EC - Skype Meeting + Feedback

During our Skype meeting we were able to go through the wire frames I had sent. This also gave me the opportunity to explain them as well as suggest other aspects they may not be aware of (Mailbox fature, mini Photo gallery, banner) 

Here are the notes and sketches I made from our meeting

Home Page 

The Foundation logo had to be the main feature as soon as the user enters the site - the client preferred the navigation at the top so that the content can take up the main space. The main feature is a Youtube playlist. We also discussed a promotional free download for the users. Quick links allow the user to navigate to a certain part of the website quickly, without having to search around. Recent news feed, which will be a general update for the whole of The Foundation team. (look into how to integrate Wordpress)  

Us Page

The top of all the pages will remain the same (Navigation, Logo, Social icons).

Several images will rotate in the image banner. Each member of The Foundation team will have their own bio with a picture of themselves, Name, Biography and personal Social links.

Projects Page

This page is divided into two, Recent News and Affiliates. The Recent News will consists of recent articles related to the whole of the team (RSS feed from a blog/integrate Wordpress) 

Affiliates will be small image icons that are the companies logo an once clicked on will open a new page with their website. 

Contact Page

For the Contact page the client wanted a personal message to be the key feature, where they can personally ask people to contact them if they have any enquirers. A PHP contact form will also be added to this page and all emails will directly go to the client.

After discussing all these features with the client, I asked them if some of their users will be accessing the website from their mobile phones or even tablets? By making the website responsive it will allow a wider range of their users to access the account, as most of the promoting will be via social sites such as Twitter and Facebook. 

The next stage will be created the fluid grid in which all the content will be placed, By creating this grid first it will allow me to work of the sizes of each section. Assisted with media queries i will be able to set certain principles for certain size devices.  

EC - Wire Frames

To give Bivas an overview on what kind of layouts are possible taking into consideration what they want, I decided to draw up a few simple wire frames on Photoshop. Once I had emailed these to him we arranged a Skype meeting.

Here are the wire frames I emailed Bivas. - HOME PAGE 

Wire Frame 1

This reflects on the 'simple' look they wanted, however I believe by adding other features such as 'quick links' or even an RSS feed to the home page can be a great advantage to them as it will allow their users to find the information they are looking for easily.

Wire Frame 2 

Rearranging the top of the site, Navigation, Logo and Social links are all in one row. The video holder is the main aspect of the page, and developing the first wire frame further 'Quick Links' feature has been added to the bottom of the page. Even though this has the quick links to recent work by The Foundation team there can still be more information to inform the user on what the links are.

Wire Frame 3 

This wire frame removes the video playlist and focuses on the information direct links (these will include a link to the Youtube playlist. Adding the image banner which will be rotating using Javascript will give the user an overall view on what The Foundation consists of.

Wire Frame 4

Expanding on Wire Frame 4, adding a background image (that maybe rotates through 2-3 images) can bring character to the page.

I am now waiting for feedback from the client and waiting to organise a Skype meeting were we can discuss the contact and layout of what is needed on each page.

EC - LOGO

The client already had a strong idea on what they wanted the Logo to look like, so he sent me a drawn image. From this image i was able to design The Foundation logo on Photoshop. 

The main colours used are black white and red, this will form the running theme for the website. 

EC - Initial Email

Previously meeting with Bivas, we agreed on me sending him an outline email on what will be needed in order for me to start designing the website, so I sent him an email with a rough outline on the next steps as well as attaching the client briefing document.

I was given these few points by Bivas, 

"hope this helps for the foundation website:

colour schemes: red, black and white 

tag line - where we convert dreams and nightmares into realities 

the holding page should be able to play HD vimeo video/s as we envision a show reel auto playing at the start (which I am compiling as we speak)

I think for now just one holding page would be enough, but as we build on our work, we will add more video's etc. We should also be able to add photo's etc (similar to some tumblr/wordpress sites)"

The colour scheme for the website will be based on Red, Black and White, however I believe the client is not fully aware of the capabilities that are available via a website, so I will suggest to include other aspects such as a newsletter and a twitter feed.

EC - External Client

THE FOUNDATION

A friend of mine was looking for a web designer to help create a platform for a new production company called 'The Foundation'. The company is run by an award winning video director Bivas Ambasada. His unique directing skills have gained him an interesting article in The Guardian, 'Making His'story: a streetwise film shot by British boys in the hood' Which he then went on to collect two awards in his nomination of ‘Five Years To Life’ in the ‘Short Stories’ category and also awarded with the ‘Unpublished Writer of the Year Awards’ at The Brit Writers Awards 2012.

You can visit his Tumblr HERE

There is also a music artist called Smartz who has worked closely with Bivas on a number of high quality music video's as well as starring in a short film, 'Tomorrow'  

The video 'Change' by Smartz was produced by Tim Ross He brings the third and final element to The Foundation. An amazing producer, who has traveled the world and is most famously known for his skill in using a variety of instruments.