PTP - Menu Research

Menu Research
The Pink Teapot brief has stated that it wants a new menu being designed. Therefore I thought it would be good if I researched into some cafe/restaurant menus to see what is already out there, and what I should be doing. 

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I saw this menu, and what I like about it is the colour scheme. I don't usually like images of the food on menu's as it can sometimes look a bit cheap and tacky, although I think that this has been designed really well. The muted neutral colours that are being used for the base of the menu are aesthetically pleasing and suit the style of the restaurant really well.

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I personally don't like the actual menu itself, although I do like the illustration around the outside and in the bottom left corner. I think that I want to do something like this, keep a simple menu with a small illustration. I want it to be quite simple and not too tacky.

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I think that the illustrations used in this menu are appropriate for the cafe/restaurant. I might try and see how it looks with some illustrations on the menu, but not photographs of the food, vector illustrations of the food, so that it doesn't look cheap. 

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This menu design is so suited to the food that is being presented, I think that sushi being as colourful as it is, can include a lot of illustrations. Also because not many people know what is what when it comes to sushi, therefore having these images allows the audience to understand what everything is. Although I think that this has been designed well and aesthetically pleasing I don't think that it would be appropriate for The Pink Teapot, something more simple would be better for The Pink Teapot.

PTP - Business Card Research

Business Card Research
The most important thing for Sonya is that The Pink Teapot gets some business cards, as they have been open for 7 years now, and have never had any business cards. Also people ask her for them quite a lot in the cafe and ask for the phone number or opening hours and she will just write them on a piece of paper.

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Embossed business cards are really appealing to people as its not just something that you can look at, its something you can feel. Although this looks really good, I wouldn't be able to do this because the business cards will be displayed by the till near where the food is being prepared, and the business card would get too greasy.

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These make me think of The Pink Teapot, having a statement side of the card, being really friendly and chatty.

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I could design a business card that is in the shape of a Teapot for the business cards, although getting them printed would cost a lot and might be hard to do. I do like these business cards and think that the colours work well, although it won't work the same with a more complex shape.

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This business card comes in black and white. The finishes used on these cards is foiling, and makes the gold stand out on the black background, but also stands out on the white background but just not as much. Again this wouldn't be appropriate for The Pink Teapot.

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This is more of the kind of aesthetic that I am looking to have for The Pink Teapot business cards, simple yet effective. Using a limited colour pallet, vector illustrations and information about the person.

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I will definitely be designing double sided business cards, having one side with all the information about the cafe on it, then the other side showing the personality of the business or the person.

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I could create business cards with information on the front, then different illustrations of the back of the business cards, having a range so that they can all work together. I think that it is a good idea to use quotes on the back of the business cards, and could work well with The Pink Teapot, as they have a wall full of signatures from famous people (that may be real or not).