NOTE: Page 1 (including the header & footer) of the following designs DID NOT make the cut. But take a look at the animations :)

Design Thinking Process for Luxury Palatial Website

1. User Persona

Before commencing the design, we thoroughly defined the user persona, which is crucial for a high-impact, user-centered experience.

A) Target Audience:

• Affluent and Aspirational Guests: These users are seeking memorable experiences, and price is not their primary concern. They expect and seek a high degree of sophistication, personal welcome, detailed service that embody luxury and cultural richness.

B) Major User Needs:

These users are looking for premium experiences tailored to:

1. Family outing

2. Solo retreat

3. Romantic getaway for couples

4. Weddings and other event hosting

5.Tourisim

C) User Types:

• Primary Clients: Affluent guests personally exploring the palace offerings.

• Secondary Clients: Personal assistants and secretaries booking for their clients on their behalf for seamless, efficient experiences.

D) Objective:

• The design aims to convey opulence and exclusivity through a narrative that engages users personally, treating them as esteemed guests and aims to serve both groups by balancing rich, detailed visuals for exploration with efficient navigation for quick bookings.

2. Design Concept & Theme

Color Palette and Psychology:

• Color Palette: The color scheme includes rich golden and crimson gradients, inspired by royal motifs, combined with earthy and warm tones. These hues evoke luxury and the palace’s heritage, adding an inviting warmth to the interface.

• Color Psychology: Gold symbolizes opulence, while warm tones create a sense of welcome and comfort, ideal for an aspirational audience.

Typography:

• Primary Fonts: NCL Bahie Waonid, an elegant decorative font featuring star glyphs, aligns with the palatial theme, enhancing the mystique and grandeur. Others include Niasec Lux , Alnevrada.

• Supporting Fonts: Solway, a serif font that complements the primary font for clarity and readability, especially in interactive elements like buttons along with Roboto Mono

• Character Spacing: Spacing is increased (2.5% to 40%) across various text elements, reflecting the luxurious, spacious feel associated with high-end hospitality.

3. Designing the Landing Experience

A. First Impressions Matter

• Initial Load and Hero Image Carousel: The experience begins as the palace's name appears in large font against a dimmed and blurred image of the palace’s exterior at twilight. A smooth transition fills the text with the golden-crimson gradient and a subtle glow animation, symbolizing “A Palace Illuminated for Your Arrival.”

• Welcome Message and Subtitle: Following the palace name, a welcoming message, "A palace illuminated for your arrival," appears with a subtle light beam passing over, enhancing the illuminated feel.This message shrinks slightly in size, symbolizing an elegant journey inward, with a subtitle, “Where every moment and every detail is a masterpiece” appearing in the same style.

• Micro-animations: Subtle light beams and slow transitions accentuate the sense of richness and care in design, using smooth bezier curves to ensure a timeless, unhurried feel—qualities consistent with the luxury experience.

• Added Benefit of Optimizing for Load Time: Given the high-quality images and animations, this subtle animation sequence, with a 3-second sequence ensures all assets are ready, minimizing any lag that might disrupt the luxurious experience.

• Large, Immersive Display: The hero carousel and entire layout maintain a clutter-free design, maximizing screen real estate to create a spacious, open feel—a psychological nod to luxury. Users are invited to explore without distraction, embodying the opulence of vast, open palatial spaces.

B. Hero Carousel Navigation:

• Bow and Arrow Styled Icons: Iconic white arrows replace standard navigation buttons, styled as bow and arrows to enhance the royal aesthetic.

C. Footer:

• Guiding the User's Journey: A carefully crafted invitation text at the fold’s base, “Wander the masterpiece within, your grace” subtly encourages the user to explore, eliminating any false-floor effect in UX.

D. Header Navigation and Button Animations:

• Header Elements: As the cursor approaches the header, a translucent dark blur slides down from the top, providing contrast for better legibility against changing backgrounds.

• Animation and Duration: Elements use a natural 'S' curve animation (Bezier coordinates: 0.75,0,0,1) over 1.25 to 2 seconds, evoking timelessness and grace, conveying the notion of unhurried luxury.

• Reserve CTA Button with a Bow and Arrow Mico-Animation: The “Reserve”/"Reserve Thy Quarters" button is outlined in white in its default state. On hover, a crimson-to-golden gradient fills the button with a subtle, diamond-textured background. The text and arrow icon transition to gold and shrink slightly, simulating the pulling back of an arrow, inviting interaction. On click, the arrow releases, indicating the action of booking.

• Menu Icon Animation: A 3x3 dot grid, representing a diamond shape, elegantly transforms into a centered square on hover, with a transition from “Menu” to “Close.”

These visual cues, rich in cultural symbolism, enhance the theme of a grand, noble journey and reinforce the sense of refinement in even the smallest interaction.

E. First Fold: Spaciousness and Immersive Messaging

• Spacious Layout: I crafted the layout to provide a generous sense of space, reinforcing the luxury experience and inviting exploration.

• Accessibility Considerations: As seen in the recorded Dribbble videos, the header text dynamically adapts to varying background images in the carousel, ensuring readability across all visuals.

