This building firm required a website design that not only portrayed an updated appearance, but also one that spoke of the quality building services they provide. It was important that the various services provided be presented on he home page in a crisp and clean manner. The related photographs also needed to fully represent the type of work conducted for their clients.

The background of this website design uses a blueprint graphic design, created from an actual custom home project. This serves to immediately portray the theme of the website. This is crucial in grabbing the attention of the website visitor. In the day and age, companies have mere seconds in which to do so. The color palette of the website uses this blue tone throughout the site. This builds a cohesive visual experience. The site itself is built using the WordPress platform.

Below the header design, a large photographic slide show presents the web visitor with sample of the high quality work
provided by Suncrest Builders. WordPress offers a simple design interface, so that Suncrest is able to update this photo display in the future. That way they need not call upon Wicked Design to make simple changes for them. Using a large slide show is another strategy in capturing the attention of those who land upon the site. Visual imagery is an excellent way to leave an impression on those visitors.

Below the photo display are the four categories of the services provided by Suncrest: Custom kitchens, bathrooms, homes and living spaces. Each of these offer links to respective pages. These areas also display crisp photographs that reveal the level of quality that this company provides.

The footer area of this website design include social media links, affiliations and organization memberships. These lower areas encourage the web visitor to explore the website more fully, and engage with their brand. Effective website design needs to accomplish several things, as noted. It not only must be attractive, but also convey a tight and relevant message that leaves an impression on the viewer. All of these features drive additional business for the firm.

Is your company, or organization, considering an updated online presence? Are you seeking to fully leverage today’s technology in ways that increases awareness for your brand or cause? If so, Wicked Design will be happy to provide you with a free consultation. We have helped dozens of Loudoun firms with designing and developing successful websites. You can learn more about our website design services here: wickedesign.com/services/website-design.

Using the combined philosophies of  their class teachings was an important underlying goal in the development of their new logo. Some of the keywords shared during the initial design meetings included strength, core, flow, colorful, original and traditional. It was also deemed important to have the company name be a major component of the final graphic.

With this knowledge in hand, we created a set of original designs for the company. Several different designs were developed for the initial review. The client chose components of those designs that they found attractive, and jettisoned those they did not care for. During the second set of logo designs, we began to get closer to what Loudoun Pilates had in mind.

Our process of creating corporate logos follows this path of submitting several review sets, with each concept containing a unique approach. While the underlying key goals, or words, are kept in mind, various approaches offer the client a wide perspective of design possibilities. Sometimes, up to five sets of reviews are submitted to the customer to allow a broad spectrum of choices.

Early in the design review process, the customer sided with the notion of concentric circles. In subsequent deliveries, we began to focus on this approach.  In the end, the chosen design, seen here, represented what the client had in mind. The ring components emphasis core, or inner strength. The color variations pull the eye toward the center of the design. This not only highlights the company name, but also supports the theme of growth and inner focus.

The faded areas of the rings also draws an ascending line, which helps to signify growth and forward progress. At the same time, the fading effect helps to soften the rings, and the overall design. Centrally located is the company name. The word Pilates features a slightly more heavy impression which immediately conveys the intent of the new company moniker.

Is your company or organization in need of a new logo? Perhaps you need to refresh the one you have. Learn more about our logo design services on our related page: Wickedesign.com/services/logo-design. We’ll be happy to schedule a free consultation and explore with you what is possible.

Wrap yourself in school spirit

Spirit Blankets is a Loudoun County company that markets and sells custom school spirit blankets. These blankets are embroidered with students names, logos representing their sport or extracurricular activity and the school icon. The warm fleece construction can be work at games to demonstrate school spirit in style. The company needed a website design that was not only easy to use and accessible from mobile devices, but also one that allowed online orders to be placed with customization features.

Wicked Design went to work designing a website that met all of the criteria while serving student bodies across Loudoun County. With three schools currently supported, students and parents can order blankets that meet their exact specifications. Included are Woodgrove High, Valley High and Legacy All Stars. Drop down menus offer the web visitor the school choices. Once the specific school blanket page is loaded, the customization options are are presented in a clean and simple manner.

Dozens of school activity and sport icons can be chosen that will be embroidered on the blankets. The students name is entered in the appropriate field and then the order can be completed. The website then sends the selected information to PayPal for purchasing. The blankets cost around $65 dollars each and are usually manufactured within a few weeks.

Commerce enabled websites such as this allow the business owner to focus on operating the business, instead of taking phone calls during the day. Because the Spirit Blankets website is available around the clock, orders can be taken directly from the online store without interrupting business critical operations. Once an order is placed, the business received the orders via email. The email message specifies the exact order specifications, which includes not only the names and icons, but school colors.

