We take everything gathered in Stage 1, grab a pencil, a cup of coffee, and crack open the sketchbook.
The sketch phase is vital. We try to hammer out the layout as much as possible, while making notes on mood and the vibe we're looking to convey, thoughts on how to incorporate modern design elements, determining the color palette, etc.
Once we've got the general idea sketched out, we head back to the computer and open up Photoshop, and get to work turning the sketches into a tangible, memorable, striking design that begins the process of realizing your web-related goals.
Design with Crucial is not an all-or-nothing proposition. When you work with us, there's no “this is the design, and you get 3 rounds of revisions, and that's it.” We work at it until it's right, until the design does what it needs to do, achieves the goals it needs to, and you're happy - imagine that!
Once the design is completed, it's sent off to you for review and feedback.
We're not one of those stodgy old design studios, where everyone is walking around in black mock turtlenecks, presenting 3 different design concepts and limiting the amount of revisions. That dated mentality inspires a buffet-style approach to design (we'll take this from design 1, and this from design 2, etc.), and it's just not something that works and puts your best foot forward. So, we don't do it.
Instead, we'll present you with one home page design concept, that is based 100% on everything we've discussed, identified, and gathered (with you) up until this point. Then it's up to you to provide feedback on said design. Let us know what you like, what you hate, what's right on, what needs to be tweaked, etc.
Once we get formal approval from you on a home page design, we'll proceed to the inside pages of the web site.
A few notable goals need to be achieved for the interior page design:
- Interior pages need to be a logical visual extension of the home page design, but subconsciously say to the visitor, "Ok, I'm still on the same web site, but I'm no longer on the home page. Now I'm on ____ page."
- Start to introduce section identification. Visitors to your web site should never feel disoriented or confused. They should know at all times where they are on your web site, and how to get back to where they were. This is accomplished with intuitive design and architecture.
- Make way for content. Content is king.
