[Project Complete] Grange Primary School - $250

[grange]

(Admin code added by Palmer - 0E3620825, 29702013)

Name: Grange Primary School

Profile: Grange Primary School is a school based in Ealing, London for children between the ages of 4 and 11.

Domain name: www.grange.ealing.sch.uk

Scope: We wish to create a new website that will serve 2 purposes:
1) Act as a brochure for the school for prospective parents
2) Become the primary source of school information for existing parents and pupils

We have identified another school website which we believe contains all the elements that we are looking for: http://www.vineyard.richmond.sch.uk/default.htm

As all the content within the site will be content managed using our content management system, we are looking for a template which incorporates the key elements of the above site:
• A major navigation device that divides the site into 6 sections
a. Home
b. About the School
c. Who We are
d. Learning
e. General Information
f. Gallery
This navigation device can be considered “fixed” and therefore have graphics for buttons etc.

• A minor navigation device that provides the ability to divide each of the major sections into subsections (e.g. Latest News, Newsletter etc). These subsections will be content managed and therefore should be text-based rather than graphics-based. The number of subsections in each section will vary.

• Separate links for “Contact us” and “School Calendar”

• A space to put additional “sidebar” information on each page (on the above site see the “if you have any comments or feedback…” text). This will give us the ability to make sure that any “hot” information or links can be posted in a prominent position.

• A Large space for article information (the content). The content (text & Graphics) will be selected using the minor nav links. This space should take up most of the page. It should contain space for a heading which will mirror the selected minor link (& therefore needs to be text based)

• The contact us & calendar pages should be separate pop-up windows in a complementary design. We like the format of the calendar in the above website.

• The school has a Silver Award status from the Arts Council. The logo for this is included as an attachment. If possible this should be incorporated into the design (although it could be included as content managed “sidebar” information if necessary)


Design Guidelines/Identity:
Logo: We have a school logo which should be prominent within the design. This is included as an attachment.

Font:
We are going to be redesigning a lot of the documentation that is produced by the school (brochure etc) and would like to standardise on a font that is suitable for both the web and for print, therefore please ensure that the font that you use fits this description.

Colour Scheme:
The school colour is Royal blue (uniforms, signage etc). This should be reflected in part of the design.

Deadline: 11th March

[grange]

I realise that this deadline is still 2 weeks away, but please could you indicate if you are planning to submit a design - thanks

[dziner]

I plan on entering in the next few days.
Thanks!

[Aliska]

Hello! I'm in too:)
Will post soon.

Aliska

[Aliska]

Here I am:)
and my version of the site.
Here is 3 versions: conception the same, but defferent pictures allocation.
I've tried to follow your instructions and make fine bright and not boring site. Hope it have turned out such as you wanted, but if not, please let me know what I've made wrong.
Hope to here from you soon :P

Thanks

[Lori]

Do you have any photos of the school or of an event AT the school that can be used for the creation of my design?

Thanks so much!

[grange]

Aliska,

Thanks for the designs - I will share with others involved & get feedback to you asap.

Lori,

We are currently embarking on a project which will totally rebuild our school premises. The current premises are in quite poor condition and are not something we would wish to highlight. Our current website (www.grange.ik.org) has some gallery pictures of school events. I will try and get an electronic version of our brochure posted here also.

[Aliska]

Ok. Will be waiting.
Thanks.

[grange]

Hi Aliska,

Thanks for your submissions - here's our initial fedback:

In general we think the look of the site is too "cartoon-like". I think we are looking for something with less literal imagary and less child-like in appearance.

Specifically:
- there is too much emphasis on book-related picures which makes it look a bit like a book-club site
- the U.S school bus is not appropriate for a UK school

In terms of layout - I think the Home link should have the same emphasis (in terms of position and style) as the other major navigation links as it contains important sub-navigation - not just a landing page

Also please ensure that any of the minor navigation links (and related titles) can be achieved using text/stylesheets as they will be content managed and so graphic images will not be available.

We look forward to seeing your revisions

[Aliska]

Hello, Grange!
Ok. I see. That my foalt about the bus:)
Some questions:
1. As I understood I can take the main idea and structure of my first design, just to make it more serious, am I right?
2. What about color palette? Do you like it?
3. I should use another style of the images, am I?
4. Fonts in header and menu? May I change it?
5. Do you like link menu and images there? Or should I create other ones?
------------------------------------
Waiting for your replay to continue working.
Thanks,
Aliska

[Aliska]

Ups... Clicked twice to reply

[grange]

1. As I understood I can take the main idea and structure of my first design, just to make it more serious, am I right?
Yes (although please note our comment aboutthe home link)
2. What about color palette? Do you like it? Looks OK in general - not crazy about the orange text though
3. I should use another style of the images, am I? Yes - also maybe cut down on the number of literal images
4. Fonts in header and menu? May I change it? Not sure what you mean?
5. Do you like link menu and images there? Or should I create other ones?
Link images look good (although need a different image for home/about the school)

[Aliska]

Ok. I understood:)
Will be working...
About fonts in header I mean text font wich I used (conpany name font and buttons font). Is it ok?

