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Testimonials
"OBS Group were the only website developers who could fully grasp the concept I initially outlined. I tried two other professional companies and countless friends "in the industry" but none seemed to grasp the complexities of my business and the flexibility my system requires. I was very relieved to be able to describe it and see some lights on when I first presented the concept to Andrew and Oliver."
Sue Ayton, Managing Director
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Website & Multimedia Website Design
OBS Group has a wealth of experience in designing for electronic media. All aspects of a development have a design component and we are able to offer electronic design as a service in its own right.
Design for the User
Some designers can become seduced by their own concept of what constitutes website design excellence, often to the detriment of the project’s goals. Whilst indulgent and cryptic interface design may appeal to other professional designers, nothing is more guaranteed to alienate and intimidate the first-time user or frustrate the repeat user.
The primary consideration in designing an intuitive and optimised interface is the maintenance of consistency and clarity. Items which are not consistently presented both in style and placement make the user spend time re-familiarising themselves with controls when they could be progressing through the application. Additionally, navigational elements need to be presented in a contextual manner rather than giving the user options which are not required at that particular level of the application. A project which opens up to the user as they move through it, but still offers a traceable path by which to return, will allow access to the maximum amount of content and functionality with the minimum of activity. Giving users confidence in the application will encourage them to use it more. Users who lose their way and become lost in indistinct navigation and enigmatic interfaces are unlikely to return.
The Design Process
No two projects can be designed in the same way. Designing by template and adopting an inflexible approach does not lead to creative and responsive solutions. Website design is by definition a sequential and interactive process, the outcome of which should not be predicted at the outset. Only through consultation and presentation can website design criteria be successfully established and the appropriate website design solutions developed.
The first requirement of a well-designed solution is that it must engage the attention of the user in an appropriate manner. A corporate application will require a very different visual approach to that for an application aimed at a teenage audience and each will be required to engage the target audience instantly. The target audience’s visual expectations will be pre-formed, and if these expectations are challenged in too aggressive a manner then user confidence may be lost and the whole purpose of the project could be compromised.
The balance that a design strikes between consistency and variety in its visual content will consciously or sub-consciously affect the attitude that a user adopts towards the project. If the balance is set inappropriately then this will prove detrimental to the project’s aims. It must be remembered that the whole purpose in designing an interface is to increase the likelihood that the project will achieve its goals.
Website Design for electronic media is a different discipline to that for traditional media such as print. The print designer has the luxury of knowing that the finished product will always look the same no matter how or where it is printed. The website designer of electronic media has no such luxury. He or she has to ensure that the electronic media display faithfully and reliably across a myriad different system display settings.
Brand and Identity
Branding for the project will often already exist in one form or another, but this is not always the case. A company’s identity and brand is the inanimate face of the company and is often the first point of visual contact for a prospective client or customer. In both electronic and traditional media the company’s brand and identity must be well thought-out, appropriate and consistent. Frequently there is only one opportunity for the user to form an opinion about the company based on the way it presents itself through branding. Ill-considered or inconsistent branding sends a message about a company which the company may not subsequently have the opportunity to modify.
OBS Group, the UK based company has a wealth of experience in website designing for electronic media.
If you would like further information about our design services or wish to arrange a meeting to discuss your specific requirements please click the link.