Website Design Blog. Evoart

Ever wanted to design something with real character? A business site that can look totally different from the usual corporate website we often have to work on? A site where you don’t have to stick to pages and pages of brand guidelines? Well this month we’re going to be taking a look at a design that is exactly that. The design of ‘Lightning 100’s Team Green‘, a website that quite simply oozes character.

For us designers sometimes it can be frustrating having to design predominantly white sites week in week out and an absolute god send when a site with very little restrictions, or an exciting colour scheme comes along. In this months ‘Design in the Sportlight’ the Team Green website has definitely got to be one of those sites.

First impressions

According to the ‘about’ page, this company are “commited to uniting their listeners with the outdoors, by sponsoring and implementing outdoor activities.” I think its safe to say that from the landing page you immediately get the sense that these guys have something to do with the great outdoors.

Thats half the battle won In my oppinion. So many sites fail to hit the visitor over the head with the obvious when they first land on the page. Straight away with ‘Team Greens’ website you have a pretty damn good idea that they’re not your average business. 10 out of 10 in that respect.

So, how does the design achieve this?

Carefully chosen Colour Palette

What connotations do green and brown have? Thats right, nature! The other main colour, a woody red also gives off the same woodland/outdoor vibes, but it also helps give the site more depth by the way its used behind the main parts of the site.

I think this site proves how important a carefully chosen colour palette can be and what assumptions it can lead a visitor to make about your company, or brand. We shouldn’t just open Photoshop and start choosing colours at random, but really think about the feelings they connote as all colours tend to strike certain feelings.

Exciting imagery

The banner on this site is brilliant and demonstrates very effective use of great photography combined with subtle Flash animation. Its not overpowering at all, but gives the site that extra little something to make it more interesting. Personally Im a huge fan of Flash used in this way, rather than some ridiculously overpowering effects that some designers insist on using. Less is definitely more where this is concerned.

Image treatments

This site has it all. Page curls, eroded textures, subtle shadows, paper textures, paper clips — the list goes on. Each little treatment on the images, the background and the logo go a long way to giving this site that unique look and feel that it has definitely achieved.

What do you think?

I really like this design, but what do you think? The Team Green site possibly runs the risk of seeming a little cluttered, but I think it gets away with it. The rustic, outdoor, natural feel definitely create a clear image of the company from the moment you land on the page and lets not forget, the site is very easily to navigate, and to find the information your might be after.

If your a designer and the opportunity comes along to design a site like this. Grab it by the horns! Opportunities to design sites with as much character as this can be few and far between.