How to Design a Digital Menu Board: 9 Tips for Stunning Menu Displays (original) (raw)
How to design a digital menu board that captivates customers starts with choosing clear, legible fonts, incorporating high-quality images, and keeping the layout clean and organized. According to the research article, marketing engagement through visual content, visual information is retained 80% more effectively than text. Restaurant managers leverage AI-driven display platforms to expedite content creation processes, saving several hours to focus on serving guests.
This step-by-step guide offers 10+ tips for creating stunning digital menu boards that resonate with customer behavior and provides advice for optimizing display content to boost sales. So let’s get started.
Digital menu board design refers to the visual layout used to display menu items on digital signage screens. Powered by digital menu board design software, effective designs showcase menu offerings through high-quality images, clear typography, and dynamic content such as videos and animations that engage customers.
Well-designed boards incorporate:
- POS integration to enable real-time price and menu item updates.
- Cloud-based CMS for easy, remote menu content editing across multiple screens.
- Visually optimized templates to guide customer choices.
- Strategic placement of menu items to influence purchasing behavior.
Updating digital menu boards doesn’t require printing, paper, and labor costs and simplifies content updates, enhancing visual appeal and operational efficiency.
The same Intel study noted that digital signage increases the chance of impulse purchases by 18% to 20%, due to the dynamic presentation of new or add-on items.
To create a digital menu board design is a simple process and involves template selection, layout customization, and multimedia integration. Follow our detailed guide to create a stunning digital menu.
Follow the steps listed below:
Step 1: Define Your Digital Menu Board Goals and Layout
Define your digital menu board goals and layout is the first step. Are you planning to use it to increase sales, remotely update specials, or enhance branding?
Consider customers’ preferences to create and deploy a truly impactful menu board that entices customers and boosts sales. Focus on readability and easy navigation when designing menus.
Here are a few goals and corresponding layouts:
- Promote Specific Items: Include high-margin items in your layout.
- Enhance Brand Identity: Incorporate your restaurant’s brand styling into your layout.
- Increase Sales: Organize dishes & prioritize preferred items in your menu layout.
- Remote Management: Update signs including specials & pricing remotely to keep layouts updated.
Choose the right digital menu board design software to create stunning templates. A cloud-based platform like AIScreen simplifies designing and editing menu boards remotely and deploys personalized content.
Moreover, you can leverage digital menu board solutions to:
- Create playlists to automate the display of morning, lunch, and dinner menus.
- Customize pre-designed digital menu board templates to create engaging displays.
- Access menu content from any location and deliver real-time updates.
- Schedule content for designated times in advance to keep menus fresh.
Step 3: Start Designing with Canvas Tools
Start designing with Canvas tools, which is a user-friendly menu design tool that simplifies content creation and features a library of over 1,500 customizable templates for digital boards.
Here’s how you can design digital boards with Canvas:
- Start by logging into your AIScreen account & go to “Canvas” in your dashboard
- Browse 1500+ digital menu board templates & select a template to customize.
- Select and save your template in your “My Canvases” section.
- Customize by adjusting menu items, colors, images, and text to match your branding.
- Once done customizing, publish your design directly to your digital signage menu.
Step 4: Preview and Organize Your Digital Menu Design
Preview and organize your digital menu design before publishing it across your network of screens. This ensures everything goes as expected and that menu design templates blend perfectly with your interiors and offerings.
Furthermore, previewing ensures:
- Designs adapt to various screen sizes.
- Formatting issues and typos are resolved beforehand.
Step 5: Connect Your Screen and Publish Your Design
It’s time to connect your screen and publish your design, once you’re done creating a digital menu. You can do so in just a few steps listed below:
- Download our digital signage software on your screen.
- Navigate to the AIScreen manager account and go to the “Screens” section.
- Click “Add Screen” and enter the 4-digit pairing code shown on your digital signage TV.
- Assign a name to your screen and select orientation (landscape or portrait).
- Click “Save” to pair your screen with our cloud-based CMS.
- Select any saved menu design and broadcast it to the connected screen(s).
Step 6: Schedule and Monitor Your Menu Content
Schedule and monitor your menu content automates content rotation, keeps your menu current, and helps monitor the performance of your digital signage menu board. AIScreen offers an advanced scheduling function to automate when and how long to display content.
