Web Design vs Kitchen Design
Redesigning a kitchen is a lot like building a new website. Both can be frustrating, time consuming, and so worth it when the design you imagined comes to life.
Not only do I design websites here at Resch Strategies for our lovely clients, but I once again find myself redesigning a kitchen with my husband. Since I have experience in both types of design, I thought I’d focus on what makes them similar – as both take up a very large chunk of my life.
Just as a well-designed kitchen needs both functionality and style, a website requires a well-thought-out blend of visual appeal and user experience. Here are a few steps I take when it comes to designing…
Behind the Scenes Planning
Before I embark on any web design, I first need to dive into the background information and answer a few questions: Who is the site for? What are the goals? What is the desired look and feel? What content do we have? How should it flow? The same is true for any kitchen redesign. It can take A LOT of time thinking through the different elements – lighting, workspaces, storage, appliances – and where you want them to live before worrying about aesthetics.
Prioritizing Functionality and User Needs
Both a kitchen and a website serve a specific purpose. Therefore, their design should prioritize the user and what that person needs. A well-designed kitchen should not only focus on the practical elements listed above, but also its ease of use. How does it flow? This includes adding any accessibility features someone may need for mobility and safety. Similarly, a website should feel cohesive to the user, offering seamless navigation, clear calls-to-action and accessible design features like responsive pages and alt text for images.
Personalization and Branding
Yes, your kitchen has a brand. It says a lot about you and what is most important to you. Because your kitchen can be customized to incorporate elements unique to you, it often reflects your style and preferences. What’s your vibe? A website should do the same. It should reflect the identity of the company/product/service’s brand through its design.
Visual Appeal
Ahh here we are, the fun part! In a kitchen, colors, materials, and finishes contribute to the overall feel. Similarly, web design relies on visual elements such as color, typography, and imagery to create a cohesive and visually pleasing experience. Whether browsing through web pages or preparing a meal, we need smart design if we want the user to feel comfortable and keep coming back for more.
Tweak as Needed
Fixing little issues here and there is a lot easier on a virtual website than in a physical kitchen. When you mess up the corner trim on your cabinet and now have to redo that entire section (been there) it’s a gigantic pain and often more labor intensive. The same can be true for web design - if we didn’t do the prep work ahead of time. Planning and communication are key in making any web design process smooth for both the designer and the client.
Both web design and kitchen design require thoughtful planning, a balance of functionality and aesthetics, consideration of the user, and a commitment to continuous improvement. So, if you need a website designed – or a kitchen (but I’m better at websites) – let me know!
In the meantime…
