Frogsworld website – Just hop to it!
Pixelwave Web Design has recently released a new website for a long-standing client. Rather than spend days in the planning and consultation phase, it was decided to simply get something out there and see how it develops. Frogsworld is very much a project in progress and is likely to evolve into a very different beast over time.
This isn’t an approach I would normally recommend as in most cases the planning of a project is probably the most important aspect. Making sure the objectives of a website are well defined and developing strategies to achieve the objectives within the various constraints of usability, branding, technology, time and budget are essential steps in producing a website and they are usually paramount to the success of the website. In this case, there were no clear objectives or plans, so simply getting something up and running was the main priority, allowing my client to start experimenting to see what direction he wanted to take the site.
In a way, Frogswrold is a personal hobby site for my client so there were no real pressures or constraints as far as the project was concerned. At the moment, the site looks as though it will be using art to highlight topics relating to conservation and the environment, both promoting awareness of environmental issues and promoting the artists involved, but who knows, it may lead to something bigger.
The website was built using an open-source Content Management System and a template. Pixelwave Web Design customised the template to fit the needs of the website whilst maintaining as much flexibility as possible. The reigns were handed over to the client within a day or two of starting work on the site so that he could start ‘playing’ with it, adding content and deciding which direction he wanted to go with it.
Pixelwave Web Deisgn have been providing support and guidance along the way and will continue to provide technical support were required. I have a good, well-established working relationship with this client and often have long chats on the phone about various possibilities. Many of these ideas never see the light of day but with Frogsworld we just decided to do it and see what happens. If nothing else my client is having fun with the site and enjoying the process. I too have enjoyed the project so far as the lack of any real plans have had a slightly liberating effect! the website may have been quick and inexpensive to set up and may remain as a ‘hobby’ site, but in my experience, it is sites such as these, where the website owner is passionate about the content that often prove the most successful.
