HOOOOOOO HHEEEEEEEY HOOOOOO HEEEEYYYY!!! Jasmine star and I had such a fun time designing, dreaming, and planning for her new website.This site was created with SHOWITFAST.COM software. A big HUGE thanks to Brett, and the Showit team for creating an AMAZING software and helping this site really come to life. If you are in the market for a new site, definitely check Showit out. We used some new features to create this site, and they will be available for showit users in mid September. I cant wait! I use the showit software for my own site and I LOVE IT!! PLUS I have a little special design treat coming out for all you showit users in the next couple of weeks. SO EXCITING!!!
BRAINSTORMING:
It first started with a brainstorming session in beautiful Santa Barbara, where Jasmine came prepared with great magazine inspirations and a REALLY open mind. I was actually kind of surprised with her willingness to think and try anything. This started out REALLY fun for me. When a client is totally open like she was, the possibilities are ENDLESS!! I was excited to dive in a little deeper. I came with inspiration from magazines as well.. and we were really excited that we pulled some of the VERY same images and layouts. PERFECT!! We started out on the same page. [Sorry, this photo was taken with my iphone.]
THE CONCEPT
As you can imagine, I kind of already new the concept of the design going into the project. Jasmine does a great job at carrying out her branding that she created everyday, so it was obvious what look we were going for. We wanted the vibe to be sleek, editorial, an VERY Jasmine Star. WE also wanted the design to go well with her blog layout. From the feedback I have heard about the design once it was released to the public last thursday..it seems to have accomplished that. And that makes my heart SING.
RESEARCH & INSPIRATION (displayed in image below)
I took our inspiration images and noticed a few things that I wanted to incorporate somehow in the design and layout of her site. 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS The table of contents is a recognizable staple in a fashion magazine. And I wanted to incorporate that idea into her site navigation without looking overdone or cheesy. I wanted it to have the essence and feel but not copy it exactly. Because Jasmine’s site is loaded with great content and a long list of pages… this turned out to be the perfect solution for her navigation, page numbers and everthing. 2. LAYOUT Combining the layout of a fashion magazine with a website is a stretch, because most often fashion photography is shot vertically, and displayed vertically in magazines. So I explored the existing horizontal layouts in magazines, and found that a scrolling horizontal gallery displays vertical images with an editorial type feel. So, scrolling gallery it is!!! 3. TYPOGRAPHY Jasmine loves the feel of type in fashion. She loves the different fonts stacked on top of each other in a fun way. 4. VERTICAL FASHION This is just an example vertical photography for fashion, because the body is vertical. 5. PRODUCTS Fashion magazines display the latest and greatest products, i thought this would be a fun idea to incorporate in the site somewhere. 6. TYPE ON PHOTOS Jasmine had a special request for type on photos. Below are some examples that we looked at. I Totally agreed that this was a great idea. It was very unique… and i haven’t seen much of this idea played out on the web.
Below is an example of how I implemented the idea of type on photos into her site. You can find these images in her photo galleries.
DESIGNCOMPS:
After deciding i wanted to have the Table of Contents navigation bar, and a horizontal sliding gallery the next step was to decide on the layout of everything. Rather than just sticking the navigation bar on top, or over to the far left.. i wanted to add a more dynamic element and have them cross paths.
Below are some of the initial comps. 1. I called “SIMPLIFIED”, 2. I called “ELEGANT”, and 3. I called “PROMIFIED”. I secretly really wanted her to choose Promified…. i thought she was going to choose simplified (becuase it had a lot of white, like her old site design). I WAS SOOO EXCITED THAT SHE CHOOSE PROMIFIED!!!
REVISION
After we took out the j* logo, widened, darkened, spaced, re-spaced, tweaked, fine tuned, and revised the details, below is what we came to.
THE OTHER PAGE DESIGNS Now that the official layout is in place. Here is a look at why i designed the pages the way i did. I wanted the site/pages to feel cohesive, i wanted to carry the idea of images from left to right all through the site.
STARSTRUCK PAGE: I love when magazines have articles about people, places, and experiences they tweak/tailor the designs to the particular individual. That is exactly want I wanted to do with these pages. Each couple has a unique story, shoot, and thank you phrase, so i really wanted the layout to be slightly different, like you were flipping through the pages of a magazine.
FEATURED IN PAGE:
This page was really important to me, because what better way to get a magazine vibe across, then to actually display magazine covers? This page really carries the aesthetic of an editorial vibe. As visual people its great to actually see and experience the magazines that she has been featured in instead of just reading a list of them.
ABOUT JASMINE:
I wanted this page to give the viewer a little image break…. and let Jasmine talk. We all love what Jasmine has to say, so I wanted these pages to be about the content and not the images. I love the page about her faith and the page about her husband. Amazing and so cute.