Post tomorrow
Many thanks for quick reply:)

[grange]

Aliska,

The font is fine although I'm not so keen on the white shaddow around the header text

Rgds

[Aliska]

Ok. I see:)
And I'd like to know also do you like more fully blue variant of the site or with yellow left menu?
Thanks,
Aliska

[grange]

I think we prefer the blue version

[grange]

This attachment is a recent school brochure. I post it here to give some more background information on the school.

Please don't feel that any of the design elements here need to be reflected in the website design unless you think them desirable.

[Aliska]

Hello!:)
Here is changes. What do you say?
---------------------------------
Waiting for your soon answer.
Thanks.
Aliska

[grange]

Thanks for the revision Aliska.
I think this is much closer to what we want than your first version. However I think it looking too monochrome - maybe you could introduce another colour to give it some definition?

Also:
- There are no links for the calendar & contact us - maybe these could be in the area that you have the text "Grange Primary School is..." as this is not really required.
- the url at the top is not needed
- the Home and "about the school" icons are too similar
- How does the viewer know which major navigation section has been selected? (shouldn't "Latest News" be replaced by Home and "Latest News" be added as a minor link? - also the Orange Heading "About Us" should be the same as one of the minor navingation links)

Definately on the right track :)

[Aliska]

Hi! Ok. I understood... Will be working further:)

[Lori]

I am still working on mine as well.
Just letting you know that I am still here :)

[grange]

Aliska,

The picture of the 2 children in the bootom left:
could you:
-change the colour of their trousers to grey
-get rid of the key around the girl's neck
-change one of them so that they are not both white (our school has children from many ethnic origins)

Thanks

[Aliska]

Hello!:)
Ok. I'm working in the way you've directed me.
Will post soon.

Thanks,
Aliska

[grange]

Aliska,

Another request:

Could you try changing the logo colour so that it is white text (and leaf) on a blue background. You may need to put a border around it in another colour to make it stand out.

Thanks

[Aliska]

Hi!:)
Ok... I will do as you said.

Best regards,
Aliska

[Aliska]

Hello, Grange!:)
Here is changes... If smth is wrong tell me and I'll fixed it.

Waiting for your feedback.
Thanks,
Aliska.

[grange]

Hi aliska,

Thnks for the changes.
Please can you get rid of the picture of the teacher at the top.
Also, could you try a different colour for the side menu?

Thanks

Richard

[Aliska]

Hello, Grange!:)
Ok. I'll make this chagnes.

Thanks

Aliska

[dziner]

Here is a submission from me. I will be happy to make changes for you. I did include a possible inside page layout to show the amount of space you could have and the integration for your CSM/CSS.

Thanks!

http://www.yencreative.com/grange/2.jpg

http://www.yencreative.com/grange/inside.jpg

[Aliska]

Hi, Grange!:)
Here is color difference.

Waiting for your feedback.

Thanks,
Aliska

[grange]

Hi Aliska,

It's better now that you've got rid of the picture at the top, but you didn't change the colour of the side menu (sub navigation) yet.

Rgds

[grange]

Shelly,

Thanks for the submission.
We're not keen on cartoon-style graphics. Although this is a school site, the audience is primarily adults.

Also I don't think we need a different landing page from the rest of the site. We would like to keep navigation simple as per the reference site www.vineyard.richmond.sch.uk.

I like the framing of the site with the border and the balance of menu/content that you illustrate in your second graphic. The calendar/contact us buttons are a bit bulky though.

Look forward to revisions :)

[Aliska]

Hello!:)
I've made some changes with colors. Right direction?
Waiting for your indications.

Thanks,
Aliska.

[e-Create]

Hello,

Here's my attempt, a little different to the previous submissions. :blush:

http://www.e-create.com.au/grange_concept.gif

Please let me know what you think. :yes:

[grange]

e-create: thanks for the entry. Looks good - I am awaiting feedback from others and will post asap.

All: We have decided to extend this competition by 2 weeks.
Thanks

[Aliska]

Hello!:)
If you don't need any changes more... Will be waiting for your asap:)

Thanks,
Aliska

[Lori]

Thank you for the extention Grange. My entry will certianly be complete before then :)

Your patience has been much appreciated.

