UMBRASOLUTIONS

Condé Nast- BRIDES

Umbra — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:09:43 +0000

Our friends at BRIDES Magazine required an up-datable “added value” promotional website, to complement the magazine, and be consistent with the presentation of brand. After consulting with the client, we established a punch-list of the following site functionality requirements to ensure the optimal representation of their product.

Solution requirements:

Promotional web site (www.BridesFirstLook.com) that provides the user the ability
to search for events, promotions, advertiser products while visiting Brides.com
Client ability to edit and publish most content utilizing WYSIWYG editor
CMS build with Multimedia capabilities:
- Flash
- Video
- Music
- Slide show
Online video service setup and customizing
User demographic data collection
Events Section with RSVP functionality
Integrated Forum set up and customization
Social network brand integration
SEO Optimization
Browser Compatibility:
- IE 7+, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Chrome
CMS User Guide and Training before launch

Team Umbra meticulous addressed each of the clients site requirements, as well as presented new concepts that led to a successful launch to the satisfaction of the client.

The live website can be viewed here: bridesfirstlook.com

If you have any questions or would like to learn more,
please fill out our contact form and a representative will be sure to reply.

Fitness Outfitters

Umbra — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:47:22 +0000

The Fitness Outfitters team came to us in need of an online e-commerce solution for the home gym, and commercial gym divisions of their business. They also required the website have the ability to not only process orders, but also track of inventory.

After consulting with the client we decided the best approach would be to focus on the company’s over 40 years of fitness industry experience, with a focus on their people-centric approach to fitness. The resulting website messaging features three high profile FO clients, as well as a their community health endeavors.

The live website can be viewed here: fitnessoutfitters.com

If you have any questions or would like to learn more,
please fill out our contact form and a representative will be sure to reply.

Tiffanychanelle.com

Umbra — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 22:44:21 +0000

Our client Tiffany Chanelle, a commercial print and television model, wanted to update her online presence as well as provide her potential clients the ability to view her work… as they would if the had her book. Fter consulting with Tiffany, we proposed a flash-based solution that virtually mimic’s the page turning effect that a person would experience when perusing a models folio. Tiffany was very satisfied with our solution which has been very successful for her.

The live website can be viewed here: tiffanychanelle.com

If you have any questions or would like to learn more,
please fill out our contact form and a representative will be sure to reply.

Kueit

Umbra — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:43:49 +0000

The Kueit team was in need of a multi-language point of purchase, and demonstration website, to launch alongside the release of their updated professional audio triggering software. After consulting with the client, we established a punch-list of the following site functionality requirements to ensure the optimal representation of their product.

Solution requirements:

The redesign of the www.kueit.com, utilizing current web standards ensuring optimum SEO
Provide creative design services for overall look and feel of the site
Work closely with client to ensure client satisfaction with site aesthetics
Integrate a dynamic visual element highlighting the “benefits” of the Kueit software beneath the masthead
Build a translation system that will work across the www.kueit.com website and store
The translation engine will detect the native language used by the end user’s web browser and display said language
The translation engine will work for the following languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian

Team Umbra meticulous addressed each of the clients site requirements, as well as presented new concepts that led to a successful launch to the satisfaction of the client.

The live website can be viewed here: kueit.com

If you have any questions or would like to learn more,
please fill out our contact form and a representative will be sure to reply.

2010 Solution: The Simple

Umbra — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:09:52 +0000

The financial maelstrom that has devastated established organizations and reshuffled the deck of the who’s who of corporate titans, has presented the surviving companies with an all too real dilemma — how to connect with existing and potential customers who have lost confidence in service providers and the capital to acquire those services.

Corporate Americas creative departments have for the most part responded with a collection of concepts that the Getty Images Creative Research Department has identified and aptly titled “The Simple .”

The Simple is the result of sensationalism in publishing that occurred at the tail end of the crash/bailout of both the financial and housing markets. Consumers were bombarded with images insinuating dark days ahead, of breadlines and tent cities, conjuring fears of the dark days of the past. The disengagement of consumers caused by this sensory overload has led the most astute companies to one unified thought — they must restructure their advertising message to reflect the cultural shift. I define this move as a transition from Hi-Tech and luxury to Hi-Touch and people-centric frugality advertising.

Concepts of “The Simple ” [simply put].

1. Unvarnished

Avoiding the use of verbose copy or embellished art
Use of “real People” and not the “pretty people”
Use of organic lighting

2. Immersive- Close cropped images influenced by facebook and flickr reportage aesthetic.

3. Sensory- As a society we are inundated with technology and images associated with the advancement of the human condition. Image that stimulate or speak to any of the 5 senses draw attention to messages that otherwise would go unnoticed.

4. Green = Good- Companies are picking up the green baton in an attempt to convince consumers that they are socially responsible. Being Green is being virtuous, a good citizen.

5. Elemental- Focus on the specific details that offer benefit.

6. Retrospective- “the good old Days”
Use of black and white images, poloroids, celluloid textures, anything that triggers nostalgia and something that lasts.

7. Comforting- Old patterns, familiarity and pets.

8. Recentering- Refocus priorities, People centric

For a more detailed explanation of The Simple, please download the official Getty document here.