DOCUMENTARY:
I wanted to carry the visual feel again from left to right and fill in the visual space. Anton does such a great job breaking up the video in visual sections, so i think this layout really complements his videography as well. I added a black strip around the video for a dark “in the movies” vibe. I chose screenshots of the video with colors that were most consistent for each video. This gives a wide screen movie look.
LIFE IN THE INBETWEEN:
This is one of my favorite pages, mostly because its really interactive. It relies on the viewer to make decisions and move the cursor around. Jasmine and I decided that her old “life in the in between” section, has been there and done that. But she loves giving brides and clients an inside scoop into who she is as a person and she really wanted to share her life in a new way. I could not get the product layout out of my mind. I really pushed for this concept, changing it and tweaking it so it worked for her items. The best part? Any showit user can do this technique with the Captions settings in their software. Nothing fancy was used for this. Ummmm… awesome!!! Wow! I had no idea. Go Showit! Huge fan, right here.
CONTACT:
Inspired by a subscription card. DONE! phew
Jasmine is such an amazing and intriguing person. I really enjoyed getting to know her better through this process and getting an inside glimpse at her life and business. I really love her high quality taste and strive for excellence. Jasmine has been such an inspiration to me in these past few years. She has indirectly encouraged me that there is a DIFFERENT way of doing things, a better way. She has proven that there is a need for a strong female presence in the business world, AND KILLED IT! And she continues to work creatively, effectively, out of the box, and still manages to inspire others and love people. Sheesh. Can we all get a little more of Jasmine around the world? hhaa. I am very thankful that I have a solid, successful, Godly, and interesting woman to look up to. She doesn’t know it, but I definitely see her as a role model for my life… and I don’t think I have ever had one of those. haha. So this website design was a little more than a normal design project. And i am very thankful.
HOLLLA!!*
p.s. If you widen your web browser (pull up bottom right corner) next time you are on her website… you will see some hidden photos of her on a few selected pages.
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:29 am
sweet prom!
August 23rd, 2010 at 9:01 am
This looks amazing. You did a wonderful job!
August 23rd, 2010 at 9:14 am
It’s all so gorgeous. Great job!
August 23rd, 2010 at 9:22 am
you worked so hard on this project!!! so proud of you!! we love that Jasmine and JD too!
August 23rd, 2010 at 9:41 am
I love you. Seriously. THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!!
August 23rd, 2010 at 11:07 am
I think the ShowIt crew wishes they could clone you and let you design all our web sites
This is fab Promise. Great work…and how fun it must have been to share in this with Jasmine!!!
August 23rd, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Promise…Jasmine’s website is amazing!! You are amazingly talented in what you do!!! I loved it. I love the playful feel about it and it was really easy for someone like me, who is not real computer savvy to navigate through. I feel like I know alot about who Jasmine Star is by her website. Jasmine and you obviously worked well together. Excellent job. So proud of you!! And you are always so willing to share your secrets. I hope your blogging buddies appreciate you. Your are a special, gifted and generous artist! Love you.
August 23rd, 2010 at 12:14 pm
I really enjoyed her site, especially all the little nuances that you paid attention to and presented in such a fresh manner! I am working on my first Showit site right now, and I LOVE the software! I have a background in design/Flash, but now I am doing photography full time. I just can not keep up with the demands of the changing web world. Showit seems to be my perfect alternative to keeping my site personal, but also SEO friendly & easy to update!! I used one of your “Styles” as a template, can’t wait to finish it! YOU are an inspiration to me as well, I love the art you bring to the world!
August 23rd, 2010 at 12:38 pm
You’re awesome Prom! Really awesome
I can’t wait to check out her website again after reading about all your extras!
August 23rd, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Promise, the site looks amazing, very clean and tidy, yet fun. I want to thank you for sharing your design process. For a beginner like me, it gives me something to aspire and look forward to
Be blessed!
August 23rd, 2010 at 5:35 pm
This is amazing – thanks so much for sharing! I hope one day you’ll Promify a website for me!!
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Love it Promise, so helpful for us beginner showit users, going to the site now to see it again through different eyes.
August 24th, 2010 at 6:55 am
Promise…
AWESOME and AMAZING job!!! You were very successful in merging the editorial feel with the web navigation.
I use ShowIt too, so great tip about the captions. Can you tell me how did you do the scrolling window? Is that the new intro for September?
I love getting an inside scoop into the thought process behind designs, so a VERY BIG thank you!!
August 24th, 2010 at 8:04 am
promise ~ wow ~ after seeing this i’m so excited to be working with you in the Spring!!! yipee
August 24th, 2010 at 8:17 am
Incredible article – incredible website! You are one creatively blessed woman Promise! Way to go… And thank you for sharing. You are an inspiration.
August 24th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
wow, just had to stop and leave a comment and tell you how AMAZING her site is and what an awesome job you did!!
