Overview
For my Bachelor’s thesis at Politehnica University of Timișoara, I developed a complete branding and digital presence for a restaurant. The project combined web development and graphic design, resulting in a cohesive visual identity and an accompanying website.
The goal was to create a consistent brand experience across both digital and physical materials.
Background
Small businesses often lack a unified visual identity, which can make it harder to stand out and communicate their brand effectively. This project focused on solving that problem by creating a complete and consistent branding package.
Rather than treating the website and visual materials separately, I approached the project as a single system where all elements — from the logo to the website — work together.
The Project
The project consisted of several components:
Website Development
I designed and built a responsive website using HTML and CSS, focusing on clean layout, readability, and user experience.Brand Identity
I created a logo and defined the overall visual style of the restaurant, including colors, typography, and design guidelines.Print & Promotional Materials
I designed the menu cover, T-shirt concepts, keychains, and other visual assets to ensure consistency across physical products.Video Content
I produced a short promotional video to support the brand and enhance its visual presence.
Implementation
The website was built using HTML and CSS, with a focus on simplicity and clarity. I aimed to create a layout that was both visually appealing and easy to navigate.
For the design components, I used tools such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to create scalable and consistent visual assets.
One of the main challenges was maintaining a consistent design language across different mediums — from digital interfaces to printed materials.
Challenges
Consistency Across Media
Ensuring that the branding looked cohesive across web, print, and merchandise required careful design decisions.Balancing Design and Functionality
The website needed to be visually appealing while still being practical and easy to use.
Takeaways
This project helped me develop both technical and creative skills. I gained experience in frontend development as well as in creating visual identities for real-world applications.
It also reinforced the importance of thinking about projects holistically — not just as isolated components, but as complete user experiences.
Conclusion
This project was my first experience combining web development with design in a real-world context. It laid the foundation for my later work in building user-focused web applications.
