Absract

Parker’s Plug Hub website was entrusted in our design team to bring together businesses in different industries under one roof. This website features comprehensive service pages, custom forms to assist visitors with their decisions, and a dynamic blog allowing Parker to write at his will about any business.

Smooth was engaged in December of 20th, 2023 to create a branding package around Parker’ Plug Hub, a website, and set up a Google Workspace tenant to store files and to take advantage of branded email.

The order of projects were as follows:

1. Branding

   1. A catchy, fun name to

   2. Core brand colors

   3. Brand colors for each subsidiary that coordinate with the core brand

   4. Logo design

   5. Typography

   6. Branding guidelines book

2. Website

   1. Service Information

   2. Cohesive, modern design

   3. Accessible from desktop, laptop, tablet, and/or phones.

   4. Lead forms

   5. Contact Information

   6. Google Reviews

   7. Blog

   8. About Section

3. Online Workspace Setup

   1. Purchase Domain

   2. Apply domain to Google Workspace

   3. Setup users and Google Workspace tenant

This project was incredibly interesting to our team of designers as it posed a great challenge:

How do we elegantly combine multiple businesses under one umbrella in a fun, engaging way?

Branding

Naming

To come up with a name that fit this sort of endeavor we had to consider the businesses within the site. To keep it light hearted and fun we knew we needed some sort of alliteration or rhyming scheme.

After much thought we delivered a list of suggested names with a couple of featured favorites from the team.

Parker’s Plug Hub ultimately won.

The thought process is:

Parker’s - Owner name

Plug - Someone that provides hard to find items. In this case, a good insurance representative that works to find their customers good rates and is knowledgeable of coverage options, honest car repair and maintenance, and car sales that put you in a vehicle you love without pressure.

Hub - A hub of information, personal blogs, contact information. Somewhere Parker can send any client to find information.

Colors

We created a vibrant, colorful palette for each of the sectors of the business with a monochromatic primary logo that would work great on each subsidiaries color of business card.

We provided a comprehensive layout of how the colors relate in terms of readability. This ensures accessibility on the website and provides a reference for Parker to use later on.

Logo Design

Parker’s Plug Hub logo was designed with a a few thoughts in mind:

• Connection

• A-Z

• Directory

• Service

We accomplished a minimal logo that connects the word “Plug” to the top and bottom of the circle utilizing negative space to provide the ‘connection’ points and showing the website concept of one spot to retrieve all information on the various businesses.

Website Design

The Parker’s Plug Hub website posed a navigational problem.

How do we efficiently get people from the home page to the service they are interested in?

Websites should have hierarchy. This hierarchy should be present on every page, but also throughout the entire website.

The issue with the ‘hub’ style of website is that each of the subsidiary businesses have equal importance.

To allow for easy navigation we opted to use the subsidiary primary colors at the top of the home page in a horizontal scrolling card section. Each business is also listed in the navigational sidebar allowing easy, familiar access. The colorful cards also set a fun, modern tone to the site upon visiting.

The Bento Grid style layout of the whole website allows for a familiar, chaotic way of organization. Bento Grids are used to portray a lot of related information in one scene. The most important information in a Bento Grid is presented in a bigger container box.

The service pages all contain animated graphics for the service descriptions. At Smooth, we believe in showing through either graphics or real imagery the service that is provided. This creates a connection for the visitor of the website to the product or service.

At the bottom of the service pages, visitors can find either guided forms to find the service they need or regular contact forms for custom inquiries.

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that creating a unified brand identity and website for Parker’s Plug Hub would effectively combine multiple businesses under one umbrella while maintaining a fun and engaging user experience. We believed that a cohesive design strategy, incorporating vibrant colors, modern layout techniques, and intuitive navigation, would result in a website that effectively serves both the business owner and potential clients.

Analysis

Our team analyzed the unique challenges presented by this multi-faceted business model. We focused on:

1. Brand Cohesion - How to we create a unified brand while maintaining distinct identities for each subsidiary.

2. Navigation - Developing an intuitive system for users to access different services seamlessly.

3. User Engagement - Implementing design elements that would keep visitors interested and encourage exploration of the various offerings.

4. Accessibility - Ensuring the website was fully responsive and accessible across all devices.

5. Functionality - Incorporating features like custom forms and a dynamic blog to enhance user interaction and provide value.

Results

The implementation of our design strategy yielded the following results:

1. A catchy, memorable brand name that encapsulates the energy and feeling of the business.

2. A vibrant colors palette distinguishes each subsidiary while maintaining overall brand cohesion.

3. A minimalist logo design that effectively communicates the concept of connection and comprehensive service.

4. A website featuring a prominent Bento Grid layout that presents a wealth of information in an organized, visually appealing manner.

5. Intuitive navigation through color-coded cards and a consistent sidebar menu

6. Engaging animated graphics on service pages to illustrate offerings clearly

7. Custom forms to guide visitors through decision making processes.

8. A dynamic blog platform allowing for regular content updates.

9. Fully responsive design ensuring accessibility across all devices

10. Integrated Google Workspace setup for improved business operations.

Conclusion

The Parker's Plug Hub project successfully addressed the challenge of combining multiple businesses under one digital roof. By employing a strategic approach to branding and web design, we created a cohesive, engaging, and functional online presence that serves both the business owner and potential clients effectively.

The use of vibrant colors, modern layout techniques, and intuitive navigation has resulted in a website that not only looks appealing but also provides a seamless user experience. The incorporation of custom forms and a dynamic blog adds value for visitors and allows for ongoing engagement.

This project demonstrates the power of thoughtful design in solving complex business challenges. By creating a unified brand identity and an intuitive website, we've provided Parker with a powerful tool to showcase his diverse services and connect with clients across multiple industries.

Moving forward, the flexible design and integrated Google Workspace setup position Parker's Plug Hub for easy updates and potential expansion, ensuring the longevity and scalability of this digital solution.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​