[Project Complete]Due Dec 30th - Simple Web Design for startup - $450

[scottdyess]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 3NH50382UX899325C)

Company Details

1a) Name of Company
Bold Leads
1b)Company Tag Line or slogan:
Boldly Simple
1c) Do you have a company logo?
Yes
1d) Do you have a corporate visual identity (a customized (non stock) logo and color scheme carried out throughout your office, stationery, business cards, etc.)?
Yes, I will post it below.
1e) What is the nature of your business?: Briefly describe your products or services:
We are a sales lead generation company for the mortgage industry.
1f) Who is your target market? Who are you hoping to reach with your site?
Mortgage brokers and mortgage lenders who work alone or within a small office. The client we work with would ideally run an office of 5-25 mortgage brokers.



Website Details

1b) Do you have an existing website? If so, what is the URL?
Yes, but nothing is running on it yet. There is only a shot of the B&W version of our logo. (www.boldleads.com)
2b) IMPORTANT: Please list at least 3 URLs (web addresses) of high quality sites that you like the look of (these do not have to be sites who’s business is similar to yours. It aids us in determining what your design style is.) Please consider layout, colors, navigation, graphics, and typography.
(www.hansens.com)
(www.daltonagancy.com)


3b) What colors or color schemes would you like?
I will attach a file to the next thread I post. It will be the exact colors and theme you'll need.
4b) List the Navigation links for your Site:
Prices - Products - Clients - Contact

Buy Now (Top Right Corner)




5b) What type of look are you trying to achieve? (e.g. clean, high-tech, conservative, warm, flashy, etc.)
Ultra-Clean, Warm, Simple user interface, Soft (no sharp edges or corners), maybe some reflective aspects, but nothing over the top, subtle only
6b) Please provide the addresses of competitors' sites, if possible:
(www.leadbull.com)
(www.juicyleads.com)
(www.nrleads.com)

7b) Do you have any images for use in the design of your site? If not, do you have images, can you offer suggestions of what you type of imagery you feel would be most suitable for your website:
Only image is a logo right now, but for photography, look at the photography used on the hansens.com front page.



Deadlines and Deliverables

1c) What is the deadline for the design of your project?
December 30
2c) What is required breakdown of the files you require our designers to supply you with on finalization of your project?
PSD

Are there any other comments/specific ideas we should keep in mind while designing your project?
Stick to the two main colors you see below. (and variants thereof) Other colors/shades should be stark, clean white and crisp black.

The Big Idea? Clean and simple

Please feel free to ask questions throughout the process. I check the forum several times a day.

Also, do your best to keep the design centralized. I don't want my visitors to scroll through text or graphics to find what they are looking for.

[scottdyess]

here is my logo with the colors as they should be on the website...

[Elena]

Hello Scott,

Here's my idea. Waiting for your feedback...

Thanks,
Elena.

[scottdyess]

Welcome to the project. Obviously :eek: , you are the first to produce anything. So, here come my thoughts on the template you designed. I hope this all makes sense.

1) It's all a bit too much. Although my competitors have all the glitz with RSS news and ten different types of leads, Bold Leads is aiming for simplicity. So, here is what I don't need on the site: RSS mortgage news space, browse by category space (will be detailed within the products section), client login space (no membership), sample lead button (will be detailed within the products section), media kit download button, package deal space (more on this below), a list of different types of leads (will be detailed within the products section).

2) The orange color is great. When I first glanced at it scrolling down the page, I was impressed. It's the first thing I noticed. Could you change the fade in the back to a solid black...really black? Also, could you centralize the entire template so that there is a border of black on all four sides? I want the site to be completely on the center of the screen when you view it on the web. Oh yeah, I like the orange border.

3) Welcome to Bold Leads! should be the same shade of red (or as close as possible) as the logo. The fill information (i.e. Lorem Ipsum...) probably needs to be a little larger since the stuff below won't be there.

4) The graphic at the top: the guy is kinda freaky looking. He looks a little sadistic :yes: . Also, I'm not sure if it's a marijuana leaf faded into the background, but it looks like one...not good for an image of dependability. :weep: I like the house with the red bow...how perfectly red! Keep it. Plus, with the phone number, larger with the line "Call (number bigger than the text) For Answers to Your Questions."

