When designing a website we use a comprehensive 10-step process which consists of the major facets of the design process. We know the importance of having a clear overview of what is needed, and if you are unsure of where to start we encourage you to take some time to provide the requested information where applicable.
Your answers, which upon submission will be emailed to us, will provide the foundation necessary so that we can create a website that will best represent your business and design preferences, as well as expedite the design process which saves both time and money. Thank You.
(1) Website Purpose:
Check all that are applicable, and leave those blank which do not interest you at all.
To gain a favorable impression of the company or organization
To encourage potential customers to contact us by phone or email to consummate a sale
To provide information about our business/organization
To make available product information and price lists to distributors
To sell products directly taking credit card information over the Internet
To strengthen brand identification
To entertain, educate, or express our perspective
Other
(2) Website Organization:
Of the following "typical" pages, check all that you are considering for your website, and leave those blank which do not interest you at all.
contact us (email contact form w/ autoresponder)
privacy policy
frequently asked questions (faq)
company services / free services
site map
company news / events
employment opportunities (with or without contact form)
company directory / sales contacts
company location (embedded map and address)
customer testimonials
about us / our story / company history
customer list
press release
suggested sites / link exchange
customer service / tech support
blog
product listing / pricing
guestbook
terms of use
photo gallery
Please indicate the additional pages that you are considering for your site.
Total number of additional pages not indicated above.
(3) Masthead Graphic / Header Design:
The top of the page will typically have a header design that will incorporate the company logo, company name, and a tag line. Of the following which header design best matches your preference?
Classic header design with logo at left or centered with company name
Photo or graphical header image design incorporating one image with company name
Collage header design incorporating different photos or illustrations with company logo, and name
Header with Flash animation
Other
(4) Navigation System:
There are many site navigation options. Following are some of the most common options, check all that you are considering for your website, and leave those blank which do not interest you at all.
Basic horizontal Text Links, below header and/or at bottom of page. The only truly cross-browser compatible option.
Search Engine. Useful on larger sites of 20+ pages to help visitors quickly find what they're looking for.
Basic vertical Text Links, left or right side of page. This is often used when there are columns of text info/layout content, and to provide additional navigation for larger sites.
JavaScript/Dhtml Navigation System. This allows for sub-menus for multi-page websites. A variety of different visual options are available.
CSS Text Links. Allows for mouse-over effects such as underlined, not underlined,
underlined top and bottom, italic, bold, color change, and size change.
Frames System. Typically, a fixed frame remains on the left side to provide navigation while the right frame page content changes.
Flash Text Links/Buttons. Text links can be designed in most any font, and we offer a modest selection of stock flash buttons and will design one for your site if desired.
Internal Frames System. Often used to convey content that is changeable and scrollable within an existing page.
Graphical Standard and Rollover Buttons. These can be developed as non-animated or with javaScript
for impressive rollover effects.
Forms Menu. Developed in Dhtml and JavaScript, with or without "go" button and background color.
Text Links within a Table with a Rollover color. Often utilized with CSS to convey the look of a button by changing the table cell color upon mouse-over. Text color/style can also change.
Image Mapping. Used to make a graphical image linkable through "hot spots" so that sections of a page's larger graphic are clickable.
Slide Menu. This allows for a navigation menu to remain mostly hidden until mouse-over.
Flash Navigation System. This allows for sub-menus for multi-page websites. A variety of different visual options are available.
Other
(5) Basic Page Elements:
Web site colors, typeface, text content, and copyright/trademarks.
(a) The colors of your website pages need to work with your existing logo/header design colors if applicable, and need to function in harmony with each other. Complimentary colors are ones which are either tonal opposites such as blue and orange, or are ones of complimentary values...such as winter colors, fall colors, spring colors, etc. If you have a color preference please indicate them below by name, rgb, or hexadecimal value.
preferred colors in palette?
(b) Do you have a typeface preference? We recommend Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, or other san-serif font to ensure readability.
typeface preference:
yes
no
your preference if applicable:
(c) Please provide the proofed written content for your web pages; preferably by email in word or notepad format, or on a diskette formatted for Word for Windows. If needed, we can translate from most word processor formats with ease including Word Perfect, Works, etc. If necessary we can assist with copy editing.
Do you have all the text content needed for your pages?
yes
no
(d) Copyright and trademark information will be added in small print at the bottom of the home page and/or every page as requested. What registered trademarks, and service marks does your company want to indicate?
