We’re always excited about innovative ideas that push the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of website design and development. That’s why we’ve been thrilled to partner with Sportli on an exciting new project that merges fan pride with web technology. Sportli’s concept of sponsoring the club by owning a virtual square of your favourite football team’s pitch is a truly unique way to connect fans to the clubs they love. And getting a physical memorandum to prove it. But bringing this idea to life required a seamless, highly functional website design and platform integration – something that’s right up our alley! Understanding the business requirements was crucial for the project’s success. We carefully considered whether to use shelf software or custom solutions to ensure the platform met Sportli’s specific needs.
A Truly Unique Fan Experience
You’re a fan and supporter of your local football club for generations, or perhaps the national team. You have all the mugs, t-shirts and key-chains you can have. So you’ve been looking for something a little different to showcase your dedication. Sportli offers fans the chance to become a “virtual square” owner of their team’s pitch. Not only does this make a meaningful, tangible connection to the club, but it’s also a brilliant gift idea for any fan who has everything. The fan receives official certificate with a qr code to prove authenticity and ownership.
We played a a major role in developing the software behind this creative idea. Our work began with crafting an engaging website design that perfectly embodies the spirit of Sportli’s mission. From concept to launch, we’ve integrated awesome web features that give each single customer the freedom to choose their square, purchase it securely, and receive digital certificate instantly and physical certificates via post. Owning the source code allows for future improvements and customizations, ensuring the software can adapt to changing requirements.
Principles of Good Web Design
Good web design is crucial for creating a website that is both visually appealing and user-friendly. The principles of good web design include:
- Balance: A well-balanced website is essential for creating a visually appealing design. Balance refers to the arrangement of visual elements, such as text, images, and white space, to create a sense of harmony and stability. By carefully distributing these elements, we ensure that the web page feels cohesive and inviting.
- Contrast: Contrast is used to create visual interest and draw attention to specific elements on the website. This can be achieved through the use of different colors, fonts, and textures. Effective contrast helps highlight important information and makes the user interface more engaging.
- Emphasis: Emphasis is used to draw attention to specific elements on the website, such as calls-to-action or important information. This can be achieved through the use of size, color, and placement. By strategically emphasizing key elements, we guide users to take desired actions.
- Movement: Movement refers to the way the user’s eye moves through the website. A well-designed website should guide the user’s eye through the content in a logical and intuitive way. This ensures that users can easily find the information they need and have a pleasant browsing experience.
- Pattern: Pattern refers to the repetition of similar elements, such as textures or shapes, to create a sense of unity and coherence. Consistent patterns help users understand the structure of the website and navigate it more easily.
- Unity: Unity refers to the overall sense of coherence and harmony in the design. A well-designed website should have a clear and consistent visual language. This creates a seamless experience for users, making the website feel professional and trustworthy.
By incorporating these principles, we create websites that not only look great but also provide a user-friendly experience, ensuring that first-time visitors and returning users alike can navigate with ease.
Web Design Meets Fan Engagement with Visual Elements
A standout feature of the website is the interactive and highly intuitive pitch selection tool, which benefits greatly from its visual design. A web designer plays a crucial role in creating these interactive features, ensuring both aesthetics and functionality are top-notch. Fans can zoom into specific areas of the football pitch, select the square that speaks to them, and make a purchase – but they have to checkout within 10 minutes. Because some squares are in high demand. This real-time engagement keeps the experience exciting and dynamic. We carefully designed the user interface to ensure that fans, whether seasoned tech users or not, could navigate the site with ease on any device.
After completing their purchase, fans are presented with a choice of shipping options, including free UK mainland delivery and affordable worldwide shipping. And the cherry on top? Each order includes a beautifully framed certificate, complete with an authenticity hologram, giving it that extra touch of exclusivity.
User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI)
User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) are two closely related concepts that are essential for creating a website that is both user-friendly and visually appealing.
- User Experience (UX): UX refers to the overall experience of the user when interacting with the website. This includes the user’s perceptions, feelings, and behaviors when using the website. A good UX design focuses on understanding the needs and preferences of the target audience, ensuring that the website meets their expectations and provides a satisfying experience.
- User Interface (UI): UI refers to the visual elements of the website, such as buttons, menus, and typography, that the user interacts with. A well-designed UI ensures that these elements are intuitive, easy to use, and visually appealing. The goal is to create a seamless interaction between the user and the website, making it easy for users to achieve their goals.
A good UX and UI design should be intuitive, easy to use, and visually appealing. The goal of UX and UI design is to create a website that is both functional and enjoyable to use. By focusing on both UX and UI, we ensure that the website not only looks great but also provides a smooth and satisfying experience for users.
