I happened upon this site and at first glance thought it was a designer’s portfolio site. Only after looking at the navigation was I aware that it was a in fact a hotel (and a hip one at that).

So a few reasons as to why I think it’s an Exceptional Experience. For one the site is definitely out of the norm and well executed when it comes to visuals, audio, and the little nuances. Two (and here is where it gets debatable) is that its navigation is right for its clientele. I’m figuring the people who would want to stay here are going to be digitally savvy and not get lost without the traditional hotel navigation approach that is the norm for a majority of hotel sites. My parents would NOT stay here… But I sure would (not that I’m hip). The site feels more like an experience and less like a reservation tool. So that leads to the third reason. The site made me start questioning exactly “what is the right navigation” for a site and “what factors determine success and failure?” Well of course that leads down a path  built on a ton of facts, logic, goals, objectives, and the such. I break it down to knowing your audience in the end.

I guess what I’m getting at is that the site successfully takes the approach — and is not afraid to — that its tangible existence is carried over to its digital form successfully. Now I just have to find a reason to get to Germany!

Casey Riggleman