Celebrating 27 Years: The Crown & Pumpkin Website Reimagined
Introduction:
Set against the scenic beauty of Almonte, Pakenham, and Clayton (outside Ottawa, Canada), the Crown & Pumpkin Studio Tour has woven itself into the cultural fabric of our community for an impressive 27 years. With the backdrop of this stunning and artistically vibrant region, Sumack Loft embarked on a mission to modernize the tour’s digital presence. This journey began with the crafting of a distinctive logo and branding a few years back.
The Challenge:
In today’s connected world, a strong online presence is vital for events like The Crown & Pumpkin Studio Tour. The previous website, with its disorganized interface and confusing layout, posed challenges for visitors attempting to explore and engage with the makers and their work.
Our Solution:
In response, we initiated a comprehensive overhaul, prioritizing clear brand messaging, functionality, and user experience:
- Revamped Look: The website’s whole look and feel has been redesigned to reflect The Crown & Pumpkin Studio Tour’s singular branding — blending clean, simple architecture with an artistic sensibility.
- Streamlined Navigation: Clear and intuitive menus have been introduced, ensuring seamless exploration of the diverse array of makers and their works.
- Categorization for Easy Discovery: With a large number of makers, we implemented a categorization system to replace the previous long-drawn-out list of names. This allows visitors to quickly find makers whose work aligns with their interests.
- Dedicated Tour Stop Pages: We created individual pages for each tour stop, listing the makers who will be present. This feature provides visitors with a convenient guide, ensuring they can easily locate the makers they wish to visit during the tour.
- Enhanced Maker Profiles: Individual maker profiles were crafted as virtual showcases, offering visitors a deeper understanding of the creative processes and inspirations behind each piece.
- Downloadable Tour Materials: To further enrich the visitor experience, downloadable (and printable) PDFs were made available, serving as convenient, offline guides to the event.
- Mobile Optimization: The website underwent thorough optimization checks to guarantee an experience that is equally enjoyable across a spectrum of devices.
The Results:
Though it’s early days since the launch of the new website, the initial feedback has been incredibly positive. Tour participants and organizers alike have expressed their satisfaction with the revamped platform. Moreover, the organizers reported excellent traction on social media, indicating a growing interest in the annual event. With almost 17,000 visits to the website in the month prior to the tour, these signs bode well for increased engagement and smoother event planning going forward.
Conclusion:
At Sumack Loft, we believe that an easy-to-navigate website with an intuitive interface makes things more enjoyable and convenient for everyone. We’re honoured to have played a part in revitalizing this beloved event’s digital presence. Through crafting a website that mirrors the tour’s distinctive character and ensures an effortless user journey, we feel we’ve not only breathed new life into their online presence, but also played a part in nurturing a beloved local tradition.
We are now booking new identity and web design projects for Fall/Winter 2023.
Branding. Elevated.
Sumack Loft 