header image credit: Astrid Blumer
The Brief
In 2024, Open Studios Kommetjie approached Sarah of One Day Co. for help in reinvisioning their website. As a Kommetjie local and avid art supporter, and having worked with numerous creative platforms like this annual event (such as Design Indaba from 2012 to 2017 and Design Joburg from 2017 to 2021), we were the ideal candidate. And so, we submitted a proposal to work with Open Studios Kommetjie on the redesign and development of its website, to refresh the design, make the site more user friendly and engaging for visitors, and share the stories of Open Studios Kommetjie and its artists.
Our Proposal
A PORTAL INTO THE KOMMETJIE NARRATIVE:
CELEBRATING OUR ARTISTS, BRINGING VISITORS INTO THE COMMUNITY
Our Kommetjie artists and their open studios are a window into the Kommetjie way of life – celebrating culture, nature, creativity and the values of small community living. The website is an opportunity to curate and share that narrative, not just around Open Studios but the Kommetjie community more widely.
CREATING A SYSTEM, BUILDING A LEGACY
Relatively speaking we are in the dawn of a long journey for Open Studios Kommetjie. Now is the time to pave the way for the future by designing a system that ensures information is preserved and the history of Open Studios Kommetjie are well documented from the start. Consider the website as a future archive for generations to come.
Our solution
Working with the CI developed by the art director, as well as the steering committee’s administrative point of contact who assisted with content sourcing, our solution included:
- Moving the website to WordPress, the best open-source content management platform, with up-to-date website technology, good SEO and easy to update – we saw this website as an opportunity to trial the new 2024 theme and blocks system which has elevated WordPress to once again being the best free site-builder – without requiring premium themes or paid-for plugins;
- Ensuring the site is mobile friendly – the place most users will view the website;
- Revamping the homepage to give more of a presence to artists, the map and key news and information for visitors;
- Enhancing the website’s user experience – as a utility for visitors and information hub for all stakeholders, as well as being the online access point for the brand and any content developed by Open Studios Kommetjie;
- Creating a unique page for all artists – such that each artist can share link to their profile and which is indexed by Google, meaning good SEO for the website as any search traffic for artists can also lead back to Open Studios Kommetjie;
- Integrating the Instagram feed to show off the beautiful content being created;
- Adding a news / blog section – with the opportunity to tell stories relevant to that year’s event and archive historic stories (like the bunny project);
- A more cohesive design connection to the Open Studios map – which most visitors to the event engage with – for better branding consistency;
- Opportunity to add value to sponsors and partners with branding across the website
We now manage and run the website on behalf of the event, sponsoring the hosting as our give-back to the community.
