Finishing touches to Chosen Design

After giving my client the four design choices, they decided they wanted to go with design number 4. They asked me to make a few changes to it however which was not a problem.

Changes - Email from Client:

1. The most important one, is that the horizontal strip with the cakes, we would like this replaced with a picture I`m going to attach at the end of this email. It is basically the picture we have made for the banners we have put up across town as well, and we have one of them in our shops as well...so, it`s sort of like a familiar image we want people to associate with the shop.

 

2. The logo...could the red be a bit lighter perhaps? It`s a bit crimson-ish now, we`d like something more red-ish, again, have a look at the picture I`ll attach.Also, size-wise, you could make it larger/wider.

 

3. Instead of the Latest Recipe, the text should read something along the lines of Product of the day, because it`s actually a random selection of the products that are going to be displayed in the menu section, rather than a recipe.

 

4. Instead of the pic showing the big wedding cake, I`ve attached some picture from inside the shop which we`d like to have on the welcome page.

 

I have mde these changes so now the index page will look like this:

 

Now that the style has been decided, I can start to build the website and then look at the design and layout of the different sections.

**I am going to make sure I recieve the forms from my client which people who work in the shops have signed, this is so that I have their permission to use any images of them on the website.

My Portfolio Rejuvenation

I have started to re-vamp my own portfolio website in the one of the styles that I have just designed for my client.

Watch this space!

The Designs to Choose From

Here are the four designs that my client will choose from:

Design 1

Design 2

 Design 3

Design 4

Design 4

Here is the latest design for the Diana website:

This design uses the red as much more of a feature. There is a nice contrast in the colours used in this design. I have made it clean and clear which is what my client asked for. The banner at the top will be a sliding banner, so the images slide across the screen slowly on mouse over. I would also like for the main image in the right hand side of the content area to change on page load, so each time you load this index page, the main image changes. This will probably be a cycle of images that I will set up.
So far, I think this is my favourite design as I think it is clear, simple and has its own distinct characteristic.

It does however go against my initial design ideas of Art Deco which I stated in the client proposal, but if my client does choose this design. I will be happy to move away from those initial thoughts that I had for the style of the website.

Design 3

I have played around a little bit more in this design with the colour scheme, I think the reds and browns mix really well together here.

In the header at the top of the webpage I have out the images in the shape of a "swoosh". I have also tried arranging the images differently, i'm not sure at this stage what works best.

Research of Red Websites

Seeing as my client wants their website to be red and white so that it keeps in theme with the current company style, I have been researching websites that use red and white. Some use the red subtly in the design whilst others really use the red in all its glory.

This last website www.nuevo-aurich.de really caught my attention especially seeing as it is concerned with food. I really like how the main image of the food set out is the main focus of the whole page on every page. I also like how the gallery sections have been presented and how simple the actual image galleries are.

Website Style Research

I'm trying to think a little more outside the box to create three different designs for my client website. I have gathered 10 images of websites which have used the space around the main information area to give the website its overall identity.

Although the general layout of these websites are very similar, the identities are all very much different.

Have a play with this one:

www.meomi.com

From an interactive point of view, this website is really nice to play with, roll overs on the little characters reveal sound and movement which makes the website really nice.

Design 2

Have looked at what my client wants and come up with another design:

I have also tried it with a white background:

I have seen other websites with drawn images in the background and found them very effective. The header is more like what my client has asked for in that it mimics the shop's poster. I thought the image at the bottom of piping icing is a nice touch and in keeping with the website. I do think that I need to include an image in the content area somewhere. Perhaps under where it describes the new recipe, an image of the new recipe could go there?

Diana, Website Research

As my client did not like my first design, I asked them to give me some websites that they do like the look of so that I would have more of a guide as to what to produce for them.

They replied with the following websites:

 

www.e-retete.ro

www.nigella.com

www.danessa.ro

www.columbuscafe.ro

Now I can produce some more designs and have them choose which one they want. I need to get the design chosen as soon as possible as I need to start making the website straight away.

Further Client Website Development

I showed my client my initial design of the website, they gave me the following feedback:

The navigation will read - Home, About Us (Our Story merger together), Menu, Location, Contact Us.

Contact Numbers needed are on a copy of the poster that I have been given by the client.

Design wise, they said they would like something with a greater contrast which is more on the red-white color scheme side than the pinkish gradient. Also, they would like it be more crisp, rather than round edges, something clean and clear. The detail on the border of the welcome text will have to go (unless I find a way to integrate it better with the design) In the header, they thought the picture included was not the best choice, they said that something smaller and more refined would perhaps be more fitting than the big, chunky bit of pastry and the strudel.

So, taking these comments on board I have decided to alter the design to suite their needs:

My client are keen on keeping to the style of the poster that they gave me at the beginning of this project. They are keen that style wise, the website should follow the design of the poster. However, instead of creating a website that is white on red I have chosen red on white, this will reduce eye strain when using the website, making the visit to website more comfortable for the user.

As the adapted design is now very white, I have also made a few images where the new design is on a red background, this brings in much more of the contrast that they are after and the overall crispness of the design.

This one is much more in keeping with the design of the poster which will help to maintain consistency within the company.

 This is slight variation on this which has a little less contrast but still maintains the design of the company's poster.

Diana Development

Header for the website.

 Unfinished design for the hompage

 Finished initial design for the hompage.

**Need to confirm the catagories of the cakes for when I do the tabs on the navigation and the photo galleries.

**Also trying to think about how the tab style navigation will work when it comes to coding it...

Update on Client Project

Due to overworking during the festive season my client project has not progressed in the last four weeks as much as originally hoped.

I have however emailed the proposal to my clients and am eagerly awaiting some feedback from them.

I will start to throw together some initial design ideas until I hear from them.