I’m a big fan of online research before I go somewhere new — anything to help me ascertain the vibe in advance. So when a new website needs represents a physical place, I like to make it feel like an authentic piece of that location.
In some ways, the Eagle Creek Park Foundation is in competition with the city parks department (who also maintain informational web pages about Eagle Creek Park) to secure needed funding for what is one of largest municipal parks in the nation. For the ECPF mission to succeed, it’s vital that park visitors know the Foundation exists, and are given opportunities to donate and purchase memberships.
I worked to create a website that would outrank the city-run web pages in organic search, and provide visitors with extensive information about the park’s many activities and amenities. It was important to appeal to emotion at the same time, to remind site visitors on every page what it feels like to be present in the park. I used a lot of photos as background textures, employing different levels of soft focus to create depth and making sure to switch them out with the seasons.
