A New Website for the Oldest (Down) Town in Maine
Have ya heard the news? We recently launched a brand new website for our (office) neighborhood, the Foreside, at visitkittery.org. The idea for this site started as a project for Meg’s web design class for her Master’s degree in Graphic + Digital Design through Barcelona School of Art + Design. The assignment was to design a website for a place. At first, she was going to make a site for a local pizza place that had closed its doors ages ago, but then she had an even better idea.
Why not think a little bigger + design a site for not just a single establishment, but for a whole, underrepresented area?
To understand why we wanted to make this web design project come to life, first, you have to understand the Foreside + how much we love this community we now call home.
Kittery is the oldest town in Maine. Not all areas of the town are celebrated equally, though. Even in the Maine Bicentennial Edition of A Brief History of Kittery, Maine, published by the Kittery Historical + Naval Society for the Kittery Museum, the Foreside or downtown area is never mentioned, even when talking about the Portsmouth Shipyard just across the bridge.
For many, locals + visitors alike, Kittery is talked about to reference the businesses (including the Kittery Trading Post, which *is* mentioned in the brief history) + outlet stores located on Route One. I had only been to the Foreside a couple of times myself before I started working here, + I grew up just a few towns over. Even as a local, Kittery meant the Outlets.
But by only visiting the Outlets, you miss out on so much. The Foreside is Kittery’s Downtown, which is a fact that makes me surprised it’s not more of a destination, simply because people love a good downtown (+ this one is extra good if you want our *totally unbiased* opinion). It’s got peak cozy, small town, Maine vibes. Coastal. Charming. Artsy. Lots of food. What’s not to love?
The Outlets had not just one but TWO websites about the businesses + things to do – we didn’t even have one. We’re settling the scores a bit, putting our love for the area into an adorable site that doesn’t just advertise the Foreside – it represents it.
The site brings local businesses, dining, events, + visitor resources + puts them under one roof, filling a long-standing gap in the town’s digital presence. It uses imagery + input generously contributed by Kittery business owners, whose enthusiasm for the project helped bring it to life. Even if they didn’t know us, most everyone we spoke to about the project was excited to take part + eager to help us get in touch with others. That’s just the welcoming, supportive community that lies at the heart of Kittery Foreside.
Could we have picked a random image off each business’s site or just used their logos? Sure. But then the site wouldn’t have nearly as much heart or character. By asking owners for the images they want to be used to represent their business, we’re bringing them in + letting them have a say. It made it a collaborative effort. That collaboration + sense of community are why we love it here; so what better way to create the site than together?
VisitKittery.org reflects what makes Kittery worth visiting: a walkable downtown, independent restaurants + shops, proximity to the water, + an amazing + supportive community. The goal of the site is simple. To get the word out + let people in on the best-kept secret that is Kittery Foreside.
A rising tide lifts all boats. Hopefully, this site helps everyone float a little higher.
