Hey guys, welcome back!
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At this stage of the design process, my website concept has stayed the same as I believe it is pretty strong and has the potential to be an amazing site for Cronulla. I have started prototyping the visuals and interactivity of my website as I continue to develop and refine my concept and ideas.
Prototype
I have started working on XD to choose a home page. This home page will open only at the start to act as a sort of cover page. This will consist of a large photo background, the logo, and the menu bar, allowing users access to various avenues on the site.
I have also tested using multiple logos for different purposes. A large surfboard logo for the opening page, a smaller circular version for the top of the pages and then the separated wordmarks for the bottom left in the footer.
I have also collected several photos to use from sites including, Unsplashed, Pinterest, Google, Instagram and company websites. All of these photos demonstrate a similar aesthetic and look of professionalism, which contributes to the brand identity, along with the logos, typography, and graphics. I have tried to gather photos actually from Cronulla and the locations referred to on my site. For example, for Blackwood’s Pantry (Café) I have sourced photos from their Instagram. This adds to the authenticity of the site and conveys the actual aesthetic and vibe of the Cronulla I know. I feel to fulfil my website’s aim of promoting Cronulla, images are a must and will most effectively portray what Cronulla is and has to offer.
For typefaces, I have prototyped several different types and found that for large sums of text and paragraphs, Helvetica was most appealing, easy to read and reflective of my site’s brand and tone. For consistency, the menu and headings will use ‘Alpha’ and ‘Collection Free’; the fonts used in my logos.
Implement
After presenting some mock-up opening pages to my tutor and friends, I finalised the image and menu composition to the image below.
They also felt the choice of logos and placement was well suited to its purpose, allowing easy navigation and an anchor point for the homepage. I also started creating the home page and tested different photos and layouts. I knew I wanted the three main sections to be presented clearly at the top, with additional information about Cronulla below, such as reviews, a map, and its story. I did two designs as featured below.
I have chosen to keep the second design as I found the three squares a little boring. I also liked the idea of trying to animate the circles upon clicking to add a cool transitional feature and feel of importance as the main pages of the site. This will contribute to user experience and navigation also. I have also designed the second level layout under each of the sections ‘to do’, ‘go & see’ and ‘eat & drink’. They will all be the same layout/design but feature different headings and images.
These pages will carry its circular design in the following page’s heading, allowing for a small yet effective smooth transition.
Stay tuned for the next update!
By Kayla Mathew
Blackwood Pantry (@blackwoodpantry) • Instagram photos and videos [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.instagram.com/blackwoodpantry/ (accessed 16.10.19).
Capture By Kayla 