Template for a Family Chiropractic Care Center

[jdebler]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 817945N)

Okay, gang. This is my first posting here so fire up Photoshop, this is going to be a good one! :)

Company Name: Bittner Chiropractic Center

Company Profile: Bittner Chiropractic is a family center for all types of chiropractic care. Run by a husband and wife team who are licensed and accredited chiropractors. This is my personal chiropractor and I consider them friends of mine.

Domain Name: www.bittnerchiro.com (not quite set up yet)

Project Scope: New site to not only introduce new customers to the clinic, services and staff to entice them to be a patient, but to also inform WHAT chiropractic care is and WHY they need chropractic care.

Intended Audience: Mostly adults of all backgrounds and ages will be viewing the site, but services are provided to just about anyone. Children, Senior Citizens, Housewives, Factory Workers, Professionals, Athletes, Average people...bascially the thought is that everone can use chiropractic care.

Mood or Tone: Professional but not stuffy and stark. Serious but not cold. Informataive as well as promotional. Nothing too fancy and nothing too plain. Comfortable, warm, gentle colors with light gradients to invoke a calm feeling. See Color Psychology.

Color Psychology: Brown/tans/neutrals with a splash of medium or dark blue (see attached company logo for blue color) on a (suggested) white background, ironically similar to Designoutpost.com forum colors but does not have to be identical.

Common Design Elements:
Must use company logo (attached). An Illustrator file or flattened .PSD can be provided if necessary.
No cookie cutter stuff, no over usage of cliches (spines, people with hands on their back). Just very subtle version of those kind of elements.
Also the representation of happy, healthy people of all ages and even kids in an unobtrusove manner would be a big plus.
Would like gentle curves in navigation and related elements to simulate the curvature of the human spine, but not a direct representation, only an abstract one and not overdone.
Suggested left navigation.
Suggested 770 pixels wide, left justified with something to the right of the 770 pixel mark full and avoid whitespace in that area. Can do a 100% width if layout and content allows it without too much whitespace but still prefer a 770 width.
Must be expandable in navigation for future additions.
Must contain all elements of information required geared toward new patients as well as returning patients looking for chiropractic information, company information, phone number, hours, etc.

Front Page:
Basic introduction to the company.
A news area would be nice under that, but we are not sure how often it will be used at this point. Then again, we are not sure exactly what we would put in that place anyway.
A potential place for someone to sign up for an e-mail newsletter.
A prominent focal point next to or around the company introduction containing the following links to informational pages in the site:
- Headaches
- Accidents & Injuries
- Disc Problems & Back Surgery
- Arthritis & "Rheumatism
- Low Back Pain
- Whiplash & Neck Injuries
- Neck Problems
Also somewhere prominent I would like a "New Patients Click HERE" image or text link to entice potential new patients to click and get a page with summary of items in Navigation. Can be combined with "sidebar" mentioned above.

Sub Pages:
Common design, houses all content in navigation and sidebar.

Navigation to contain but not be limited to following:
- Home
- Why Chiropractic?
- Chiropractic FAQs
- Services
- About Bittner
- Meet the staff
- Directions
- plus more to be determined later, add suggestions if you come up with any.
Navigation can be text (preferred) or images.

Example Web Sites: There are MANY poorly done Chiropractic web sites out there. Here are some that I found that aren't TOO bad, but I still want my site to blow the following away:
http://www.kovacsfamilychiropractic.com/ <-- Not bad but too bland/monotone. There are several nearly identical to this one, though. The last thing I want is a cookie cutter site.
http://www.perfectsolutioninc.com/
http://www.gosschiro.com
http://drdeaninsana.com
Do a google search for "Family Chiropractic Care" for additional examples, but like I said, most of them are pretty bad. I want my to be one of the most well designed Chiropractic sites out there.

Deadline: Not in a super big hurry but I'd like to get something completed in one week but can extend to two if necessary.

