Year
2024
Instructor
Matthew McGlynn
What I did
Brand Strategy, WireFrames, Prototyping / Testing,
Website Design
Arête is a conceptual ski resort set in the snowy mountains of Canada.
Arête reimagines the ski resort website experience, immersing users in a world where they feel like champions and part of something extraordinary. This build-out follows the journey of a dedicated skier planning a week-long adventure at Arête, showcasing a seamless and inspiring trip-planning experience.
Brand Strategy & Storytelling
The name ‘Arête’ is inspired by the sharp, narrow ridges found on mountain peaks—symbolizing both the physical landscape of the resort and the mindset of those who ski there. This concept of precision, challenge, and achievement directly informs the brand identity and user experience. Just as an arête defines the edge of a mountain, the digital experience is designed to push the boundaries of what a ski resort website can be—bold, dynamic, and seamlessly intuitive.
User Persona
For this project, I developed three distinct user personas: a beginner skier, an intermediate skier, and an advanced skier. Each persona represents different backgrounds, interests, and motivations, yet they all share a passion for skiing or snowboarding, bringing them to the same destination. Since all users interact with the same web interface, it was crucial to design an experience that caters to varying skill levels and needs. To ensure inclusivity, I introduced an Add-On Experience page, offering tailored options for different users—whether they seek lessons, adventure, or relaxation. While the website accommodates all personas, the primary user flow follows an advanced skier booking a trip for his family, showcasing a seamless planning process that balances personalization with efficiency.
User Testing
Throughout the semester, I conducted multiple rounds of user testing to refine the Arête experience. This process involved targeted usability tests, where participants were given specific tasks to complete. By analyzing task completion rates and identifying pain points, I was able to pinpoint navigation issues, optimize UI elements for accessibility, and adjust visual hierarchy. These insights led to key refinements, such as improving button sizes, enhancing wayfinding, and ensuring a seamless trip-planning flow.
Next Steps
Moving forward, I plan to refine spacing and layout consistency across all pages to enhance visual cohesion and usability. Additionally, expanding the experience into a mobile app would offer a more personalized approach to trip planning, ski run tracking, and seamless check-ins. This app would not only streamline the resort experience but also serve as a marketing tool—engaging users with real-time stats, achievement sharing, and exclusive resort promotions to drive retention and brand loyalty.
Credits: Adrien Olichon (Header Image)
Arête is a conceptual ski resort set in the snowy mountains of Canada.
Arête reimagines the ski resort website experience, immersing users in a world where they feel like champions and part of something extraordinary. This build-out follows the journey of a dedicated skier planning a week-long adventure at Arête, showcasing a seamless and inspiring trip-planning experience.
Brand Strategy & Storytelling
The name ‘Arête’ is inspired by the sharp, narrow ridges found on mountain peaks—symbolizing both the physical landscape of the resort and the mindset of those who ski there. This concept of precision, challenge, and achievement directly informs the brand identity and user experience. Just as an arête defines the edge of a mountain, the digital experience is designed to push the boundaries of what a ski resort website can be—bold, dynamic, and seamlessly intuitive.
User Persona
For this project, I developed three distinct user personas: a beginner skier, an intermediate skier, and an advanced skier. Each persona represents different backgrounds, interests, and motivations, yet they all share a passion for skiing or snowboarding, bringing them to the same destination. Since all users interact with the same web interface, it was crucial to design an experience that caters to varying skill levels and needs. To ensure inclusivity, I introduced an Add-On Experience page, offering tailored options for different users—whether they seek lessons, adventure, or relaxation. While the website accommodates all personas, the primary user flow follows an advanced skier booking a trip for his family, showcasing a seamless planning process that balances personalization with efficiency.
User Testing
Throughout the semester, I conducted multiple rounds of user testing to refine the Arête experience. This process involved targeted usability tests, where participants were given specific tasks to complete. By analyzing task completion rates and identifying pain points, I was able to pinpoint navigation issues, optimize UI elements for accessibility, and adjust visual hierarchy. These insights led to key refinements, such as improving button sizes, enhancing wayfinding, and ensuring a seamless trip-planning flow.
Next Steps
Moving forward, I plan to refine spacing and layout consistency across all pages to enhance visual cohesion and usability. Additionally, expanding the experience into a mobile app would offer a more personalized approach to trip planning, ski run tracking, and seamless check-ins. This app would not only streamline the resort experience but also serve as a marketing tool—engaging users with real-time stats, achievement sharing, and exclusive resort promotions to drive retention and brand loyalty.
Credits: Adrien Olichon (Header Image)
Arête is a conceptual ski resort set in the snowy mountains of Canada.
Arête reimagines the ski resort website experience, immersing users in a world where they feel like champions and part of something extraordinary. This build-out follows the journey of a dedicated skier planning a week-long adventure at Arête, showcasing a seamless and inspiring trip-planning experience.
Brand Strategy & Storytelling
The name ‘Arête’ is inspired by the sharp, narrow ridges found on mountain peaks—symbolizing both the physical landscape of the resort and the mindset of those who ski there. This concept of precision, challenge, and achievement directly informs the brand identity and user experience. Just as an arête defines the edge of a mountain, the digital experience is designed to push the boundaries of what a ski resort website can be—bold, dynamic, and seamlessly intuitive.
User Persona
For this project, I developed three distinct user personas: a beginner skier, an intermediate skier, and an advanced skier. Each persona represents different backgrounds, interests, and motivations, yet they all share a passion for skiing or snowboarding, bringing them to the same destination. Since all users interact with the same web interface, it was crucial to design an experience that caters to varying skill levels and needs. To ensure inclusivity, I introduced an Add-On Experience page, offering tailored options for different users—whether they seek lessons, adventure, or relaxation. While the website accommodates all personas, the primary user flow follows an advanced skier booking a trip for his family, showcasing a seamless planning process that balances personalization with efficiency.
User Testing
Throughout the semester, I conducted multiple rounds of user testing to refine the Arête experience. This process involved targeted usability tests, where participants were given specific tasks to complete. By analyzing task completion rates and identifying pain points, I was able to pinpoint navigation issues, optimize UI elements for accessibility, and adjust visual hierarchy. These insights led to key refinements, such as improving button sizes, enhancing wayfinding, and ensuring a seamless trip-planning flow.
Next Steps
Moving forward, I plan to refine spacing and layout consistency across all pages to enhance visual cohesion and usability. Additionally, expanding the experience into a mobile app would offer a more personalized approach to trip planning, ski run tracking, and seamless check-ins. This app would not only streamline the resort experience but also serve as a marketing tool—engaging users with real-time stats, achievement sharing, and exclusive resort promotions to drive retention and brand loyalty.
Credits: Adrien Olichon (Header Image)
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