In Mt Pleasant, SC, there's a charming neighborhood nestled along the Charleston Harbor called the Old Village. The historic area bustles with dogs pulling at their leashes, pastel bikes with wicker baskets and smiling parents ushering their children along to the elementary school at the very heart of the village- Mt Pleasant Academy. My own children attend this wholesome, seaside school and have flourished in it's classrooms.
When the opportunity arose to collaborate with MPA's Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Whitefox was eager to employ graphic design to uplift and support the very fabric of our community. Our design studio is passionate about making a difference, so understanding the pivotal role the PTA plays in enriching educational experiences for our children, I eagerly jumped on board to lend my skills to this meaningful cause.
Crafting a Brand Identity: More Than Just a Logo
A strong brand identity is the cornerstone of any organization, and the Mt Pleasant PTA was no exception. Beyond designing a logo, the challenge was to encapsulate the essence of the educational community—their values, spirit, and the rich history of the school which was first incorporated in 1809. To evoke a sense of nostalgia and heritage, we employed vintage design elements, such as the retro pendant, distressed textures, and classic color schemes. The branding aims to communicate Mt Pleasant Academy's authenticity, timelessness, and their deep connection to the community's historic roots.
Colors that Speak Volumes: The Power of Complimentary Palettes
Colors have the remarkable ability to evoke emotions, convey messages, and unite people under a common banner. In selecting a complimentary color palette for the Mt Pleasant PTA, the aim was to evoke warmth, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging. Every hue was carefully chosen to reflect the vibrant tapestry of our community, paying homage to its rich history and traditions.
Style Sheets: Setting the Tone for Consistency
Consistency is key in establishing brand recognition and credibility. A comprehensive style sheet was meticulously crafted to serve as a guide for maintaining visual coherence across various platforms—from newsletters to social media updates. This ensured that every design element remained aligned with the overarching brand identity of the Mt Pleasant PTA.
Designing with Purpose: From Newsletters to Swag Beyond branding, the scope of the project extended to designing a myriad of collateral—from newsletters that kept parents informed and engaged, to eye-catching swag that fostered a sense of pride and belonging within the community. Each design element served a purpose, amplifying the mission and initiatives of the Mt Pleasant PTA.
Spirit Week: A Rallying Cry for Support
SeeWee Spirit Week isn't just about rallying school pride—it is a testament to the collective spirit of giving back. Through the sales of playful tee shirt designs and sponsor banners for fundraiser drives, the Mt Pleasant PTA raised vital funds to support educational programs, extracurricular activities, and enrichment opportunities for students.
The Ripple Effect: Impacting Lives Beyond Design
In the realm of graphic design, there's a profound opportunity to do more than just create visually appealing content—we have the power to effect positive change, foster connections, and empower communities. By supporting local initiatives like the Mt Pleasant PTA, we not only elevate our craft but also leave an indelible mark on the world around us. Whitefox will continue to design for important social causes that help our communities thrive. If you know of a charitable organization struggling with design needs, send them our way!
Starting a website project can be very exciting, but anyone who has gone through the process knows that there are hurdles along the way and smooth sailing isn't always in the forecast. Here are five tips to help you and your team have a positive experience and an end result that best represents your business.
1. Explore Business Goals
You want a new website because your business is growing and changing. The website needs to reflect that growth- whether the company needs something more modern, or you want to showcase a new product line, attract a more sophisticated audience- there was a reason you decided that it was time for a new website. Taking the time to reexamine where your business is going and who it needs to attract is the foundation of your website's success.
Our Client Collaboration Worksheet is sent to every new website and branding client. It asks the tough questions that start these conversations. What makes up your brand's personality? What differentiates you from your competitors? Once a potential client reaches your website, what steps would you like for them to take? - These types of questions help build out your brand strategy and dictate the design and UX direction of your website.
CLIENT COLLABORATION WORKSHEET FOR CLIENTS OF WHITEFOX DESIGN STUDIO
2. Gather Photography
Seems simple- but this can be very time consuming so go ahead and get it out of the way. Also, considering how visual the world has become, photos can make or break a website. Things to consider:
Do you have access to professional photography?
Do you have the authorization to use that photography in a digital medium?
