Golden Dragon - The Heart of Our Family, Designed
My Role
Product Designer
Web Developer
Responsibilities
UX Research
Design Thinking
Wireframing
Prototyping
Timeline
1 month
Tools Used
Figma
Notion
HTML/CSS/JS
BACKGROUND
Serving Tradition with a Modern Touch
Golden Dragon has been a beloved part of our community for over 30 years—a place where tradition meets innovation in every dish. What started as a small family kitchen has become a local favorite for authentic Chinese cuisine made with heart and heritage.
I've been part of this journey since middle school—working as a young chef, greeting customers, and learning what it means to truly connect with people through food. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I stepped up when we were short-staffed, doing everything I could to keep our doors open and spread the word.
That experience sparked something deeper: a desire to give back to the restaurant that raised me. Our old Facebook page wasn't enough—it limited access and made it hard for people to find us. So I turned my passion into a design project, creating this site to better share our story, our menu, and the experience of Golden Dragon with the community we love.
PROBLEM
What problems will our website address
How can a local family-ran restaurant become more than just a place to eat—something personal, engaging, and rooted in community?
At Golden Dragon, we blend tradition with modern connection to reimagine the dining experience. Fueled by my passion for both design and food, this website makes it easier than ever to explore our story, browse the menu, and feel part of our community. It's a more personal, connected way to dine—where every meal feels like family.
The Process
User Interviews
Style Guide
Next Steps
RESEARCH
User Interviews
I surveyed over 100 Golden Dragon customers to better understand how people interact with restaurant technology and what they value most in their dining experience. These insights helped shape the direction of this project—from the structure of the website to the way we tell our story.
Questions Revolved Around:
- Can you describe your experience using online or digital menus at restaurants? What worked well, and what challenges did you encounter?
- How do you typically place your orders at restaurants, and what do you like or dislike about ordering through your phone versus ordering in person?
- What factors influence your decision to return to a restaurant? How important are rewards, personalized offers, or other perks in your dining choices?
SYNTHESIS
User Personas
Based on insights gathered from user interviews, our restaurant attracts a wide range of customers, spanning different age groups and dining preferences. This diversity led me to develop two user personas to better understand and address the unique needs of our core user segments. The first persona represents socially driven, convenience-seeking college students who frequently dine out with friends. While the second persona captures the older demographic, who tend to prioritize a more traditional dining experience.
IDEATION
Sketching
For Golden Dragon, sketching was a way to bridge tradition with technology. I began by visualizing the customer journey—how a family-run restaurant could welcome both loyal regulars and first-time visitors online. These early sketches helped clarify what mattered most: making the menu easy to browse, simplifying online orders, and ensuring guests could quickly find contact information or directions. By mapping out both mobile and desktop layouts, I was able to prioritize a welcoming, accessible experience that reflects the heart of Golden Dragon.
IDEATION
Lo-Fi Wireframes
I then implemented these designs in creating lo-fi wireframes to build the foundation for the website, ensuring that key elements are structured properly.
IDEATION
Style Guide
FINAL DESIGNS
The New Golden Dragon Website!
Landing Screen
The new Golden Dragon website welcomes visitors with a clean, inviting landing screen that highlights the restaurant's unique flavors and heritage. The interface features a bold headline, easy navigation, and playful illustrations that reflect the warmth and tradition of the family-run business. With a prominent call-to-action and streamlined layout, users can quickly explore the menu, learn about the restaurant's story, and place orders with ease—making the dining experience both personal and accessible.
Our Story Unveiled
The About screen of the Golden Dragon website is designed to immerse visitors in the restaurant's rich heritage and welcoming spirit. The interface combines storytelling with visual elements, featuring a clean layout that highlights the restaurant's origins and values. Carefully chosen typography and imagery guide users through the narrative, while subtle design accents evoke a sense of tradition and authenticity. This section ensures that every visitor can connect with the story behind Golden Dragon, making the experience both informative and heartfelt.
A Feast of Choices
The menu interface is designed for effortless browsing and visual appeal. Featured dishes are showcased with vibrant imagery and clear pricing, making it easy for users to explore options at a glance. The layout is intuitive, with categories and call-to-action buttons that guide visitors to discover the full range of offerings or order online. Every element is crafted to make the dining experience inviting, accessible, and mouthwatering from the very first click.
Voices of Our Guests
The review screen brings customer testimonials to the forefront, using a clean and inviting layout that highlights real feedback from diners. Quotes are displayed prominently alongside key information, making it easy for visitors to connect with the experiences of others. The interface encourages trust and community, while clear calls-to-action invite users to explore more reviews and learn about the restaurant's reputation.
REFLECTION
Conclusion
This project pushed me to become a more thoughtful and well-rounded designer. I leaned into technical skills—using auto-layout, grids, and careful structure to make every screen feel consistent and intentional. Prototyping the Golden Dragon website helped me think through real user flows, anticipating how someone might explore the menu or connect with the restaurant's story. Most importantly, I found myself focusing more on design thinking: looking for small details to improve, asking why each element mattered, and always considering the user's experience first. The results were tangible as well: within the first three months of launch, the site saw an approximate 40% increase in traffic and a nearly 53% boost in profile interaction rates, reflecting stronger user engagement and interest. This process has made me more curious, more detail-oriented, and more excited to keep growing with every new challenge.