Not So Shabby
Brand and Web Design
Project Overview
Brand and web design for a client in the estate/moving sales industry. She has a thriving business and is looking to strengthen her online presence through a new website. Project focused on bringing client’s vision to life through a customized brand and web design as well as preparing the design file and collaborating around developer handoff.
The Problem
Families going through stressful times such as a death in the family or a relocation find it difficult to manage the logistics of the transition themselves and/or find a company they trust to handle it for them. They’re worried about paying for a service that might not be conducted efficiently or transparently.
The Solution
Create a style and design that fosters trust and provides a welcoming experience for users by including personalized content and warm colors/imagery. Ensure company values and testimonials are highlighted in the design.
Background
My client, Not So Shabby, provides estate/moving sales services, and typically works with families who are going through a large transition such as a loss in the family or a relocation. She has active profiles on Facebook, Instagram, Google, and estatesales.net, and is looking to increase her online presence through a website that represents her brand and business.
Not So Shabby also plans to post her upcoming sales on her website as well as on estatesales.net to keep her potential clients and customers informed.
My Role
Brand and Web Designer, Project Manager
Clients' Roles
Provide feedback, develop website
Team
1 Brand and Web Designer
Client: Not So Shabby
2 Developers
Tools
Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Google Suite, Zoom, Jira
Timeline
8 weeks, including onboarding
Design Process
Discover
Define
Draft
Design
Test & Handoff
Brand Inspiration
My clients were very aligned with the vision (in terms of visual style) for the design. Dave (the Developer) provided me with a photo of a sign that Linda (owner of Not So Shabby) uses at her estate sales and they requested to incorporate the colors and aspects of the graphics into the design. I noticed the sign in quite a few photos that Linda sent me over the course of the project, and kept in mind to integrate that theme in order to create a cohesive brand.
Matching Graphic from Adobe Stock
Image of Not So Shabby's Sign
Brand & Style Direction
Design Prototype: Key Features
Clear headline that addresses clients' potential pain points. Also includes a catchy photo and a clear call to action.
Automatic slideshow with images from past estate sales provide an interactive experience and showcase past work.
Upcoming Sales are highlighted and include the dates, description, and a map (will be embedded on the website).
Client focused values that foster trust and transparency along with testimonials from previous clients.
Services page highlights the free consultation. Header and image make this information easy to find.
Friendly invitation to reach out on contact page. Visitors can fill out a quick online form, call, or email Not So Shabby.
Developer Collaboration & Handoff
The final steps of this project involved preparing the design prototype file for the website build in WordPress, and collaborating with the developer to ensure a smooth handoff. This included:
-
Organizing and labeling the pages, components, and visual assets in the design file.
-
Sharing the design file with the developer and making sure assets are accessible.
-
Sending relevant instructions to the developer and answering questions during the support period.
Visit website: Not So Shabby Estate Sales. Per scope of work, I was not involved in the development of the website, but included a 2 week support period in which I
I was available to answer questions about the design file/handoff process. The developers and client kept the visual style and most of the written content. They made a few small changes to the layout as well as some of the images and written content.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed working with Not So Shabby on this brand and web design project. It was a collaborative process, and my clients were very open about sharing information about their business, goals, and style preferences.
The most rewarding aspect (and also the most challenging) was bringing my clients' bold and bright design vision to life. Classic, elegant, and minimal designs come more easily to me and this was a new style to try. That said, I'm eager to continue expanding my ability to design for a wide range of audiences.
I found that carefully listening to my clients requests and feedback along with aligning the style across colors, voice/language, typography, and graphic elements helped me create a consistent design that truly aligned with their brand.
Thank you!
