Bringing Eric Carle’s Colorful World to Life: A Custom WordPress Web Design Case Study
At Cider House Media, we’ve had the privilege of working with many remarkable clients over the years. But few projects have touched our hearts and ignited our creativity quite like the custom web design we crafted for the legendary children’s book author and illustrator, Eric Carle. Today, we’re excited to share the story of how we transformed Eric Carle’s digital presence, honoring his artistic legacy while creating a user-friendly, responsive website that continues to delight fans of all ages.
The Challenge: Reimagining a Literary Icon’s Online Home
When Eric Carle’s team approached us, we were immediately humbled by the opportunity to work with such an influential figure in children’s literature. The existing website, built prior to 2010 using Dreamweaver, was no longer meeting the needs of Carle’s vast and diverse audience. It lacked responsiveness, was challenging to navigate, and didn’t fully capture the whimsical spirit of Carle’s beloved books and characters.
To truly appreciate the scope of the challenge we faced, let’s take a look at the original Eric Carle website:
The original Eric Carle website: A static, non-responsive design built with Dreamweaver, lacking cohesive navigation and failing to showcase the vibrancy of Carle’s work.
One of the most glaring issues was the absence of a site header and sitewide navigation. This made it difficult for visitors to move between different sections of the website, often leaving them feeling lost or unable to find the information they were seeking. The outdated structure not only hindered user experience but also failed to showcase the breadth of Eric Carle’s work and resources effectively.
Lennie, our creative director, recalls his first impression of the old site: “When I saw the lack of consistent navigation, I immediately understood why users were struggling. It was like trying to read a book with no table of contents or page numbers. We knew right away that creating an intuitive navigation system would be key to transforming the user experience.”
Our mission was clear: create a WordPress web design that would not only showcase Eric Carle’s incredible body of work but also provide an intuitive, engaging experience for visitors of all ages. We needed to strike a delicate balance between honoring Carle’s artistic vision and implementing modern web design principles, starting with a robust, user-friendly navigation system.
Here’s a preview of what we achieved:
The reimagined Eric Carle website: A responsive WordPress design that brings Carle’s colorful world to life across all devices, featuring intuitive navigation and interactive elements that engage visitors of all ages.
This transformation represents more than just a visual upgrade. It’s a complete reimagining of how users interact with Eric Carle’s digital presence, ensuring that the wonder and creativity of his work shines through on every device and every page. In the following sections, we’ll delve into how we brought this vision to life, creating a website that truly captures the essence of Eric Carle’s artistry and legacy.
Immersing Ourselves in Eric Carle’s Colorful World
To truly understand the essence of Eric Carle’s work, we knew we needed to go beyond simply viewing his books. We were fortunate enough to visit the Eric Carle offices, where we were surrounded by a treasure trove of inspiration. Original artworks adorned the walls, and shelves were lined with an array of licensed products featuring Carle’s iconic characters and designs.
This immersive experience was invaluable. It allowed us to soak in the textures, colors, and spirit of Carle’s art, giving us a deeper appreciation for the tactile nature of his tissue paper collage technique. We left the office brimming with ideas and a renewed sense of purpose for our custom web design project.
Lennie, our creative director, recalls the visit vividly: “Walking into Eric Carle’s office was like stepping into the pages of one of his books. The colors, the textures, the sheer creativity surrounding us – it was overwhelming in the best possible way. I remember thinking, ‘This is what we need to capture on the website. This sense of wonder and discovery.'”
Crafting a Digital Canvas: Our WordPress Web Design Approach
Armed with a wealth of visual inspiration and the freedom to use Carle’s art and design elements, we set out to create a website that would serve as a digital extension of his books. Here’s how we approached the WordPress web design process:
- Storytelling Through Structure: Just as Eric Carle’s books guide readers through a narrative journey, we wanted the website to tell a story. We worked closely with Carle’s team to develop a clear, intuitive site map that would guide visitors through Carle’s life, work, and impact.
- Bringing Illustrations to Life: We incorporated Carle’s iconic illustrations and tissue paper backgrounds throughout the site, creating a cohesive visual experience that instantly transports visitors into his colorful world. The challenge was to use these elements in a way that enhanced rather than overwhelmed the user experience.
- Responsive Design for All Ages: Knowing that Eric Carle’s audience spans generations, from young children to nostalgic adults, we ensured that the website was fully responsive and accessible across all devices. This was crucial for reaching both tech-savvy parents and educators who might be accessing the site on tablets or smartphones.
- Interactive Elements: To capture the playful spirit of Carle’s work, we incorporated interactive elements throughout the site. From subtle animations to full-sized and parallax image reveals, these touches invite visitors to explore and create, much like Carle’s books do.
- Resource-Rich and Informative: Beyond showcasing Carle’s books and art, we created dedicated sections for educators, parents, and researchers. These areas provide valuable resources, lesson plans, and deeper insights into Carle’s techniques and influence on children’s literature.
Lennie shares, “One of our biggest ‘aha’ moments was when we realized we could use the tissue paper textures as loading animations. It was this perfect blend of staying true to Eric’s art while embracing modern web design techniques. That’s when I knew we were onto something special.”
The Result: A Vibrant and Engaging New Website
The final product is a WordPress website that truly embodies the spirit of Eric Carle’s work. It’s vibrant, engaging, and easy to navigate, offering a rich experience for fans, educators, and curious visitors alike. The responsive design ensures that whether you’re a child exploring on a tablet or a researcher accessing the site from a desktop, the experience is seamless and enjoyable.
Key features of the new website include:
- A visually stunning homepage that immediately immerses visitors in Carle’s colorful world
- An intuitive navigation structure that guides users through Carle’s life, works, and impact
- A comprehensive book catalog with engaging descriptions and sample illustrations
- Interactive elements that bring Carle’s art techniques to life
- Resource sections for educators and parents, complete with downloadable materials
- A blog featuring news, events, and insights into Carle’s ongoing legacy
The Impact: Nurturing a Legacy
Since launching the new website, we’ve seen a significant increase in user engagement and time spent on the site. Educators have praised the wealth of resources available, while parents have expressed joy at being able to share Eric Carle’s world with their children in a new, interactive way.
Perhaps most importantly, the website now serves as a living tribute to Eric Carle’s enduring impact on children’s literature and art. It’s a place where new generations can discover his work and where long-time fans can deepen their appreciation.
Reflecting on the project, Lennie says, “Working on Eric Carle’s website was more than just another web design job. It was about preserving and sharing a legacy. Every color choice, every animation, every piece of content was crafted with the same care and attention to detail that Eric put into his books. It was challenging, but incredibly rewarding.”
Wrapping it Up: The Art of Custom Web Design
The Eric Carle website project exemplifies what’s possible when custom web design meets WordPress flexibility. It’s a testament to the power of understanding and translating a client’s vision into a digital experience that resonates with their audience.
At Cider House Media, we approach every project with this same level of dedication and creativity. Whether you’re an iconic artist or a local small business, we believe your website should be as unique and engaging as your brand.
Are you ready to bring your vision to life online? Let’s create something beautiful together. Contact Cider House Media today to discuss your custom WordPress web design project.