This allows restaurant owners and managers to transition from breakfast menu to lunch at specific hours and display event-specific promotions. Slides for daily specials, happy hours, and seasonal offers will be automatically shown without human intervention using scheduling.
Here’s how to do it:
- Create a Playlist: Navigate to the “Playlists” section in the AIScreen dashboard and click “Create New Playlist.” Upload content into the playlist and arrange files in the desired order. Save your playlist.
- Create a New Schedule: Click on the “Schedule” tab in the main menu. Select “Create New Schedule.”
- Add a Playlist to the Schedule: In the schedule timeline, select a time slot for content to play. Set the start date, time, and duration and confirm the time slot accordingly. Click “Add Playlist” and select the one you want to schedule and confirm upload.
- Assign Devices, Review, and Save: Click “Add Device” to select any screen or player to assign a schedule. Click “Save” for your schedule to automatically play at specified times.
9 tips for designing a perfect digital menu board include using clear and readable fonts, high-quality pictures, consistent branding, and more. A perfect menu is easy to navigate and displays key information such as special offers, prominently.
The human brain is wired to process visual information more efficiently. Therefore, advertising menu specials visually can drive better results in terms of customer engagement.
Then, as inventory levels drop, you can update content within a few clicks and see the updated information deployed across all screens irrespective of their placement or location, in real-time, from a centralized dashboard using digital menu board software.
Research by Intel Corporation found that in-store digital signage captures 400% more views than static signage, significantly enhancing customer engagement.
Anyways, here are 10+ tips to perfectly create digital menu boards:
1. Use Clear and Readable Fonts
Use clear and readable fonts to create digital menu boards that are easy to read from large distances irrespective of lighting conditions.
- Use fonts that match your brand guidelines.
- Adjust font size for visibility. Ensure it’s visible to the furthest viewer.
- Stick to large, sans-serif fonts for effortless readability.
- Avoid multiple fonts. Avoid overwhelming customers.
- Tone down font colors if you are already using strong colors.
- Design for clarity so pricing and menu items are prominently visible.
A neuroscience study by QMS revealed a 24% increase in long-term memory encoding with digital signage, showcasing its potential impact on brand recall and consumer engagement.
2. Incorporate High-Quality Images
Incorporate high-quality images that are realistic, subtle animations and images of dishes to design visually appealing menus for coffee shops and other restaurant industry establishments.
- Avoid using generic, stock images to showcase offerings.
- Take your own photos for your own digital menu boards to preserve authenticity.
- Use simple, appealing backgrounds like slightly bright tablecloths on restaurant menus.
- Use better-angled photos of dishes. Add subtle animations.
- Take visual cues from social media feeds.
- Hire a food stylist for professional-quality pictures.
A study published in the International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology found that 51.7% of respondents consider the visual appeal of food a major deciding factor when choosing a restaurant.
3. Maintain Consistent Branding
Maintain consistent branding by using matching font styles, colors, and logos. This gives your brand a recognizable appearance.
A study published in the International Journal of Hospitality Management emphasizes that consistent use of fonts, colors, and logos in menu design significantly influences customer perceptions and can lead to increased sales.
- Design using a built-in editor called Canvas in a digital signage menu.
- Customize professionally designed layouts to create a digital menu instantly.
- Take screen location and viewing distances into account while designing TV menus.
- Reinforce brand identity using personalized design elements like colors, fonts, and logos.
4. Organize Your Layout
Organize your layout of menu to include clearly labeled categories and sections so that customers can easily navigate menu items, prioritizing seasonal, high-margin dishes.
- Promote top-selling foods and organize menus around appetizers, mains, and desserts.
- Keep designs minimal so customers find what they’re looking for right away.
- Enhance readability using colors to separate food categories.
- Use a definitive font size hierarchy: large fonts for headers & smaller for dishes.
- Avoid sharp contrasts between headers and food items by optimizing colors.
Research by The Guardian, indicates that menu item placement and categorization can influence purchasing decisions.
5. Include Dynamic Content
Include dynamic content such as videos and animations to display and highlight special offers prominently and attractively on restaurants’ menus.
- Grab customers’ attention towards promotions using dynamic content.
- Use motion graphics to display limited-time deals.
- Deploy eye-catching animations to encourage impulse buying.
