CASE STUDY: 1610 SOURDOUGH
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must share that I LOVE bread.
Really good bread with really good butter might be my favorite thing to order off a menu. And being on the North Fork of Long Island, I have access to some of the best purveyors of all things baked. My favorite? 1610 Sourdough.
The first time I took home a loaf of 1610 Sourdough, my boyfriend and I stood at the kitchen counter, chatting and slicing off piece after piece. Before we knew it, half the loaf was gone.
It turns out this is not an unusual reaction. I came to learn there’s a 1610 Sourdough fanbase, a fact that makes the humble baker blush. I have been in text exchanges with friends on where to find the bread, and follow religiously on Instagram for dropoff updates. It’s a vibe, as the cool kids say.
So when baker and bread slinger extraordinaire Aiyana Edmund slid into my DMs to inquire about website design, it was a fangirl’s dream.
Aiyana is a one-woman show. And, as her bread is offered exclusively at select North Fork shops and farmstands vs. a storefront of her own, connecting with her fans is a unique challenge. But she has a passion she loves to share with others, and needed a space that could effectively communicate with an audience she so rarely sees face-to-face.
We approached her website design project with the idea it would serve as a platform for storytelling and connection, while also addressing the most common question she receives — where can I find the bread? The site’s navigation needed to be clear and intuitive, with an overall design that reflects the baker’s personality and style.
Aiyana is a great writer herself, having studied journalism in college and dabbling for a time in food writing. With this in mind, the design took on an editorial aesthetic with columns of copy, outlined text blocks, and a news-style font. The pale gray background lends itself to a traditional print newspaper, while also complementing the linen texture on the top section of the webpages. There’s also a slight blue undertone that pairs well with the royal blue font, while pops of a rich golden yellow break up the neutral tones.
One of the key questions I ask clients during the onboarding process is to share three websites they admire and why. Aiyana may be the first client to have sent me three totally distinct options, which made for a really exciting challenge in inspiring her own project.
To no surprise, Aiyana chose Molly Baz as an example. The website is vibrant and bold, and exudes a cool, retro vibe that totally speaks to those with a love of food and an eye for design. While the idea of creating something that emulates this same feeling would be a thrill, this type of design did not meet Aiyana’s need for a timeless design.
So what did we do? We gave 1610 Sourdough something we’ve dubbed the “Molly Pop.”
The sections above the footer have a scalloped edge with a thick border in an aqua color, separating the royal blue from the pale gray. This effect is a fun yet subtle separation of content, and the scalloped edge is reminiscent of a vintage apron.
Each element on this website has a purpose and touches on multiple ideas at once — a celebration of really good bread, a love of supporting local businesses, connection with the community, and so much more.
One of the reasons we use Squarespace exclusively at RB Collaborative is so that our clients can feel empowered to take ownership of their own websites after launch. Aiyana had built her own website on Squarespace previously, and felt comfortable using the platform on her own. As her business goals and plans shift, she can make the edits necessary to reflect the current state of 1610 Sourdough with ease and confidence. And if she ever needs help, we’re here for it.
The 1610 Sourdough website project was just so fun! Getting to know Aiyana and her business, and connecting on things beyond bread was a truly special experience. I love working with businesses that feed people — and their carb cravings.
PS — If your business involves wine, cheese, or cake… I'd love to build a website for you!
—RB
