Colours & Layout
Above are three web comps I have prepared in photoshop based on the current Nettlemouth website. Similar to the research for online music/entertainment stores the Nettlemouth site uses a three colour scheme which I have adopted for the web comps.
One detail which I overlooked in the research was that most sites that offer the chance to register tend to have the username/password boxes in the top left of the screen, for this reason I decided that mine should also have this feature as it seems to be common practice. By doing what seems like a simple placement I can make the user feel comfortable when using the site as it is a layout that they are already familiar with.
I decided to experiment with the navigation bar as you can see in the centre image, it was a much longer process to make than a straightforward centre navigation bar at the top and personally I feel that the centre-top position works better aesthetically. Although my opinion does count in the overall look and feel of the site it seems as though it is already pre-determined to a degree as I have to make the user feel as though they aren’t “using” the site so to speak, therefore keeping features familiar but different is the key. As you can see on the other two comps I went with the centre-top position with the navigation bar which I feel works more efficiently.
Designing the background was something I found both creatively exciting as I had total freedom as to what to do, yet at the same time I was slightly concerned about it as I knew that it had to meet certain criteria, most importantly it has to allow the user to read the text clearly. After completing the three comps I have decided that a combination of the right and left are most appropriate. I like the way the simplicity of the left one but it’s a bit too dull compared to the right one however this one is too complicated. As for the centre comp I feel the box is too narrow so it would appear to display more text than a wider box which may put off the user.
The Logo
For me the most important part of the design process is the logo as this represents everything the site is about and will appear on every page. I found it fitting to re-design (or “remix”) the current Nettlemouth logo, I found that an emboss effect feels as though the logo is making a mark and gives the sense of movement as though it’s coming out of the screen. Movement is something that has recently played a part in Nettlemouth recently and so for this reason I stuck with the emboss effect modifying it slightly in each web comp.
As far as the font was concerned I thought it best to be as experimental as I felt necessary, obviously there were certain fonts I was clearly not going to use as it had to convey the right message and also be legible. On the left web comp I went with a fairly basic font which was clear to read and thought at the time that simplicity would be the best path to follow, however after experimenting with the logo on the right where I have mixed fonts and various effects, I decided to go all out. As you may be able to see on the centre web comp I added many effects ranging from lighting to distortion.
After creating three different logos I have chosen to go with a blend of the right and centre; I will use the “remix” font from the right one with the effects and “Nettlemouth” font of the centre one, however if this proves too much I will simply use the centre one as I feel this encapsulates the intentions of the site best.
