Award winning Website Design & Development
Dorset Food & Drink
Digital Storm was approached by Dorset Food & Drink (DF&D) to develop a stand-alone, user-friendly website aimed at enhancing their brand presence and supporting their growth objectives. DF&D, a membership organisation of Dorset-based food and drink enterprises, needed a dedicated platform to:
- Clearly communicate their mission and engage consumers
- Showcase Dorset’s diverse food and farming sector
- Serve as a tool for current member engagement and new member recruitment
- Capture corporate sponsorship
- Support new social media and digital marketing initiatives
Previously part of the Dorset Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) Joomla-based website, DF&D required a new CMS-based site that their team could easily manage, reflecting their strong brand position and expanding their reach within the vibrant Dorset food and drink sector.
Our Response
To design the DF&D website, we started with a colour scheme that highlights local Dorset produce and celebrates the vibrant, sustainable food and drink sector. Using earthy tones from the logo and adding a paradise pink accent, we ensured DF&D stood out. Hand-drawn illustrations reflecting organic produce added to the visual appeal.
The image-led design featured photos from a local Dorset photographer, combining macro food shots and location-based images to entice users. The search functionality, crucial for the business directory, was prominently placed with a subtle shadow and pink accent to draw attention.
Developed on WordPress CMS, the website allows DF&D to manage content easily and supports future needs like membership payments and advertising modules. Custom parametric search and Google Maps integration were developed for effective business filtering and location markers. Dynamically populated category pages were also created.
We built a bespoke members dashboard with secure logins, offering individual and community areas for business downloads, account updates, industry news, event applications, and consumer offers. Sponsored by a key member, this area includes business support resources and a live news feed. DF&D can approve all member updates and applications before they go live.
Results
The new DF&D website has become a central hub for members, significantly promoting the Dorset Food & Drink community. DF&D reported that the aesthetically appealing, clear, and easy-to-navigate site gave them confidence to share it widely. Within two months of the launch, the site received 3600 hits, gained 12 new members, and generated numerous enquiries, strengthening their relationships.
Digital Storm was awarded “Not for Profit Website of the Year” at the Wirehive 100 Awards for the DF&D website design and development. The judges praised the entry, stating, “The complexity of the challenge and the elegance of the solution make a strong case. This entry showed real intelligence in the interface and design. Engaging, easy to use, and attractive, it stands out and is well worthy of an award.”
Digital Storm
Complete Business Solution
Complete Business Solution
In today’s digital age, a strong online presence is essential for any business to thrive. That’s why we offer a comprehensive solution tailored to your needs. Before we begin, we thoroughly assess your target audience to develop a strategy that effectively reaches them.