[grange]

e-create:
The tone of your design is very good - we like the colours used and the general image that it creates.

Please could you consider the following points:
- could the balance of space be adjusted so that the "header" is slightly less prominent and more room is made available for the content area ? (would be interested in seeing a version with 2 columns on the bottom instead of 3)
- The ticks and crosses on the main navigation are not obvious enough and the cross could be interpreted as not available

We look forward to seeing another revision (or several along the same theme :) )
Thanks

[grange]

Hi Aliska,

These colours are too bright and make the side-navigation seem too detatched from the rest of the site. Could you try and make the navigation more integrated to the rest of the site?

Thanks :)

[Aliska]

Hello:)
Sure. I'll done.

Thanks,
Aliska

[Luc]

Guys, i just wonder if these illustrations are provided by the client because it's nowhere to find. :) I'd like to join too and use them if they are provided.

[Lori]

Luc,

Grange did not provide those, but rather pointed to a site that he liked and that is what they had... the ones represented on the mockups here are more than likely either icons or sized down images.

I will say however, that I am not sure that those are a requirement... My design (still in the works) DOES NOT have them...

Hope that helps..

[Aliska]

Hello, Luc!:)
No client didn't give any images. I found mine on the special search images sites (for example http://www.istockphoto.com). Not goole or like it:)

Good look!;)

[Luc]

Ic. Thanks Lori and Aliska. Good luc 2! ;)

[dziner]

Here are some revisions, just let me know if I can make additional changes for you to see.

Thanks! **image removed**

[grange]

Here are some revisions, just let me know if I can make additional changes for you to see.

Thanks!http://www.yencreative.com/grange/inside2.jpg

Hi Shelly - your server doesn't appear to be available so I can't see your image- can you include it as an attachment please.
Thanks

[Aliska]

Hi, Grange!:)
Here are experiments with colors of menu.
My design was based on site you give as you like (vineyard school) and your wishes. But I can create other style.... if the current one doesn't suit you. I'd like that you like design:) so let me know if it is necessity in it.

Thanks,
Aliska;)

[dziner]

Hi, sorry about that.

[e-Create]

Thank you for the feedback. Here is my first revision. :)

http://www.e-create.com.au/grange_concept2.gif

[grange]

Hi e-create,

Thanks for the revision - this looks better.
2 requests:

1) We're still not keen on the tick marks for the major navigation. There's no need for an icon for the unselected sections. Can you suggest an icon for the selected section which ties in with the picture (e.g. a piece of chalk?)

2) The Arts Council logo is in the main content space - could you move it towards the bottom of the minor navigation column (e.g. just above the "if you have any comments")

One more thought for your consideration :) ... would it be possible to have a library of 6 grahics, so the top-left graphic changes depending on the section selected. (This would only really work if the graphics were all of a similar style/colour palette - what do you think?)

Thanks

[e-Create]

Revision 2 :)

I have included a different photo to give you an idea of how it would look if you used new images for each section.

http://www.e-create.com.au/grange_concept3.gif

[grange]

e-create - thanks for the revision, I will get feedback and post asap

Luc, Lori - when do you think you will be submitting your designs?

[BrianDove]

Do I still have time to enter ?
I can post something later today :)

Regards
Brian Dove

[grange]

Do I still have time to enter ?
I can post something later today :)

Regards
Brian Dove

Hi Brian - Yes please submit a design (current closing date is next Friday but we'd appreciate as much time as possible to consider and feedback on entries)

Rgds

[Aliska]

Hello, Grange:)
I'm still waiting for your feedback regarding my latest mockup. Please let me know how I proseed further:unsure:

Thanks,
Aliska

[grange]

Hello, Grange:)
I'm still waiting for your feedback regarding my latest mockup. Please let me know how I proseed further:unsure:

Thanks,
Aliska

Sorry Aliska, I did post a reply, but it got mixed up with another thread above!
Here is the feedback again:

Hi Aliska,

These colours are too bright and make the side-navigation seem too detatched from the rest of the site. Could you try and make the navigation more integrated to the rest of the site?

Thanks

[Aliska]

Grange,
but I posted school7.jpg and school8.jpg with less brignt colors - orange and violet - 3-16-2005 ->
"Hi, Grange!
Here are experiments with colors of menu.
My design was based on site you give as you like (vineyard school) and your wishes. But I can create other style.... if the current one doesn't suit you. I'd like that you like design so let me know if it is necessity in it."

Waiting for your soon answer to continue working.

