Problem Statement
S.Place88’s lack of a professional online platform limits their ability to showcase their work, attract new clients and streamline their business operations. To elevate S.Place88's online presence, we aim to design a visually stunning, intuitive platform that showcases the artistry and professionalism of their work while simplifying navigation and contact.
Goal
The aim of this project was to design a website that reflects their brand’s creative vision, showcases their portfolio and provides an intuitive user experience for their clients.
Solution
The main solution of the S.Place88 project was to create a clean, modern, and user-friendly website that effectively showcases the artistry and professionalism of the food photography team while ensuring seamless navigation and an intuitive booking experience. By focusing on visually stunning design, clear portfolio organization, which helping them attract premium clients and improve overall user satisfaction.
Design role Audience Tools
UX Designer
UX Researcher
UI Designer
Photographers
Restaurant managers
Figma
Figjam
Lightroom
Canva
MS Office
Discover
SWOT
Analysis
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Strengths: Unique expertise in food photography.
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Weaknesses: Lack of an online platform to showcase work.
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Opportunities: Potential collaborations with brands beyond the restaurant industry.
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Threats: Clients’ preference for another local photographers.
Research & Interview
Through interviews with current and potential clients, the main pain points were identified:
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Difficulty in discovering their services online.
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Lack of a streamlined process for booking and inquiries.
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A need for visual inspiration from their portfolio.
To design a user-friendly platform that emphasizes professionalism and creativity, I researched websites from industry leaders such as Adobe Portfolio, Lenka’s Lens and Squarespace, drawing inspiration from their approaches to intuitive layouts and seamless user experiences. This competitive analysis guided the development of solutions tailored to S.Place88's unique identity.
Affinity
Mapping
MoSCow
Mapping
Key themes emerged from the interviews:
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Minimalist designs always appear high-quality and sophisticated.
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A clean, professional logo that reflects creativity and expertise is key. It doesn’t need to be flashy but should feel polished and align with the food photography theme.
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Portfolios should be organized by categories or themes for example desserts, beverages, dishes.
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Very important forms that are simple and quick to fill out, with fields for name, contact details, project description and budget.
By using MoSCoW mapping, I ensured that the development process focused on delivering the core functionalities first, while also leaving room for future enhancements, ultimately helping to create a balanced and efficient website that meets both user and business needs.
Must-Have: Portfolio page, information about the team, contact form.
Should-Have: Blog section.
Could-Have: Client testimonials, behind-the-scenes gallery.
Won’t-Have: E-commerce features for now.
Persona
I used the information from interviews to create a persona named Marcin.
He helped to start designing the website version with a specific person in mind.
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Define
User Stories
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"I appreciate forms that are simple and quick to fill out, with fields for name, contact details, project description and budget."
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"I also look for examples of previous work with restaurants or food brands."
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"In my opinion, the lack of personal branding and cohesive style is the biggest issue for most photographers."
User Flow
Created flows for users to seamlessly browse the portfolio, understand services and complete bookings, ensuring an intuitive experience with clear navigation and minimal steps to achieve their goals.
Wireframe I
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Lo-Fi Wireframes: Basic layout of homepage, portfolio and contact page.
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Mid-Fi Wireframes: Added visual hierarchy and placeholder content.
Usability
Testing
Users found the portfolio easy to navigate, with categorized sections and filters that allowed them to quickly find specific types of photography. They appreciated the streamlined structure and clear layout.
They praised the minimalist design, high contrast, and clean typography, highlighting how it to enhance the browsing experience and to drew attention to the photography.
Participants noted that the contact process look straightforward, with clear steps and a prominent call-to-action that made it simple to request for information.
Develop
Branding
Colors: Minimalistic palette with neutral tones of white, black, and burgundy was chosen to emphasize the photos while creating a sleek and sophisticated aesthetic. The white provides a clean and open feel, black adds elegance and contrast, and burgundy introduces a touch of warmth and creativity, complementing the brand's artistic identity.
Typography: Clean and modern fonts were carefully selected to ensure they maintain a consistent and cohesive appearance in both English and Ukrainian. This was a crucial consideration to preserve the brand's identity and professionalism across multiple languages.
Logo: Redesigned to reflect simplicity and creativity. The initial concept faced challenges as the sponsor wasn’t fully satisfied, prompting a collaborative effort to refine the design together and achieve a result that perfectly embodies the brand’s vision and values.
Old Logo – Represents the previous branding design used by S.Place88 before the redesign.
Proposed Logo – A concept created during the redesign process, initially presented for review and feedback.
Current Logo – The final design collaboratively approved and currently in use, reflecting the brand’s simplicity and creativity.
Deliver
Functioning Prototype
Developed an interactive prototype with:
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Smooth navigation.
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Portfolio galleries.
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Information about the team.
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Contact forms.
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Personal blog.
Next Steps
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Expand the website with e-commerce functionality to sell photography workshops.
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Regularly update the blog to drive engagement.
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Implement SEO strategies to improve discoverability.
Conclusion
The S.Place88 website successfully addressed the initial challenges, providing an elegant and functional platform that showcases the team’s incredible work. With a clear focus on user needs, the new website enhances S.Place88’s brand presence and creates a seamless experience for clients. By continuing to evolve, the website will remain a valuable tool in driving the studio’s growth and success.