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Read more about Comic Book News UKStagg Support
Stagg Support is a new start-up company aimed at providing customised support packages that cater to the specific needs of people with disabilities. Their services can range from just a few hours per week to round-the-clock, 24-hour assistance.
They support adults with learning disabilities in all aspects of their lives, in their homes and community. The owner, Dan Stagg, has 12 years of experience working in support care, including managing services. He wanted to start his own business having grown disillusioned with other companies. Stagg Support is the place where his standards are not targets to be met; they're the bare minimum that people can expect.
Process
The initial input I received was, "I want blue and don't be afraid of colour", so that's what I started with. I came up with three designs.
- Each page is split into sections with different shades of blue as backgrounds.
- Big blocks of either white or blue backgrounds, along with colourful background bars to highlight selected text.
- A single vibrant blue as a highlight colour.
Playing around with a few variations, and the third option came out on top for me and also for Dan. It was clearer, more crisp and "looks smart".
For the About page, I wanted a quote from Dan to be near the top, expressing why he's started Stagg Support and what sets it apart from the rest, along with a picture of him for a more personal touch.
The Contact page includes a form and an email/phone number. The idea behind this is that the email address listed is a general one - one that can be checked by many staff. The form will be emailed to Dan directly.
Challenges
Finding a look that suits the brand that Stagg Supports wants whilst setting it apart from the websites of similar companies was the biggest challenge. Too many give off too little or far too much information that doesn't seem meaningful or easy to navigate.
The aim was simple but effective. Give people information that relates to what services are provided and what clients can expect from Stagg Support whilst also aligning with Dan's requirements of being transparent. It's open and to the point, with enough information for potential clients to know what is offered and why.
Finding a look that takes into account the requirements of being colourful without going overboard was something that I had to start with, so I went a bit overboard on colour. I found that to be a great starting point to work backwards from rather than adding colour later. Taking away until you find a look that works for all involved was the right choice.
What images to use also took a lot of consideration. I considered using doodle-type images for one version, but it didn't look very professional. Using stock images of disabled people seemed a bit wrong, and it's tough to find ones that suit - and putting actual client's faces on the website wasn't an option. Instead, we went with one of Dan on the About page, and the rest are smiling, welcoming pictures of how Stagg Support should be portrayed. This is a different company, one that wants to look after staff as much as they look after clients. Happy staff helps towards having happy clients. So let's portray that through the few images that we placed on the site.