5) Logo should be larger and overlapping the top left corner. If you'd like, you can adjust the hieght of the logo...more like a rectangle the shape of the logo on my page (www.boldleads.com).

6) Move navigation (except for "buy now") to the left side as a column. Remove the top row navigation.

7) Instead of client login, a button for "buy now" about half that size.

8) Keep the bottom of the page navigation as it is.

9) Finally, try to incorporate the red from the logo in more places. You can use some variations on the shade of red, but the logo should be the boldest and brightest of all the reds you use.

Picture of the girl is good...she's pretty, but not intimidating and fake. Good choice.

Thanks a bunch. I hope this helps.

[Elena]

Thank you for such a detailed feedback. I will work on changes tomorrow.

And... sorry about the leave. I'm not a big specialist in this area and I have no idea how does marijuana leave look like :P I just found the picture of a nice leave and decided it would look good there because this part was empty...

Anyway, it's kinda funny then... If it's a marijuana leave, I know why this guy in the header looks freaky :cooldude: :confused: :lol:

Thanks,
Elena.

[Aliska]

I'm also working on my design idea, will upload a little later today.

[scottdyess]

elena, that's hilarious! thanks for the good laugh!

aliska, i'm looking forward to seeing your stuff.

[Aliska]

Hello
Idea from me.

[heathersmith]

I'm working on an entry :)

[Elena]

You're welcome, Scott :)

Well, here's my revised version...

[Elena]

Surprise... :)

As you have lack of interest here and pretty tight on deadline, I decided to create few simple concepts for you. This way you have variety of designs to choose from... I think you don't really care about having vatiety from different designers or from the same designer ;)

So, attached are 3 very simple concepts... If you like one of them, I'm always ready to continue to work on it...

Please let me know...
Elena.

[scottdyess]

I'm really digging the entries so far. But, I want to break it down, so this is going to be a long thread. I hope this all makes sense.

Elena, the design you attached to the forum page isn't working for me. However, concept 1 you just posted is awesome. Could you maybe give it some more depth? Try some shadowing around the "Welcome to Bold Leads" part. Plus, add a period to the end of it. Also, could you offer a little reflective character to the "Buy Now" button. Hopefully that will draw the eye, but I do like the size of the button. Overall size and layout are crazy perfect for what I had in mind. The phone number is perfect. The keys are a little distracting. Could you offer a couple different options for photos there? Oh yeah, could you add something around the the entire box edge that gives it more depth or dimension? Thanks.

Aliska, the second design fits a little better for me. It's beautiful. The first is not simple enough for what I'm looking for. For the second design, here are some things I don't need which will help simplify the design. I don't need the news section or the form section. So, if you can picture the design without those two sections, you'll be much closer to what I need. I know that sounds boring, but the aim is ultra-simplicity. Could you make the logo bigger, but shaped more like the logo on my page now? (www.boldleads.com) It's supposed to be more horizontally (sp?) rectangular. Take out the word "us" next to the phone number and capitalize the word "call". Take out the words "Bold Leads" next to the "Buy Now!" button (which is perfect, by-the-way). Let the button hover alone with no distractions. Also, you can use a larger size point on the literature area. That way the whole window can stretch a little taller. I think? Thanks for your patience.

Heather, I'm looking forward to seeing your work! Can't wait!

Scottdyess

[Elena]

Thanks for your feedback :)

One question. What do you mean by saying "the design you attached to the forum page isn't working for me". Do you mean you can't open it? Or do you mean you don't like it? :)

Elena.

[clink]

Here is my design. Regards. :)

[scottdyess]

I mean I don't really like it. Now that I see the other designs you came up with, I like the direction they are going in. I will have some more revisions for you for concept 3 this evening. Your work is top notch. Keep it up.

[Elena]

Thank you :D

Ok, here you have 1st concept modified. 3 versions with different pics.

And... Buy Now button. I'm not sure if it works, but now it really attracts an attention and "draws the eye" :rolleyes: Don't say anything about marijuana again :confused: :lol:

Elena. :rolleyes:

[clink]

Variation:

[clink]

One more :)

[scottdyess]

Thanks for all your hard work so far everyone. The designs are great looking. However, I realized that what I was asking for was pretty much what most other sites look like. (i.e. logo in the corner, navigation on the left or on top in a bar, some stock photos here and there, red and orange...you get the picture)

So, this afternoon I did some brainstorming with my design team (me, myself and I) and we came up with a new idea. Hang on, it's a little unique.

