WORK

For the past few months, we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes, creating a beautiful new website for Hastings International Piano which has been designed and built by Larking, a creative agency based in St Leonards. As an arts charity, we’re fortunate to be based in a town that’s literally bursting with creative people and companies, so we were spoilt for choice when we started looking for a brilliant local company who would understand our mission to help us improve and update our communications. We wanted to create a site that would be at once beautiful and informative, and which would appeal to a variety of different audiences simultaneously and showcase all aspects of our work perfectly. The visual identity art directed by Mel Elliott is elegant, modern and sophisticated, while the user experience is clear and welcoming. The site works beautifully on all devices, and we think it perfectly showcases what we do. We couldn’t be more delighted with the result. Underpinning this design is a custom-coded website, and a streamlined user experience, with accessibility and future-proofing in mind. Beautiful photography by Steven Painter and Toby Shaw and subtle animated elements bring the brand to life. Every detail has been crafted to elevate the experience without overwhelming it. Larking also handled the integration of technical elements such as our complex competition application form — ensuring that even behind-the-scenes functionality is as smooth and well thought out as the design itself. Beth King, founder of Larking, said: We like to think of our clients as partners, and this project was an example of what true collaboration can look like. From the outset, there was a shared openness, with both sides bringing ideas, passion and thoughtful reasoning to the table, to inform the creative direction together. That sense of mutual respect made the process genuinely rewarding. From international competitors and the classical music world to the local Hastings community, HIP’s Communications team brought a deep understanding of what matters to each group, and how to communicate with clarity and warmth. They also share with us a deep appreciation for quality design and thoughtful, audience-first communication — and I think that’s reflected in the results. The refreshed brand and website feel like they’ve always been there, in the best possible way. This was a project shaped by genuine collaboration. We’re proud to have played a part in it — and prouder still of the work we created together.