Project Overview
Matchbox opened its first location in 2002 and quickly became known for wood-fired pizzas, mini burgers, fresh salads and chef-inspired entrées, like pan-seared sea bass and oven-roasted filet mignon. It is known for its elevated American bistro fare, crafted from high quality ingredients with a chef at the helm in every kitchen.
Fifteen years later, Matchbox has grown to thirteen locations spread across Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, Florida (Sawgrass Mills) and Texas (Preston Hollow). They've been successful over the years because of their original beliefs as they continue to be inspired by creating friendly, high energy gathering places with delicious food and drinks that bring people together.
Design Process
For this project, I was tasked to create three new menus the promoted menu items using the colors and typography from the brand guideline. The client wanted a new menu build that incorporated a seamless design with their authentic look woven within the selections. With this project, I elected to go with a bold design that was easy to read and navigate.
Matchbox is a versatile restaurant that offers a wide array of food and drink selections. The biggest challenge was finding a design that incorporated all these selections without making the menus look cluttered or overcrowded. A menu is in many ways a first impression within a restaurant experience and often reflects the values of the company and quality of experience you are about to enjoy. For this reason, I had to carefully lay out the journey of this menu and chose to go with a clean three lane design approach. After many drafts and consultations with the Matchbox Executive Chef and Vice President of Retail for Thompson Hospitality, I became overjoyed with the final product, and ecstatic to share with you all. Take a glance below!
