Patterson’s Cafe Menu Design // Oxford, OH.

// 2003-present
Designed by: Nathan Phillips, Rebekah Poth and Elianna Pecha
d Patterson’s Cafe is a popular restaurant in Oxford that is known for its iconic menu design. The menu
features a recognizable logo with a black line outline of a square with rounded corners. A banner ribbon
with the words “PATTERSON’S” is placed on the top two corners of the square, and the top quarter of
h the shape includes three white shell-like designs on a green background. The bottom half of the square is
white, with a dark red teardrop shape pattern and a black silhouette of a dragon/beast creature in profile
w standing on its hind legs in the middle. The black border of the square comes to a point down towards the
word “CAFE.” The menu itself is a white vertical rectangle with a green geometric linear border pattern
at the top and bottom. The Patterson’s Cafe logo is prominently displayed at the top of the menu, taking
up half the page. A center-aligned restaurant description, written in a font similar to Minion Pro regular,
is located below the logo. The word “MENU” is written in a font resembling Scriptura Scottica - “Insular
Script” - as a heading for the menu. The same font is also used for the restaurant slogan at the bottom of
the description: “doing it during the daytime since 2003.” Below the slogan, the restaurant information is
presented in a left-aligned and right-aligned format, including the address, open hours, phone number,
and owner’s names.

Scriptura Scottica—”Insular Script” Celtic Book of Duro

The Scriptura Scottica, also known as Insular Script, was a typestyle derived Designs were mainly used for decorative purposes but later interpreted as
Behrens’ work for AFG was the first comprehensive visual from the Half-uncial Celtic script, which was brought to Ireland by early physical and spiritual crossings, representing eternity and the endurance
identification program. missionaries. used for special writings and as a typestyle. of life, love, and faith. Ornaments were used often to indicates important
passages
The program used a logo, a typeface, and a consistent layout of This typeface features full, rounded characters with strong bows, ascenders
elements following standardized formats. bending to the right, and a heavy triangle perching at the top of ascenders. Constructed using a grid method, flat and rigidly constructed from simple
geometric forms
The new mark was consistently applied to buildings, stationery, Celtic manuscripts introduced spaces between words, allowed readers to
products, and graphics, paving the way for modern business branding distinguish between individual words more easily and efficiently.. Features Celtic Knot Design along with other abstract and complex geo-
practices. metric linear patterns and serpentine shapes that weave and twist to create
The characters are frequently joined at the waistline or the baseline, creating a thick visual textures and pure colors. Surrounding border of thin lines is
combination of Roman Half-Uncials and the traditional Celtic manuscript. The present in many designs
Systems: Behrens’ design work established the connection between typeface is used in the Patterson’s Cafe menu.
art and industry by introducing the concept of creating a unique visual Experimental:
identity that can be applied in various ways throughout a business. Formal: The use of Celtic Knot Design, Christian color palette, and geometric con-
This emphasized the importance of consistency and coherence in The typeface used in Patterson Cafe’s menu shares formal qualities with the struction in modern designs can evoke a similar feeling of spirituality, en-
branding. In relation to Oxford, it is essential for organizations to Scriptura Scottica, including full and rounded characters with strong bows and durance, and eternity that was interpreted in Celtic Book of Duro. Abstract
establish a strong visual identity that reflects their values and mission, ascenders bending to the right. Both typefaces also utilize a heavy triangle and complex patterns with thick textures and surrounding thin lines can
and that can be consistently applied across all mediums and channels. at the top of ascenders and frequently join characters at the waistline or add depth, intricacy, and holyness to the design, while ornamental frames,
baseline, creating a combination of traditional Celtic manuscript and Roman borders, and initials can bring attention to important elements of the piece.
Half-Uncials.