Design Behind California Pizza Kitchen

California Pizza Kitchen is a popular restaurant chain with locations throughout the country, and we are lucky enough to have 6 in the state of Missouri. Not only is the food fantastic, but the design that represents the company is modern and professional. The logo itself is bright and vibrant and properly reflects the are in which it originated. The menu, a very important design piece to the company, has an easy-to-read layout so as not to give the viewer more things to think about when deciding what to order. And finally, the website has been designed with the user in mind, with interactive elements that are simple and sensible for its visitors.

If I were to ask what color came to mind when I said the name “California” I guarantee “yellow” would be a common response. It is a sunny, happy and warm color, which appropriately represents CPK, as it was founded in California. The way the logo looks now is not how it has always appeared. The new logo update has successfully modernized the look of the business while still keeping the Californian vibe. The bright yellow is eye-catching and the black is a great contrast. The simple silhouette of the palm tree really ties everything together against the checkered, kitchen floor-looking pattern in the background, giving the logo I wonderful sense of depth.

The printable menu, which can be found on the website, is very straight-forward and easy to follow. The bright yellow is used here as well to make each section of the menu noticeable among the variety of menu items. The lightly textured background of the menu is used as a great design element that is pleasing to the eye while still printer-friendly. Each plate stands out clearly from one another in a great, all caps, bold font with a short description following each. I think this menu is very successful design-wise and still allows the customers to easily sort through the options without getting a headache.

Finally, the website has been put together nicely. The yellow has been carried over here as well without getting overwhelming. Yellow is used as an accent color where important things need to be highlighted. It is complimented by browns and blacks, allowing it to really pop. The designer of this website certainly knows how to take a lot of information and organize it attractively. It is very user-friendly. The appetizing photos used throughout the site are interactive, allowing the user to scroll over the photos to find out what ingredients go into that particular dish.

The California Pizza Kitchen Restaurants have great design to attract people to it’s delicious food. It just goes to show you how high-end design can make an affordable restaurant look like an expensive place to dine. Without the professional CPK branding, the chain would not be as recognizable as it is today.

Written by Jen Ebenrick