Client

Kāpiti Coast District Council

Work

Website Design, Online Branding, UX/UI, Responsive Design, Effective Visual Language

Brief

Can you attract visitors to your region ‘online’ and still convey your sense of ‘place’? Wonderlab was asked to apply their web design, brand and usability skills to Kāpiti Coast District Council’s tourism site. The existing site had long been outgrown. Working closely with the project team, user and client needs were carefully considered to help inform both the UX and UI design while expanding Visit Kāpiti’s new brand.

Wonderlab designed a fully modular site, with components that could mix and match while still retaining a fun and friendly experience. The result? Exciting, informative and easy to access online adventure, that attracts visitors for a trip up to Kāpiti.

A person using a laptop displaying a Kāpiti regional tourism website section titled "Explore" with categories: See & Do, Eat & Drink, Stay, Events. The text is brightly colored on a dark screen. The scene includes a carpet and a plant in the background.
Three devices display a Kāpiti coastal travel guide app with images of beaches, cafes, and hiking trails. The background shows lush green foliage, as seen from an aerial view. The interface features explore options, reviews, and vibrant destination photos.
Two children sit by the beach under a clear sky. A man serves coffee at Dark Horse café, with a menu behind him. The page highlights the Kāpiti Coast, featuring stories about Dark Horse and Gold Horizons, with color palette swatches labeled SAND, SUN, and SEA.
Three smartphone screens displaying a regional tourism website for Kāpiti Coast. The screens show images of landscapes, families enjoying activities, and event listings. A quote about the coast's scenic trails is also visible on the background.
A person holds a smartphone displaying a Kāpiti regional tourism webpage about the Waikanae River trail, featuring trail information, activities, and length. In the background, there's a map highlighting Waikanae's location in the Ōtaki region. The "kapiti" logo is visible.
A smiling couple in a wine shop. The man holds a bottle and wears an apron. The image promotes tourism on the Kāpiti Coast with events listed on the left and an orange CTA button. The background shows shelves of wines and a modern logo.
A tablet and smartphone display a travel website featuring "Summer in Kāpiti." The tablet shows a family at the beach, and the phone displays two children with ice cream. A background photo depicts people walking on a sunlit beach.
A variety of smartphones and tablets display an app featuring guides for exploring, dining, staying, and events in the Kāpiti coast. The screens show images of landscapes, text descriptions, and navigation options. Prominent text says "Explore, See & Do, Stay & Drink, Events, Guides.
Three smartphones display travel app screens with information about Kāpiti regional tourism and activities. They include options to explore, eat, drink, and stay. A dog and person walk on a beach with mountains and blue sky in the background.
The objectives

A bright and bold new website that improves engagement and usability and conveys the Kāpiti Coast's sense of adventure – Voilà! Visit Kāpiti!

The goal

A complete redesign and development of the entire website experience to drive present and future regional tourism promotion. Web design that strongly conveys a contempory brand full of fun, adventure and relaxation.

The process

We took time to build up smart research at the outset with the team at Kāpiti Coast District Council on both the audience needs and drivers vs. brand expression. Key to success of the new site was energy and excitement, while ensuring an excellent user experience. As the planned site was reasonably large, modularity formed part of our design and this approach help with content creation.

The deliverables

Brand thinking paired with usability research and planning, enable Wonderlab to hit the notes on brand expression and user experience. The final web design’s modularity and energetic contemporary design language, result in a feeling of adventure. The site build also works hard for accessibility, ensuring users of any background can surf it while actively enticed to Visit Kāpiti up on Wellington’s sunshine coast.

“

I have had the pleasure of working with Wonderlab for the past five years … they have consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of our project goals and a commitment to delivering a quality product.
One of the standout qualities of Wonderlab is their remarkable ability to integrate our brand identity into designs seamlessly. They take the time to grasp the essence of our brand, ensuring that every design element aligns perfectly with our vision and message.
Their commitment to user experience and interface design is awe-inspiring. Wonderlab consistently crafts interfaces that are visually appealing and highly functional. Their user-centric approach ensures that our audience experiences a smooth and intuitive journey when interacting with our digital platforms.

Kyla HuffTeam Leader Content and Channels, Kāpiti Coast District Council