Birgithe Solstrand

Staysville is the new name of MMKS Eiendom, who owns and rents out a series of apartment hotels in Stavanger. It is a family-owned business, run by a pair of siblings with strong family values and high service minds who goes out of their way to make their guest feel like home on their stays.

It started out as a normal name + identity + website project, but along the way we found some magic; we uncovered the Staysville universe. A universe filled with unique characters and history, ready to tell it’s story.

My main role in this project has been as lead designer for the website. In addition to a more advisory designer role for the identity process and to the client overall.

An eye-catching animation on the round search blob to make sure the user catches it’s hiding spot, and add some playfulness to the site. This way the search blob does not overstay it’s welcome.

For those who do wish to find their stay immediately, the hiding spot should be obvious and it pops right back out.

Graphic element on dark green background

The text "Staysville* The best place you've never been* *unless you've been here before" on a beige colored background.

A list of type information on an orange background. The type information is Times New Roman and Vesterbro Light, Regular, Medium, Bold, Extrabold and Poster.

Four squares showing the color palette with text written on each square informing of the proper hex code and Pantone code for each color.

The playfulness of the Staysville identity embeds everything in it and it’s universe. From the colours, to the shape of the logo, the tone of voice, the merch (yes, there is merch) and last but not least the website. It all has an edge to it, a unique sense of humour that brings the story of Staysville to everything in it.

The listing page of the Staysville webpage on a bright orange background

An iPhone mockup with the listing page of the Staysville webpage showing listings available. On a beige background.

Easily find your next stay whether you’re on a mobile device or on a desktop device. With a toggleable map on mobile devices, and on desktop it will jump to location as you scroll down the page of listings, pretty neat, right?

A man sitting on a brown sofa holding an iPhone showing the frontpage of the Staysville webpage.

The frontpage of the Staysville webpage on a beige background.

Keeping with the overall tone of voice of the brand while adhering to accessibility principles across devices.

Two hands holding an iPhone showing a listing page from the Staysville webpage.

The search blob element on a bright orange background.

A closer look at the search blob, as we so lovingly started calling it throughout the process. On mobile devices it is available on the bottom of the screen through thumb swipe up for easy access.

The Guide to Stavanger page from the Staysville webpage on a bright orange background.

An image from one of the apartments. Showing a livingroom with a brown leather sofa, a black coffee table and a white lounge chair. A tall green plant in the center and a tall lamp in the corner. A window to the right. There is also a carpet on the floor and one of the walls are painted brown.

An iPad showing details from the listing page from one of the apartments from the Staysville webpage. The iPad is laying on a grey sofa.

Find all the information you’ll need for your next stay and the surrounding neighbourhood.

A Macbook on a pink stand showing a listing page from the Staysville webpage.

Let’s not forget the merch (The totebags, not the coat. Although, we haven’t asked so there might still be a chance if you ask nicely.)

Notice the cards in the apartments filled with stories, fun and facts, and sometimes quotes from the people of Staysville.

A black half-closed umbrella with a pink tag with a ouncheed out keyhole in the shape of the Staysville logosymbol and the text "I recommend this anti-humidity device in case of moisture falling in a descending vertical direction" and a QR code on it. The umbrella is laying on top of a green pouf next to a wallpapered wall with a leaf pattern in white.

The text "Staysville* *the place you're going *unless you've just checked out" on a green background.

Two hands giving a piece of soap to one another inside a green logosymbol on a beige background color.

A unique tone of voice with bold statements, sometimes a little on edge but always with a glimmer of amusement for the reader. (And yes, you can buy the umbrellas).

Of course these are just the highlights of the project, and I truly wish I could have shown everything and all the magic from the process, but that is simply not possible. Luckily for all involved the website is live so feel free to check it out here: www.staysville.no.

Fasett has a more in-depth article of other aspects of the project if you are interested in reading more.

A huge thank you to the client as well for accepting (almost) all our ideas and who’s now enjoying his life as the CEO and Mayor of Staysville.