Below is a sketch I pulled together with a ruler, a pencil, and a sharpie. Can you tell? Ok, here's the breakdown. The whole thing is going to be black & white. Really sharp black and stark white.

The attachment is pretty self-explanatory, but I will clarify some ambiguous markings.

1) Use the logo from www.boldleads.com as the center. Keep the logo in the same position on the template as you see it on the site. It should look as if you built the rest of the site around its current position.

2) All boxes should have the same rounded corners as the logo you see on the site.

3) All boxes should be styled the same way as the logo; solid black with white lettering. For the three boxes next to each other, use the font that is used for the slogan in the logo: "boldly simple". I will try to find out exactly what it is, but until then, do your best. The top box that says "Buy Now" should have the same font that was used for the "Bold Leads" part of the logo. Again, I will try to find out exactly what it is, but until then, do your best.

4) The three boxes next to each other should be equal size but about half the size of the logo, rectangular (like the logo) and have the proper word for each box centered toward the bottom. In the first box, the symbol is a simple box. In the second, it's a simple dollar sign. In the third, it's three dots side by side.

5) The background of the entire centralized box should be white. In the top left there should be this email address: info@boldleads.com. In the top right there should be this phone number: 1.888.841.3385. Remember to use the periods for separation. (I just like the way it looks.) The font for those two sections should the same font used in the "Coming February 2007" part of my current site as well as the same size.

6) The space under the logo should have "Welcome." centered beneath exactly where "Coming February 2007" currently sits, also with the same font and size. The lines of text should be the same font as well, but only slightly smaller. Also, the lines on text should be justified so both sides are even, but set about a half inch outside the edge of the logo.

7) In the bottom left should be the copyright information in the same font as the slogan. In the bottom right should be my address in the same font as the slogan: "400 East Bay Street #101 Jacksonville, FL 32202".

8) The outside should be black with some sort of fade. Maybe fade to center or from center. Maybe top to bottom. Not left to right or vice versa. Also, it should be subtle. The point of it is to add a little dimension to the entire page. If there is no fade into the black, then I will definitely need a shadow around the large box.

9) All boxes should have either a reflection or a shadow. Email address and phone number should have a shadow. Text at the bottom can have a shadow, but I'm not sure if that much text should be shadowed. It may be difficult to read. Can I see a version with one shadowed and one not? Maybe?

If you have any questions, please ask. I might extend the deadline to Tuesday, January 2 if everyone needs more time.

Thanks, Scottdyess.

[Fabian]

Hey there

Did you mean something along these lines :)

[pod]

Hi Scottdyess ;
I get your concept and try to improve with design elements.. hope you like it..

Thanks

[scottdyess]

Yes, that is along the lines of what I was wanting. I am a symmetry freak, so I love these designs. But I have some little changes to the look.

Fabian, I'm not sure you hit the right font on the "welcome", the lines of text and the two things in the top corners. I figured it out. It's Century Gothic Bold. I hope that helps.
Also, with the lines of text, I want them almost identical to the "welcome", but only slightly smaller. The text you have there is too small. But that's no big deal.
Remember to shadow the text in the top corners as well as the bottom corners. Also, move the text in the bottom corners closer to the bottom and also keep all the letters lower case.
With the "buy now" button, lose the shading that's on it now and trade it for a reflection like the one on the logo. I do like the shadow behind all the buttons, though. Can you give me a reflection on all the buttons like the one under the logo?
Also, on the buttons that are three across, can you change them to all lower case and bold the font?
Plus, the little graphic in each button (the square, the dollar sign and the three dots), could they be a little thicker or cartoonish looking? Also, take off the gray upper part of the three side by side buttons. Other than that, it looks great. Thanks.

Clip, I like your design. I am really wanting to go with the black and white theme, although I know color is more traditional. However, it looks really, really good and clean and crisp. The logo is in a rough spot. It's really visible, but it sort of looks like an afterthought. Anyway, can you give me something very similar to what you have there, but in a B&W color scheme? I really don't want any color at all. The whole page should look deliberately colorless. I want design layout, shadowing, and reflection characteristics to take the eye to specific places. I really do want to see what you can offer in the B&W realm. Thanks.

Scottdyess.

