-toned effects.
For the poster, I wanted to create my own illustration to use as the featured image, along with incorporating their font families and borders from their brand guide. I envision these posters being plastered behind the bar, where customers who love their drinks may feel inclined to sign up and learn how to make a few of their favorite cocktails!
Written and designed by Chris Nervegna.
