Regalia Dining Case Study

Regalia Dining

Welcome to "Regalia Dining", a modern Japanese restaurant nestled in the heart of Chiado, Lisbon. We bring you the finest flavors of Japan with a menu that blends traditional dishes and contemporary delights.

Whether you’re looking for a quick, healthy lunch or a relaxing dinner after a busy day, our exquisite sushi, comforting ramen, and refreshing cocktails are sure to satisfy.

Step into "Regalia Dining" and experience the perfect harmony of taste, quality, and tranquility, all at a price that reflects our commitment to excellence and authenticity.

Project Information

  • Category:
    UX / UI design
    Web Design
  • Project Year: 2024
    • Visit Site

Problem

I faced a serious challenge. Most Japanese restaurant websites look lifeless and generic - basic design, dull menus, and primitive functionality.

They completely fail to convey the sophistication and depth that Japanese cuisine is famous for. Customers don't get the impression that a premium restaurant should make, which means an important part of the gastronomic experience is lost before the first visit.

Solution

At Regalia Dining, I created a website that fully reflects the premium nature of Japanese cuisine. User-friendly navigation and table booking system, stunning food photography, and elegant minimalist design create a unique user experience.

Every detail, from smooth animations to carefully selected typography, is crafted to immerse visitors in the atmosphere of refined Japanese cuisine even before their first restaurant visit.

Brainstorm & Ideation

Before diving into design, I immersed myself in creative exploration to envision the perfect digital presence for Regalia Dining. My goal was simple yet ambitious: create a website that makes people fall in love with Japanese cuisine before they even taste it. Here's how I transformed this vision into reality.

Identify User Needs
Competitive Analysis
Define Key Features
Sketching and Wireframing
User Journey Mapping
Prototype Development
Hover over these markers to see detailed descriptions
Mobile Version
Desktop Version
In the new items section, I arranged the composition of four dishes as a metaphor for Japanese seasons. Each card is a separate gastronomic story, framed in dark with golden accents. The uniform price of €20.00 creates visual harmony, while concise descriptions intrigue and invite exploration of each dish.
Next section comes alive through flip animation, reminiscent of a fan's movement or a deck of cards. I created this interactive element as a bridge between contemplation and action - each flip reveals a new dish, inviting visitors to dive deeper into the restaurant's menu.
I chose organic shapes and flowing lines for this section, contrasting with the geometry of previous blocks, symbolizing the transition from the restaurant hall's formality to cozy home settings. The three-step delivery process story unfolds like a Japanese screen, where each panel reveals a new stage in the dish's journey from kitchen to customer's table.
After the dynamic animated menu section, I intentionally placed the delivery section as a logical continuation of the gastronomic journey. It's like an invitation to transfer a piece of the restaurant's atmosphere into home comfort. The upper part of the section greets visitors with a warm human presence, creating a trusting connection between the restaurant and guest.
I created the hero section as a theatrical curtain, opening a gastronomic performance. The large, eye-catching nigiri shot creates a powerful visual accent, while the golden "Japanese Cuisine" typography floats above the composition like a moon in the night sky. The concise restaurant text delicately complements the picture without overwhelming the space.
After the dynamic delivery narrative, I created the "Popular" section as a kind of culmination of the gastronomic journey. It features the most popular dishes arranged in the same four-part composition as the novelties section, creating a visual rhyme with the website's beginning. It's like returning to the basics, but with a new understanding.
As a final touch, I placed the contact section, dividing it into two parts: text information on the left and an interactive map on the right. This section is intentionally minimalistic, following the Japanese philosophy of "wabi-sabi" – beauty in simplicity. The footer completes the composition, bringing together all navigation threads like the final stroke in calligraphy.
Case Study Mockup
Hover over these markers to see detailed descriptions
Booking Page Preview
In designing the booking page, I created an atmosphere of tranquility and elegance. The form is placed on a deep dark background, like a pearl in a jewelry box, framed by soft gradients. I styled each input field with minimal visual elements, following the principle of Japanese minimalism, where every detail matters but nothing is superfluous.
Hover over these markers to see detailed descriptions
Menu Page Preview
In designing the menu page, I created a harmonious composition where each dish becomes its own work of art. The navigation through dish categories – APPETIZERS, SUSHI, SASHIMI, NOODLES, DESSERTS, DRINKS – floats above the main content like elegant calligraphic strokes, helping guests easily navigate the gastronomic space.
Big Mockup Preview

User Research and Create Persona

Understanding my users is at the core of building a successful website for Regalia Dining. In the user research phase, I focused on uncovering meaningful insights into the needs, preferences, and behaviors of the target audience.

Clara Persona

Clara

Personality Curious, adventurous
Occupation Marketing Specialist

Frustrations:

  • Poorly designed websites with low-quality images.
  • Frustration with websites that lack detailed descriptions and context for menu items.

Lifestyle:

Lives in a bustling city, enjoys dining out with friends, attends food festivals, and follows several food blogs and Instagram accounts for inspiration.

Goals:

  • Seeks authentic Japanese dining experiences with high-quality ingredients.
  • Desires detailed menu descriptions and information.
Ana Persona

Ana

Personality Creative and highly visual
Occupation Food Blogger

Frustrations:

  • Bland, uninspired website designs that don't reflect the quality of the restaurant.
  • Frustration with websites that are not visually stimulating or engaging.

Lifestyle:

Lives in a vibrant city, often attends restaurant openings, spends significant time on social media, and enjoys networking with other industry professionals.

Goals:

  • Seeks detailed descriptions about the dishes and ingredients.
  • Aims to discover unique culinary experiences to share with her audience.

Visual Identity in Details

As part of creating a holistic brand identity, I developed business cards that continue the restaurant's premium aesthetics. The double-sided card design embodies the duality of Japanese culture: tradition and modernity. The front side features an expressive photograph of the signature dish with golden "Japanese Cuisine" typography, creating an immediate association with the restaurant's gastronomic masterpieces.

The reverse side combines business information with an artistic element – a flowing golden line reminiscent of a calligraphic stroke. This line not only divides the space but creates a dynamic composition with the sushi photograph, where chopsticks hold a delicate piece of salmon. The dark background and golden accents maintain the brand's premium character, making the business card not just an information carrier, but a miniature work of art.

Regalia Dining Business Card Design

Box as an Artwork

For delivery, I created a minimalist black box with a volumetric 3D composition centered on the signature roll photograph. Golden edges create a precious box effect, emphasizing the brand's premium quality. The "Regalia Dining" name appears in the same golden palette, while the dynamic composition with chopsticks holding a piece of salmon adds an interactive and movement element to the static design.

Regalia Dining Delivery Box

Harmony of Tradition and Modernity

In the Regalia Dining project, I created a digital experience that conveys the essence of Japanese cuisine through modern design. From the first glance at the hero section to the final touch in delivery design – each element works to create a holistic premium image, where I paid special attention to food photography, presenting each dish as an artwork on a dark background.

Golden accents, flowing lines, and organic shapes create a unified visual language that can be traced through all brand touchpoints – from website to packaging. Interactive elements and animations add dynamism to the site without disturbing the overall harmony, while the thoughtful structure simplifies the user's journey from first acquaintance to placing an order or booking a table.

Regalia Dining UI Kit
Thank You Image 1 Thank You Image 2