Cafe Patina
Marketing & Print Design
July 2020 - May 2024
Cafe Patina is a modern Australian café located in a 140-year-old heritage building on Sydney’s Upper North Shore.
The café is known for honest, seasonal food that brings together the familiarity of home cooking with a more refined dining experience. Its strong local following is supported by recognition from Restaurant & Catering as one of Sydney’s leading cafés.
The project involved ongoing marketing, social media, and print design support across almost four years. The aim was to create a clear and consistent brand presence that felt contemporary and considered while reflecting the warmth of the café, the quality of its food, and the character of its historic setting.
Content and campaign design focused on strong food photography, simple layouts, and a personable tone. This helped build a cohesive digital identity, maintain engagement with the existing community, and introduce Cafe Patina to a wider Sydney audience.
The final body of work balanced the café’s established reputation with a more modern visual approach across social media, promotions, menus, and printed materials.
Social Media Marketing
Cafe Patina’s audience data and platform performance informed a social media strategy focused on Instagram and Facebook.
A flexible visual system was developed to present menu items, daily specials, events, customer reviews, and behind-the-scenes content in a consistent way. Photos of the team, customers, and café environment helped the content feel more personal and connected to the local community.
Cafe Patina’s relationships with regional producers and local suppliers also became an important part of the content strategy. Dedicated posts introduced the businesses and ingredients behind the menu, reinforcing the café’s commitment to quality, local sourcing, and thoughtful food.
Print Media
Cafe Patina’s prominent storefront, located opposite one of the Upper North Shore’s popular parks, offers a valuable space to promote events, seasonal menus, and special offers.
A new A1 poster was designed each month and displayed at the front of the café. The posters used strong food imagery, clear messaging, and consistent branding to capture the attention of customers and passing foot traffic.
Designs were regularly updated to reflect upcoming events, seasonal promotions, and menu changes. This created a visible connection between Cafe Patina’s digital marketing and in-store experience while keeping regular customers informed about what was coming next.
Email Marketing
Cafe Patina’s email marketing reached more than 12,000 subscribers.
Regular e-newsletters and EDM campaigns were created to promote upcoming events, monthly specials, menu updates, and important announcements. Each campaign combined clear messaging, strong imagery, and consistent branding to keep customers informed and engaged.
Email provided a direct way to maintain contact with Cafe Patina’s established audience while building anticipation around new offers and seasonal activity.
