Project Two: Boutique Travel

Working in teams, concept, design, prototype, develop, and publish a boutique travel website.

This project simulates working in a professional design studio environment. The final site should feel credible, cohesive, and professionally executed.

Each group will:

Design and prototype the site in Figma
Develop the site using HTML and CSS
Launch a fully functioning website online

The goal is to create a professional, visually compelling website with a minimum of four pages that promotes a fictitious boutique travel destination.

The URL is not important. You may use any registered domain a group member owns, such as yourname.com/travel.

Project Objectives

This project asks you to move through a full client-style workflow: research, branding, interface design, front-end development, testing, and publication.

You will:

Collaborate across disciplines
Work within clearly defined roles
Respond to structured client feedback
Track hours and document contributions
Deliver a functioning, published website

Individual Grading & Accountability

Although you will work as a team, each student will be graded individually.

You are required to:

Track your hours
Log your contributions
Clearly document your role and responsibilities

This mirrors professional studio practice. Designers, developers, and project managers track time and contributions in real-world client work.

Professional Roles

This class includes students from different majors and backgrounds. Successful studios depend on clearly defined roles and effective collaboration.

Each group must designate:

Graphic Designer
Project Manager / Account Executive
Developer

You are encouraged to lean into your strengths. However, you should also be prepared to step outside your comfort zone when needed.

Role Descriptions

Graphic Designer

Responsible for the visual identity and UI system of the website.

Responsibilities include:

Creating the visual system in Figma
Designing page layouts and responsive states
Establishing typography, color palette, and component styles
Building reusable components
Maintaining visual consistency
Working closely with the Developer to ensure technical feasibility
Incorporating client feedback

The designer must understand that strong design aligns with technical constraints.

Project Manager / Account Executive

Responsible for strategy, organization, and communication.

Responsibilities include:

Keeping the team organized and on schedule
Coordinating deadlines and deliverables
Developing written content, including menus, descriptions, and messaging
Establishing branding and positioning strategy
Meeting regularly with the Client (Instructor)
Recording feedback and converting it into actionable tasks
Assigning responsibilities within the group

This role requires leadership, clarity, and strong communication skills.

Developer

Responsible for translating the Figma prototype into a functioning website.

Responsibilities include:

Writing semantic HTML
Styling with CSS
Maintaining design fidelity
Ensuring responsiveness
Uploading and publishing the site
Testing functionality across browsers and devices
Collaborating closely with the Designer

The developer must balance technical precision with visual integrity.

Minimum Requirements

Your final website must:

Contain a minimum of four pages
Be fully functional and published online
Demonstrate cohesive branding
Include original written content
Be responsive across screen sizes
Reflect thoughtful UX decisions
Be visually and technically polished

Final Deliverable

A fully published boutique travel website with a minimum of four pages, supported by team documentation that explains roles, responsibilities, hours, contributions, and major design decisions.

The finished site should feel like a credible web presence for a specific boutique travel destination, not a generic travel template with placeholder content.