Project #1 Research

Restaurant: Big Jo's

Website: bigjosburgers.com

Website Analysis

Visual Design: It appears it's a responsive web template. The main image is a blurry photo of the exterior of the restuaurant. The logo includes "Established in 1959". There is a photo gallery with overly zoomed in photos that are unappetizing due to the cropping and their sheer size. When looking at website on desktop, it's awkward. When viewing it on a phone, I can tell it was designed for smart phone viewing. Much easier to read through on the phone.

Content: A brief, vague description of their restaurant. The full menu.

Call to action on homepage: Buried in the second paragraph of the restaurant description is "Come in and meet our friendly staff and try our delicious Classic Cheese Burgers and Santa Monica's famous HOT out of the fryer Crinkle Cut Fries everyone is raving about!!!

Navigation: The Nav bar contains a link to "restaurant" and "menu".

Community Building: Appears to be low priority. Links to yelp and facebook are at the bottom of the page. Facebook page is not updated much.

Functionality: I can find the information I need, the location and menu items. But it's a bit cumbersome to sroll down to the menu item you want to see. It should be tucked into categories.

Other: Big Jo's is one of Santa Monica's last independent burger stands. In a city full of corporate chain restaurants...this one is still standing strong since 1959. While hipsters flock to the $18 burgers nearby, Big Jo's caters to blue collar works and nearby hospital workers just needing their cheeseburger combo for $7.95. Service is quick, servings are big. They still have handpainted signs. It's a gem of a place and it deserves a website that tells it's story with the dignity Big Jo's deserves.

What works:

• Menu: In the nav bar, clicking on "menu" takes you to their entire restaurant menu. Customers like to read menus so they know what to order. This helps with takeout and pickup orders.
• Their content is simple. The message of Burgers, Santa Monica, and established in 1959 is loud and clear.

What doesn't work:

• Their imagery is not appetizing or inviting. The main image of a blurred out restaurant exterior signage is not adding to it's mystique or charm. The gallery of food shots is not appetizing. The photos are much too large. I don't need to see detailed closeup of a burger meat.
• It appears they are using a template which is not working for their content and needs.
• The menu is a bit cumbersome to read.
• Social media links are hidden at the bottom.
• There is not communicating with the community. It does not welcome or have a voice. It is not charming or interesting.
• It lacks a call to action.
• It lacks a story.

Target Audience:

Working lunch crowd in the surrounding area during weekdays. This includes hospital, school, and tech workers. Since the "old school" Santa Monicans know and appreciate Big Jo's, I'd focus on the younger 20s and 30s crowd.

Goal:

I would like the website to embody "friendly" "welcoming" "since 1959" and feature their delicious cheeseburger and crinkle cut fries with seasoned salt. Also, being one of the last non-chain restaurants in Santa Monica is something unique.

Since I'm focusing on a younger working target audience, online ordering is important. Along with social media interaction.

What questions need to be answered in order to complete this project?

• What is the history of Big Jo's?
• What did Santa Monica look like in 1959?
• How can we grow Big Jo's online presence?

What tasks do we need to complete in order to successfully design this website?

1. Interview workers in local area, about their lunch habits, and how they interact with restaurant websites.
2. Research successful restaurant websites that function well, tell a story and engage their audience.
3. Create new name and brand identity.
4. Create the brand story, or the about us story.
5. Prioritize content.
6. Come up with a stronger call to action.
7. Create lo-fi wireframes.
8. Test. Refine.
9. Create hi-fi wireframes.
10. Test. Refine.
11. Create final website.

Competitive Analysis:

The Habit

• The Habit logo includes "burger grill"
• The Habit Website invites you to interact with them. In the upper left corner, is links to their social media. Facebook, twitter, youtube, instagram, snapchat, and email.
• On the top nav bar is a link to the consumer reports review of their burger.
• They are also bragging about this year being their 50th Anniversary. Established in 1969.
• The large featured photo is an appetizing new menu item.
• The nav bar expands down to feature Menu, Locations, The Charclub, Catering Trucks, Careers, About Us, News, etc.
• Order online is featured on the top nav bar. It links to an orderapp. It is simple to use. The menu is laid out in categories.
• With their delicious looking photos, Consumer Reports review, they've nailed the deliciousness angle.
• Bright simple, appetizing colors, red and yellow. They've added "50th Anniversary" on their logo.
• Cost for a cheeseburger combo which includes fries and a drink is $8.50. (BigJo's is $7.85)

HiHo

• When you visit their website, a message appears over the page stating they've won People's Choice Award in the LA Times LA's Best Burger category.
• The Hiho logo includes "cheeseburger"
• The first thing you read is "The only burger restaurant that exclusively serves 100% grassfed Wagyu beef." They pride themselves on their ingredients. Photo of cows grazing on grass.
• I like how the menu is in a printed menu format. Very easy to read.
• There is a food delivery option, they send you to postmates.
• Hours and social media are found way at the bottom.
• Website is responsive.
• Nice, appetizing food photos.
• Cost for cheeseburger, fries, and a drink is $14.65

The Counter

• The Counter logo includes "custom burgers"
• The website emphasizes "create-your-own" and "custom". The menu is laid out in a printed menu style. Easy to read. They have their own online ordering functionality in their website.
• They promote downloading their app.
• The main page has a scrolling photos that include promotions like their app, featured menu items, etc.
• Social media links are way at the bottom.
• Food photos are appetizing.