Identity Development through Menu Printing Chicago

Restaurant menus vary as much as restaurants themselves. We have all seen those plastic, utilitarian deli menus with simple text and photos of menu items and, conversely, we have all strained to lift those artful menus made of bamboo or leather at finer establishments. Restaurant menu design and printing has become a bit of an art form over the years and many restaurant owners have a tough time deciding what their menus will look like or how best to reflect their restaurant's personality. The pressure has never been greater for a new restaurant to get it right from the start and provide a very unique dining experience (complete with very cool menus).

Menu printing is not simple and there are so many different sizes, shapes, designs, papers and cover materials for them, that it is a specialty all its own. But, before it can be printed, a menu must be designed. Here are some tips for great menu design and printing:

• Identity. What is your restaurant's “identity?” Is it casual and fun or formal and grand? Are you a greasy spoon or five-stars? These things affect your menu design.
• Size. Some restaurant owners like big, dramatic menus while others like small, compact menus. The menu size is important from a design perspective. It will affect the amount of text you can use.
• Cover. You may think a menu's cover is not important but it is the first thing your customers will see when they are seated. Choose a cover design that is appropriate and impressive without being overstated.
• Colors. For more formal restaurants, stick with more traditional colors. If you are opening a Caribbean-themed restaurant, live it up!
• Number. Do not print too many menus. It will prove an unnecessary cost. Print twice as many as your restaurant seating capacity. This is good start and allows immediate replacement when old menus need to be retired.

Because menu printing is so highly customized, it is usually a bit more expensive than other types of printing. Keep costs in mind when designing your menu. The more elaborate it is, the more it will cost. Tell your design team about your budget so they can plan accordingly. With a little thought and creativity, your menu will become a great marketing piece for your restaurant. Do not limit yourself by tradition. Some of the best menu designs have nothing to do with tradition or expected design elements.