[Project Complete] Automotive Service Facility Website - $250 prize

[slh]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 8W6849503)

Prize: $250

Project: Template for a Christian-owned and operated automotive service facility website. Client wants a contemporary, fresh look. Current site is at www.arkautomotive.com. Once you view this site you will know why it needs an extreme makeover!!

Logos: Ark logo, ASE logo, ASA logo, NAPA Auto Care logo, AAA Approved Auto Repair logo, BBB Greater Kansas City logo


Links:

Home
Services
Company Info
Directions
Appointment
Fleet Services
Auto Tips
Customer Feedback


Center Focus Cells (similar to boxes in sample sites below):

Manager’s Special – “Check out this month’s Manager’s Specials”

ASE Certified Technicians – "We employ ASE Certified Technicians who are trained and certified to perform service on all systems of your automobile, light truck and SUV."

New Vehicle Warranty Maintenance - "We are authorized to perform all of your vehicle’s recommended preventive maintenance and repair needs to keep your warranty in effect."

Ark Automotive Warranty - "All repairs are covered by a 12 month/12,000 mile limited nationwide warranty."


Button: Sign up for Email Specials

Websites the client has looked at and like the looks of:

www.suddethautoservice.com (their first choice in looks)
www.jimmysbroadway.com
www.cccautorepair.com

I have attached a zip file that contains the artwork for their new business cards as well as original eps logo files.

Deadline: October 5th.

[martellostudio]

I'll have something for you shortly :)

[cosmic]

I'm in. This weekend I should have it up.

[martellostudio]

Here something to get things started.
Am I heading in the right direction with this?

Thanks.

[slh]

Victor- Thanks for your submission! Here are a few comments. I like the text placed over the picture. However, the picture of the car needs to be a more recent make/model. They are trying to impress on consumers that they can service today's cars both import and domestic. The address needs to be in only one place - and I don't think it is necessary to have the titles of "address", "phone" , "email", etc. The design has a lot of white space underneath the "Ark Automotive warranty" section. The black bar behind the Ark logo is somewhat distracting. Possibly change placement of the logo. It's a great start!

Designers: don't forget to look at the sites listed above that the client likes. Those sites should give you a good feel for what style they are looking for.

Thanks!!!

[cosmic]

Here is my entry:

http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/ark_1A.jpg

[V + E + R + T]

Hello,

Here's my entry, let me know what you/client thinks:

Click here to view the template. (http://mcdowgill.com/do/ark.html)

Thanks! :)

[Anne]

Hi.

Here's my entry.

I've used the logo as inspiration and at the same time tried to capture the look and feel that your client like. Hope I am on the right track :)

Looking forward to your feedback
Anne

[slh]

DEADLINE EXTENDED!!!

I apologize for not responding sooner. I am heading out of town unexpectedly and will respond with feedback as soon as I can. Great entries - I have some comments and suggestions that will be coming soon.

The contest will now end next Wednesday, October 13th.

[BrianDove]

Oh cool,
Ill send something by tonight :P
Brian

[martellostudio]

Made some changes to my design...

[slh]

V+E+R+T - The client says too much space taken up with borders and large car; also don't like all the black.

Anne - they would like it better if in the grey area at the top the headlight was something more related to mechanical repair rather than a picture of a vehicle. The "We Work Hard..." is difficult to read - can you try putting that into the header? They like the phone number at the top where it will be easy to find but not necessarily in the header. The affiliate logos at the bottom need to be smaller .

cosmic - Can we change the images to less expensive vehicles that the majority of people would drive although new vehicles, both domestic and foreign. They don't like the yellow color but do like the hands working on the engine (technical) - but can you take out the blur to the hands. This picture also gives an indication that we are a repair facility and not a dealer of new or used cars. Using the grey background makes the white text for the buttons at the top hard to read - try changing to a darker grey? Can you put the logos in better proportion - the company logo should be the largest with the affiliate logos at the bottom much smaller.

Martello - The picture is much better than the 1st proposal. The watermarked text gets a little difficultCan you try and do something more creative with the buttons at the top of the design? Can you put creative boxes around the three sections (Warranty/Technicians/Specials).

[V + E + R + T]

V+E+R+T - The client says too much space taken up with borders and large car; also don't like all the black.

I tried to initiate a similar design to http://www.suddethautoservice.com/... But it seems the client sending contradicting signals.

Does the client like the mainpage of Suddeth or the interior pages?

[cosmic]

Here are my revisions:

http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/ark_2B.jpg

[martellostudio]

here are some changes....

[Anne]

I'll post a revision later today

Anne

[Anne]

Here's the revision

[Anne]

#2

[Anne]

Do you have any feedback on the latest submissions?

Anne

[slh]

Designers - Thank you for your patience and we apologize for the delay in getting back with you on the contest. The owner has been in the hospital and away from work and unfortunately this project has been put on the back burner.

They have selected a winner. Congratulations to Cosmic! Please contact me for some minor changes to the design.

Again, thank you to all of the designers. I look forward to working with you again on future projects!!

[cosmic]

Thank you for selecting my design.
I'm ready for the revisions.

[cosmic]

Here are the requested revisions.

NOTES:

Removing the 'Welcome to ArK Automotive....' has left a big empty region so I moved the vehicles down in its spot. Please let me know what you think.

The back of the car is not cut off. I have attached the original image.



http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/ark_2C.jpg


http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/blackcar.jpg

[slh]

Sorry for the delay.

Here are their changes:

1) Go back to original smaller car pictures with text underneath. The client would like the cars separated a bit so that you can see the mirror on the side of the truck. The text underneath the pictures needs to remain editable - not as a graphic - so that it can be updated.

2) Change color of the text in the company information box. Tone-on-tone is too difficult to read. Please change to blue and make the phone number larger and bolder so that it stands out.

3) Change email address to service@arkautomotive.com

4) What do you recommend for subsequent pages. I will insert all of the text and program the links for them, but could use a quick recommendation for using this style design on subsequent pages.

That should be it. We'll take a look and then we should be ready to go.

THANKS!!!

[cosmic]

Here are the latest revisions:

http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/ark_2D.jpg


Suggestion for sub-pages:

http://www.cosmicwebdesigns.com/design_outpost_contests/ark_subpage.jpg

[slh]

Ken -- Great job! One minor change on both pages. Can you make the NAPA logo a little larger. With that we are done. Files can be sent to sheri (at) kc.rr.com

THANKS!

[cosmic]

How do you want this template delivered? HTML/CSS, PSD?

[slh]

both formats please!

thanks!!

[cosmic]

Files Sent.

A zipped file has been sent to the above email address. This file can also be downloaded here:

[EDIT: LInk Removed]