• UI Copy to Avoid False Floor Effect:To encourage users to scroll, a subtle prompt at the bottom reads, “Wander the masterpiece within, your grace.” This elegantly nudges users down the page without breaking the royal tone and avoids creating a false floor (a UX term for elements that look final).

• Aesthetic-Usability UX Principle: The design leverages it, making the interface visually pleasing, making a best first impression mark and giving users confidence in navigating it.

4. Innovative & Immersive Story Driven Cards in the Second Fold

Interactive Storytelling Concept

The second fold emulates a personalized tour experience, echoing and emulating how a hotel staff member might guide guests through the property. It features a series of elegant cards with strong visual imagery and poetic UI copy that subtly aligns with various user goals (family outing, romantic retreat, etc.).

• Cards as Visual Guides: Each card represents and narrates a different user journey experience at the palace history, romance, and exclusive experiences.

• Intuitive Design & Language: The language used, such as "Etch Thy Love Story" for couples’ packages, is poetic and regal, avoiding direct language like "Book Now" or “Book Honeymoon Package". This respects the autonomy of high-status clients who are looking for experience and are not concerned with price, allowing for subtle guidance rather than instruction.

Cards & CTA Placement

• Card Design: Royal-themed cards with minimal text create an allure, allowing the image to convey the luxurious experience.

• Hover Interaction: Each card subtly enlarges when hovered over, increasing prominence and creating anticipation.

• CTA Placement: After exploring a card, the visitor is subtly guided toward the final CTA, creating an emotional connection before being prompted to act.

User Journey Design Principles:

• Cards were used to align with Hick's Law: by breaking information into manageable, visually rich cards, users experience reduced cognitive load, allowing them to process each luxurious experience at their own pace. This card-wise layout ensures users can explore without feeling overwhelmed, making the decision-making process more enjoyable and intuitive.

• Emotional Contagion: Through language choices like “Your Grace” and “Masterpiece,” each card mirrors the venue's historical grandeur, fostering an emotional connection. This subtle mimicry of nobility and artistry draws users deeper into the experience, leveraging emotional contagion to enhance immersion. By the time users reach the final CTA, they've engaged in a journey that feels both exclusive and personal, increasing the likelihood of conversion.

5. Relive the History Immersive Reel Journey

• Default Card Selection: By default, an immersive card titled "Relive the History" is selected.

• Scroll Journey: Each card journey requires only 1-3 scrolls, maximizing experiential value without overwhelming the user with excessive time, space, or information.

Film Reel Design

• Subtle Film Reel Element: A black-and-white reel sits beneath the three main cards, previewing the storytelling journey.

• Background Choice: The grayish black-and-white background is chosen to prevent a “false floor” UX pitfall, subtly inviting users to scroll further.

• User Engagement: This film reel adds a cinematic feel, evoking a rich sense of the hotel's tradition and heritage while sparking curiosity without feeling forced or boring.

Cinematic, Timeless Feel

• Narrative Depth: The visual journey offers a luxurious narrative, drawing users into a “timeless luxury” and enhancing their connection to the hotel’s legacy.

• Emulating History in Real Time: The reel journey mimics an interaction with a palace staff member guiding the visitor through history, from roots to modern luxury.

Scroll Journey Emulation

• Background Transition: As users scroll, the visible cards push up and out of view, the reel expands, and the background transitions from black and white to a vintage warm yellow.

• Symbolism: The shift in color reflects how historical photos age over time, creating a subconscious feeling of traveling from the past to present luxury.

Seamless Journey & CTA Integration

• Subtlety Over Directness: CTAs avoid overt language, focusing instead on words like "relive," "grace," "echoes," and "legacy" to foster a sense of nostalgia and significance without obvious marketing pressure.

• Psychological Impact: These words imply reverence, royalty, and continuity, aligning with the hotel’s luxurious ambiance and engaging visitors naturally within their journey.

Journey Continuity

• Immersion Maintenance: Using parallax scrolling, descriptions and images naturally fade in and out rather than appearing as overlays, maintaining flow and avoiding interruptions.

• Subtle Text Animation: Descriptions fade in as each reel scrolls into view, creating an intuitive, immersive storytelling sequence.

Custom Bezier Animation

• Final Animation: Upon reel completion (3 photos), the snapshot zooms out, the reel scrolls up rapidly with custom bezier animation, and the background returns to black and white.

Fold 3 Presentation: Fold 3 includes a snippet of the reel and introduces a quote from a notable figure (e.g., Prince Charles), creating an elegant transition.

Royal Quote Element

• Quote Design: The quote, “A marvel of unique architecture and heritage.” – Prince Charles, 2003, sits just above a CTA, enhancing the emotional appeal before inviting user action.

• Handwritten Font: A signature-style font gives the quote an authentic, exclusive feel, resembling a personal testimonial from a high-ranking guest.

• Clarification: Note that this quote design is for demonstration, and can be replaced by a real guest’s words.

• Minimalism: Only one quote is displayed to avoid the impression of excessive persuasion, maintaining a regal and restrained aesthetic.

