Client:
Grand Designs.
Description:
Web presence for new clothing store.
Technology:
XHTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, Content Management System
Visit:
Note:
Client has taken control over website content.
The Brief:
- Build a website for a new business selling Islamic clothing.
- High-end design that will reflect stores products.
- Arabic feel and atmosphere.
- Implement Content Management System to allow client to make updates.
Details/Discussion:
Design & Layout.
My client was very keen to have a website that felt exclusive, high-end and Arabic. These design aspects will not only reflect the quality and origins of the goods, but appeal to the target audience for the website and the shop.
To achieve my clients requirements I created a design that is modern and stylish in appearance -
- A slim header containing the businesses logo and navigation links, including a smooth slide out menu under the “Products” link.
- A central box to house the content. Large images which fit snugly together fill most of the box and showcase the products and shop. I used a modern, san-serif font for the text. On the homepage the images fade in and out in a slideshow.
- A large footer containing contact details, the address for the shop and controls for the streamed “Arabic Radio” from Last.fm.
To this design I added some sourced images with an Arabian feel and took an Arabic pattern, tweaked it in Fireworks, and then tiled it across the background of the website.
Content.
To go along side the usual information on the business I have added a PHP powered customer contact form, and integrated a Google Map into the website content.
All the content is editable by the client via CushyCMS, an excellent lightweight Content Management System. This allows the client to easily change the text and photographs on the website. I have also provided a template for the product and category pages so that the client can expand the website as his product range grows.
The client was very keen to use Arabic music on the website. We decided to use a Last.fm widget to stream “radio” from their website.
Discuss
Further discussion of the styles and techniques used to create this website can be found on my blog. Please feel free to leave any comments of you may have.