El Fuego Shisha & Cocktail Bar
El Fuego is a shisha and cocktail bar located in Weinsberg. The logo and brand colors were already established, and I was commissioned to design a complete menu that showcased their full offering — from shisha flavors and tobacco mixes to cocktails, spirits, and soft drinks.The goal was to create a visually appealing, easy-to-read menu that reflects the atmosphere of the bar and supports customers in choosing their drinks and shisha varieties.
Design Approach & Challenge
Initially, the menu was designed with a sleek black layout, reflecting the dark interior and neon accent lighting of the bar. Decorative illustrations — such as pineapples, lemons, and shisha silhouettes — were added to enhance flavor association and spark curiosity when ordering. However, after testing the menu in the dim environment, it became clear that readability was an issue. The low ambient light made the black background too difficult to read. To solve this, the menu was redesigned with a bright, white layout and black typography to maximize contrast and accessibility while still keeping the visual identity intact. Instead of a classic booklet format, I developed a more functional solution: A double-sided DIN A3 sheet, placed under the glass table surface. Customers could view the menu from both sides, eliminating the need for physical handling and ensuring durability in a bar environment. In addition, all allergen information and mandatory food labeling were clearly integrated to comply with legal requirements and avoid issues with health authorities.
Result
The final menu design is both practical and visually engaging — easy to read even in low light, durable for everyday use, and enriched with small illustrations that add personality and appetite appeal. The unique two-sided layout under the glass surface became a distinctive design feature and improved the overall customer experience.
