Graphic Design, UI/UX, Wedsite, Print
THE EMOTIO BRAND
One of my final challenges for Emotio was to work on the restyling of their existing brand and use this to develop a new website. Our aim was to create a strong agency presence which focused around the use of animal imagery that was close to the founders heart since the companies conception. Along with this the team collaborated to produce a layout that would enhance the viewer journey through to contact while at the same time displaying our previous projects on pages that were styled to each company.
THE CLIENT
Emotio design group specialise in expert digital solutions with integrated marketing strategies. For nearly 4 years I have worked within a senior role at Emotio expanding my knowledge of digital design processes. Working alongside both B2B & B2C clients developing design solutions that engage with their audiences and enable them to achieve their business goals.
THE CHALLENGE
Over recent years Emotio's client base had been steadily growing and it was time for an image overhaul. The challenge was to portray the company as a serious design & marketing agency while at the same time making them approachable and inviting to new clients. Along with this we needed to display the recent works and services available in an accessible manner.
OUT WITH THE OLD
We looked at the old Emotio site and it was easy to see several key areas in which we could make improvements. Firstly we identified that the existing platform was constraining the layout, Namely the content area. The banner and footer were the only page elements that could be full width. This meant that the content area was forced to follow a very narrow structure. Also throughout the portfolio pages the projects all followed the same layout and styling meaning that visually there weren't defining aspects.
BACK TO NATURE
Another area that we felt needed some defining was the banner and site imagery. Other than the turquoise elements the existing banners seemed to lack a connection in theme. After discussions with the companies founder we decided to focus on the "Owl element" that had been a factor in the company since day one. A visual representation of wisdom we felt that there were other valuable characteristics that could be represented by other animals. These would also help to define a strong theme throughout the site.
SITE STRUCTURE
Initial sketches for the site were produced to determine the flow of the pages and structure the functionality throughout. Elements gradually grew to form the basis of the site allowing us to evolve the site with the help of the development team. Once the user flow had been set the sketches were rendered in photoshop giving further understanding of the sites intended structure, styling and presence.
As we developed the website further we expanded to a full width structure which allowed the site information to be displayed in a clearer more succinct manner. In terms of colour choice for the website we wanted to be true to the existing branding while creating areas that clearly displayed the work created by Emotio. To achieve this we allocated areas of the websites that would carry the core site information. These were defined in monochrome tones with the addition of turquoise. This meant that all project work could then be displayed in full colour within clearly designated areas of the site.
Throughout the whole design process we revolved around the need for a mobile solution for the site. This was achieved with all of the same aesthetic of the main site giving an optimised version for people on the move. In its initial stages we tested a number of layout variations to identify the one that was the most instinctive for Emotio's key users. We also looked to provide easy communication links on every page to capitalise on every potential project enquiry.
Obviously the new brand imagery couldn't just stop at the website. We created a range of items that help increase the brands following. From business cards to site guidelines the new style was implemented across all items some of which can be seen below.
One of the things that I enjoyed most about working for Emotio Design was the wide range of client sectors that I was fortunate enough to work with. Having direct access to clients and being able to develop the projects to meet their needs. Below are a selection of some of these clients.