www.ReWriteRecords.com
A functioning website for a independent music label base out of Dallas, Texas. The client wants an edgy, artsy feel to the interface while still containing a strong usabilty and orginization. The color pallet, which is still being developed will consist of contrasting colors, the likes of black and red, with other shades of marroon.
The client has strong ideas about the design process, which might cause some tension with the design, but the designer has reminded he client that he is getting this site for free via class project and he should be happy with whatever he gets. HAHA.
Embedded audio and video is a must with this project, even some simple flash might be used as branding and a host for audio playback. More to come on this project, meeting with client over thumbnails have been scheduled.
April Gann said,
July 21, 2007 at 9:19 am
I think this is a great idea for a project. This allows a little of the real world into the classroom, and you gain great experience. I am not a webdesigner, so this sounds like a pretty involved process to me, so, I will be anxious to see how it turns out. I love music, and designing for the entertainment industry gives designers the ablility to streach their creative wings. I think you are going to have a good time with this project.
Wayne said,
July 21, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Mike, I know this is your love and focus, but a note of concern for you to be aware of. Your portfolio could have all music industry sites and projects – if they have a great deal of variety and conceptual distinctions! Also, I am always concerned when a “real site with a real client” is used for a class project. The concern is that clients don’t necessarily concern themselves with classroom schedule and timing, and the instructor has to! So, go this way only if you feel that you can take the concept and do what you wish to do for the client, and that you will not be dependent on their decisions and content delivery. It can be a great process to be doing this, but it is so dependent on the client that I don’t want to see you caught in the middle! Go for it only if you are comfortable that you can control the situation and do what you need to do.
Mike Townson said,
July 22, 2007 at 9:15 am
Wayne, what if I took advantage of external style sheets and made 2 or even 3 different page designs with the same content? Then I could show the possibilities of making a corporate, edgy, or modern (simplistic) design scheme, all while using the same content. Would this be a good solution to the problem?
cenote23 said,
July 23, 2007 at 9:57 am
Well I think this is a great idea. A little different working with a real client in the fact you wont have all the freedom to design for your personal portfolio. You will use their colors, their stuff, etc. I hope it works out with the schedule and stuff.
sb1online said,
July 23, 2007 at 12:23 pm
This sounds like an awesome project, and a chance for some of that “real life” experience we’re always hearing about. I think you and Colin can work together on these, and use each others’ projects for inspiration.
frostbyte1985 said,
July 23, 2007 at 5:45 pm
having a real client like Wayne said would be a little ruff to deal with but im getting a sense that the client is probably a friend so it wouldn’t be to hard to work with.
and did you know there is a little happy face at the bottom of this layout
mstrader said,
July 23, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Sounds like you will have your work cut out for you…but what a GREAT experience and portfolio piece it could be…great thing to mention in an interview at some point or another…maybe an answer to a question on multi-tasking
Hopefully your client will love your thumbnails, and then turn over entirely the creative reigns to you. Best of luck and I’m looking forward to your final site.
Wayne said,
July 23, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Mike, your idea for 2 or 3 different style sheets is fine, but realize if you really create original graphics for three sites you have a lot of time into what will become 1/3 of your usable code! If you create Photoshop mockups (comps) and maybe layouts in CSS, you could accomplish a similar goal perhaps. But I wouldn’t try to stop anyone from trying a new approach. You also have around 7 weeks to accomplish this so time is valuable here.