Trinette + Chris are commercial photographers based in San Rafael, California as well as authors of countless dreamy, bright, and meticulous shoots. When we first browsed through their site, we couldn’t stop swooning over their lovely images and got lost in the warm, nostalgic narratives that they create. Let’s just say that when we found out Trinette + Chris were in need of some design work, we were beyond excited and may or may not have done a little dance at our desks in anticipation.
Using a treatment template they had created themselves a while back, Trinette + Chris felt it lacking the same impact their images carry and the sexy sophistication of their brand. That’s why they asked us to design a Web Template Customization for them—one that would carry the refined elegance of their brand but would also be easy to use, update, and reuse, again and again. After discussing the types of content they wanted to include in the template and sending us some copy to include, we pulled some placeholder images from their site and got to work.
We chose to create the template in Adobe Illustrator since it would give us a lot more flexibility and superior design capabilities to Keynote, Word, or Powerpoint. After trying out a few different formats, we ended up going with a landscape orientation, which would display best on clients’ computer screens. We focused on keeping the design elegant while clean and infused Trinette + Chris’ orange and gray color palette throughout. The title page lets their logo be the hero, and identifies the client for which the treatment is being presented. Next comes the ‘About Us’ page with a nice photo of Trinette + Chris, as well as a paragraph dictating their vision and the way they work.
We also set up a grid for the inner pages of the treatment, with a consistent header and footer. This includes three important elements: a headline that dictates the content for that page at a glance, Trinette + Chris’ logo, and their contact information (phone number and web address) so the client can easily get in touch or see more at any point. These elements also come in handy in case one page gets separated from the rest. Even then, the client will know who this treatment is from and how to get in touch with them.
Recognizing that the ‘+’ in Trinette + Chris’ logo presented a unique opportunity that we could incorporate in a more clever and playful way throughout the template, we used the ‘+’ in place of bullet points wherever we could. These kinds of subtle details really help a brand come to life and take on a distinct personality.
We obviously needed to have project inspiration pages to showcase images, ones that would be particularly appropriate for that particular client.
We also included a page where Trinette + Chris could recommend specific locations for the project at hand.
Next came a page for testimonials from past clients, and a cost estimate page, breaking out each element of the project into individual line items, followed by a page for a proposed project schedule and one for terms and conditions.
Finally, we included a page for the client to agree to the proposal and sign, and then wrapped up the treatment with a contact page. We again utilized the ‘+’ to tie in the branding and paired it with the sentiment “We’re looking forward to working with you.”
Trinette + Chris were pleased with the results as well and had this to say about the experience:
We recently used the design services at Wonderful Machine for the first time. It was a really great experience for us. Melissa did such a great job, we were really impressed with the design she came up with and how smooth the process was. It really helped us take our branding to another level. We really appreciate having that kind of support at Wonderful Machine, it’s one of the many great additional services that they offer. Normally we would have to go out and find a designer which seems like so much work, it’s a huge benefit to us to be able to hand that off to Wonderful Machine and have it done well in such a short amount of time. We are thrilled with the results.
We love working within brands and helping to infuse their identities into new marketing pieces. This project was no exception. Not only was it a pleasure to work on, but the concept of a custom treatment is a great one that we’re sure will serve Trinette + Chris well. Keep in mind that any client can come to your website and look at your images, but preparing a unique treatment and going the extra mile to tailor it specifically to the client at hand will show your commitment to the finite details and that you’re willing to go above and beyond.
Take a look at Trinette + Chris’s new site here.
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