Heritage Description & CTA

• Text Below Quote: “Since 1923, this palace has hosted kings, dignitaries, & nobles like yourself. Each stone, a chapter; Each room, a story.”

• Immersive Link: A hyperlink, “Immerse in more stories,” invites further exploration in place of the common “Read more,” maintaining the sophisticated theme.

• CTA Button: Final CTA, “Reserve now, relive the history,” has a vintage, floral theme with spear icon on the right. Its grayish-white design seamlessly fits the royal theme.

Royal Scroll Bar Customised Design

• Leaf Embellishments: Top and bottom of the scroll bar include leaf-like structures, acting as royal arrow indicators for scroll control.

• Theme Consistency: This customization keeps the royal aesthetic intact, emphasizing the attention to detail across the interface.

6. Final Footer Design & Copy

• Title: “Your Grace, Proceed with your noble inquiries or esteemed tailored arrangements.”

• Input Fields: Customized field names to fit the royal tone:

• Name Field: "Thy Noble Name"

• Phone Number Field: "Thy Honored Phone Number"

• Email Field: "Thy Esteemed Email"

• Message Field: "Thy Esteemed Remarks & Preferred Time for Correspondence"

• Submit Button: Text reads “Honor Thy Request,” reinforcing the luxurious, respectful tone.

Footer Information Layout

• Left Section: Palace’s name with a brief description.

• Middle Section: Contact details titled as "THY MESSENGERS" instead of “Contact.”

• Right Section: Address details titled as "THY PALACE," with the property’s address below.

Choice of Old English Language Style & Rationale

• Historical Theme: Inspired by the palace’s heritage, Old English/Shakespearean language reinforces the traditional and regal ambiance.

• Visitor Psychology: Treats guests as royals, aligning with the psychological principle of making visitors feel prestigious and valued.

• Elegance and Subtlety: The language adds a delicate touch without appearing exaggerated, aligning with the affluent nature of the guests.

Comprehensive Skill Set Showcased in Design

• UI Copywriting: Use of regal language and strategic phrasing for maximum psychological

engagement.

• UX Design Thinking: Detailed journey planning to create an intuitive, immersive experience.

• Neuromarketing Application: Subtle language and layout choices foster a connection with visitors, enhancing emotional resonance.

• Imagery and Animation Selection: Careful choice of colors, transitions, and animations to support the experiential narrative.

This design represents a balanced combination of rich storytelling, historical homage, and seamless user flow, providing a luxurious experience that mirrors the prestige and tradition of the palace itself.

7. Potential to Build Upon This Foundation

The immersive “Relive the History” journey introduces guests to the palace’s luxurious heritage, creating a rich framework for extending similar experiential journeys across other facets of the hotel.

Each immersive card could invite guests to experience distinct aspects of the palace, crafting a personalized, multi-sensory engagement.

Below are potential themes and elements for these future cards:

• Welcoming Guests with Regal Ceremony: Upon beginning their virtual journey, guests could be greeted by a ceremonious welcome featuring flower girls, lavish decor, and a grand entrance preview. This experience could convey messages like “Enter Thy Noble Stay,” emulating the feeling of a royal welcome.

• Luxurious Spa & Wellness Experiences: This journey might provide a tranquil, immersive view of the spa, with gentle scroll animations and serene, warm tones. Descriptions could reflect rejuvenation and calmness with language like “Indulge in Royal Serenity” and “Renew Thy Spirit,” inviting guests to a sense of relaxation and care.

• Music & Dance Evenings: This card would transport guests to a majestic evening in the ballroom, evoking the ambiance of classical music, dance, and candlelight. As they scroll, gentle movements and warm lighting effects would simulate a lively, elegant ballroom night, enticing guests to imagine themselves as part of the experience.

• Personalized Retreats & Honeymoon Packages: For those seeking intimacy, this card might showcase scenes of candlelight dinners, private alcoves, or luxurious siesta areas. Romantic, warm hues and soft animations could bring an intimate atmosphere, with invitations like “Embrace Thy Private Sanctuary” and “For Lovers & Dreamers Alike,” encouraging guests to explore tailored retreats.

• Tourist Attractions & Packages with Interactive Map: Here, an interactive city map would allow guests to explore curated, localized experiences directly from the card. As guests scroll, they could view animated highlights of historical landmarks, cultural hubs, and scenic spots available through the hotel’s exclusive packages. This map would provide an interactive, exploratory journey, merging immersive storytelling with practical travel guidance—guests would feel empowered to customize their stay, balancing in-palace luxury with curated adventures beyond.

Conclusion: A Fusion of Luxury and Psychology

Every design choice was made to enhance the immersive experience, inviting users into a rich storytelling journey that mirrors the exclusivity and charm of the palace itself. From initial animations to the nuanced language in CTAs, each element was chosen to build a connection with affluent guests, respecting their desire for both distinction and discretion in a luxurious setting.

To collaborate contact me at: [email protected]

I craft majestic, luxurious user experiences that enchant and captivate, merging design, psychology, and neuromarketing seamlessly for a royal touch.