Client overview

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Cafe Rio, a rapidly growing fast-casual restaurant brand known for its fresh, made-from-scratch approach to Mexican cuisine, partnered with our team to evolve its visual identity across digital and physical touchpoints. With a loyal customer base and expanding footprint, the goal was to modernize the brand while preserving its bold personality and authentic voice.

My work with Cafe Rio centered on three primary areas: brand refinement, mobile app UI/UX, and nationwide in-store signage systems. Together, these efforts supported a more cohesive, engaging, and scalable brand experience.

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Branding & Identity Support:

Collaborated with the internal marketing and design teams to evolve Cafe Rio’s visual language. This included refining color palettes, type treatments, textures, and photography direction to maintain consistency across channels—from signage to digital advertising.

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Mobile App Design:

Led UI/UX efforts for the redesign of Cafe Rio’s customer-facing mobile app. This included mapping user journeys, creating wireframes, and delivering high-fidelity design prototypes for ordering, loyalty programs, and personalized experiences. Special attention was paid to simplifying flows while preserving the brand’s vibrant, handcrafted feel.

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Signage & Environmental Design:

Developed scalable signage systems implemented across all U.S. locations, including drive-thru menus, interior menu boards, and wayfinding elements. The updated designs emphasized clarity, speed of decision-making, and visual alignment with the refreshed brand identity.