Portfolio Web Design
Platinum Millwork
A Web portfolio showcasing Platinum Millwork’s 40 years of passion and experience. Platinum Millwork manufactures and installs thousands of custom millwork pieces, putting their combined skills and their genuine love of the craft into every project.
| Year 2019 |
Role Web Design / Developer |
The problem
Platinum Millwork’s current website is outdated and fails to effectively showcase their 40 years of passion and experience in manufacturing and installing custom millwork. The outdated design and lack of user-friendly features hinder their ability to engage potential clients and accurately represent their exceptional craftsmanship and dedication to the craft.
The goal
The goal of this UI/UX design project is to revitalize Platinum Millwork’s online presence by creating a modern and visually appealing website that effectively communicates their expertise and showcases their extensive portfolio of custom millwork projects. The new website should not only reflect Platinum Millwork’s passion and experience but also provide an intuitive and user-friendly browsing experience for visitors. By enhancing their online platform, the aim is to attract potential clients, build trust in their brand, and ultimately drive business growth for Platinum Millwork.
Target Audience
Name: Michael Johnson
Age: 45
Occupation: General Contractor
“I rely on a company’s website to get a sense of their craftsmanship and expertise in custom millwork. A visually appealing portfolio with detailed project descriptions and high-quality images gives me confidence in their ability to deliver exceptional results.”
Goals
- RMichael seeks millwork manufacturers with a strong track record and a wide range of capabilities to meet the diverse needs of his projects.
- RHe prefers websites that showcase extensive portfolios, allowing him to evaluate the quality and variety of millwork projects completed by a company.
- RHe appreciates websites that offer high-resolution images, enabling him to assess the craftsmanship and precision of the millwork pieces.
Frustrations
- QMichael is frustrated by outdated websites that do not accurately represent the capabilities or quality of millwork companies.
- QHe finds it time-consuming to navigate cluttered or poorly organized websites, as it hinders his ability to quickly assess a company's suitability for his projects.
- QMichael dislikes websites with low-quality images or limited project information, as they make it challenging to evaluate the craftsmanship and attention to detail of millwork companies.
Michael Johnson is an experienced general contractor who frequently collaborates with millwork companies for his residential and commercial construction projects. He values quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and reliable delivery of custom millwork pieces. Michael is busy managing multiple projects simultaneously and relies on efficient online research to identify potential millwork suppliers.
Digital wireframes
Usability study
The objective of the usability study is to evaluate the effectiveness and user-friendliness of Platinum Millwork’s website design, identifying areas of improvement to enhance user experience and drive customer engagement.
Navigation
Participants found the website’s navigation intuitive and easy to use, allowing them to quickly access different sections and browse through the portfolio. The clear and consistent menu structure aided in finding specific project categories.
Visual Appeal
Users highly appreciated the visually appealing design of the website, particularly the high-resolution images showcasing the custom millwork projects. The aesthetically pleasing layout and attention to detail helped convey the company’s dedication to craftsmanship.
Project Details
Participants expressed satisfaction with the level of detail provided for each project. The inclusion of comprehensive descriptions, materials used, dimensions, and challenges overcome during construction added credibility and helped users assess the quality and suitability of the millwork pieces.
Responsiveness
The website’s responsiveness on different devices, including desktops, tablets, and mobile phones, received positive feedback. Users commended the seamless and consistent user experience across various screen sizes, ensuring accessibility and usability for a wider audience.
A Portfolio to match your Work
Platinum Millwork has manufactured and installed thousands of custom millwork pieces for years and they needed a portfolio that would look as good as the projects they were building. The portfolio had to be clear and simple, so as to not distract from their artwork.
Before
2019 version
Mobile Friendly
The original Platinum Millwork site wasn’t easily accessible on mobile devices. They had a lot of beautiful photography from their previous projects, they just weren’t presenting them in a modern medium.
Photography
Platinum Millwork needed to showcase all the photography they had taken over the years in a simplistic portfolio. They had so many examples of their work but were not using every example in the most presentable way. We felt by incorporating their photos into as many sections on the site as possible, we could communicate to users how prolific and high-quality their projects were.
Mockup
With the understanding that the artistry of Platinum’s work was the focus of this project, we concluded that the best way to showcase their craftsmanship was to integrate their extensive collection of photography into as many aspects of the website as possible.
An issue that most online portfolios have is that they can create a visually stunning site that distracts from the work itself. By incorporating photography into the background of the website, we treated the work how it was always intended to be treated – Art!
Designed in Adobe XdDeveloping
Platinum Millwork handles both commercial and residential projects – it was vital users became aware of these options as soon as possible. From here, the user can discover projects within that umbrella and browse the relevant photography.
Project Category
Project View
Gallery View
Photography View
Takeaways
Impact
The redesigned website for Platinum Millwork will have a significant impact on users by providing them with an immersive and user-friendly experience. It will effectively showcase the company’s craftsmanship and expertise in custom millwork, helping users make informed decisions, gain trust in the brand, and ultimately drive increased engagement, leading to potential business growth for Platinum Millwork.
What I learned
Through the process of designing this project, I gained valuable insights into the importance of crafting a visually appealing and intuitive website that effectively showcases Platinum Millwork’s craftsmanship and expertise. I learned that high-resolution images, detailed project descriptions, and easy navigation are crucial in enhancing the user experience. I also recognized the significance of responsive design across different devices, ensuring seamless accessibility for a wider audience. Incorporating client testimonials and case studies proved to be a powerful way to build trust and credibility. This project reinforced my understanding of the significance of user-centered design principles in creating a compelling online presence for businesses in the millwork industry.