Graphic Design Portfolio » small business

The Recession Project

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:05:59 +0000

Mock-ups depict how the site will look when it goes live
Design uses few images, and is almost entirely CSS-based

See how this site was created: Design Process

Design Process: Web Design

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:58:10 +0000

Building a website has multiple steps. The first step is information gathering, which will be discussed in another article. Here, I’m going to display the many revisions the design itself can go through.

The Recession Project is an internet start-up that will be based off a user community. They knew what they wanted to appear. They just weren’t sure how to display it.

I began by creating a mock-up, based on knowledge of the client’s preferences. The front page needed to immediately inform users what the site did. This lead to placing snippets of content on the front page.

On the left is a visual display, using clip-art, screenshots, and dummy text to simulate the look of a finished page. On the right is a “wireframe,” where the page is broken into defined areas and labeled.

After re-evaluating their timeline, the client asked to see a simpler layout that could be employed more quickly.This design was based on a paper mounted inside a black presentation folder. Again, the wireframe breaks down the elements shown in the mock-up.

Unsatisfied with this hastily put together design, I put some more thought into an idea that had been brewing in the back of my mind and produced this:

The client loved it, and this became the working model. The front page became a compilation of links designed to help users ‘dive in’ to the content, rather than trying to display all the content at once.

I then worked with the client to alter the color scheme. The grays and silvers above felt flat, so we tried adding color. Unfortunately, most colors clashed with the bright red of the new logo, or made it difficult to read. After much trial and error, we agreed that darker was better, and settled on a rich ink blue.

This final color scheme and layout was readable, pleasing to the eye, and unique. It requires few images to run, and is based almost solely on CSS coding, making it extremely flexible. The design is being adapted for the Drupal environment.

Linked Hands

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:40:13 +0000

Logo embodies elements of Linked Hands name and mission
Symbols are universal and easy to recognize
Bright colors attract attention, distinguish from other logos
Vector logo can be adapted to suit any size document

See how this logo was created: Design Process

Lotus Business Card

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:04:21 +0000

Simple, easy to read design
Uses same elements as the website Sreya’s Pocket

Food Calendar, 2009

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:16:29 +0000

Calendar featuring the artwork of Nan Melville
Images compiled, optimized, and arranged

Nan Melville Photography & Video

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:32:27 +0000

Vector design is re-sizable
Made of simple elements that can be reconfigured to suit project

Nan Melville Photography Card '09

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:22:43 +0000

New logo brands company, updates style
Art by Nan Melville

CPG: Brochure

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:17:06 +0000

Banking Software Client: Capital Partners Software, Capital Partners Group Standard brochure format, double-sided, 6 panels

Nan Melville Photography Card '07

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:22:55 +0000

Business Card Client: Nan Melville http://www.nanmelville.com