Showing the space before the guest arrives
A logo, photography and websites for Annavilla7 Aparthotel, Katawa Cottage and Synergy Co-working
A new aparthotel, a lakeside cottage and a co-working space don’t have much in common on paper. They started with the same problem, though. Each had a finished physical space and no way for anyone to see what it was like before arriving.
I worked with all three to fix that. The work was built around content, both visual and written, and in two cases it grew into full websites.
| Annavilla7 Aparthotel | Katawa Cottage | Synergy Co-working | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | New Area 12, Lilongwe | Monkey Bay, Lake Malawi | New Area 12, Lilongwe |
| What it is | A new aparthotel | A four-room catered or self-catering cottage | A co-working and events space |
| What I did | Logo, website, photography | Photography | Photography, website |
The Challenge
People decide where to stay or work before they get there. For a new business, that decision rests almost entirely on what they can see and read online. All three clients had good spaces, but nothing yet that showed them properly. Without clear photographs and an easy way to find out more, a new place is just an address.
The approach: content first
Before designing anything, I started with a simple question for each client: what does the person we want to attract need to see to say yes?
- For Annavilla7, that meant guests and conference organisers, who needed to see the rooms and book directly.
- For Katawa Cottage, the answer was the cottage itself: the rooms, the details and the lake setting, in photographs good enough to market the property.
- For Synergy, professionals and entrepreneurs who are serious about business needed to see the spaces and the people, and to understand the services and membership options.
The answers decided what to produce and in what order. For two of the three, they also decided that a website was the right next step.
The creative direction
The brief across all three was to present each place as it really is, in good light, with enough detail that a visitor could picture themselves there. For Annavilla7, I also designed a simple, distinctive logo, built to work across letterhead, signage and other materials as the business grew.
What I delivered
Annavilla7 Aparthotel. A logo, a website that showcases the property and takes guest and conference bookings, and photography of the rooms, dining areas, garden and surroundings. The photography came first, because the website was designed around it. Read more.
Katawa Cottage. A set of photographs covering the bedrooms, bathroom, furnishings and exterior, giving the cottage the marketing images it needed at launch. Read more.
Synergy Co-working. Photography of the spaces and the people who use them, and a website covering the space, the services on offer and the membership options. Read more.
The outcome
- Annavilla7: As a new hotel, it used the website to build awareness and drive bookings.
- Katawa Cottage: The photographs went straight into use in the cottage’s social media posts.
- Synergy: The website became the space’s corporate marketing tool.
What these projects have in common
Annavilla7 Aparthotel. A logo, a website that showcases the property and takes guest and conference bookings, and photography of the rooms, dining areas, garden and surroundings. The photography came first, because the website was designed around it.
Katawa Cottage. A set of photographs covering the bedrooms, bathroom, furnishings and exterior, giving the cottage the marketing images it needed at launch.
Synergy Co-working. Photography of the spaces and the people who use them, and a website covering the space, the services on offer and the membership options.
Opening a lodge, guesthouse, workspace or similar business?
If you have a great space and need people to see it, get in touch.