Since technology is constantly evolving, information is becoming easier to spread and find. It is more important now than ever before to have social media or a website, especially as a business. Consumers are online round-the-clock and can find out about your company in a single click. While websites used to contain only text, nowadays there are endless possibilities for layouts and design.
For my web design class, I created a new company called “Dizzy Dipz” that is a fusion restaurant that focuses on boozy ice cream. I created the brand identity and with the help of a partner, was able to bring the company to life with a semi-professional feeling website. I will compare it to that of popular local food chain – Burgatory, as they also serve a selection of boozy milkshakes.
Burgatory is known for its “helluva burgers” and “heavenly shakes.” They pride themselves on their all-natural ingredients and huge portions. Burgatory has multiple locations in the Pittsburgh area, including the PPG Paints Arena, Heinz Field, and Cranberry Township. Burgatory was established in 2011, and their website reflects the modern feel.
When you first land on the Burgatory homepage, you are met with a simple and intuitive design. At the very top of the page, the red ‘B” that is their logo sits centered on a very dark brown navigation bar. Under the logo, there are links to the menu, locations, merchandise, and careers. Below this, there is a slideshow of colorful photos that convey the customers, food, and employees of the company in a positive, tasteful light. When looking at the site’s homepage, it is easy to see where you need to go. The items on the navigation bar attracted my attention mainly because of its light gray color against the dark title bar but also because it is centered at the top of the page, and the slideshow is large, not leaving too much else to look at.
Burgatory’s website uses many design principles, such as balance, unity, emphasis, and layout. The layout and color choices across design elements on the page give it a sense of unity. The webpage seems laid back and relaxed with the choice of typography and wording. There is also a good contrast in the dark navigation bar and the stark white-gray color of the background and text. It is clear as to what words are hyperlinks because they are either underlined or change color when you glide your cursor over them.
Overall, the usability of this website is easy for users with minimal experience with websites or the internet. Everything you could possibly want to look for is connected to a link in the navigation bar. At no point did I dwell on or think “where should I begin.” Its minimal color scheme and layout make the experience easy on the eye and mind.
In some ways, Burgatory’s webpage is quite similar to Dizzy Dipz. This is of no surprise to me because I took inspiration from their site in regards to the layout and content. I do think that Dizzy Dipz stands out because it gives off young and social vibes. The colors alone are so vibrant and different from most other companies and I think it gives it an edge when comparing it to a restaurant with similar menu items. I also like how Dizzy Dipz includes more photos that will give the consumer a better idea of the both the atmosphere and food. The wording and names of the headers and items on both sites allow for a better insight, as well. Burgatory includes a very minimal amount of photos within the bulk of content, but uses an abundance of playful typography. I think both sites look pretty clean and simple with an easy understanding of the navigation process.
Reference
Burgatory. (n.d.). Retrieved July 22, 2019, from https://burgatorybar.com/