Great Oak Manor

Introduction

Great Oak Manor is a luxury boutique hotel overlooking the Chesapeake Bay (in Chestertown, Maryland USA) offering breathtaking views, uncompromising service and place where a focus on connection & reconnection, learning and wellness results in exceptional experiences that make getaways more memorable.

During my employment at Wallop, I spearheaded a pivotal project that concluded in February 2023. Entrusted as the primary designer, I collaborated closely with our Lead Designer to elevate the Great Oak Manor brand identity and redesign its outdated website. My focus centered on infusing the brand with a contemporary, fresh aesthetic while ensuring the website’s design aligned seamlessly with its renewed identity and future goals.

The Process

breathing in new life with fresh branding

After meticulously reviewing the Discovery document and understanding the essence of Great Oak Manor along with our clients’ aspirations for the hotel’s future, I discerned key elements that encapsulated this vision and translated them into a cohesive style tile. Presenting the client with several options, we collectively agreed that the style tile named ‘Radiant Warmth’ embodied the perfect blend of freshness, luxury and homeliness.

The Process

applying “Radiant Warmth” to the website UI

Alongside aiming for a fresh, luxurious, and homely feel, my objective for the Great Oak Manor website was to achieve a modern, sleek design that offers simple navigation and a delightful user experience.

I implemented several strategies to accomplish this goal. Firstly, I integrated a visually engaging dynamic cursor, providing users with an intuitive means of navigating the site. This feature dynamically adjusts when hovering over clickable elements and navigating carousels, ensuring clear interactive cues. Additionally, I introduced a captivating slow-scroll motion throughout the site, encouraging users to take their time absorbing information. As users scroll, background colors transition seamlessly, and entrance motions are strategically incorporated to add visual interest and emphasize critical sections of the site.

The Process

implementing modular design to make handoff a breeze

As with all websites, content is dynamic and will change as the business evolves. It’s crucial to consider this aspect during the design process to ensure the site remains up-to-date and adaptable to future changes. At Wallop, we emphasized the implementation of modular design, which involves creating reusable modules that clients can easily edit, move, and integrate across the site as their content evolves. This approach not only facilitates seamless updates but also streamlines the handoff to developers. When modules are approved, developers can efficiently begin their work, ultimately piecing everything together to construct a cohesive site in line with our initial design vision.

The Result

a fine tuned brand and a beautiful new website

Unfortunately, I wasn’t at Wallop when the Great Oak Manor website went live, so I lack insight into the client’s satisfaction with the final product. Nevertheless, I am proud to share the positive feedback received from my Lead Designer and Development team during our collaboration on this project. Everyone involved was so happy with the exceptional branding and site design, the seamless process we maintained, the efficient handoff to the development team, and my ability to navigate the project with minimal support.

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I acknowledge that I live, work, and play on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh) Nations. I pay my pay respects to Indigenous Elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty has never been ceded.

This always was and always will be, Aboriginal land.