Crafting a modern and elegant online experience
CLIENT
SERVICE
DURATION
Project Overview
Pierpont's is a renowned, upscale steakhouse located in the heart of Kansas City, known for its historic charm, exceptional service, and top-tier menu offerings. Situated within the beautifully restored Union Station, Pierpont’s provides an elegant dining experience that combines classic sophistication with modern culinary innovation.
With a rich history and a loyal following, Pierpont’s has long been a destination for both locals and visitors looking for an unforgettable dining experience. The restaurant’s classic yet contemporary atmosphere is a reflection of its commitment to excellence, offering a menu that highlights premium steaks, fresh seafood, and signature cocktails in a refined environment.
The Challenge
The original Pierpont’s website was outdated, neglected, and no longer reflected the high standards of the restaurant. The owners struggled with a site that was difficult to update and maintain, especially when it came to adding new promotions or seasonal offerings. Each edit seemed to degrade the site further, and it no longer aligned with the gradure of the restaurant or the exceptional dining experience it provided. While the owners weren’t exactly sure how they wanted to change things, they knew Pierpont’s deserved a major overhaul—one that was modern, visually compelling, and captured the restaurant’s elegance while offering a more seamless experience for their guests.
Research & Findings
Before diving into the redesign, I took the time to visit Pierpont’s, as well as setup some time to meet with all the co-owners and the management team. I truely wanted to experience the ambiance and quality firsthand to better understand the Pierpont’s brand.
Here the objective's I walked away with:
It didn't capture the richness and unique food offerings
The website needed to better highlight the caliber of the menu and emphasize the culinary expertise behind each dish.
Showcase the stunning architecture and unique experience
Pierpont’s Union Station location is breathtaking, and the website didn’t do justice to the rich history and elegance of the space.
Position Pierpont’s as the ideal venue for special occasions
Whether it’s an anniversary or a celebration, Pierpont’s needed to be portrayed as the perfect place for memorable nights out.
Refined the menu presentation
The existing menus were poorly structured, difficult to read, and didn’t highlight the restaurant's best offerings in a user-friendly way.
Give the owners an easy way to add promotions
The previous site made it difficult to update or add promotions. A streamlined solution was needed.
Highlight special events
Pierpont’s hosts a variety of unique events like happy hours and Wine Wednesdays, which deserved better visibility and promotion.
Integrate modern technology
Online reservations and the ability to order online were essential features to enhance the customer experience and make the site more functional.
Initial Designs and Ideation
Creating process maps allowed us to collaborate in clarifying future workflows and identifying key touchpoints early in the project. This visual approach facilitated discussions with stakeholders, helping us secure early approval and alignment on project goals. By encouraging input from team members during this ideation phase, we can easily realign our design vision to meet user needs and ensure successful outcomes.
Prototyping
Creating process maps allowed us to collaborate in clarifying future workflows and identifying key touchpoints early in the project. This visual approach facilitated discussions with stakeholders, helping us secure early approval and alignment on project goals. By encouraging input from team members during this ideation phase, we can easily realign our design vision to meet user needs and ensure successful outcomes.
Refined Online Menu's
The login screen was designed with simplicity and security in mind. We implemented OKTA verification to provide a seamless authentication process, allowing users to easily sign in using their existing credentials from other IGS Energy applications.