In today’s digital era, a strong online presence is crucial for businesses to thrive. One significant aspect of this presence is an eye-catching logo and a well-designed website that effectively represents the brand’s identity and attracts potential customers. We recently embarked on the exciting journey of creating a new logo and website for Smokin Barrel Craft BBQ restaurant, showcasing the careful thought and creative process behind this transformation.
Understanding the Brand:
Before embarking on the logo and website design, we met with owner Wayne Dinges to discuss his buisness, its personality, and the things that make a unique dining experience there. We recognized Wayne’s commitment to providing a unique and unforgettable dining experience, centered around mouthwatering barbecue delights. Their rustic charm, cozy ambiance, and exceptional customer service were the pillars we aimed to embody through the new brand identity.
Crafting the Logo:
The logo serves as the visual cornerstone of any brand, communicating its values and personality in a single image. To capture the spirit of Smokin Barrel, we combined traditional elements with an almost “branding iron” feel. Our goal was to create a logo that portrays the restaurant’s warmth, authenticity, and passion for barbecue.
We opted for a bold and distinctive typeface, evoking a sense of adventure and strength. The chosen typography complements the logo’s overall design while ensuring readability across various mediums.
Choosing a Color Palette:
Colors evoke emotions and play a vital role in shaping brand perception. For Smokin Barrel, we wanted to strike a balance between earthy tones and warm vibrant accents to reflect their rustic ambiance and energetic atmosphere. The final color palette includes warm hues of rustic red, soft tan/browns, and muted grays, harmoniously blending together to ignite appetites and create a welcoming experience.
Designing the Website:
With the logo serving as the visual cornerstone, it was essential to extend this branding to the digital realm. We worked meticulously to create a website that showcased Smokin Barrel’s enticing menu, unique dining atmosphere, and the rich history behind their barbecue expertise.
The website’s layout emphasized user-friendliness and accessibility, ensuring a seamless browsing experience across various devices. Fortunately, Wayne is a skilled amateur photographer and knows how to capture mouth-watering images of his food after he serves it. High-quality images of sizzling barbecue dishes and the cozy restaurant interior immediately captivated visitors, stimulating their senses and leaving them eager to visit in person.
We incorporated simple, yet intuitive navigation menus, enabling users to effortlessly explore the restaurant’s menu. Wayne insisted that the site be “all about the food” and not to focus energy or attention on his story.
Embracing the Digital Landscape:
Recognizing the importance of digital marketing, we integrated social media buttons throughout the website, allowing visitors to easily share their favorite dishes and spread the word about Smokin Barrel across popular platforms. This strategy aimed to enhance engagement and expand the restaurant’s online presence, leveraging the power of social networks to attract a wider audience.
Working with a Winner!
Smokin Barrel is arguably the best barbecue restaurant in the Midwest and being part of their team is a true honor. Creating a new logo and website for them was a fun journey. Through thoughtful design choices, we successfully captured the essence of their rustic charm, warm ambiance, and exceptional cuisine. The new logo and website now serve as powerful tools to ignite the appetite of potential customers, inviting them to embark on a mouthwatering culinary adventure at Smokin Barrel.
Can’t wait to see that logo on the building and their new T-shirts!