If not, should you consider investing in a photographer or stock photography? (Whitefox has local Charleston recommendations for different industries as well as national partners.)
How do you want to deliver photos to your website creator? Organized in a Google Drive? Dropbox? Send a thumb-drive?
Having your photography organized and ready to deliver to your website creator helps to ensure that the project can stick to the original timeline without disruption or setbacks.
3. Define The Website Pages
Like any undertaking, it is paramount to have a plan in mind. This tip for your website project will ensure that you're communicating your web needs up front so they are taken into consideration from the beginning.
Start with something as 'simple' as roughly defining the pages of your website. This task is deceptively complicated and starting the process before working with your website creator is very beneficial to the outcome. Basic pages are Home, About, Contact. But what about Services- do you want to define what it is that your company offers? What about Our Process? That would be a great place to break down a more complex service offering. Do you want to include a Portfolio of past work? Would Case Studies land better with your customers? Do you want to consider landing pages for specific content that you want to link to from digital ads or mailing campaigns?
At Whitefox Design, we facilitate this important step by first having an in-depth conversation about your business and goals, as well as your target audience. Next, we do market research to determine how your competition is serving that information. We look at industry leaders and dissect what they are successfully doing and what could be improved upon. Lastly, we sit down to create your website's sitemap. This document will define the website's structure as well as define the hierarchy of what information and sections are housed on those pages.
4. Understand Development Lifts
Changes to a website's defined Scope of Work can add up. At Whitefox, we are pretty forgiving in this arena, but a lot of web design firms will charge per website change. Understanding what you're asking for can help any surprise bills from arising. Some requests are arguably simple, while other requests can involve complicated steps on your developer's side and change pricing. Here are some examples of both.
Simple changes:
Incorporating a social media feed
Changing out copy (as long as there is not a sizable difference that would alter the design)
Adding a button or link to an external website (you see this a lot with online ordering or booking systems)
Swapping a photo or adding a video
Adding an additional form to a page
More complex changes:
Adding E-commerce (a store) - major lift, multiple pages and hours of set up involved
Requiring member logins to view certain pages (gated content)
Making sizable changes to a page's layout
Embedding Widgets or custom code
5. Content is King
Let's say that again for the people in the back- Content is King. Designers cannot get very far into the design process without having the copy/ content for the website. Just like you can't make a cake without the ingredients- they need something to work with. In our experience, if you do not have a dedicated communications department or marketing staff to handle this internally, it is much easier to outsource this component. There is a certain cadence to writing specifically for web that should be taken into consideration as well, things like:
Content strategy for your website
Incorporating long tailed key words that your target customers are searching for
Writing for task driven audiences
Incorporating linked content to improve SEO
Understand that web audiences are a different animal all together. It takes readers 25% longer to read text on their screens. Therefore, on average, readers will only intake 20% of a webpage containing more than 600 words.
“Get rid of half of the words on each page, then get rid of half of what’s left” – Steve Krug, author of Don’t Make Me Think
The web has a ton of distractions so technology is constantly shifting the way we deliver information. Many users are toggling back and forth between multiple pages, working with interactive components and scanning for relevant content.
Only 11% of users read a webpage line by line. Our eyes scan websites in a vague F shaped pattern, looking at the left of the screen and trailing off to the rights. Therefore, your headings need to be clear and meaningful, and your content should be organized with the most important information near the top, moving towards more niche topics near the bottom. An experienced website copywriter, like we employ at Whitefox Design, is keeping all of this in mind when creating your website's copy.
Converting Tourists Into Home Buyers:
Luxury Simplified, a prominent real estate agency in Charleston, South Carolina, wanted a fresh approach to real estate marketing. Something that would grab visitors attention and use subtle marketing tactics to gain reader's trust and confidence. Whitefox Design came up with a strategic "magazine" showcasing all that Charleston has to offer to its tourists- and potential home buyers all while shoring up Luxury Simplified as the leader in the Charleston real estate market.
This charming magazine was both informational and helpful to visitors, but more importantly, served as a trojan horse in reaching their elite clientele. The 34 page piece includes three distinct sections that can be used as separate brochures as needed- now isn't that an efficient use of a marketing budget!