[Fabian]

Hey Scottdyess,

Thanks for the great feedback.I'll get right onto those changes
and should be able to show you tomorrow :)

[pod]

Clip, I like your design. I am really wanting to go with the black and white theme, although I know color is more traditional. However, it looks really, really good and clean and crisp. The logo is in a rough spot. It's really visible, but it sort of looks like an afterthought. Anyway, can you give me something very similar to what you have there, but in a B&W color scheme? I really don't want any color at all. The whole page should look deliberately colorless. I want design layout, shadowing, and reflection characteristics to take the eye to specific places. I really do want to see what you can offer in the B&W realm. Thanks.

Scottdyess.

Hi Scottdyess
is this feedback for me or clink ?
:)

[clink]

How is this?

[Fabian]

Ok,there was no way I could sleep on this.So I burnt some
midnight oil.

I think of covered all my bases,but If i've missed anything
just give me a holler :)

[pod]

2 color and black & white version of my design

[clink]

Do you have any feedback for my original coloured design by the way, or is it not at all what you are looking for? Thanks. :)

[scottdyess]

Clink!!! Oh so close to perfect. Only a couple little changes. The logo is off center. It should be perfectly centered. Sorry for the perfectionism.

1) Can you give me a reflection under the "buy now" button?
2) The dollar sign: can you give me an option with slightly thicker, more cartoonish graphic? But don't throw away the one that's already there. I just want to see what it would look like with a different one. The one now may look a little too slick. If that makes sense.
3) Take out the word "Phone:" beside the phone number. I like the graphic and I think that the graphic will be enough for people to know what that is.
4) Could you lower case the "price", "product", and "process" buttons? Also, change the font of the "buy now" button to look exactly like the other three buttons below. Oh yeah, put bold styling on the words in those four buttons.
5) The lines of text are a little too small, but I think that's something that can be changed after I get the design.
6) Make the email address and the phone number look exactly like the word "welcome".
7) Can you give me some effect around the big white box that gives the whole page a little more dimension?

What software are you designing this template on? I need either a PSD file or an Illustrator file.

Thanks, Scottdyess.

[scottdyess]

Great looking design.

Here are some mods:

1) The whole thing is a little too spacious. Can you make it smaller, but keep the buttons and everything else inside the same size?
2) Can you un-italicize the dollar size so that it is vertical?
3) The "buy now" text has lines or shading of some sort. It's not really my taste. Can you make it just plain white?
4) Lose the words "Phone No:" The number alone is pretty self explanatory.
5) Maybe a more dramatic fade in the background to emphasize the shadow of the whole window? Is that possible?
6) email and phone number should be same size as the word "welcome"

That's it. Great work. Thanks.

Scottdyess.

[scottdyess]

Yeah, your first design is not what I was looking for. The latest, however, is much, much closer to my heart. :D

Scottdyess

[scottdyess]

Sorry, you're kinda going in a different direction. Than what I'm looking for.

Scottdyess.

[Elena]

Now everyone will have the same design... :D

How about adding even more simplicity?

Elena.

[clink]

Here you go :) And it is completely designed using Photoshop, so I can provide you with an easy to edit .psd file.

[scottdyess]

Clink, I have two more mods for you.

1) Could you tone down the reflection just a little on the buttons? I want them to be eye catching, but not overwhelming.

2) Could you offer some kind of fade in the background?

Thanks.

Scottdyess.

[scottdyess]

Elena, do I detect a hint of sarcasm? The image I have in my head is pretty specific. I'm sorry if that infringes upon your creativity. ;) It's just that the website is the entire face of my company and I need it to fit exactly with what direction we're heading in.

Scottdyess.

PS. I do like the latest design though.

[clink]

Is this more to your liking?

[pod]

Here is another from me

[Elena]

Elena, do I detect a hint of sarcasm? The image I have in my head is pretty specific. I'm sorry if that infringes upon your creativity. ;) It's just that the website is the entire face of my company and I need it to fit exactly with what direction we're heading in.

Scottdyess.

PS. I do like the latest design though.

No sarcasm at all... Sorry if it sounds like that. English is not my native language so probably I just can't say correctly what I mean :rolleyes:

I do respect your vision and you expained it so great, that I assumed everybody here would create very similar designs. It could cause a problem... like it now happens with Pod's and Clink's versions. That what I had in mind... No sarcasm at all :)

P.S. If you want me to make any changes in my latest design, please let me know.

