The Singing Nettle is a charming Sarajevo-based restaurant that revives forgotten Bosnian culinary traditions and offers a unique nettle-infused menu rooted in regional herbs and homey décor. When they partnered with Shapely Studio, they knew the food and atmosphere were already memorable—but the online experience didn’t reflect their rich identity or invite the kind of reservations they deserved.
We stepped in to design a clean, strategic website that prominently featured their existing illustrations and visual storytelling elements—proof that when a visual identity is fully developed, it makes the transition to web seamless. By leveraging their artistic assets and aligning them with thoughtful design, we created a simple site that finally lets the brand’s personality shine online and works as hard as the kitchen does.
The Singing Nettle
scope of work
design direction
organic
authentic
wholesome
website
New website
Now, the website features a smoother flow, integrated brand illustrations for visual consistency, and an improved restaurant booking system that makes the user experience seamless from start to finish.
“Arnela took our existing visual identity and elevated it into a website that feels fresh, cohesive, and truly reflective of our brand. Beyond the design, the biggest impact came from the booking system she implemented—it replaced hours of manual reservation management with a seamless, automated experience. Her approach was thoughtful, detail-oriented, and incredibly efficient from start to finish. I couldn’t recommend Shapely Studio more.”
Before
Before the redesign, The Singing Nettle’s website was simple and minimal but lacked the warmth and personality that make the restaurant so special. The layout was very text-heavy, with limited visuals and no storytelling elements to reflect its authentic Bosnian charm.
While the information was there, the design didn’t communicate the restaurant’s cozy atmosphere, rich heritage, or the unique concept behind its nettle-based menu — leaving room for a website that could truly bring its character to life.