Final notes: Feel free to ask any questions to help you get the feel of what I am looking for. I am a designer myself, but not to the high level that some of you folks here are. I can picture the design in my head, but if I tried to put it into Photoshop, it would not transfer properly. Crazy, isn't it? Of course, I will need all .PSDs, .CSSs, HTML files, etc.

Thanks! See if you can stun me! :)

- J

[Michael]

Hi is it possible to supply the Illustrator file of the logo?


Many thanks


Michael

[SideFX]

Hello,

Ok gonna try to get this off the ground.
My first try:
B)

[jdebler]

Not bad at all, but I am not quite feeling it yet.

I like the location of the company logo and phone number, etc. If we choose not to use a mailing list, we can always move the phone number/hours in that space. I like having a left hand nav as well.

I want someone to be able to go to the site and get the "feeling" that it is a chiropractic web site without having to read anything on it if possible. I am looking for more softer and gentle curves and less square edges or tight curves. More tan/brown/neutral colors and less blues and more gentle gradients (gradients somewhat similar to those on these forums and also what was used in the "Welcome" area). I suppose should have at least one graphic reference to someone's back being "worked" on, as well as subtle images of people smiling and happy and such. I am going to edit my post to reflect this.

The area that displays the links to "Headaches", "Accidents & Injuries", etc. (the "symptoms" area) needs to be a focal point on the site and not a "side links" type of element. I want people to zero in on that as much as anything else. The thought is that people will be visiting the site and they will skim the welcome message and then see the symptoms area and think "Hey...I have one of those symptoms, I should look into it..." and click a link to learn more and then hopefully call the clinic up to make an appointment. If not, they have the rest of the content to entice them. Keeping the symptoms area to the right of the Welcome message is good, but I want it to blend in more with the main content of the page and not be an extra on the side. I sure hope that all made sense.

See the attached image for an example. :sick:
Yes, probably not the best place to go for an example, but it will work for this. Something along the lines of the highlighted area (not location, but style). Rounded soft corners, decent gradient, attractive and eyecatching. This example is a little TOO obtrusive, but It looks as if it is part of the main page and not something on "the side".

The "Do I Need a Chiropractor?" element is nice and will work there on the side OR can be used in place of the "News" section if no news will be posted. I need to stay versatile in case my client does decides not to have a news section or a newsletter subscription box as a the site nears completion.

I would also like to see options on what to place to the right of the 770 pixel mark for those who view the site using greater than a 800*600 reolution. I would rather it was not just cut off after 770 with a bunch of whitespace. Again, I hope this makes sense.

I think we are starting on the right track. Like I said, I can picture it but I have a hard time transferring it exactly on to the screen. I think I have just as hard of a time explaning it. :lol: I have edited my original post slightly to reflect this post so no one gets confused.

Keep the great designs coming!

[elements]

Hi,
Here's a little something I put together.
I just skimmed through your last post after creating this, so I may be lacking a few things. Please let me know if the general layout appeals to you, and if so, what I can do to make it fit what you have in mind.

Thanks :)

<img src='http://www.dilicious.ca/outpost/bitt_layout_v1.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[marengo]

Interesting contest. Count me in too. I'll enter in 2 days. :)
Thanks,
Nat

[jdebler]

Elements:

Looks decent and all...I like the font used in the "welcome" message but otherwise, I think SideFX was a littler bit more on target for the first draft. Also, we can't use a resort massage image or people will be REALLY disappointed when they get to the office! ;);)

You might want to go over my first post as well as my second in this thread and you might get a better grasp of what I am looking for. :)

Thanks for whipping that one up, though!

[elements]

Thanks for the honest feedback,
I'll try and put something else together, later on :)

[SideFX]

Ok did more work on it let me know what you like or what you hate :tup:

Site NOT Actual size as it needed to fit here :)

[jdebler]

SideFX...I like it, it is on the right track, but I think it is TOO much. I am not sure how I would be able to make content sub-pages based on that second version. Again, it looks great (really!). I hate to say it, but I almost think I like your first one better. :ph34r: If you still want to give it a shot, maybe you could sort of "merge" the two together? I dunno.

