OUGD603: Brief 2 - OAC Photography // Further Research

The wireframes and website map for OAC Photography have been signed off by the client, she's happy with how the content sits and how a user navigates through the website. No amends - which doesn't happen very often.

I'm going to look into some other photography themed website to see how the imagery is laid out, the techniques used, and how effective they are.

I'm trying to find examples which use white space. The OAC Photography brand uses white space throughout, as white space surrounding the content frames it, isolates, making the content stand out and seem more important amongst the rest of the page. Avoiding the cutter.

http://demo.explora.com.uy/hiker/portfolio/

http://www.glasscoatphotobooth.com/

http://work.rickardsund.com/

http://shinebythree.com/

http://www.rocknine.co.uk/

OUGD603: Revised Briefs

Based on the tutorial last week with Amber, I've changed and amended the briefs accordingly. There is now a total of nine briefs, rather than eight, as I've split up two briefs, for the sake of assessment. 

I've split up the SAC Ampleforth brief and the Coffee Culture briefs into two parts. The first part of which is the brand and identity design. Creating brand guidelines and proposing/creating collateral for the briefs and the second part is designing the website - as web design is a substantial brief within itself, especially for two medium sized businesses.

I've also added rough deadlines for the briefs. These will be subject to change, as I can't foresee how my time will be managed in 2015, as I will be doing D&AD and or YCN briefs along side. 

OUGD603 Briefs 03

OUGD603: Brief 2 - OAC Photography // Website Wireframes

After completing the website map, I was then able to plan out the content on the pages in the form of wireframes. The wireframes are used to map out how everything will fit, rather than convey the design. They really only need to uses content boxes and placeholder text and imagery to communicate to the client how the content will be laid out. 

I sketched out some wireframes, trying to lay the content out in a similar style to the look and feel design which I sent to the client. Keeping the footer and headers the same throughout, basing the content on the content from OAC's wix website. Which you can see in the document attached below. 

OAC Exisiting Website Content

The wireframes have been designed to fit all the content which can be found on the website as it is. Looking through the website, I think more copy would be beneficial in places. For example describing the shoots, a more thorough about page.

I used Azure Pro 7 to design the wireframes digitally, it a piece of software I learned how to use during my summer placement at Bloom. I mapped out the pages which were listed in the website map - some of the pages I've created a couple of options for, both of which I think will work, but they're just there to give the client a preference. Of course, I'll be happy to make any amends which need adjusting.

I created two shoot pages (individual shoots), two about pages, and two testimonial pages.

Using the a basic twelve column grid which was used on the look and feel design. I mapped out a master page, seen in the bottom right of the image below, which contained the header for the website, so it remained consistent. I used grey boxes, placeholder images and copy to represent the different elements of the content. 

The wireframes are listed below in a PDF, and will be presented to the client - open for amends. Once they're signed off, I will begin research and start to design the website. 

Wireframes 01

OUGD603: Brief 2 - OAC Photography // Web Site Map

Whilst I'm waiting on feedback for the look and feel of the website, I've begun to work on the site map and the wireframes. Neither of which represent the design of the website, they only determine how the content is going to be spread across the website. It's essential to get this right, to assure the user experience is a fluent and smooth as possible. 

I looked at what OAC had on her wix website to determine the content the website would need.

I quickly mapped up the website in my note pad to get an idea of how the website would work, the main content pages and the hierarchy. I can get quite messy working with pen and paper, crossing stuff out and scribbling lines everywhere, so I moved it over to Illustrator when I got the general idea. 

I mapped out the primary and secondary pages initially, then adding the tertiary pages. I also added sections to show how quicker navigation might come about. In the portfolio section, there will be categories for the photographs, a drop down menu on the nav bar will allow quick navigation. However, you can also go to the portfolio page which will display all the categories at once. 

Promotional images on the front page will also allow you to link to specific project easily - for example if OAC were to do the best shoot of her life, with some earth shatteringly amazing photographs of her pet rabbit, she would want to feature them on the home page, which would then link through to the project, to see more of the shoot.

This will be submitted to the client for feedback - alterations may be made. I'm not expecting the titles of the pages to be final.

OUGD603: Progress Tutorial

I had a quick twenty minute tutorial to see how I'm managing with my briefs, just to see if I'm on the right track with them - if the timescales are appropriate, the briefs work, feasible, and any other advice I might need - I could only benefit. 

I am Anthony White, I am a designer focusing on identity and web design. 

I talked Amber through all my briefs, and fortunately there wasn't a massive amount of negative feedback, just a few things to change, which shouldn't take me too long. I presented the briefs from an earlier post on this blog, which were at the time of the tutorial the briefs I was going to work on.

The first alteration I need to amend to all my briefs is adding a list of deliverables, just to make it easier to be assessed upon submission. It also makes it clear what I will be submitting.

Regarding an individual brief, SAC Ampleforth brief, it was suggested that I divide the brief up into two briefs. One for the overarching brand, the identity design and proposed/created collateral, and another for the web design - all of this together makes a substantial brief. It would be unlikely that I would finish it all in time for Christmas, when roughly half the module is to be assessed. 

This could also be done to the Coffee Culture brief. 

The 'Rebranding' brief is to be axed and moved to PPP, we have to rebrand ourselves as part of that module, it makes no sense doing it twice.

Smaller briefs, such as the branding for friends - such as the brief for Naoise O'shea could also be pushed together into one brief. If all I'm doing is designing logos and business cards, I could almost create a logofolio as the deliverable for this brief. 

All my briefs are ultimately based off something which does exist. Not all of them are live, as the client might not want a rebrand or a new website - however it would be beneficial to show it to them, explain what I'm doing and get some feedback - as though the brief was actually live. 

OUGD603: Brief 1 - SAC Ampleforth // Initial Research

As part of this brief I'm going to look at the existing collateral for SAC Ampleforth, that I can get a hold of. To see what they're already working with, what needs improving - being able to divide up how much attention each element needs in the project. 

The website is based on the same design as Ampleforth College, it's parent company. However, SAC is now being treated as a separate individual brand, so there are no limitations in terms of it's appearance.  The website is not responsive, and it's rather garish white-one-aqua type doesn't really sit right. 

The Aqua is a brand colour, it's used in the logo and across the brand - this could be altered if necessary However, it might be beneficial to keep this aspect in the brand, as it won't alienate the existing customer base. 

Overall, as a general statement, I think the website looks really dated. 

The logo SAC used has been used since the sports centre opened, in the 1970s. The doesn't look awful, however the aim of this brief is to bring the identity of the brand into the modern age. I think the logo will have to be altered to do this. 

(I've lost the photos I've taken of the printed collateral, bare with me)

OUGD603: Brief 2 - OAC Photography // Pitch Amends

Before I begin work on the website - the wireframes, the website map, and all that stuff I want to get the look and feel right. I've tweaked the original pitch I presented yesterday and resubmitted it to the client.

One of the issues we encountered was the design wasn't 'fun' enough, I felt this was down to the imagery I've selected. It's important to use the correct imagery as it sets the tone of the website, the emotions and the settings of the images reflect on the page. The images I originally selected were stock photos - arty-farty stock photos. The stock photos don't really work, they're not the same style as OAC, and they're usually quite serious and washed out. I've now added photos from OAC Photography's facebook fan page, which really liven up page!

I've also added the deep red/purple which was used on the business card. I've added it to the iconography and any buttons on the page. It makes them stand out from the background, contrasting against the white, whilst also livening up the page with the addition of colour - as the client requested.