A recent Net magazine build off feature inspired me to revisit one of the first websites I worked on from years ago.
i thought it'd be interesting to see how the requirements for a website have changed since then - mobile was definitely not a consideration back then and thanks to things like updated CSS, web fonts and SVG, there's lot more flexibility when it comes to making a creative design.
A quick search will show that there are some truly shocking websites out there for boat hire companies. I think there's a great opportunity to take river boat hire and reposition it slightly - away from the stuffy, old fashioned feel into a great way for busy urban professionals to unwind without having to get too far out of the city centre.
I went for a fairly minimal design, giving prominence to some great photography and interesting typography. On supported devices, there's also a subtle full screen background video on the homepage.
A straightforward way to check boat availability for a chosen date and time sits on the homepage, letting users quickly start a booking. The all important weather forecast is in the page footer, so customers can make sure they'll have the perfect day for their trip.
By partnering with a local deli, the boat hire company can also offer customers a picnic hamper to take with them. That way, they can arrive at the boat yard, hop in a boat and have everything they need for a day messing about on the river.
