Il Lago Dei Cigni
Web Development
Artem Shumeiko
Restaurants
Industry
Creative direction
Web Design
UX/UI Design
Brand Design
Services
2024
Year
Il Lago Dei Cigni is a luxurious Italian restaurant located on the shores of a picturesque lake, offering guests refined cuisine, impeccable service, and an unforgettable atmosphere. Known for its elegant interiors and panoramic view of Swan Lake, it attracts discerning diners who value both taste and experience. Collaborating with a high-end brand like Il Lago Dei Cigni was an opportunity for our agency to demonstrate our expertise in premium design solutions and to help elevate a dining destination that already sets the standard for sophistication
Problem
Il Lago Dei Cigni needed a full-featured website to replace an outdated promo page that had been in use for several years and no longer conveyed enough information or reflected the restaurant’s true character. The main challenge was to create a digital experience that captured the atmosphere and luxurious standard of the venue while featuring seasonal menus and special offers on the homepage, presenting the restaurant’s concept, and showcasing all existing menus as downloadable PDFs directly on the site. High-quality images of the interiors and exteriors were also essential to allow guests to appreciate the space before ultimately booking a table via a phone call from the site.
A key goal was also to attract a new audience alongside the restaurant’s established, affluent, and more traditional clientele. The updated design needed to appeal to a younger generation of guests with a refined, premium aesthetic—combining traditional Italian style with subtle contemporary minimalism. The concept had to embody modern, understated luxury that would feel familiar and reassuring to long-time patrons while also appearing fresh and clean to younger visitors.
Proсess
Our collaboration began with an on-site meeting at Il Lago Dei Cigni. We were invited not only to discuss the scope of work but also to immerse ourselves in the restaurant’s atmosphere—studying its interiors, printed materials, and day-to-day operations from a guest’s perspective. This experience gave us a holistic understanding of the venue and played a crucial role in translating its ambiance into the website and other design assets. During the meeting, the management team shared the challenges they wanted to solve, and together we mapped out the site’s sections, structure, and user flow.
It was decided early on to move away from template builders like Tilda or WordPress and instead commission a custom-built website. One of the key reasons for this approach was the need for a dedicated admin panel that would allow the restaurant’s staff to easily update menus, upload new photos to the gallery, and adjust settings on their own.
We began by developing the site architecture and wireframes, discussing each page individually with the client until we reached an optimal prototype that included all required features. The site’s style was inspired by the restaurant’s interiors, its surroundings, and elements of Italian cuisine—red wine, olives, Pecorino cheese. Visual decisions were intentionally minimalistic, airy, and intuitive, allowing the photography to highlight the sophistication of the dishes and interiors.
A dedicated “Atmosphere” section showcases seasonal imagery: winter photos with the Christmas tree and decorations during colder months, and summer photos of the terrace and Swan Lake—the very inspiration for the restaurant’s name—during warmer months. The swan motif also appears in illustrations used across menus, marketing materials, and outdoor advertising.
Once the site was handed over to development, we created a full suite of branding materials, including printed collateral, staff uniforms, and more. For the printed menus and collateral, we selected high-quality Italian paper and embossing techniques to ensure guests could feel the restaurant’s premium standard in every detail.
After the website development was complete, we presented all materials to the client. Following final approval, we trained a designated staff member to work with the admin panel and update the site content independently.
Branding
Billboard
Postcards
Posters
T-shirts
Menu
Website
Result
OAfter the launch of the new website and advertising campaign, guests began booking tables directly through the site. The number of online reservations grew steadily over time. Regular patrons, who were accustomed to discovering new dishes and offers only in person, started using the website instead—appreciating its convenience and ease of use. Thanks to the well-designed admin panel, the restaurant manager could independently update menus and information without any technical support.
Guests praised the refreshed menus, while the advertising campaign helped expand awareness of the restaurant to a wider audience, despite its already established reputation. Food critics left positive reviews highlighting the improved visual identity and overall presentation. Inspired by the success, the restaurant’s management proposed adding a new section for events and live music, which we are preparing to discuss.
Recently, Il Lago Dei Cigni achieved a new milestone: it was named a Michelin Star candidate: one of the highest awards in the world of fine dining.