Wetherburne Homes Website Redesign
IDEAS2IMAGE worked with Wetherburne Homes to create a redesigned website that reflects the high quality of the firm’s custom homes. The site is driven by a powerful inventory management system, built by IDEAS2IMAGE.
Project Synopsis
Wetherburne Homes builds high-end custom homes for discerning clientele in Northern Virginia—but, the firm’s website needed a renovation. The elegant home designs that Wetherburne offers were hidden behind circuitous navigation and a dated interface design. IDEAS2MAGE examined Wetherburne’s business process, target audience, and marketing objectives; we delivered a website that is visually aligned with the Wetherburne brand, and purpose-built to streamline the firm’s site administration needs.
As with most of our clients, Wetherburne Homes first approached IDEAS2IMAGE to talk about updating the look of their website. After our initial meeting, it was clear to us that the problem was more than skin deep. Wetherburne’s business is structured around three elements: 1) home models that can be delivers; 2) communities in which custom homes are built; and 3) “Quick Delivery” homes that have been constructed and are immediately available. Yet, no practical system was in place to allow the builder to manage these interconnected elements within the context of the corporate website.
Experience has taught us to develop a thorough understanding of the client’s core needs before proposing any solutions, whether those be visual or technical. So, IDEAS2IMAGE spent time talking with the folks at Wetherburne to identify ways that we could streamline the administration of their new website. After analyzing their responses, we came up with an inventory management system that would act as the heart and soul of Wetherburne’s redesigned website.
This system allowed Wetherburne to create home models as unique elements, then assign those models to communities or Quick Delivery homes. Each of these components could be assigned a number of specifications. For example, the location of a community can be easily entered in the administrative area, which is then dynamically integrated with an embedded Google™ map.
Once we understood the how to solve the core needs of the firm, IDEAS2IMAGE began to create the look and feel of the redesign. During this phase, we conducted an audit of the Wetherburne brand to maintain a high degree of continuity with existing material, developed a color palette, and articulated the brand qualities that needed to be portrayed in the visual elements of the site. Working in an iterative manner with Wetherburne, IDEAS2IMAGE created and refined the interface designs and graphics that would be used on the website.
When the supporting plans and designs had been completed, IDEAS2IMAGE developed the HTML code, CSS styles, Flash animations, supporting graphics, and Administrative system. Wetherburne Homes announced the of launched their redesigned website with an HTML email to their existing clients and partners. The owner of Wetherburne said he was "very pleased with the result."
Process: Learn–Solve–Deliver
IDEAS2IMAGE consistently delivers superior websites, because we place a heavy emphasis on learning about the client’s core business needs early in the project. We identify functional requirements, constructing a development plan that will result in a successful project delivery. This knowledge is captured in a detailed project planning documentation that identifies specific milestones and project expectations.
Over the course of the project, IDEAS2IMAGE performs in a consultative role to solve the communication and technical challenges of website design. We determine the proper brand presentation, visual design, and information architecture for your project. Our iterative approach to development gives us the ability to exceed our client’s expectations.
IDEAS2IMAGE employs a modular approach to development. Each discrete component (i.e. design, application module, or animation) is developed so that it can be independently modified, while continuing to function within the context of the larger project. This maximizes flexibility and allows us to deliver efficient systems that achieve the client’s objectives.
