Designing a site from the ground up can be a lot of fun. First, you have a client call to discuss the concept. You kick ideas around, look at similar sites, hone the edges on the angle, and then get to work on prototyping.
If you’re smart, you’ll get a complete working site up an running as quickly as possible. There are several reasons for this, but my favorite is this…
Nothing screams design changes like seeing the live content in the framework of your design.
Recently, I launched a site for a client in Palm Springs, CA. Davis Rochefort covers the Entertainment beat writing satirical missives about Hollywood. I met him online, and when he heard I was looking for clients he dropped me a note on Twitter. After a few emails, we met for a discussion on Skype.
Over the next week, I worked with Rochefort and his assistant, Penny, to develop a glitzy look that also had a bit of an edge, the darker side of Hollywood. I quickly prototyped a design and launched his site Armchair Paparazzi.
The first crack at the design was, well, let’s be honest… It was ugly. Or, as Rochefort might say, “Elvis-dead-on-the-can-ugly”.
Here’s a snap of banner:
The only saving grace of the original look was the background. To get that glitzy feel, I created a shiny blue satin background. I echoed that look in the custom RSS icon. However, as you might guess, this didn’t go very well with the red-orange header.
While I was tweaking the design, Rochefort and Penny began filling in the content. The copy was fun and the headlines were hilarious. After a few calls, we decided to switch over to what’s known as a “magazine style” layout.
Switching to the magazine layout meant developing thumbnail images and tightening up the excerpt copy for the teasers. It also meant that the site was going to get a nice update on the banner.
Rochefort had a vision of a 1940s photographer and a bigger headline for the name of the site. Since it’s Rochefort’s site, we agreed to keep his tag line at the top along with his Hollywood headshot.
Here’s the result:
A few takeaways…
- Don’t debate pixels. Get the site up and going as quickly as possible.
- Start filling your site with content. The content will help define the future form.
- Be open to suggestion and change. Don’t hang onto things that don’t work. Be flexible.
The lessons learned here may not apply to every site. For example, if you have an audience you shouldn’t go willy nilly changing things on the fly. However, there’s no reason you can’t set up a private site for you and your client to work with.
Armchair Paparazzi is just getting up and running, but the site is already listed on Alltop’s celebrity board. Come on by and have a look!
Nothing says Hollywood Gossip like Armchair Paparazzi… 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey, thanks for all of the hard work you’ve put in and the mention here – but just to let you know, even though I tend to blow an occasional weekend in Palm Springs soaking up the sun on a golf course, Miss Drubbercutty and myself are right here in West Hollywood, where the action is. We watch it all from our office window overlooking Sunset right at the entrance to the famed Sunset Strip, so we don’t miss a thing!
Elvis dead on the can? Cruel and overly snarky, sir. For SHAME!
Davis Rochefort’s last blog post..Valerie Bertinelli looks great at 48!
Jamie, nice job on the site! I love your attitude about getting the job done. I think far too often people attempt perfection on every detail and miss opportunity in the process. The one thing I’ve learned about sites is like your home there’s always a slew of improvement projects that never seem to end!
Karen Swim’s last blog post..Sharing the Love