Café au Clay Design Study
Café au Clay is a cozy pottery studio based in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood, known for its welcoming atmosphere and strong local following. This website redesign study reimagines the studio’s online presence with a refreshed, brand-aligned aesthetic and improved user experience, focused on clarity, warmth, and functionality.
The redesign refines the studio’s visual language by aligning the colour palette more closely with Café au Clay’s earthy, handmade brand. Neutral tones paired with soft accents create a calming and curated look that reflects the tactile and grounded nature of pottery. Typography, spacing, and the layout were thoughtfully updated to provide more breathing room, enhancing legibility and ease of navigation across both desktop and mobile platforms.
The redesign refines the studio’s visual language by aligning the colour palette more closely with Café au Clay’s earthy, handmade brand. Neutral tones paired with soft accents create a calming and curated look that reflects the tactile and grounded nature of pottery. Typography, spacing, and the layout were thoughtfully updated to provide more breathing room, enhancing legibility and ease of navigation across both desktop and mobile platforms.
Key Insights
- A refined, brand-appropriate colour palette inspired by natural clay tones, adding warmth and cohesion to the user experience.
- Increased white space and a more organized layout to create visual clarity and improve navigation.
- Enhanced homepage structure that prioritizes storytelling, studio values, and ease of access to key information like classes and memberships.
- Redesigned shop page with filters and sorting functions for a more intuitive and enjoyable shopping experience.
- Consistent typography and visual hierarchy to unify the site's overall appearance and reflect the handmade, thoughtful nature of the studio's brand.
Key improvements were made to the home page and shop page. The home page now emphasizes community and storytelling, balancing informative content with engaging visuals. Clearer hierarchy and structured content make the site easier to browse, whether users are exploring classes or memberships. On the shop page, filters, sorting tools, and more consistent product displays create a smoother e-commerce experience, making it easier for customers to discover and purchase studio offerings.
This project was completed in Figma and reflects a modern, user-centered approach to web design. The goal throughout was to honour the warmth and community spirit of Café au Clay while enhancing usability and visual coherence.
Figma link: https://www.figma.com/design/djg09zJ6nH0g2mJ7lP857C/Pottery-Website-Design-Study?node-id=0-1&t=qmpGbzB8FPU2SxZY-1
This project was completed in Figma and reflects a modern, user-centered approach to web design. The goal throughout was to honour the warmth and community spirit of Café au Clay while enhancing usability and visual coherence.
Figma link: https://www.figma.com/design/djg09zJ6nH0g2mJ7lP857C/Pottery-Website-Design-Study?node-id=0-1&t=qmpGbzB8FPU2SxZY-1
