Web Brief

Notes for web

Content - Appropriate
Client list
portfolio, media, format

Organisation
Gathering
Experimentation
Brand it- Use whatevers already available
Research & media
Content
Brief when get back


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From Mac suit session

Logo top left common
80% websites use solid background colour
Navigation top or left never at the bottom
Incredibly important to get a client to sign a contract when producing a website, 3 mock ups, have to draw the line
URL; Seeing content from someone else's computer

ALWAYS HAVE A ROUTE FOLDER (put all content images ect inside under other folders, IMAGES)!
always use lower caps
no spaces
maximum 8 characters when saving files

Size pixels 800 x 600
Needs to be universal
Lowest common dominator

Fonts are restricted to whats available on computers, or save type as image but files are big then.
body text in type, logo and links in images

Only web colours, hex colour code
5MB or less bandwidth
image size always change to 72 dpi then save for web & design
JPEG is a form of compression

Prep for Web Design

***Organisation is key***
Buy new usb

1. Functionality
2. Userbility
3. Aesthetics - What does it look like?

Task
Sort out what content our website would need

Company Logo
Company Name
What members produce what work within the team (get examples)
Work produced from group - images & titles
Where located - address?
Maybe image of studio?
Latest news within the company
what work we like - blog
Contact number
What is the company about
What does it offer different compared to other design agencies
Client lists - find off briefs???
email address & name of contact
Why we started
links
Share -Facebook... Rss?

5 Main Pages

HOME
PORTFOLIO
ABOUT
CONTACT
NEW/ BLOG

HOME PAGE
-News links to PORTFOLIO, NEWS, CONTACTS, ABOUT

PORTFOLIO
-Work produced
-Titles
-Enlarge Image (close after, back to PORTFOLIO)
-Clients

NEWS
-Blog
-Events
-Clients - (PORTFOLIO)

CONTACTS
-Address
-Phone number
-Email
-Send email (CONTACTS after)

ABOUT
-Statement
-Who we are, what we offer different
-CONTACT

Final PDF to submit

Open publication - Free publishing - More boards

Photograph for First Page - IMPACT

Open publication - Free publishing - More boards

In the afternoon we quickly put together an existing Warp artist flyer with a QR Code on and took some photographs of the concept in work.

Second Attempt - Lorenzo's verdict.

Open publication - Free publishing - More development

After the adjustments Lorraine Suggested we then wanted to get another designers thoughts how the presentation was present, mainly asking for advice for the first page as we needed to have some impact to get the judges attention. Lorenzo suggested the first page should show the concept being used, maybe scanning a code off a t-shirt, but a nice, clean big image to grab their attention to read more. (Plus a few adjustments to the other pages)

First Presentation Boards

Open publication - Free publishing - More final boards

After talking to Lorraine for some advice how to present our boards there were a few adjustments we had to make including using a gradient to the adverts to make them stand out as they looked a bit flat, make sure everything was lined up, consider what parts of the websites were important and crop them down to fit the boards. Last but definitely not least to consider the first page as this is meant to give the judges impact.

Final Presentation

Questions Asked
Does the annotation on the boards make sense?
Does the code have to be on the inside of the album (so not scanned without buying)?
Can the code be used more than once?
Do the online adverts stand out enough?
Are there any spelling mistakes?
Are there storyboards and ideas for the adverts?
What is the reward library, could it be clearer?
Have we followed the warp brand?
Could the online adverts stand out more?
Is the content and system available to people without smart-phones?
Is the app free?
Is there any offline promotion?
What is the target audience?
What associates the codes with warp records?
How are we encouraging a new audience?
Fundamental Questions
Could the annotation be clearer? Is everything covered?
How can we stop people from scanning album codes before buying?
Do the online adverts stand out enough?
Do we need offline advertisements?
Do we need to spellcheck?
How do people without smart-phones access the content?
Is the fact that the app is free obvious in our designs?
On products, does the audience know the association with warp records?
Could a new audience be addressed?
Action Plan
Produce 5 boards in total with much in-depth and clearer annotation.
Alter the album code designs to stop people scanning before buying.
Make the online adverts stand out a bit more.
Produce a series of offline advertisements.
Spellcheck our designs.
Produce a system for people without smart-phones on the website.
Alter our designs to clear show that the app and content if free.
Make the association with warp records clear on all our designs.
Look at other potential contexts for our advertisements that would address a new audience.
Rob
Spellcheck our designs.
Produce 5 boards in total with much in-depth and clearer annotation.
Make the online adverts stand out a bit more.
Alter our designs to clear show that the app and content if free.
Make the association with warp records clear on all our designs.
Look at other potential contexts for our advertisements that would address a new audience.

