noreply@blogger.com (Menu Cover Central) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:36:00 +0000

Basics of Good Menu Design
Use this easy to follow guide to organize, format and print your menu pages.

Plan

Decide on your menu items and write the descriptions for each item. Tantalize your customers tastebuds by using specific descriptive phrases (vine ripe tomatoes instead of tomatoes or thinly sliced porcini mushrooms instead of mushrooms). Organize the items into sections and name the sections (appetizers, soups, salads, etc.) Within each section, identify a signature item or specialty item or two. Choose items which are unique to you or items which your restaurant does especially well. These items will be highlighted in the menu design (later in this article).

Organize

Based on the number of food sections you have, determine the number of pages you will need. A typical menu with six food sections can fit on two pages. Eight or nine sections fit better on three pages. The size of the page can be determined by the number of items in each section. For ten or less items in each section, a standard 8.5x11 page will work great. For menus with fifteen to twenty items in each section, the 8.5x14 page provides the additional space that is needed.

Format

Once your page size and number of pages has been decided, you can begin experimenting with typeface styles and sizes. Choose a typeface that compliments your restaurant's theme or image. Casual bistros can use funky or eclectic typefaces. Fine dining would be better suited with a traditional serif font. The section names and items can have a typeface that is different from the one used for the descriptions. The typeface used for the descriptions should be easy to read and simple, so it does not clash with the main typeface.

Place all of your text on the page before adding any graphical elements (photos, artwork, etc.). Separate the sections and format each line with the correct typeface. Using most of the available space, make the text as large as possible. The typeface size for the section headings should be 24-48 pt. The size for the items should be 12-18 pt., the decriptions 10-14 pt. Make sure there is at least two sizes differences between the items and the descriptions. You can also use the boldface version of the typeface for the items and the normal typeface for the descriptions to create even more distinction between them.

The specialty items that were identified earlier should be placed in an area of prominence within each section. Either use a bolder/larger typeface at the beginning of the section or place the specialty items in a box or other graphical element to call attention to them. This should increase sales of these items.

Enhance

Once the menu sections are formatted in the proper typeface and size, you can move on to other design elements. Experiment with moving each section of the menu around until it looks balanced. If you are going to include photos or any other type of artwork on the page, place them in now and work with them to balance the space on the page and the space in between the sections. Remember that the feature here is the menu. Any included artwork should serve only to enhance the menu items, not to distract from them.

Backgrounds are a great way to add color and style without taking up any useable space on the page. This is an effective way to deal with a menu that has a large amount of items or extensive descriptions. More on design ideas in future blogs.

Produce each page of the menu following the same procedure. When all menu pages are complete, carefully re-read the entire menu from beginning to end to catch any typos. Your menu is now ready to print.

Elements of Good Menu Design

noreply@blogger.com (Menu Cover Central) — Fri, 20 May 2011 18:49:00 +0000

So let's talk about menus and menu design. We are designers who love restaurants. Naturally, it is our mission to create menu presentations that pack as much flavor as the plated entrees themselves.

It should go without saying that the menu is the most important sales tool within the walls of the restaurant. It is so very much more than just a list of food and drink items with prices.
A well designed menu tells the story of the restaurant and acts as a tour guide/spokesperson by pointing the guest in the direction of a successful meal.  Most guests appreciate some guidance, especially if it is their first visit or if they are unsure about what the strengths of the restaurant are.

As with anything else, the more you put into your menu project, the more you will get out of it. Menus are specialized with a language all their own and you will save alot of time and frustration by working with experienced pros who know the lingo and understand how an effective menu should be formatted and produced. Using professional menu design services will make the entire process much easier and will help ensure a successful end product.

There are very good reasons why the appetizers are normally placed on the first page or left side and entrees in the middle section or top right. But there is much more to it than that. The overall design has to effectively communicate the mission of the restaurant. The artistic elements of both the menu covers and menu pages should flow seamlessly with the decor and atmosphere.  And of course, the wording, spelling and font size need to be carefully considered from the guest's point of view for clarity and readability.

And, with all of that, the menu design also needs to reflect your business goals. The menu items that you want to sell the most should be prominently placed with the rest of the design working to support them.  The menu should answer most questions about the food items and suggestively sell other items to increase your sales per guest.

Finally, let's talk about longevity since it would only make sense to create a menu that will last for a good amount of time, given all the effort that will be put into it. This is when quality menu covers come into play. Using well made menu covers are an intelligent investment. With so many beautiful styles and colors of menu covers to choose from in every price range, it is easy to select a menu cover that will add to the dazzle of the menu presentation and work hard for you towards your success for a long time to come.

Menu Cover and Menu Design Blog

Elements of Good Menu Design