- Keep rotating content to ensure menus are engaging.
A study in the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services found that dynamic digital displays significantly impact consumer decision-making by enhancing engagement.
6. Use Eye-Catching Colors and Design
Use eye-catching colors and design to grab customers’ attention from various viewing distances. Wisely using colors is a must for they impact viewers psychologically.
- Colorful designs stimulate appetite & make menu items hard to ignore.
- Well-designed digital displays lead to a 25% increase in customer satisfaction.
- Deploy grid strategies to organize dishes clearly for improved readability.
- Leverage a color scheme resonating with your restaurant’s decor.
Research in the International Journal of Hospitality Management suggests that strategic use of colors can enhance customer satisfaction and influence purchasing behavior.
7. Ensure Responsiveness Across Devices
Ensure responsiveness across devices by using adaptive menu design that fits any screen size, resolution, or device type. This is vital to ensure consistent display quality across a network of screens from a single platform.
A study in the Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies highlights the importance of adaptable menu designs in enhancing user experience.
- Responsive design ensures a digital menu fits into any screen size or device.
- Delivers a consistent experience across a wide range of digital menu boards like tablets & desktops.
- Use fluid grids or adaptable visual elements to fit any layout.
Responsive design ensures that your digital menu looks great on all screen sizes. When choosing a display for your digital menu board, it’s essential to consider the best TV for optimal responsiveness and performance. For tips on selecting the right display, refer to how to choose the best TV for digital menu board.
8. Focus on Easy Navigation and User Interface
Focus on easy navigation and user interface to ensure customers can effortlessly browse your menu, select dishes, and customize add-ons without confusion.
- Make it easy for customers to navigate menu content.
- A user-friendly interface ensures customers can easily find and select items.
- Touchscreens or tablet devices simplify customizing orders effortlessly.
- Avoid overwhelming customers by properly spacing offerings.
Research from ResearchGate indicates that user-friendly interfaces in digital menus can lead to increased customer satisfaction and repeat business.
9. Incorporate Clear Call to Action (CTAs)
Incorporate clear Call to Actions (CTAs) like “Order Now” or “See More” to inspire prompt action and nudge customers to place orders right away. A study in the International Journal of Hospitality Management emphasizes the role of clear CTAs in influencing customer behavior.
- CTAs entice undecided customers into buying or engaging with your menu.
- Ensure CTAs are visible to maximize engagement.
- Guide customers to promotions or special offers using CTAs.
- Drive more sales and customer interaction with digital menu CTAs.
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Learn the best practices for digital menu board design with AIScreen to create engaging, responsive, and high-converting menu displays.
With AIScreen’s intuitive tools, you can design visually compelling menus using dynamic visuals, personalized layouts, and advanced scheduling, driving both customer engagement and sales. Empower your brand with professional, on-brand digital signage that works seamlessly across devices.
Start creating your professional digital menu board today with AIScreen’s intuitive design tools. Try our free trial now!
Ready to talk about your Digital Signage Project?
1500+ ready-to-use templates
70+ built-in integration
Offline playback
Split screen to zones
We’ll give you a call back within 24h!
FAQs
What’s the ideal resolution for a digital menu board display?
The ideal resolution for a digital menu board display is 1080p if you want to deliver crisp imagery at cost-effective prices. 4K offers sharper images but is expensive. So, it’s better to go for 1080 pixels for optimal clarity, legibility, and readability of menu content.
How do I update content on a digital menu board remotely?
You can update content on a digital menu board remotely using cloud-based digital signage software to manage content. From a central dashboard, it allows users to create, schedule, and update content across multiple screens from any location.
Can I integrate digital menu boards with my POS system?
Yes, you can integrate digital menu boards with POS system to facilitate self-ordering, inventory management, and dynamic pricing. POS integration elevates the restaurant’s brand identity and brings operational efficiency.
How often should I update the content on my digital menu board?
You should update content on your digital menu board at least 2-5 times every day. Regular updates improve customer experience and bypass screen burns. This might seem overwhelming but with digital signage, you can automatically schedule content updates in advance.
What screen size works best for implementing a well-designed digital menu board?
The screen size works best for implementing a well-designed digital menu board for restaurants and enjoying better visibility and readability is 43 to 55-inch. However, for small cafes and food stalls even 32 to 43 inches are just fine.