Sometimes meaningful projects aren’t about starting from nothing. They’re about taking something with deep roots and beautiful history… and helping it shine in a brighter light.

That’s exactly what happened when the Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival team reached out. This festival has been the heartbeat of Frankenmuth for six decades. SIX. DECADES. That’s generations of families, memories, and pure Bavarian magic.

But their website presence? It needed fresh and updated design work to help tell that story better and showcase the festival better.

The Beginning of the Process

When I first went through the website, it felt a bit more like a Word document rather than an online user experience. I started by taking notes of what the user experience felt like, if there were broken links, old/pixelated photos, and additional features that would be nice to have.

Most importantly, I wanted to bring some vibrancy and life into the website that really encapsulates how fun and exciting the Bavarian Festival is. I wanted the design to reflect the joy, community, and celebration that happens every single year.

The Vision

When they gave me complete creative freedom (honestly, the dream!), I knew this needed to be more than a website refresh. This needed to be a complete digital transformation that would:

• Make navigation intuitive (no more treasure hunts for links and applications)

• Showcase the festival’s vibrant energy through photography

• Create an experience that makes people want to pack their lederhosen and dirndl immediately

What 4 Weeks of Design Looked Like:

Week 1

• Setting up their Showit account (get a free month of Showit using my link!)
• Home page creation
• Design review

Week 2

• Spent hours and hours going through all the galleries to find the best photos
• Verifying DNS records
• Creating the about pages, photo gallery, and contact page

Week 3

• Build out all remaining website pages
• Add all links, applications, etc.
• Check every element for broken links and test all pages
• Design Review

Week 4

• Made any remaining revisions
• Final review and final touches

We had a quick deadline and turnaround and I’m happy to say I finished 1 day ahead of that deadline! Since we did have such a quick timeline, I chose to customize this template instead of starting to design completely from scratch. This team was awesome to work with and quick to respond with the remaining information I needed at times.

Throughout these four weeks, I wanted website visitors to feel the polka music. I wanted them to imagine themselves in the crowd, bratwurst in hand, watching the Maypole ceremony or enjoying the Sunday parade.

The Transformation

The transformation wasn’t just visual, it was functional.

For the first time ever, guests can now buy tickets online!

Vendors and volunteers can now easily find and grab forms in the menu header.

The event schedule is clearly laid out so guests know exactly what to expect without guessing.

The countdown at the top adds a fun touch while also building excitement for the next year.

The website is full of imagery that showcases the experiences you can have by coming.

I added a “Plan Your Trip to Frankenmuth” so families traveling from out of town can plan their weekend with ease.

The transformation was all about showing visitors why this festival is so amazing and has been going on for sixty years. I wanted their website to showcase and match the energy of the actual festival experience.

There’s something beautiful about taking something with deep roots and helping it grow in new directions. The festival’s heart remains exactly the same – it’s still about community, tradition, and creating memories that last generations.

But now their website gets to be part of that story instead of just… existing alongside it.

That’s the kind of project that reminds me why I love this work. When you get to be part of something bigger than a website redesign. When you get to help preserve and share something that matters to an entire community.

Are you in need of a website designer?

If your current website is making potential customers work harder than they should, you’re losing people before they even know how incredible your brand is.

Your website should be the best first impression you never have to worry about.

Your website should work for you, not against you.

If you dread sharing your website instead of being excited, you might need a website designer! That transformation energy is exactly what every business deserves.

Ready to stop settling for digital mediocrity? Let’s chat about what’s possible when your website finally matches the amazing work you’re already doing. 🎉

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Want to see the full Bavarian Festival website transformation? Visit bavarianfestival.org and feel the festival magic for yourself.

My Services

Think you might need more than just a website, but a an updated brand too? I offer a complete custom brand experience where we can work together to create a custom brand, website, and brand photography so you truly have every tool to grow your business.

If you’re looking for an option that’s quicker and without the 5-figure price tag, my semi-custom brand kits are a great option! A semi-custom brand is the perfect solution for entrepreneurs who want a high-end, strategic identity but need a more efficient and budget-friendly approach. Instead of starting from scratch, these pre-designed brands allow you to personalize everything – your business name, logo, color palette, imagery, and submarks – so that it aligns perfectly with your vision. With my expertise guiding each refinement, you’ll walk away with a brand that feels elevated, intentional, and uniquely yours.

Overwhelmed by it all or just not sure what you need exactly? I get it! Book a FREE 1:1 strategy call with me and I can give you advice or help with any questions you have! Even if you just want to chat and get personal guidance, I truly love to help!