Designing websites that provide online purchasing can be a tricky proposition for designers. They not only have to be attractive and simple to use, but also work accurately 100% of the time. This can carry a large responsibility for the web designer and programmer. The platform used in this case is WordPress. The platform offers a great deal of flexibility with a light weight front end to make the entire purchasing experience as pleasant as possible.

WordPress also supports easy updating as the company expands. In the future, Spirit Blankets plans to add several more schools. In doing so, the drop down menu of school choices will need to expand. Beyond that, school choices may need their own menu selections divided by County. WordPress is well equipped to allow for this sort of expansion.

Does you company or organization also required a website with commerce functionality? We at Wicked Design will be happy to schedule a meeting to listen to your goals. We’ll then created a detailed proposal that includes specific visual designs, a schedule and a project quote. To learn more about our website design services, visit our website development page. We hope to hear from you.

It is generally not legal to download and use images, photos and artwork that you happen to find using online search. Even if a piece of content had no copyright information, it does not mean it can be used. In this day and age of ever increasing technical prowess, a copyright owner can quickly search the internet to locate where their property resides, especially in places where it should be.

For example, Google Image search allows you to simply drag a photo onto the search page and discover where else it resides. If you the individual can do this, image what a Fortune 500 could do. However, this is not the real reason not to “borrow” content from the web without permission. It is simply illegal. Even if an image or photo is marked as Creative Commons, it does not explicitly allow you to use it on your site, or in your printed media.

Being a content creator myself, I have a full understanding of the hard work involved in website design, logo creation and the construction of print media. My livelihood depends on my ability to create unique pieces of art and design. The same can be said about your livelihood. We all work hard to be productive and pursue happiness at the same time. However, we certainly don’t want others taking credit for our work.

Even if you are not using someone else’s image, or design, for commercial benefit, it likely still cannot be used for your organization, group or personal endeavor. Using copyrighted material on Facebook remains a gray area at the moment. However, the laws are starting to change.

The rule of thumb to follow is:

1. You created the image or design media being used.

2. You hired an artist or photographer to produce content for you. This assumes you have the right to use the work they produced. Always check.

3. You licensed a photograph or image and have the legal right to present it within the copyright agreement.

These words of advice also flow into use of fonts, background images, cropped photos and other forms of media. Content that is explicitly marked as public domain can be used without having any agreement, but read the fine print. Material and content produced prior to 1923 can be used, and media prior to 1977 without a copyright notice can also be used. However, we are only Wicked artists and not lawyers. Do confirm your rights to be sure.

In summary, you should strive to protect yourself, but also pay for the things you use in life (though the best things are free :).

Places to obtain stock photography, artwork and images include the following:

http://www.istockphoto.com

http://www.shutterstock.com

http://www.gettyimages.com

Needless to say, Wicked Design also provides photography services in the Loudoun County and mid-Atlantic regions.

This holiday graphic design features a likeness of 21st Street in Purcellville, Virginia. Located in western Loudoun County, our small town is an ideal place to spend the holidays.

  For release Tuesday, December 11, 2012

For further information, contact:
Jim Bowman, PBA President
Laura Longley, PBA Marketing Chair

Purcellville Business Association Announces Initiatives New Website, Logo, and Promotions to Add Membership Value and Increase Participation

Purcellville, VA, Dec. 10, 2012-The Purcellville Business Association (PBA) today unveiled its new logo and website. PBA also announced major initiatives for increasing the value of PBA membership and drawing more area businesses into the organization.

“On behalf of the Purcellville Business Association Board of Directors,” said Jim Bowman, president, “I’m delighted to launch these initiatives, which we’ve been developing over the past six months. We’ve also changed our name-from Purcellville Business & Professional Association back to its original, shorter title: Purcellville Business Association. “But what we’re most excited about is the flexibility of the new website because it provides so many new ways for members to participate and benefit from PBA,” Bowman added.

Among the Purcellville Business Association Initiatives are:

New Online Benefits for Members

• Guest blogging for members on the PBA website and Facebook page, with link to PBA’s LinkedIn page and weekly PBA Update! email.
• Directory links to members’ websites
• Photos and video posting to website events albums
• PBA Member badge for members’ websites

Display Promotion (paid)

Sponsorship Banner: Home page banners feature the month’s four website sponsors – business owner/representative at business location with caption. Sponsorship will also include a feature business profile and links to sponsors’ website and/or Facebook and LinkedIn page. Beginning January 1, 2013.

Business Card Promotion (paid)

• Business Card Corner – Home page feature offering card placement in a rotation of 5 cards per month. Beginning January 1, 2013.
• Business Card Page(s)- card placement available to members beginning Spring 2013.

Members and Nonmembers

• PBA Update! – a weekly news and events email now available by subscription
• PBA LinkedIn Group-a great place to contribute to the conversation.

