Module 2: Amour De Visage Wire Frames

The home page for Amour De Visage has the navigation up top with an image above the fold to entice the user. Below the image is an area to talk about highlights such as specials, events or amazing services performed.

The services page breaks down to Facials, Waxing, Make-up and Add-ons. Each page will show the name of the service, price and description.

The gallery page has two drop downs which can be for spa treatments and make-up photos. Each page will show 6 images with the possibility to add content under each picture.

The scheduling page will give information for call/text to arrange an appointment as well as scheduling online. They will click on a date which would open the contact page, pre-filling the requested date that they have clicked on.

The product page will link to an external page within the frame with the products that Amour De Visage uses in their services.

The reviews page will load with client reviews showing the excellent services that Amour De Visage provides.

The contact page will give information on the location and phone number for Amour De Visage as well as a way to send an email directly from the site.

Module 2: Amour De Visage Site Map

Looking at the current site, the first thing I noticed was the navigation. I created a site map which breaks each tab into easy to navigate categories. This break down will create a smooth user experience.

Module 2: Amour De Visage Color Palette

Using the colors found in Peacock’s feathers I create a color palette of green, blue and gold.

Module 2: Amour De Visage Mood Board

Looking at the current site for Amour De Visage, I wanted to reflect the colors in nature with the art of a peacock’s feathers. These colors reflect the make-up artistry and the spa treatments which are both calming and edgy.

Establishing an online presence

Whether you are getting ready to set up a site for business or personal use, it is important to have a strategy in place. This site will represent who you are and be the hub for your users. The most important step in a successful site is setting it up correctly, which includes having a business plan and identifying who is your target market. 5 Mistakes People Make When Setting Up Their Website

Knowing who your users are will help you market towards them to increase traffic. If you are selling a product or service you will need to set up an e-commerce site for paying and shipping information. If you are setting up a personal site you will need to decide what features you require such as: photo galleries, video storage, and the ability to interact with your users.

Setting up a domain and host

A domain name is a personalized name that you give your website, it in turn points to a unique IP address. Your users will only see your site by the domain name that you have registered. Whether the site is for personal or business use, a website should have a unique domain name. Your domain name will make it easier for users to remember your site and gives your site credibility. Set Up Your Own Domain Name

1. Set up your domain name through a domain register like domain.com. You will be able to search if the name you have in mind is available for registering.
2. Choose a company to host your domain. This is who will keep your site up and running.
3. Buy/register your domain name, which you can do easily through your host company. Or you can give your host company your new domain to begin the transfer.
4. Build your website! You can choose a website builder through your host or use another website design program.

Helpful tips:

• Many host companies will include free domain registration when you sign up with a hosting service.
• Be careful when choosing a hosting plan, many companies will put ads on your site as part of their hosting agreement.

What is a CMS?

A CMS is the content managing system used to publish content (copy and images) to your site. Once you have made a change to the CMS and press publish, the change will be live on your site. How Does a CMS Work?

You can work within the CMS and preview your content before publishing, in order to make sure it is displayed correctly. It is a user-friendly way to make edits, add additional content and manage how you want your content to appear. You can also link to social media, and add contact information. Many hosting sites have a CMS that you can work with easily work with to build your site. You will be able to manipulate templates and design styles without needing to know how to code.

 

Customization

Starting to customize my blog to bring some personality into it with just a few minor changes. I changed the template, color palette, bolded the headings and adjusted the background color. I also added a border in black around the image and a line to break the image and content.

Before:

After:

Site comparisons

Shopping online has become the convenient way to find the best deals, ship items to your home and locate the perfect gift. You can research products and look up inspirations before purchasing from your favorite sites. All of this can be done from the comfort of your home. But sometimes navigating shopping sites can be frustrating; and if not designed well, will cause you to leave the site before purchasing.

I did a search for worst designed sites in 2018. The search results included many sites that were hard to view and/or navigate. The one that gave me the biggest headache was Gates N Fences. There was way too much content on the page; the layout of the images against the content over powered the page. The fonts were hard to read on the navigation panel, and the use of many colors was distracting. There were several sub navigations throughout, as well as, links within the content. No overall structure was evident, and just a ton of content placed on the site.

One site that I often go to for home shopping and inspiration is Pottery Barn. I find the site to have an open clean design, with easy navigation, and it is constantly updated with inspirations according to the season. The colors are neutral, which keeps my attention on the products I am looking at; and the photography is beautifully done to provide easy-to-do design inspiration for the clueless home designers like myself.

Sites that are designed well lead to a better user experience. With clear easy to navigate shopping, the user will spend more time and ultimately purchase a product. Inspirations sprinkled throughout a site will increase purchasing volume; and lead the user to return for more ideas whether it’s for design, clothes or home electronics. You want to have a site that will encourage return use and keep the interest of the shopper. The longer they remain on the site, the more likely they are to purchase.

About me

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My name is Holly and I live in Connecticut with my husband and two children. We have a King Charles Spaniel and an adorable Chinchilla. In my free time I enjoy photography, nature and exploring. We lead very busy lives between school, jobs, sports and keeping track of all the activities the kids have going on. I wouldn’t trade the craziness for a minute! Sometimes I wonder what I will do with all my free time when the kids have grown up and are running their own crazy lives.

I have been in the creative industry for over 20 years with experience in digital, print, mobile and email communications. I started as a print designer and moved into the digital world of emails and websites as a Creative Director.  I also owned my own graphic design company for many years. In my recent role as Senior Communication Manager, I provide design direction and strategy within healthcare communications for both print and digital. A large part of my role is client facing to provide solutions and strategy while maintaining the brand across several products.

I enjoy the fast-paced ever-changing atmosphere of the creative world. I am currently attending Quinnipiac University as a graduate student to gain more knowledge in user experience to take my career to the next level. The digital world fascinates me. The understanding of what user experience means for the user is essential. It is all aspects of the end-user’s interaction with the site, services and products. I hope to use my education, passion and creative talent to achieve my next career chapter.

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http://www.hollychecchia.com