Paul
Alter the album code designs to stop people scanning before buying.
Spellcheck our designs.
Produce a system for people without smart-phones on the website.
Alter our designs to clear show that the app and content if free.
Make the association with warp records clear on all our designs.
Other Comments
Take own photos of iphone in use?
Use numbering system throughout boards?
Explain advert animations better and layout better on boards.
Show different screens of website larger/better hierarchy. Perhaps show different mobiel platforms?
Explain the use of app on different devices using logos & annotation?

Magazine Layout. (Wire)

Advertisement to show how the App would work ideal for magazines such as wire.
Changing the type so it fits around the thumb, better than the first design below.

App for Website so far

The app Page online, add a code system for people who don't have the app on their phone and also a search bar.
The feature on the homepage, maybe use an image of the hand showing the app in use, would communicate the concept better.
Old page with all the features on before narrowing it down to just the QR Scan and Rewards libary.

App*

Working put if the App button at the top would need to be highlighted to make it stand out or not. In this case tho the type of NEW is to big. I think that a message on the homepage under news, would communicate that it is a new feature to the website anyway.

Reviewing todays crit

Our main problem with the work we are producing is that it seems like we have looked at whats already out there in the app world for music, and tried to make a super app but the downfall is that it is only for Warp artists. We both discussed the design direction and agreed to narrow the concept down and focus it on the idea of scanning QR Codes on Warp products (promotional and merchandise) and download content which would be stored within the users Reward Libary on their mobile app or online(warp.net).

I think now, concentrated on the QR codes it offers Warp a new form of interacting with their customers, brings the technology up to the 21st Century. Also from researching other music labels/artists that use the QR code haven't really used it to its full potential.

Final Crit

Boards for the final crit.

Warp website development so far

Layouts for App Page

Content

What does the App page need for content?

App logo
Free
Description
Qr Code
App Store
Screenshots (which three screenshots is Rob making?)
Features (Icons?)
Compatible
Language

Hierachy

What hierachy of information would suit the warp audience best?

-Where to download the app from
-Images/ Screenshots
-Description
-Features

Screenshot Layout

Experimenting with the hierarchy taught in Grahams type class, as from the crits everyone was unsure what the concept was and how it was going to work.

App Logo

Open publication - Free publishing - More app

Development with App logo, needs finalising but communicates what it is and where it would be used. Notifications in read when you customise your setting to get instant updates about the subjects your interested in.

Advertising The App

Youtube

Last FM

At the minute we are going to concentrate at advertising using Last.fm and Youtube.

Last.fm would be ideal as there is already an existing community for Warp Records and a big fan base for the Music Artists.

Youtube would be good to use to as the advertisements can appear on similar artists songs and also any Warp Record songs.

Ideas for App

After looking at whats already existing we have now jotted down as many ideas for the contents for the Warp Record App below;

Looking at other music apps

Research for music Apps on DC blog

Where to go with the brief after Crit 1

After a while at starring at the brief and discussing where we could take the project, we have decided to produce an app for the record company, because;

* It is bringing the record label up to 21st century technology

* Add experience and Value to the fans/ customer

* Also it would bring in more revenue having the app rather than not having the app.

Crit One

After todays crit, we have decided to reconsider how we respond to the brief and look at other possible ideas to answer the brief, as the idea of offering a free ticket with a downloaded mp3 album was hard to communicate to the rest of the group.

-Look at other music outlets

Other ideas we are now considering after todays crit;

*Warp evolution video (30 secs) showing how the record labelled has developed over the 21 years.

*Something interactive

*Mock up Warp website with new features such as more information and a community page

* Promote a new album/ Artist

*An Application for mobile device.

What is important and needs to be addressed from the brief:

VALUE, EXPERIENCE, INNOVATIVE

YCN - What we intend to do

What we intend to do.

Promote and advertise a new album release from Warp records, aimed at existing online communities such as Last.fm and Youtube.

These adverts will be targeted at specific songs and similar artists to be more effcient, and will direct users and potential customers towards a promotional website.

