Menus, Murals, and Moodboards: How Design Sells the Dining Experience

In NYC hospitality marketing, great design doesn’t just make your space look better—it makes your business more profitable. From the font on your menu to the lighting over your bar, every visual detail shapes how people feel in your venue. And those feelings? They directly influence how much they spend, how often they return, and how likely they are to share their experience online.

At Billy Boy Studio, we’ve helped some of New York’s most memorable venues translate their design into brand equity—and in this post, we’re breaking down exactly how that happens.

Menus That Drive Sales (and Stay on Brand)

Your menu is your most powerful piece of marketing. It’s where design meets psychology—and done well, it influences what guests order and how much they spend.

How to design a menu that performs:

• Use clean, readable typography

• Bold or feature high-margin items

• Organize by section with hierarchy and spacing

• Keep color, layout, and style consistent with your interior branding

• Avoid overwhelming guests with too many options or clutter

We design custom menus that align with your brand identity while enhancing readability, sales flow, and visual cohesion.

Murals That Tell a Story (and Get Shared)

Design doesn’t stop at menus. It lives on your walls, in your signage, and across your decor.

Murals, art installations, or branded wall text can:

• Reinforce your concept or theme

• Serve as photo backdrops or Instagrammable moments

• Add character and personality to your space

• Create lasting brand recognition

For example, we’ve helped bars create bold neon signage with signature phrases and restaurants add stylized murals that subtly integrate their logo, turning walls into shareable moments.

Moodboards That Set the Tone Before Build-Out

Design is only effective when it’s intentional. That’s why we start with moodboards—visual planning tools that guide everything from furniture and lighting choices to photography style and social templates.

A strong moodboard includes:

• Color palette inspiration

• Sample interior finishes and materials

• Font pairings and design references

• Brand photography direction

• Graphic treatments and logo sketches

This process creates alignment across all teams—from interior designers and photographers to your marketing manager and chef.

Visual Consistency Across Channels

If your interiors are dark and moody, but your Instagram is bright and playful… something’s off.

Consistency builds trust. That’s why we extend your visual design across:

• Websites

• Social media feeds

• Printed menus and collateral

• Digital promo graphics

• Staff uniforms or pins

• Gift cards, coasters, packaging

We create full visual identity kits so your brand shows up the same way—everywhere.

Design = Emotional Impact

Design is what makes someone say “wow” when they walk in. It sets expectations before a single sip or bite. And in hospitality, where experience is everything, it’s your most powerful tool.

Well-executed design can:

• Raise perceived value (so you can price higher)

• Encourage longer stays and bigger orders

• Generate more UGC and organic shares

• Increase loyalty and repeat visits

• Create buzz that lives beyond your four walls

We think about design as both an art and a sales tool—and help our clients use it that way.

Final Thought: Design Is Strategy

Design isn’t just aesthetic—it’s operational. Every detail, from your menu typography to your table layout, affects how guests feel and behave.

At Billy Boy Studio, we partner with hospitality brands to elevate every touchpoint through thoughtful, strategic design. We build spaces, content, and experiences that don’t just look good—they work.

📩 Want your design to drive revenue, not just compliments?

Let’s talk strategy. Visit www.billyboy.studio or DM us @BillyBoyStudio