I had no idea that I would wind up feeling like such a jerk when posting this project. I didn't know I'd feel too critical and like I was wasting people's time. Honest. :o

[SideFX]

Or the first one can be made to match the second( as the main Page) and use it as the subpages :)


NOTe: Just an idea hehehehe :tup:

I will see what I Can do to tone it downand make it "content freindly" for sub pages

[Palmer]

<!--QuoteBegin-jdebler+Oct 31 2003, 06:15 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (jdebler @ Oct 31 2003, 06:15 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I had no idea that I would wind up feeling like such a jerk when posting this project. I didn't know I'd feel too critical and like I was wasting people's time. Honest. :o [/b][/quote]
Don't feel bad... as long as you sprinkle in words of appreciation and praise for the parts you like, the designers will not be offended. Specific comments are also more appreciated than vague ones.

It kills them to work several hours on a design and then to have the contest holder say something like "I don't know, I'm just not feeling it" :blink:

Good luck :tup:

[elements]

Alright, well I felt like giving it one more shot...
I hope this one appeals to you more than the previous.
Let me know what you think :unsure:

<img src='http://www.dilicious.ca/outpost/bitt_layout_v2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[SideFX]

Great Job elements. :tup:

Ill have another entry by tuesday(Hopefully) :unsure:

[elements]

Thanks, SideFX :)

[Luc]

Here's mine. Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

[jdebler]

FideFX, Elements, Luc, etc...

All the deisgns are great and are heading right into what I was hoping for. You guys are great and have a level of telent I only wish I had. In all fairness, I will say that I think Luc has hit closest to the target so far.

However, since it is my client that has the final say, I am going to print out all the designs and them to my client and have them reviewed.

Expect to hear from me later today or tomorrow and we'll go from there!

Thanks to all for the incredible work so far!

-J

[Luc]

Thanks for the feedback :) Just let me know about the changes and I'm very willing to do so.

[jdebler]

Okay, I showed my client and he prefers Luc's design. He liked how it was a bit subtle and simple and loved the top half with the curves. He liked the others as well, but Luc's seemed to fit his style.

A few changes...
Narrow up the left nav as much as possible without looking crowded to too small so we can fit more content in the center content area.
Put a bit more emphasis on the left nav so it doesn't blend in so much with the background. Just a little bit would probably do.
Soften the "symptoms" area so it is not so "sharp" with the hard lines. Make it a bit gentler.
Add an attractive quick links and copyright at the bottom.

That is all for now. I am sure there will be more changes once those are done.

Also, what happens to the right of the image provided? In other words, can you show me what the design would look like on a 1024 x 768 screen?

Thanks!

-J

[Luc]

Hi! I'm going to make all the changes requests and post it tomorrow.

Thanks,
Luc

[Luc]

Revision

To be honest I'm having a hard time to make it expand in hihger resolutions because of the curves. Anyway here it is.

[jdebler]

Actually, that looks great centered instead of left justified. I like it for your design.

Can we get the left nav to 200 pixels wide? I'd like to see more content area.

Looking good!

Thanks!

-J

[Luc]

Oh sorry I forgot about that. I will post it a little later.

[Luc]

Here you go..

[jdebler]

<!--QuoteBegin-Luc+Nov 6 2003, 07:04 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Luc @ Nov 6 2003, 07:04 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Here you go.. [/b][/quote]
Luc,

Are you sure you uploaded the right one? The one you just uploaded is the same as the previous one.

:) B)

[Luc]

oops sorry. It's fixed now :)

[jdebler]

Okay, looking good.

Since there are no other new entries I am going to declare Luc the winner. :)

To all who have particiapted...

The designs where ALL great. My client liked them all, but as mentioned earlier, Luc's hit closest to the bullseye. It was a close competition and you all have skills I only wish I had.

Luc,
How do you prefer that I contact you? Let me know so we can work out the final details.

Thanks again to all!

-J

[Luc]

Thank you! You can contact me via PM :)