Leikam Brewing, a local taproom in Portland, is a warm and welcoming place. But their existing website could be improved to reflect that. Based on interviews and usability testing, we aimed to improve the website's look, feel, and information hierarchy. Leikam Brewing is known for its kosher vegan beers and its commitment to building a welcoming community.ResearchA SolutionTo address these issues, we designed the website mobile-first, focusing on providing essential information on the home screen and showcasing Leikam Brewing as a welcoming and community-oriented place. We used warm colors, a friendly typeface, and a visually appealing hero image to create a welcoming atmosphere. We also experimented with a feature that would show which organizations benefitted from the purchase of specific beers.How did it do?Usability testing with a mobile prototype indicated that users were able to easily find most of the desired information. However, improvements are needed to indicate outdoor seating availability and highlight the support for social causes. Our design was successful in portraying Leikam Brewing as welcoming, family-friendly, and safe during the pandemic.
We conducted interviews with the owner and potential customers, revealing that Leikam's current website didn't convey the warmth and friendliness of the taproom. It also lacked an effective way to promote events. Potential customers emphasized the importance of essential information, family-friendliness, event listings, menu, and COVID-19 safety measures. Knowing that Leikam supports social causes was also important to customers.
To address these issues, we designed the website mobile-first, focusing on providing essential information on the home screen and showcasing Leikam Brewing as a welcoming and community-oriented place. We used warm colors, a friendly typeface, and a visually appealing hero image to create a welcoming atmosphere. We also experimented with a feature that would show which organizations benefitted from the purchase of specific beers.
Usability testing with a mobile prototype indicated that users were able to easily find most of the desired information. However, improvements are needed to indicate outdoor seating availability and highlight the support for social causes. Our design was successful in portraying Leikam Brewing as welcoming, family-friendly, and safe during the pandemic.
Read full case study (external link)
