Graphic Design in the Food Industry

[SurfPark]

I've been researching business aspects (taxes, chamber of commerce, hiring employees, etc.) and think this is something I want to do. My idea, in a nutshell, would be to cater (no pun intended) to the food industry by working to create menus, placemats, websites, training manuals, signage and other designed media for resturants and food industry professionals. First question, has anyone heard of a design firm similar to this idea?

Also, has anyone had to compete with marketing firms? I was thinking my idea was unique until I saw a designer at a marketing firm (I work for a chairty within the same building) working on a restaurant menu. Anyone else delt with this kind of work before? Just wondering if this niche market is competitive and if any of the players have a stronghold moreso than others.

[JaCkinbOx]

Honestly, I'm not sure how lucrative it is. I don't know if any design firms do restaurant stuff exclusively, but it can be fun to work on.

I think someone's already done what you're meaning to do. But don't let that discourage you. First-comers don't always have it right.

[EC]

I have one restaurant client, it's fun and regular work. However, each year I help a publisher put together a restaurant guide -- he uses my design services as a "perk" to get people to sign up and pay for the ad space. Very few of the restaurant owners I've worked with want to spend a lot of money on this sort of thing.

High end restaurants, most of those gigs go to a really great designer in my area -- it's his 'niche' and definitely his bread and butter (No pun intended) from what he's said. Other high end restaurants around here are handled by ad agencies.

Not sure if that helps, but worth a shot. ;)

[Logo-Mechanix]

I think in the graphics world it's smart to be diversified but finding a niche to cater too is a good thing and can make money. I have done this with promotional product companies cleaning up low resolution logos and returning high resolution vector art it's boring and gives you carpel tunnel syndrome but it also pays the bills. There are alot of people out there that think a 96 dpi jpeg or word graphic that looks great on their monitor works great as art. Oh and they can never get the original which is fine with me.