Website a design Awwward nominee

STOKE Design Co is a global Awwwards nominee for their development of The Provincial Hotel’s website.

Director of the firm Leigh Ericksen said he has designed the venue’s online hub “from scratch” without a template, collaborating closely with the Hotel’s owner-operators Simon and Gorgi Coghlan.

“The old website was very dark, heavy and moody, but the new website is the complete opposite; light and airy,” he said.

“Gorgi said it best; you want to come out to the country, out to Ballarat, where you can enjoy the open space, breathe… It’s airy, you can relax… That’s the general feel of the website.

“The styling is something we’ve developed at Stoke, and that’s now being rolled out in social media and print material as well, including illustrations by Mardi Featherston.”

Only a small number of projects submitted to the Awwwards are nominated for recognition. Mr Ericksen said it’s an achievement for the local design group to have reached this part of the process.

“My peers from around the world have all voted on this website, and I’ve voted on other people’s websites.

“The voting closed last week. We have an average of over 7.99 out of 10, which is higher than the average score of 6. It now goes to another jury of international professionals,” he said.

“Rather than prizemoney, the competition is about recognition amongst peers, from Poland to Russia, the Ukraine to Indonesia.”

Also recently named a 2021 Federation Business School Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards finalist in the City of Ballarat Creative Industries Business category, Stoke are enjoying the opportunity to show their clients what’s possible for a regional Victorian small enterprise, while putting the city’s name on a global stage.

“There’s a strong design and web industry in Ballarat,” Mr Ericksen said.

“It’s good for us to be at the forefront of showcasing Ballarat to the world as part of the Awwwards, where we’re listed as ‘Stoke Design Co, Ballarat, Australia’.”