Brand Strategy & Design
Partnered with owners of a local Italian restaurant to make their branding as savory as their dishes
Four week individual project for a live client
Ama La Vita is an Italian restaurant owned by husband and wife duo- Terry and Trish. They had a vision to give their brand a refresh. In Sarasota, Florida, the two offer great Italian food and wine, with a focus on creating memories and traditions.
Ask: Develop a campaign that will revive Ama La Vita’s overall brand
Problem: Their brand wasn’t a reflection of their core values
Solution: A new logo, branding, menu and website design
At the core of Ama La Vita, they believe that the greatest memories are created through sharing meals. They value laughing and enjoying the company of family and friends.
I found that it would be unique to design the brand around the idea of memories and travel, by pulling from aspects of the Amalfi Coast. This is something that was at the root of Ama La Vita’s values, and it was used for all of the branding decisions following.
A full brand assessment included competitor identification, customer personas, client brief, and website audit. Through design thinking, business and brand perspectives were considered throughout this client-based project.
The brand draws inspiration from the Amalfi Coast’s natural beauty. Shades of blue are reminiscent of the Mediterranean Sea, whitewashed buildings, and accents of terracotta and green from the vibrant aspects of the region. The typography is classic and timeless reflecting refinement while still being approachable. With this in mind, I designed a new menu, take-out packaging, and merchandise.
A website audit was conducted to evaluate the overall quality of content, user experience, design, branding, and competitive analysis. I outlined my findings and recommendations, and developed a new design roadmap. The audit’s insights aimed to achieve business objectives and align the rebrand with their online platform.
