Case study:
Great Dixter House & Gardens
Transforming their online presence
https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/
Great Dixter House & Gardens is not just any garden – it’s an experience, a living testament to the art of gardening. As a Charitable Trust, Great Dixter is dedicated to preserving the vibrant, daring, and immersive gardens that surround its 15th-century house, restored by the renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. The gardens are a place of learning and inspiration, championing biodiversity and horticultural education. Founded by the legendary gardener and garden writer Christopher Lloyd OBE, Great Dixter is a leader in ornamental gardening, influencing gardeners worldwide with its innovative and experimental approach.
Click on the centre of the image above and drag left and right to see the live website before and after the redesign.
Great Dixter faced a unique challenge: they had two separate websites – one for e-commerce and another for content – each with its own login and content management system (CMS). This setup created a fragmented user experience and was a logistical nightmare for the in-house team. With multiple integrations, including third-party providers for ticketing, event management, POS integration, and stock control, managing these platforms was becoming increasingly cumbersome. They needed a unified digital presence that could handle all their needs efficiently and reflect the dynamic and historic nature of their gardens. However, finding a web design agency that could provide a seamless solution integrating all these elements proved to be a challenge – until they found us!
Our approach began with deep-diving into the essence of Great Dixter. We wanted to fully understand what makes this place so special to its visitors and supporters. We conducted comprehensive industry research, analysing competitors, audience behaviour, and emerging trends in the world of heritage sites and gardens. Our goal was to create a strategy that not only solved their immediate challenges but also positioned Great Dixter as a modern, engaging destination online. Through our proven process, we mapped out a plan to consolidate their digital platforms into one cohesive, easy-to-manage website that captures the vibrant spirit of Great Dixter while streamlining their operations.
Our primary goal was to develop a website that mirrors the ethos and values of Great Dixter—dynamic, vibrant, diverse, and steeped in history. We wanted to create a digital experience that feels as immersive as the gardens themselves. To achieve this, we focused on helping them to gain exposure in a modern, engaging design which better reflects their ethos and values; appear as Dynamic, Vibrant, Diverse and Historic – a place of contrasts; increase online impact through online sales of products, events and training courses; and enjoy consistent, attentive support for the in-house team with the simplicity of a robust content management system
“From start to finish Fat Promotions have delivered fantastic service and we are really happy with the website now. It looks really professional, it has all of the functionality we require and as a client, we didn’t feel any stress about it, our requirements were handled calmly and professionally. The back end of the website is a joy to use, so easy and intuitive. We are very grateful to Fiona and her team, we had a very tight timescale and with a great team effort, we got there. Thank you, you are all brilliant. ”
The transformation of Great Dixter’s online presence has been a journey of creativity, innovation, and meticulous planning. By leveraging our Website Mastery process, we delivered a digital solution that is as dynamic and multifaceted as Great Dixter itself. The new website not only simplifies operations and enhances the visitor experience but also amplifies the garden’s presence in the digital world, inviting new audiences to discover its unique charm. If you’re looking to elevate your online presence with a website that truly represents your values and vision, reach out to us today. Let’s grow together.
