El Prado Eatery is a food court-style dining concept at the historic Hotel Del Monte, located on the grounds of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Overseen by MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation)—a U.S. Navy division supporting service members and their families through quality-of-life programs—the eatery was created to serve the on-base military community.
SCOPE OF WORK
Branding Design
Logo Design
Illustration Style Development & Customization
Menu Layout Design
Signage Design
Social Media Graphics Design
Logo Design
Illustration Style Development & Customization
Menu Layout Design
Signage Design
Social Media Graphics Design
Tasked with developing the full brand identity for the new eatery, I created the logo, typography system, illustration style, and designed samples of menu layouts, signage, and social media graphics to serve as templates for the in-house design team at launch.
The project came with specific restrictions: the color palette was limited to navy, gray, and white to complement the interior design, and all menus and signage had to use illustrations rather than food photography. Guided by this direction, I drew inspiration from the playful food station names and tailored each menu’s illustrations to match its unique theme. To meet a tight deadline, I sourced stock illustrations and heavily customized them—adjusting line quality, combining elements, and unifying the style so all appeared to come from a single artist despite their varied origins.
Throughout the process, I collaborated closely with the marketing director and on-site project lead to ensure the branding aligned with both creative vision and operational goals.