User Friendly Customised Ownership and Stunning Certificates
One of the most exciting aspects of this project is the personalised certificate system we developed. Upon purchasing their square, fans receive an instant e-certificate and a high-quality printed certificate, featuring their name (or person their gifting it to), the club’s branding, and a unique QR code. This QR code links directly to a personalised page where the owner can confirm the authenticity of their certificate. It’s a brilliant way to blend the digital and physical worlds, ensuring that every purchase feels personal and meaningful. It even has coordinates that link almost perfectly to the area purchased that can be seen on Google Maps.
The certificates are printed, authenticated with holographic stickers, and framed with care before being shipped out to fans across the globe. This entire process was automated, allowing Sportli to scale efficiently while maintaining a personalised experience for every fan.
Supporting Clubs and Charities through Business Processes
Another thing that sets Sportli apart is their commitment to giving back. With every purchase, a percentage of the sales goes directly to supporting the fan’s chosen club. This means that when fans buy their square, they’re not just getting a unique keepsake – they’re also contributing to the club they love. It’s a beautiful synergy that makes the purchase feel even more rewarding.
The Power of Social Media and Fan Engagement for Target Audience
Sportli’s collaboration with Purple Moon Designs has not only brought this unique concept to life but also ignited a buzz across social media. One of the standout moments was the TikTok video created by Sportli’s marketing team, which garnered over 100k views and brought awareness to this innovative product in a big way. The reactions were overwhelmingly positive, and the excitement surrounding Sportli’s idea continues to grow. It’s hard to build awareness on a project and ideas people didn’t know exist and are possible now.
@sportli_official 🎉 Celtic Fans! Ready to OWN a piece of Paradise? 🍀⚽ SPORTLI gives YOU the chance to own a piece of Celtic’s iconic pitch for the season or year. Your name, your spot, your legacy—all on an officially licensed certificate personalised just for you. 📜 What’s Included? ✅ A stunning, personalised certificate ✅ Officially licensed Celtic branding ✅ The pride of being part of the legendary home turf 🏟️ Feel closer to the action than ever before. Whether it’s for you or the ultimate gift for a Celtic fan, this is the ultimate way to celebrate your passion for the Hoops! 🛒 Don’t wait—own your piece of Celtic history now! LINK IN BIO #CelticFC #SPORTLI #Pieceofparadise #CelticPride #FootballGifts #TheHoops ♬ original sound – Jude Forsyth
While the launch of Celtic FC’s virtual square ownership generated some mixed responses, we remain proud of the project and the amazing fan engagement it’s created. Articles like those from the Daily Record have sparked debates and discussions, but that’s the beauty of introducing something new and exciting into the market. It gets people talking, and that only helps to build the community around Sportli and its mission.
Web Design Trends in Sports Merchandise
The sports merchandise industry is highly competitive, and a well-designed website can be a key differentiator for businesses in this industry. Here are some web design trends in sports merchandise:
- Responsive Design: With the increasing use of mobile devices, responsive design is essential for creating a website that is accessible and user-friendly on all devices. A responsive web page adapts to different screen sizes, ensuring that users have a consistent experience whether they are on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
- Minimalism: Minimalism is a popular design trend in sports merchandise, as it creates a clean and simple visual language that is easy to navigate. By reducing clutter and focusing on essential elements, minimalism enhances the user experience and makes the website more user-friendly.
- High-Quality Imagery: High-quality imagery is essential for showcasing sports merchandise, as it allows customers to see the products in detail and get a sense of the quality and craftsmanship. Stunning visuals can significantly enhance the visual appeal of the website and attract potential customers.
- Personalization: Personalization is a key trend in sports merchandise, as it allows customers to customize their products with their name, initials, or favorite team’s logo. This creates a unique and personal connection between the customer and the product, enhancing the overall user experience.
- Social Media Integration: Social media integration is essential for creating a website that is connected to the customer’s social media experience. This can include features such as social media sharing, customer reviews, and social media contests. By integrating social media, businesses can engage with their audience, build a community, and drive traffic to their website.
By staying up-to-date with these web design trends, businesses in the sports merchandise industry can create user-friendly websites that stand out in a competitive market, attract their target audience, and meet their business needs.
What’s Next for Sportli and Purple Moon Designs?
Working with Sportli has been an incredible journey, and we’re excited to continue developing innovative website designsand features with them. Whether it’s integrating new clubs, launching limited-time offers, or enhancing user experience, we’re committed to supporting Sportli as they grow.
We believe in creating websites that do more. We take pride in building custom solutions that not only look great but also function seamlessly and provide real-world value. Whether it’s for businesses with new ideas or helping established companies streamline their processes, we’re here to build digital tools that help our clients succeed.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Sportli and the exciting projects we’ll be working on together. Stay tuned for more innovative website design and software solutions from Purple Moon Designs!
