— PROJECT NAME
Willy's Mexicana Grill
— ROLE
Graphic Design
Video Editing
— DATE
2023
— DATE
Vert Digital
About the Brand
Willy’s Mexicana Grill is a fast-casual restaurant serving fresh, authentic Mexican food with a playful twist. Founded in Atlanta, the brand has built a loyal following through its bold flavors, creative menu items, and fun, laid-back dining experience. To maintain its competitive edge in a crowded market, Willy’s needed a social media presence that captured its energetic spirit while spotlighting its signature menu items.
My Role
As a design contractor at Vert Digital, I partnered with Willy’s to enhance their social media presence through engaging visual content. My work included designing social media carousels, looping GIFs, and branded posts that aligned with their quirky, fun-loving personality. By blending graphic design and motion elements, I helped translate their brand into vibrant, thumb-stopping digital experiences.
The Challenge
Willy’s wanted to boost engagement and build brand loyalty on social media through fun, visually striking content that showcased their menu. The challenge was creating a consistent, on-brand aesthetic while keeping the visuals fresh and playful to attract a hungry, fast-moving audience.
The Creative Process
To create a visually cohesive brand presence, I leveraged Willy’s bold color palette, signature graphic elements, and high-quality product photos. I designed:
Swipe-through Carousel
A multi-slide feature highlighting The Willy Philly, combining product shots with playful graphic overlays.
Instagram Posts
Over a series of several months, I designed organic social media posts to create a colorful brand.
Story-Sized Graphics
To engage mobile audiences effectively, I designed story-sized graphics optimized for Instagram and Facebook Stories. These full-screen visuals featured bold typography, playful animations, and appetizing product shots to capture attention within seconds. The vertical format allowed for immersive storytelling, ensuring Willy’s brand voice came through in a fun, snackable way that encouraged interaction and brand recall.
Shareable Gifs
Looping, appetizing gifs
Results & Takeaways
Collaborating with Vert Digital on Willy’s Mexicana Grill’s social media campaigns allowed me to apply my skills in adapting to an established brand while introducing fresh, engaging design solutions. I maintained consistency with Willy’s playful and bold aesthetic while pushing creative boundaries through eye-catching animations, story-sized graphics, and carousel posts.
This project highlighted my ability to balance strategic design with creative storytelling, ensuring every piece felt on-brand and visually compelling. It also reinforced my strength in working within agency settings, delivering high-impact designs that connect with target audiences.
Willy’s continues to grow and adapt in the bustling Atlanta dining scene, reflecting its commitment to innovation and community engagement.