Wednesday, January 14th
I never really thought about restaurant websites as extensions of each restaurant's atmosphere, history, and identity, especially since I don't typically visit a restaurant's website now when I decide where to eat out. I usually use Google Maps and Beli, or I like to get recommendations directly from my friends. I agree with what Jasmine said in the interview about how restaurant websites are often “just parked to say, 'we exist in the world'” a lot, especially because many of the restaurant websites I do happen to visit are often outdated or have incomplete information about the menu. One of my biggest takeaways as things like Squarespace and other CMS platforms become more popular and accessible is that they're not necessarily a threat to authentic, expressive restaurant websites. The Dimes website is an example of this, as it has an “old web” feel but is still a Squarespace site. What that means is that CMS platforms may encourage homogeneity because of the standard templates available, but there is still room for creative freedom. Lastly, I think it's interesting how some of the restaurant websites linked in the article have changed their design from what is shown in the screenshots. I wonder if that's because the website has lost its personality and is now using a default, standard template, or if it's because the atmosphere and vibe of the restaurants themselves have changed.