Thanks,
Aliska:)

[Anne]

Here's my entry
Anne

[grange]

Hi Anne,
Thanks for the submission - looks really good. I have circulated to my colleagues for feedback which I'll post asap.

My initial query is how do you know what part of the site is selected. Can you suggest a device to highlight the selected section (both major and minor nav links).

Also could you show the minor navigation links without the underline.

Thanks

[grange]

Aliska,
I've caught up now - sorry for the confusion :blush:
The colours are better, but I still think the design lacks some cohesiveness. Feel free to move away from the Vineyard design - it's the major navigation & content elements that we were illustrating by refrencing that site.

[grange]

Hi e-create:
The latest version seems to have introduced darker yellow lines framing the major nav. section - can you lose them.
Please can you also make sure that the crayon icon will fit in alongside the largest link ("General Information")
We quite like the idea of different pictures. Are you confident that you would be able to produce 6 in a similar style (content suggestions: child's drawing or writing/close up of child's hands playing musical instrument etc)?

Thanks

[Anne]

Thank you for the feedback
Here's one with links selected

Anne

[Aliska]

Hello,Grange:)
Thanks for making clear. Now I know how will be working further.

Thanks,
Aliska

[Luc]

e-create - thanks for the revision, I will get feedback and post asap

Luc, Lori - when do you think you will be submitting your designs?

I'll try to finish today or tomorrow.

[Luc]

Sorry for the delay. I pushed to finish my entry today. And here it is. I hope you like it.

[e-Create]

I have attached the design again minus the extra yellow bars in the navigation section. :) I don't think that you would have any problems finding 6 photos to fit with this theme.

http://www.e-create.com.au/grange_concept4.gif

[Aliska]

Hello, Grange!
I've made changes with my first version. What do you think?
I'll post my second version if possible.

Thanks,
Aliska;)

[Anne]

Any updates / feedback on the latest submissions?

Anne

[grange]

Hi Everyone,

Apologies for the delay in judging this competition. That's the problem when we do these things by committee!

We would like to thank all the designers for their entries and revisions which we thought were all at a very high standard.

We have selected Anne's design as the winning entry.
Anne - we have a few small changes we would like to be made - do we discuss these in this forum or somewhere else?

[Anne]

Thank you for selecting my design. I've read your pm and working on the revision.

Anne

[Anne]

revision

[Anne]

How is this for the calendar?

[grange]

Calendar looks great - thanks
Can you tell me what format you'll be delivering everything in?
Best for me would be html + stylesheet with all graphics in photoshop format.
We need to make sure that any content managed areas (i.e. sub-navigation/page titles/calendar months etc) are text-based not graphical.
Can you also make sure that areas containing the photographs are not split into multiple graphics in case we want to subsitiute the photos.
Thanks & Speak to you soon

[Anne]

Great.
Yes, I'll make the site in html+css and you can'll have all the graphics in photoshop format.
I'll changes the headings etc. to be text based.

Anne

[Anne]

Do yu also need the "jump to Month" etc. part to be text-based

[grange]

Do yu also need the "jump to Month" etc. part to be text-based

yes please

[grange]

Hi Anne,

Could you give me an idea when the files may be available so that I can start planning the next stage of work?

Thanks

[Anne]

I've finished the home page but have the calendar left. I'll have it done by friday.

Anne

[grange]

great - thanks for the update.
Is the home page in a position that you could send it to me now?

[Anne]

I am at work right now but I can send it when I get home this afternoon.

Anne

[grange]

Hi Anne,

Sorry to chase - any chance of getting the homepage?

Thanks

[Anne]

Hi
I sent you a personal message yesteday with a link to where you can download the files.

Anne

[grange]

Hi Anne,

Sorry - I didn't notice the PM earlier
Thanks

[grange]

Anne,

Just looked at the files - the site is looking good.
A couple of comments (not sure if you were planning to do this in the final deliverable anyway)....

1) The page header (e.g. "Welcome" needs to be Text/style not a graphic)
2) I assume that the final deliverable will include layered photoshop files that will allow me to change the text on the navigation graphics

Thanks

[Anne]

Hi.

I've made the changes. Also finished the calendar. You can download all the files using the same link I gave you (in the pm). Also attached 5 psd files so it will be easier to change f.ex. the menu.

Anne

[grange]

Thanks Anne - looking good,

A couple of small issue:
1) can you provide a contact us screen as per my PM?
2) Is it possible to make the "Contact" and "Contact Us" links change colour on rollover
3) Could you correct "ABOU THE SCHOOL" to "ABOUT THE SCHOOL"

Then I think we'll be done

Thanks

[Anne]

:) of course