Responsive Web Design / www.vdesignspace.com

I helped design and develop a responsive website for V-Design Space, to help them target new clients by creating a visually modern website that resonates their brand and displays the quality of their work.

V-Design Space has been successful at designing and building home interiors for plenty of homes in the bay area, but their website did not reflect their brand well or their quality of work. That primarily curtailed their social marketing efforts.

THE CHALLENGE

Build a modern, responsive website that reflects the brand and the quality of work of the designers at V-Design Space. Cater the information on the website to the exact needs of the customers so that it is easy to attract new customers to V-Design Space. Also, leverage branding to drive marketing using social media.

THE RESULT

Successfully re-designed and built a responsive, modern website for V-Design Space. Launched the new website on October 2014. The makeover and fresh branding helped them run successful social marketing efforts where they have now over 350 facebook likes.

TOOLS / METHODOLOGIES

HTML5, CSS3, Javascript, jQuery, Bootstrap framework, Illustrator, Photoshop, Balsamiq, Wireframing, Prototyping, Interviews, Storyboarding, User-testing.

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THE DESIGN PROCESS

1. INTERVIEW TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND V-DESIGN SPACE

I identified five potential customers who were in the market to re-design their home and interviewed them. Over this process, I learnt about what is it that they are looking for when they search for design firms. I then asked each of the five potential customers separately to vote for top three of their requirements. Also worked closely with V-Design Space designers to learn about the most important things that they want to see in their website. Here are the results from this exercise.

It was interesting to see that not everyone wanted to learn the cost estimates of the services from the website as a top priority. Upon asking about why it was not voted up, I learnt that people wanting to re-model their home were mentally prepared for the costs as they seek out professional help. Also, given the competitive landscape, costs are pretty competitive as well.

Sketched a story to reflect learning's from the interviews conducted.

2. DECIDING ON THE WEBSITE INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

I took all the requirements from the interviews and I started grouping/clustering them into buckets. The requirements naturally started falling under four buckets which helped me design the overall website navigation.

3. INITIAL PROTOTYPING AND USER TESTING

I used bootstrap framework to quickly build out a prototype. I then performed user testing with the help of about 15 of my designer friends in a group setting where they played around with my prototype on their computers. Simultaneously, I summarized feedback on the whiteboard for each of the pages.

4. MORE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT ITERATIONS

Continued to iteratively improve design by further user testing over multiple weeks. It then helped me finalize the layout and content on the homepage and the projects page. Throughout this process, I interacted very closely with V-Design Space to help them understand the design process and explain the outcomes of user testing. Here are the final wireframes and visuals for homepage and projects page.

5. SOME OF THE FEATURES IMPLEMENTED

6. BRANDING WITH A NEW LOGO

I re-designed the logo to complete the makeover for V-Design Space website. The new logo further helps reflect the brand and quality of their work.

V-DESIGN SPACE LAUNCHED THE NEW WEBSITE ON OCTOBER 2014. SOCIAL MARKETING EFFORTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, WHERE THEY HAVE QUICKLY GROWN THEIR FACEBOOK LIKES TO OVER 350.

Celebrating the launch with the awesome designers of V-Design Space.