Exploring the Design Details of the Seagull Method Café Menu in Lisbon

This is the menu at Seagull Method Cafe, a small hole-in-the-wall place in Lisbon, Portugal. When I first saw it, I knew I had to take a picture of it so I could reference it later. What fascinated me most about it was its simplicity and the red used. The hand-drawn illustrations, sporadically placed on the front of the menu, feel very human and relatable. This style is also very trendy right now, and for good reason. It is simple and eye-catching without being overwhelming. Additionally, the café itself was very cute and picturesque, which definitely enhanced the experience.

In class, we were asked to think about what senses our object of interest invokes, like sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing. The first thing I notice visually is the deep red, which makes it feel elevated instead of loud, and then the illustrations that decorate the menu and seem almost random. They are cute, simple, and slightly anthropomorphic. Also, the grid system is very clear, with three columns and no strict rows. There is a lot of information, but it still feels simple thanks to a strong typographic hierarchy that uses both serif and sans-serif fonts. The titles are in all caps, red, and serif, while the body text is smaller, black, and easier to read. Being in the restaurant also added to the sensory experience. It smelled like breakfast, even though it was technically lunchtime, and the space was filled with coffee, which enhanced the laidback and relaxing atmosphere. 

I do wonder about the design process behind it. Were the illustrations created specifically for this menu, or were they reused from something else? Additionally, I know there has been an increased use of Canva due to its accessibility. So I wonder whether this is just a Canva template or was truly made from scratch. 

Key words: Menu, Design, Graphic Design, Senses, Lisbon, Cafe, Simplistic,