August 24th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
you so totally rock dude! :-p
August 24th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
amazing post. I so enjoyed reading your thoughts on this creative process. you nailed everything I see as J*. great site. and I completely agree with you about her being an inspiration to so many people/women/photographers/etc/etc.
August 25th, 2010 at 6:45 am
Thank you for sharing your process! The design of J*s website was so spot on with her branding that it seemed almost effortless. It’s like you dreamed the whole thing up one night, woke up and knew exactly what to create down to every detail. Reading your blog post was extremely insightful as to what elements bore the weight of major decision making (like the menu and side scrolling galleries), and which elements fell into place afterwords. You probably already know this, but you are an INSPIRATION to all web designers out there!!
August 25th, 2010 at 9:14 am
LOVE her new site! and I love love love that you guys are going full throttle to the top of your creative profession and professing the name of your Lord! Your faith and art are absolutely inspiring!
August 25th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Promise, you’re amazing! I appreciate her site even more now that I know the behind the scenes thinking that went into it. I think you both achieved your goals!
August 25th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
I love Showit…… so much! And, like WOW, I love it even more. You did a ridiculously fabulous job on Jasmine’s new site. Way to go!
August 25th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
You amaze me! {and my daughter!}. I am attending the WPPI roadtrip and Jasmine Star will be there!! yippeee {shreeeeeekkkkk!} I’m really looking forward to it…. hope your days are filled with many blessings!!
August 26th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
i really loved reading this behind the scenes look at jasmine’s website. not only did you do an incredible job, but this was sooo helpful to think about as i think through new things i want to do with my site. you rock!!
August 26th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Promise….it is truly awesome! I have no idea how you did the constant slide show & stops when hover over it….genius!
I’m looking forward to seeing your showit stuff…..I will be on the lookout for sure (in the design styles, eh??).
You are incredible!
August 26th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
YOU ARE A GANG-STAR! Love you broke down the process.
August 27th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB!!! Love, love, love!!!!!!
August 28th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Promise oh my what talent, thank you so much for sharing the design process, from concept to inspiration, very intrigued of how you work, I am no way near anything graphic designy but so admire it especially when it relates to brand,I can not wait to hear about these new show it features, so excited and my question is so are you offering show it website design or blog design? if so can you email me info and prices? I would love to revamp in future
love it, oh the vertical is so cool, I am a big fan of Sarah Rhodes blog and this has that vertical feel, very chique
August 29th, 2010 at 4:10 am
You are amazing! Your talent is mind blowing, really.
Loved hearing how the process worked. Loved how you Promified it!
Big time fan of Jasmine and big time fan of you!!!
September 6th, 2010 at 10:32 am
Promise!
You never cease to amaze me!! I love the work you have done on Jasmines website!! I am so super excited to get my started with you!! Your talent is literally one of a kind and I enjoy seeing your work being utilized everywhere!! You did a bang up job!!!:)
September 15th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Love the new site. I also have “text over image” which Mike Colon speaks about a lot in his DVD’s (four day workshop). I do love that fashion editorial look and Jasmine’s blog is great for the double page spread look. I think this new site really compliments the blog design perfectly. Well done.
September 16th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Thanks so much for sharing your design process! I love looking at your work, but as a graphic design student myself I am learning so much more by seeing how and why you make the decisions you do. It is exciting to see what kinds of things designers in “the real world” get to do. Again thanks for sharing! You are an inspiration and your work is lovely.
(p.s. I also tried making an easy custom CD cover that I saw on your site and it was awesome. great idea!!)
January 12th, 2011 at 7:08 pm
For someone who loves behind-the-scenes and making of featurettes this article and your work is an absolute joy. I found a new favorite to add to my creative inspiration list. Thanks Promise. -Robert
January 19th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
Great article on the design of Jasmine’s page. I’ve always loved her web site. I have been starting to get more and more into photographers websites and blogs. Really interested in checking out the platform that showit offers in the future!
January 29th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
“~~ I am really thankful to this topic because it really gives useful information ~*:
March 1st, 2011 at 10:22 pm
um… you are so helpful and I am thanking Jesus for you at this very moment.
March 31st, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Jasmine Starr’s site has been a huge inspiration for my blog, and this post was a gem to see the mastermind behind the design.
April 11th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
I can honestly say… I have NEVER seen such a beautiful site!!! It’s exquisite! So feminine and polished looking. Obviously, you both have very good taste. I am also so happy to see such successfu women not afraid to speak of their faith. ♥
Thank you for sharing the thought process the two of you shared in designing the site… Very generous!!
Cheers,
Kari
October 2nd, 2011 at 12:04 am
This site is my inspiration, real excellent design and Perfect content material.
November 13th, 2011 at 2:08 am
its firs date to this blog, its nice ! keep work…..