The Open Book Redesign

The Project

The Open Book, a well-known independent bookstore in Warrenton, Virginia, needed a fresh, inviting website that matched the personality of its physical space. The previous site felt cluttered and did not clearly communicate the shop’s character or community ties. I took lead and redesigned the site—reorganizing the content, simplifying navigation, and strengthening the visual brand.

The Inspiration

To ground the design in the store’s identity, I pulled colors from the carpet, the owner’s favorite book cover, and the green reading chair. These elements helped the website feel like an extension of the real-life space - comfortable, authentic, and inviting.

The Build

Using the Bookmanager CMS (a system tailored specifically to bookstores), I rebuilt many of the website pages with cleaner layouts and clearer visual hierarchy. I streamlined the homepage, reorganized the content, and introduced banner graphics that are still in use today - even after their team updated other assets with a Canva expert. Only two pages from the original redesign - the About and Media pages - are still live, but the structure and style I introduced continue to shape the site.

Design Goals

• • • Highlight what makes The Open Book special

    • Simplify the user experience

    • Build a stronger connection between online visitors and in-store personality

    • Offer a platform for showcasing staff picks, book clubs, and local partnerships
      
      

The Outcome

The site now reflects the heart of The Open Book - community, curiosity, and personality. Although the bookstore subsequently updated some visuals, my original design framework remains core to the site’s look and feel today and continues to serve as the foundation for ongoing updates.