The new benefits, above, are in addition to PBA’s current benefits package, which includes:

• Quarterly networking mixers held at area businesses
• General meetings/luncheons the second Tuesday of every month but August.
• Speakers and panels with subject matter experts
• Seminars and workshops on new business skills

The Purcellville Business Association website and logo were designed and developed by Dave Levinson, WickeDesign, of Purcellville, with content provided by the PBA Board of Directors and Laura Longley, marketing communications chair.

The Board has retained Laura Longley Marketing, LLC to further develop PBA’s internet marketing strategy and content, as well as day-to-day management of the site, email, and social media.

To learn more about the Purcellville Business Association, membership, subscriptions, promotions and other benefits, please contact Jim Bowman, Daniel Abramson, or Laura Longley.

The Purcellville Business Association is an organization of businesses and individuals who come together to advance and promote the economic, industrial, professional, cultural, and civic welfare of Purcellville and Western Loudoun. Together we grow our businesses, voice our opinions, and plan for our future.

Attached: PBA Logo and Website examples.

]]> https://wickedesign.com/blog/loudoun-interior-design-3d/ Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:23:16 +0000 http://wickedesign.com/?p=1606 Our clients often want to present what-if design scenarios. Using real world props and materials for this purpose can be expensive and cumbersome. Using 3D tools, conceptual interior design can be accomplished virtually. Doing so save time, money and resources. The added benefit of using 3D for design is that the model can be viewed from any angle, it can be presented with any type of lighting and use fabrics and materials within the design.

The goal of this Loudoun project was to present a bedroom with all aspect of interior design before any furniture or accessories were purchased. The project began with a photography shoot of the actual bedroom. Various angles were captured to obtain the best presentation, allowing the room design to show in the best manner possible. Once a photo was chosen, it was imported into a 3D modeling and rendering program. The captured image was then used as a backdrop to ensure proper alignment when designing the 3D objects. The photo below is the chosen angle for this purpose.

The 3D modeling began using a specific list of furniture, the rug and room accessories selected by the Interior Designer. The objects were recreated in 3D. Photos of the chosen materials were then applied to the 3D objects, to provide the most realistic result possible. In this case, a photo of the rug was applied to a square plane object that rest beneath the bed. The wood bed frame uses a particular type of wood, while the pillows and cover are represented with specific materials. Special attention was paid to the colors to ensure that the whole room flowed. The vases on shelves match the end table lamps, and carry forward the warm quality of the beautiful wood floor.

After the 3D scene was modeled, it was exactly matched to the perspective of the photograph. This was critical for making the final rendering look as realistic as possible. While doing so, the lighting factors in the modeling program had to match that of the photograph. The example below does not yet feature the proper perspective. To accomplish this, the 3D camera field of view was calibrated with that of the original photograph, seen in the final presentation (see image 3 below).

The image below shows an overlay of the raw 3D objects, presented in wireframe mode, combined with the rendered version. This further highlights the 3D design process for the purpose of demonstration.

The final rendering below shows how all of the steps came together. Note the difference in perspective of the bedroom set. The image above is somewhat isometric, while the image below features proper viewpoint registration with the room photo. Proper lighting has been applied to increase the realistic feel of the rendering. The vases and planters were modeled and placed into the final piece as part of the original interior design. The plants themselves were cut into place using Photoshop, as a final touch.

The benefits of this approach to interior design, or remodeling, is that many types of scenarios can be addressed before any real world object is purchased. The design can be reviewed from any angle, or time of day. Using 3D is a cost effective means to flesh out ideas well before large sums of money are spend to change a room.

Are you interested to learn how your project can benefit from this design approach? Wicked Design would love to hear from you. Contact us for a consultation and we’ll bring your vision to life: info [@] wickedesign.com or 703 470 6029. Whether you live in Loudoun County, or Hong Kong, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more about the Graphic Design services offered by Wicked Design here: Graphic Design and 3D Modeling.

Using 3D and animation saves resources and time by allowing the new space to be completed in the mind. In doing so, errors can be caught, oversights discovered and a complete sign-off from the client. Learn more about the Loudoun Graphic Design services that we offer: 3D Modeling and Animation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/43034929″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Meeting the design needs of a client can be challenging. Especially when the design will be used to represent a product that the client depends upon for their livelihood. Great care must be taken to properly summarize requirements and turn them into designs that will help promote, and ultimately sell, products. These must be eye catching, meaningful and pleasing to look at. When products sit on shelves, they compete directly with many other similar products. Clean lines, bright colors and relevant design components must be used to effectively communicate quality and passion. Without properly addressing these concerns, the graphic in question can fail a product.

The Above Ground Winery label featured in this video represents the first wine bottle produced under this name. Therefore, this Loudoun County winery is counting on high sales to help launch a full line of wines. Based in Purcellville, Virginia, the owners have been making wine for many years. Learn more about the Product and Graphic Design services offered by Wicked Design: Wickedesign.com/graphic-design.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/6tp0SqZPDTM”][/vc_column][/vc_row]