Elena.

[scottdyess]

I like it. It's close to perfect. A couple modifications though.

1) Keep the graphics in the buttons white. I'm goign for a specific look.
2) The font for the "buy now" button is too big. Can you make it the same as the other three buttons?
3) The shadowing and refection is perfect. Everywhere! It's exactly what I was looking for.

Scottdyess.

PS. Writen words never really convey what you need to say.

[clink]

Hi, any changes you would like to see in my design? Thanks :)

[scottdyess]

I like it. Its close to perfect! Two modifications:
1. Keep the graphics in the buttons white. I'm going for a specific look.
2. The font for the buy now button is too big. Can you make it the same as the other three buttons?
3. The shadowing and reflection is perfect! Everywhere!!!

Scottdyess.

Ps. Writing never really conveys what you need to say.

[Elena]

Thank you very much for understanding. I'm glad you not feel angry with me :)

I'm working on changes...

Elena.

[Fabian]

Goodmorning,

Here are those requested changes. What I have tried to do with mine is create a real world environment of a shiny white table were your buttons sit, with all reflections you will get a mirror image of a surface including any text that a appears on the parent surface this adds to the realism.

I’ve left the welcome text floating in space, that way you can change it without
disturbing the pseudo 3D world.

Hope you like it :)

[scottdyess]

Awesome, also thanks for the explanation. A couple things:

1) Can you italicize "product" "price" "process" so that it looks more like the slogan in the logo? also, keep the words lower case.

2) can you make the "buy now" font the same as those also?

Other than that, It's really great. Just these changes and I think that will be all for your design. I will wait for the deadline to come and give everyone equal time, then I will make my choice once all final products are entered.

Thanks, Scottdyess.

[Fabian]

Fantatic, here are those changes :)

[will]

:)

[Palmer]

Elena and Clink. The client is asking the designers involved to follow some very specific guidelines (http://www.designoutpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=72144). Any similarities between the designs submitted are a result of the instructions given by the client. Please refrain from accusations of copying. I have removed those messages from this project.

Thank you.

[crimsondesigner]

Here is my design based on the sketch you posted. I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

Thank you
Erika

[Elena]

Thanks Palmer. I respect your opinion... Probably I'm too emotional ;)

Maybe it would be best for me just to follow client's directions and don't look at others' works. I will continue working on this project and proceed with changes and different versions.

Elena.

[Elena]

Here's mine with changes as per your request :)

Elena.

[clink]

Revision:

[clink]

And another:

[crimsondesigner]

Here is a variation on my concept. Simple yet stylish.

Erika

[scottdyess]

Sorry about that last message...I'm pretty new here.

I like the design in message #52. I have one final change, though. The reflection in the upper buttons ("buy now," "price," "product," and "process") is under each word. Can you make those buttons reflect exactly like the logo? I want the word and graphic in the button to be reflected below the entire button. Does that make sense?

Also, I like how the graphics in the buttons are shining a little. Can you make the buttons all black without the fade? I want the same sharp black that is in the logo.

Let me know. Thanks. Scottdyess.

[crimsondesigner]

Here is another variation.

Erika

[scottdyess]

Thanks for your entries, but you are going in a direction I'm not heading. It's too edgy for me. My company is bold, but not really edgy. It's good work, but just not for this company.

Scottdyess.

[clink]

Hi Scottdyess, no worries about the message, you've been really clear with all your feedback. :) Is this design more what you were thinking of?

[Elena]

Hold on... 3 more ideas from me :D

[scottdyess]

Message #58 is the winner. I will need the PSD file. Thanks.

[clink]

File sent. :)

[scottdyess]

Clink...I got it. Sorry for the delay. Scottdyess.

PS. I screwed up and am going to have to put some color in it afterall. My business plan changed a little in the past couple of days. The B&W doesn't fit anymore. I was thinking about a Mac iDisk blue and a AIM available green. What do you think?

[clink]

Hmm, I'm fine making any changes you might need, but could you be a little more specific in the exact colours you might need? Sorry but I'm not familiar with what you mentioned. Regards.

[clink]

How's this?

[clink]

Hi Scottdyes, is there any news on this project please? I did send you all files that you requested after all. Let me know. Thanks :)

[BlueCherryGraphics]

PROJECT UPDATE: This thread has been moved to Template Archives. (See moderator's note)