Vela Azul – Fictional Resort Web Design

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Vela Azul – Fictional Resort Web Design

Unfold the tranquil elegance of a coastal escape through this resort website concept. A seamless blend of storytelling, design systems, and visual rhythm brings the Vela Azul experience to life — where ocean calm meets modern interface.

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Introduction

Vela Azul is a fictional boutique resort nestled along the hidden shores of Tulum, Mexico. This personal design project was crafted to reflect the kind of high-end travel clients that digital agencies like VERB work with. The goal: to create a luxurious, storytelling-focused single-page web experience rooted in branding, usability, and accessibility.

Problem Statement

Many luxury resorts struggle to balance aesthetics with performance and usability. Common issues include:

Generic branding and inconsistent UI
Poor responsiveness on mobile
Weak visual hierarchy
Lack of accessibility consideration
Low engagement due to uninspiring layouts

This concept explores how thoughtful UX, component-based design, and narrative visuals can elevate digital hospitality experiences.

Client Background

Client: Vela Azul (fictional concept)
Type: Boutique Coastal Resort
Location: Playa Escondida, Tulum, Mexico
Project Goal: Showcase branding, Figma systems, and storytelling in a polished, responsive format

Scroll on the image below and check out the mobile design

Research and Analysis

User Insight

Inspiration was drawn from real-world resort users — design-savvy travelers, honeymooners, and wellness seekers — who expect mobile-friendly, immersive sites with seamless booking and beautiful imagery.

Competitive Landscape

I analyzed high-performing websites from boutique hotels and eco-luxury resorts. The most successful examples used calming color palettes, immersive galleries, simple booking flows, and elegant typography to tell a cohesive brand story.

Design Process

Visual Direction & Mood

Soft beach tones (sand, mist, ocean blue) were selected to evoke calm and luxury. A sail-inspired logo and serif branding completed the identity, suggesting warmth and elegance.

Component-Based UI

I designed a scalable set of components in Figma — including buttons, cards, gallery layouts, and section templates. This allowed rapid iteration and consistent spacing, typography, and interaction patterns.

Wireframes & Prototypes

Low-fidelity wireframes helped test layout hierarchy before transitioning to high-fidelity design. Mobile-first logic was followed throughout.

Final Design Highlights

Full hero image with layered sunrise tones and poetic CTA
Interactive “Suites” section with pricing, photos, and microcopy
Experience tiles showcasing wellness, nature, and local culture
Soft gradient transitions and section dividers
AA-compliant colors and accessible interactions
A refined footer with contact, socials, and booking info

Final Product

The result is a one-page fictional website that captures the essence of a serene coastal resort, complete with:

Modular components for easy reuse
Branded visual system (typography, color, logo)
Responsive grid for desktop to mobile
Touch-friendly gallery and CTA sections
Engaging copy to support storytelling

Results and Impact

Though fictional, this project demonstrates real-world skills aligned with agency work:

Strong branding and design voice
Accessibility and responsive best practices
Advanced Figma usage (auto layout, variants, styles)
Portfolio differentiation for travel and lifestyle clients

Key Takeaways

Brand storytelling enhances emotional engagement
Design systems save time and improve consistency
Even conceptual work can drive real-world opportunities

Conclusion

Vela Azul reflects a refined approach to digital hospitality — one that blends emotion, interaction, and precision. This project not only sharpened my design systems and Figma skills but also allowed me to explore the kind of client work I truly enjoy: calm, visual-first experiences rooted in place and purpose.