The website will showcase a series of downloadable bundle deals. These could include:

- The downloadable mp3 album - £8

- The downloadable mp3 album + ticket to a local show during the tour £12

At the online checkout the customer can choose from a list of venues that will be on the upcoming tour. The offer will be avaliable untill all the tickets are sold.

The checkout will include how many tickets are remaining for each event, with the option to share with friends using social networking links, such as facebook and myspace.

If the customer chooses not to buy from the site, they will atleast become aware that this deal is avaible from Warp artists.

YCN - Other Music Resources

YCN - The Problem

What is the Problem?

1. Illegal Downloads are impacting music sales.

“In 2010 7.7 million downloaded music illegally.” Around 1.2bn tracks were downloaded illegally costing the music industry £219m”

2. Add value/ experience to new music releases for the audience.

3. Bring the music industry (Warp Records) into 21st Century.

“In 2010 there was 36.3% increse in online sales of music, compared to the previous year. The xx have sold around 35% of their 120,000 units online. Music sales at HMV are down 5% this year.”

4. Ecourage a lasting community behind the release.

5. Communicate Warp’s evolution as a global creative label.

Last Fm - Understanding an audience

Another method which Rob pointed out would be to look at Last fm and gather information that way. I'm not to familiar with Last Fm but will have a look.

Screen Grab from the Warp page on Last Fm

Screen grab of messages posted on the Warp Last fm page

From the Warp page you can click on peoples profiles who like the music

The way of collecting information but it's not as good in my opinion than facebook to get an understanding of the audience as the information given on Last fm is based around the music, but facebook offers information about characters, social positions and ethical standpoints. Last Fm is good for the music side of understanding the audience as the "Shoutbox" is an on going conversation about peoples views of the label.

Facebook- Understanding the audience

To find out information about the audience, we could look at people who listen to bands under the WARP label by using software to highlight keywords (bands names under warp label) and gather information from 20 random people and work out where they hang out, what they do, socialize or information that maybe important to connect with the audience.

We could even like the Warp Records page on Facebook and leave a post just asking them a simply question for research if needed and make out were their number fans as well. Or even add a few of them to ask questions then delete them after.

Screen grabs from Warp Records Facebook page

I noticed when I just looked through a few pictures that the audience also talk different languages, so the audience is not just based around the UK, which I didn't take into consideration until I just noticed it.

Also the music under the label is varied so the audience is larger than a perspecific audience for one of the bands. Maybe base it on one of the bands to a specific audience and emphasize the name Warp Records to spread the word that way.

The Brief

It seems from all the briefs given, some have more guidelines than others and some briefs are vague. From this afternoons talk it made sense why these companies upload their briefs to YCN, for different purposes, to maybe use in future campaigns or even because it is free for them to use. It would be nice to win the competition but for me I understand that for the briefs WARP, I cannot as a designer stop people downloading music and get people to buy cds again, so their are ideas and reality.

As the brief is so vague, it made me think why they have created this brief. The briefs bassically wants designers to think of a way how the label/music artists can make money. This reflects the situation of illegal downloads and less profits being produced at the minute. As a designer this is has been identified as the problem.

The following are notes to consider for the WARP brief:

-Brand Guidelines (downloaded in the information pack)

-Music industry is dying (lack of profits due to internet downloads)

***How to get round this hurdle***

+Produce something to promote record label which grabs attetion to get people talking, which leads to internet searches, which will bring the audience in, then lead to website where they can read about the label/artists and even buy. We cannot force people to buy a product but can lead them in the right direction.

+Has to have a good concept idea, something clever, to stand out against the competition

Clarity

Age:

Character:

Social Position:

Ethical Standpoint:

Function

Contemporaries

Communicate

Inform

Encourage

Establish

Create

Promote

Persuade

Inform

Entertain

Sell

Innovative

Context

Online Public

Offline Public

Retail

3d Environment

Mobile Technology

Print-Digital = Relationship

Press Media

Mail-How someone receives something

TV

Events

****Work out in the following order for our brief****

Audience> Function> Context

Relevance

Good ideas for the brief

Sell name WARP records

Feedback from Audience

Brand Guidelines

Requirements

Function - What it is supposed to do

Need to sort all this information out and understand this before designing to tick all the boxes and reflect what we produce to this finalized list to make sure it works as a piece of design.

Five reasons for a good creative partnership

Before

After

Partner for YCN

YCN

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