Menu Design / Package Design /
Database Integration

Overview

Olive Garden is the flagship restaurant chain of Darden Corporation with over 800 locations across North America.

Challenge

Olive Garden appetizer table tents, menus and collateral design was visually disjointed with select menu and tabletop displays inconsistent with brand standards. Menu versioning for price and legal variations was handled manually and prone to delays and errors. A new initiative was launched to elevate awareness of Olive Garden's complete bar offering in 10 test locations, to service this, they needed a name, logo and specialized menu.

Goal

The objective was to eliminate brand fragmentation across tabletop displays and menus. By introducing XML-driven database integration, I aimed to transform a high-friction manual versioning system into an agile, automated workflow. Additionally, I spearheaded the creative identity for the Saluté bar pilot program to elevate the brand's beverage presence.

Results

The unified design strategy led to a 15% lift in appetizer sales, while the Saluté prototype drove a 22% increase in bar revenue. Operationally, the new tech integration slashed production time by 40%, allowing for faster price updates and legal compliance across North American locations.

Client

Olive Garden

Industry

Restaurant

Deliverables

Menus
Logo
Packaging
Photography

Role

Art Direction
Brand Management
Tech Consultant

KPI

Menu versioning time decreased 40%
Appetizer orders increased by 15%