Web Design
Branding
Glendalough Studio
Website and Branding for an Irish Furniture Maker
Glendalough Studio is a high-end furniture-making and joinery workshop based in the Wicklow mountains in Ireland.
They required a distinctive brand and website that would set them apart from their competitors as a superior provider of bespoke furniture and joinery.
Tools: Adobe XD, Squarespace
Problem Statement
Despite the amazing craftsmanship on offer, Glendalough Studio's existing brand and online presence failed to convey its value and attract the right target market.
Interior joinery by Glendalough Studio.
Process
Empathize
1
Define
2
Ideate & Prototype
3
Build
4
Test
5
Empathise
Empathise
Understanding the Audience
Glendalough Studio endeavoured to target individuals who appreciate superior craftsmanship and seek bespoke furniture and joinery solutions for their homes. The audience comprises homeowners, interior designers, and architects looking for unique designs and personalised solutions.
This target market values attention to detail and the art of furniture making, as well as the ability to express their individuality through unique pieces. The aim was to create a brand experience that resonated with respect for heritage, fine taste, and superior craftsmanship.
Unique Selling Point
Glendalough Studio stands out for its owner’s extensive experience and deep pride in his craft.
The owner has a deep knowledge and interest in periods and antiques, always keen to ensure that each piece is crafted with sensitivity to historical significance and design, and preserving the character of a client’s interior.
The client and I were keen to highlight the great lengths the business goes to not only create beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces, but also honour tradition and elevate living spaces.
User Feedback
We spoke to 18 participants who fit our target market to better understand their needs and wishes. Below is a summary of their feedback based on their personal experience of the bespoke furniture and carpentry websites that they have used to date.
More Imagery
Users expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of imagery and genuine samples of work i.e., not stock photos, available on websites.
Solutions:
Visual Storytelling: Use images to tell a story or demonstrate how a piece or service solves a problem, showcasing before-and-after scenarios or customer testimonials with visuals.
Image Galleries and Slideshows: Introduce image galleries or slideshows on relevant pages.
Connections
Users expressed a desire for more connections between pages.
Solutions:
Quick link Navigation: Additional links at the bottom of each main page will entice the user to continue exploring the website.
Alternative Contact Details
Several users expressed their frustration with a website that only had a standard contact form and no alternative contact information. One user explained that they have on occasion required immediate assistance from providers that a contact form couldn’t provide, this led to a lot of frustration.
Solutions
Phone and Email: Given the user feedback, the client was happy to include their phone and email address alongside a contact form. Offering these details allows customers to speak directly when needed and attach files to emails through their regular email provider versus the contact form.
FAQs: Develop a comprehensive FAQ section to address common questions and issues, providing users with immediate answers without needing to contact support.
Consultation
Collaborating closely with the company, we discussed in detail their ideal target market and the rebranding and website efforts aimed at attracting these new, more discerning clients.
2. Define
Define
User Journey
Goal Statement
Position Glendalough Studio as a leading artisanal furniture maker and joiner in Ireland, attracting and retaining a high-end clientele.
Breakdown
The goal was to develop a distinctive brand identity and website for Glendalough Studio that effectively communicates its superior craftsmanship in the market. The new brand and website aims to:
Enhance Brand Perception: Establish Glendalough Studio as a premium provider of bespoke furniture and joinery through sophisticated and consistent visual and verbal branding.
Attract High-End Clients: Design the brand and website to appeal to discerning customers seeking high-quality, custom-made furniture, thereby increasing inquiries and sales.
Showcase Craftsmanship: Place the high-quality craftmanship front and centre of the website and brand.
Increase Online Visibility: Implement SEO best practices and advise client on social media improvements to enhance online presence and drive more traffic to the website.
Choosing a Platform
The client was a self-professed Luddite and had no interest in making updates on an overly complicated platform. After carefully weighing up the options, I decided the client’s needs would be well met on Squarespace, which is known for it’s drag-and-drop functionality and welcoming user interface.
3. Ideate
Ideate
Branding
The first step in establishing Glendalough Studio was developing the brand, logo, colours, and overall tone. The design process was deeply influenced by the beautiful location of the business, as the client wanted to reflect this in the branding.
Central to the logo is the depiction of a raven, a nod to the client’s love for these birds, which are a frequent presence in the area surrounding his workshop. The logo also integrates elements that resonate with the historical and cultural significance of Glendalough, combining both the natural and historical essence of the location.
Typefaces
Logo
Proposed Sitemap
For the first iteration, I proposed a simple site structure with a total of 5 pages. In the final iteration, we introduced a third page entitled “Services”.
Lo-fi Wireframing
I used Adobe XD to create lo-fi wireframes for the client and for use in an unmoderated usability study.
Hi-Fi Prototype
Unmoderated Usability Study
Overview
5 participants were recruited for the unmoderated usability study.
Location: Ireland
Participants: 4
Length: 10-15 minutes per session
Objectives:
The primary objectives of this unmoderated usability study were to:
Assess the overall usability of the product.
Identify any usability issues or pain points.
Gather qualitative feedback on the user experience.
User Feedback
Users loved the branding colours and overall look and feel of the website.
Users wanted some of the images to be larger and the option to expand or zoom into images.
One user wasn’t keen on the tower on the bottom of the footer, as they felt it was too “ecclesiastical”.
4 of the 5 users felt the gallery of images was bunched together and stated they’d prefer some white space or a border between images.
Client Feedback
The client was happy with the prototype’s overall design and look.
Despite user feedback for larger images, the client preferred the smaller, circular images for the services list.
4. Build
Build
The Final Website
SCROLL
5. Test
Test
Usability Testing
For the testing stage of the Glendalough Studio website, we sought feedback from a group of old, current, and potential clients. We engaged with seven participants to gather their insights and opinions on the new website design.
Questions Asked:
General thoughts on the site
Rate their satisfaction level with the design on a scale of 1-5
What was their favourite aspect of the new design?
What was their least favourite aspect of the new design?
Feedback Summary:
Overall Satisfaction:
All seven participants rated their satisfaction with the new design as 5 out of 5.
Favourite Aspects:
Three participants highlighted the overall look and feel of the website and how effectively it communicated the brand.
Two participants particularly appreciated the large, high-quality images showcasing previous work.
One participant valued the addition of Instagram links, which allowed them to see more of the studio's work in a social media context.
Least Favourite Aspects:
The participants did not specifically mention any least favourite aspects in the summary provided. This could indicate a high level of satisfaction across the board, but it may be beneficial to follow up for more detailed feedback on any potential areas for improvement.
