I was a frequent customer at a local sushi restaurant, ordering from them all the time. One day, I decided to call and ask to speak with the owner, offering to do some free work to build my portfolio.
He mentioned that he needed a menu, so I got to work right away. Once the menu was finished, our conversations expanded, and I told him about my experience in marketing and web design.
A month passed - I was still eating a lot of sushi - when he invited me to visit their new restaurant location to discuss a website. His vision was to create an online ordering system to cut out the high fees (30-40%) charged by delivery apps. He wanted the site to be clean and well-organized, with all sushi items categorized for easy browsing. Pro Eat Sushi had around 100 different rolls and bites, so simplicity was key. His main request was to keep the design uncluttered, avoiding unnecessary information so customers could focus entirely on sushi.
My Solution
My approach was to keep the design clean and intuitive, starting with a single-page landing page that provided an overview of the restaurant’s offerings. From there, strong calls-to-action (CTAs) guided customers seamlessly to the menu page.
The menu itself needed to be well-structured and easy to navigate, ensuring a smooth user experience. The owner liked certain features from popular delivery apps, so we incorporated similar elements into the checkout process—such as reminders for missing items before completing an order.
For the color scheme, I went with a sleek combination of black, red, and white. Black has become a go-to in modern design and pairs perfectly with sushi aesthetics. Since the restaurant’s logo already featured red, the color balance worked naturally, creating a cohesive and visually appealing look.
The client had very little branding in place - no branded boxes, cards, flyers, stickers, bags, stamps, loyalty cards, gift cards, or business cards. He believed these elements weren’t necessary, as he was satisfied with how the business was running and preferred to keep things as they were.
My Solution
To show him the potential of strong branding, I took the initiative and designed everything—branded boxes, flyers, stickers, bags, stamps, loyalty cards, gift cards, and business cards. My goal was to give him a clear vision of how his brand could stand out.
And guess what? He loved it. He went ahead and ordered everything I designed, completely transforming his branding.
Many long-time business owners get stuck in their routines, making it difficult for them to embrace new ideas. It’s hard to convince someone that you genuinely want to help them improve rather than just make a sale - until they see the difference firsthand.
Now, he’s been my client for almost two years, and we continue refining his branding and finding new ways to enhance the customer experience.
I was a frequent customer at a local sushi restaurant, ordering from them all the time. One day, I decided to call and ask to speak with the owner, offering to do some free work to build my portfolio.
He mentioned that he needed a menu, so I got to work right away. Once the menu was finished, our conversations expanded, and I told him about my experience in marketing and web design.
A month passed - I was still eating a lot of sushi - when he invited me to visit their new restaurant location to discuss a website. His vision was to create an online ordering system to cut out the high fees (30-40%) charged by delivery apps. He wanted the site to be clean and well-organized, with all sushi items categorized for easy browsing. Pro Eat Sushi had around 100 different rolls and bites, so simplicity was key. His main request was to keep the design uncluttered, avoiding unnecessary information so customers could focus entirely on sushi.
My Solution
My approach was to keep the design clean and intuitive, starting with a single-page landing page that provided an overview of the restaurant’s offerings. From there, strong calls-to-action (CTAs) guided customers seamlessly to the menu page.
The menu itself needed to be well-structured and easy to navigate, ensuring a smooth user experience. The owner liked certain features from popular delivery apps, so we incorporated similar elements into the checkout process—such as reminders for missing items before completing an order.
For the color scheme, I went with a sleek combination of black, red, and white. Black has become a go-to in modern design and pairs perfectly with sushi aesthetics. Since the restaurant’s logo already featured red, the color balance worked naturally, creating a cohesive and visually appealing look.
The client had very little branding in place - no branded boxes, cards, flyers, stickers, bags, stamps, loyalty cards, gift cards, or business cards. He believed these elements weren’t necessary, as he was satisfied with how the business was running and preferred to keep things as they were.
My Solution
To show him the potential of strong branding, I took the initiative and designed everything—branded boxes, flyers, stickers, bags, stamps, loyalty cards, gift cards, and business cards. My goal was to give him a clear vision of how his brand could stand out.
And guess what? He loved it. He went ahead and ordered everything I designed, completely transforming his branding.
Many long-time business owners get stuck in their routines, making it difficult for them to embrace new ideas. It’s hard to convince someone that you genuinely want to help them improve rather than just make a sale - until they see the difference firsthand.
Now, he’s been my client for almost two years, and we continue refining his branding and finding new ways to enhance the customer experience.