(6) Photos and Graphics:
Photographs and graphics provide the necessary visual interest to keep a visitor's attention while browsing your site content. Typically 2 or 3 images per page is ideal for most sites. (Our contract includes a statement that you own the copyright to, or have permission from the copyright owner to use any photos or graphics you send us)
(a) Do you have the images needed for your site?
yes
no
If you need images, please describe your preferences:.
Photos can be provided either by sending the photos themselves for us to scan, emailing them in high-resolution format (tiff, psd, pdf, bmp, png, eps, jpg, and gif for graphics) or by sending the images on a diskette or cd. Email of photos is always best when possible for sake of expediency. If needed, E. Curtis Designs can provide quality photos for limited use or purchase. Stock photos can also be purchased online from one of the many picture archives.
(7) Animations:
Animated GIF Images, Shockwave "Flash" Animations, and Java Applets are three ways to provide visual interest to a site. Typically we don't recommend gif animations, though on some sites in certain uses they are very effective. Flash animations are often used as a site intro where text and images move to convey your message, as a header design, or as a page accent. And Java Applets can be used to create unique effects otherwise not possible. Of the following please indicate your preference if applicable.
Gif Animation
Flash Animated Text
Flash Intro
Flash Animations
Flash Header-design
Java Applet
(8) Sound, and Video:
Sound can be incorporated either as an MP3, MIDI, or as streaming Real Audio for music or voice. Sound can also be applied to buttons, used in flash animations, as a background, or in a jukebox. We have a modest collection of button sounds, audio loops and midis available, and can acquire one specific for your site as needed. Video can also be applied to a website, and while we don't design video animations we can incorporate Windows Media Player, Real Media Player, and Quicktime movies on a site. We can also convert these video formats into flash for optimized video streaming with player controls, and we can both design powerpoint presentations for use on the web or convert an existing one into flash format. Of the following please indicate your preference if applicable.
Midi Background Music
Flash Music Loop
MP3 or Midi Jukebox where visitors select a song
Quicktime, Windows, or Real Media Player
Real Audio Voice
Flash Video Conversion
Streaming MP3 Music
Powerpoint for Web or Converted to Flash
(9) Additional Considerations:
Following are some other common site inclusions and services that we offer that you may want to consider. There are many, many choices, but following are some of our favorites. Please indicate your preference if applicable. (If you are interested in a CMS "Content Management System" please contact us to inquire about all personalized options available)
Guest counter, text or graphical
Password secured area
Form effects, highlight, chained selects, accept terms, etc.
Forum page which allows for visitor comments
Pop-up windows, on-click or mouse over
Right-click disabled, prevents image stealing
Dynamic text; words change on time or date
Visitor Poll
Dynamic text scroller; horizontal or vertical
Ad / Banner rotator
Photo slideshow with or w/o transitions
Animated banner for web promotions
Calendar
360 Panorama of images
Clock / Date; local and/or world
Quizzes
Background transitions
Games - hangman, arcade, trivia, etc
Title bar / Status bar message
Shopping Cart
Mouse trailers and custom icons
Documents converted to PDF
Custom right click menu
RSS news feed
Animated tool tip / Post-it note message
Newsletter/listserv
Random image or page per day / month
Chat / Blog
"Bookmark Me" link / bookmark icon
Other
(10) Shopping Your Competition:
It is also advisable to look at your competition's websites and others that you specifically like and let us know your stylistic preference. Three sites you especially like and feel would work well with your company concept:
Site One
Site Two
Site Three
Please indicate as specifically as possible what you liked about each site. please include observations on navigation, page layout, color palette used, header design, animations if applicable, and other content you found effective.
Your Full Name (required)
Your Email Address (required)
Your Phone Number
On behalf of my company/organization I am authorized to engage E. Curtis Design to construct a website, and I authorize E. Curtis Designs to use this Client Worksheet as the basis of the project.
It is very helpful if you can initially email or mail your company's logo, letterhead, brochure, etc. so we can see how you present your company image. If possible please email a high resolution color copy. Attachments should be provided to us by direct email at info@ecurtisdesigns.com, thank you.
You may also send your resources (images, brochures, documents, etc) in cd or dvd format by US mail, UPS, FedEx to our physical address:
E. Curtis Designs
1624 Eldridge Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95815, USA