The Internet is rapidly becoming the Telephone Book of the 21st Century....(Who writes this stuff?) At Central State design Concepts we firmly believe the internet will have replaced most print advertising with-in the next 100 years. Because of this CSDC has expanded its services to include web design and production, as well as web brokerage services.
Since we have only recently begun in this aspect of graphic design, our portfolio is kinda scant at the moment, but you can get the idea of what we can do.
Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Committee Newsletter
The Historical Society of Ocean Grove
Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Committee Newsletter
As part of our work, we are occasionally asked to produce newsletters for various organizations. CSDC is a proud member of the Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and we were asked by the Chamber president to produce an on-line e-mail news letter for the Volunteer Committee of the Chamber. (The fact that our company president heads this committee may have had something to do with this.)
The focus of the newsletter was to thanks the Chamber members who volunteered during the winter and spring seasons as well as to showcase the events held during that period. We think, because of the positive responses we received, that we achieved this goal. As a courtesy to the Chamber CSDC hosts the bi-annual newsletter on its own web server.
Since 2001 the Walt Whitman Poetry Festival; held in Ocean Grove, NJ; has been sponsored by the Historical Society of Ocean grove. As of 2006, the festival became a separate entity and the event founders asked CSDC to design a web site for the organization.
The event founders wanted a site similar in flavor to the one designed for the HSOG catering to a specific target audience. While the HSOG site has a diversified audience, that of the Walt Whitman Poetry festival is geared towards a target audience that is college or university educated, is in the literati of the Eastern United States, specifically of New Jersey and is of an upper middle to upper class socioeconomic group.
The site design was kept basic, using a color scheme similar to that of the HSOG site. Some interactive features have been added including an e-mail submission contact form. The site also boasts information on Walt Whitman and john Boroughs, who frequented Ocean Grove, as well as a history of the community. While the site is still growing, the bottom line is - Another Happy Customer of CSDC!
At a meeting of the Ocean Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, the owners of the Bellevue Stratford Inn asked CSDC to redesign their web site. They felt the site they had was not producing the number of hits they wanted and they were dissatisfied with the service they were receiving on their web maintenance. They also wanted a site with a little more punch.
After touring the hotel and discussing their target audience, we decided to keep the site layout basically the same as it was, but to use frames with custom designed scroll bars, add color and also a Flash presentation to the banner.
In the first month of publication the site received over 500 additional hits, however, we at CSDC felt this was not enough. The site was submitted to numerous search engines as well as to web directories. We are just waiting for the results now.
Piancone's, a local Italian restaurant specializing in regional cuisine (and one of our favorites) asked up to redesign their web site. They liked nothing about the site they currently have, so we took up the challenge.
Since we go there quite frequently, we know the atmosphere, the target audience and just about everything there is to know about the place so this was an easy one. After speaking to the owners, we got an idea of the style of web site they were looking for and proceeded from there.
Presently, the site is incomplete, awaiting approval from Piancone's owners, and is comfortably resting on the CSDC wen server, however, you can get an idea of our varied styles and capabilities by looking at the client's composite. Manga!
The Historical Society of Ocean Grove
As part of the overall Corporate Identity and Branding Package CSDC is creating for the Historical Society of Ocean Grove, we were asked to redesign their web site. The former site had been created by a volunteer force and, while it had served its purpose initially, it was lacking in continuity, ease of navigation and content.
The HSOG asked us to design a site which would reflect the Victorian flavor that Ocean Grove is known for, as well as being clean and contemporary. The main concern, however, was a site which could be easily navigated and accessible to the large senior citizen population. They also wanted added content describing the various historic landmarks through out the community, biographies of the individuals who were preeminent in founding the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting and regular updates.
We analyzed the former site, developed three different site layouts, reorganized the content, developed an easy navigation system and created templates for easy site updates. The site has been designed so that it can be changed seasonally including a Christmas site and can have content added easily.
The site includes some interactive features however, was kept to a very basic format to accommodate the target audience. (Many of the site's visitors are not computer savvy and it was the client's wishes to keep the site easy for them to view.) We feel we accomplished our goals and met the client's needs quite nicely. (We celebrated out achievement with a game of croquette.)
The Historic Village at Allaire
Our first major web design was for the Historic Village at Allaire. The Directors and Trustees of Allaire Village, Inc. felt their initial site was not financially beneficial, producing the desired traffic or promoting the Historic Village's special event programming, retail operations or other diversified services.
Since CSDC's redesign and publication of the present site for the Historic Village at Allaire, site traffic has increased by approximately 350% per annum with on-line purchases of special event tickets, retail sales and additional services producing an increase of approximately 570% in the first year.
Ya we do that. If you want to get innovated there is no better way than Flash presentations. You see them all over the internet in banner ads, as Splash Pages and and as part of site content. Flash is even used for corporate presentations , product demonstrations and company information displays. (Ever go to the store and see those little TV screens telling you about the latest innovations in the Pocket Fisherman? ‡ FLASH!)
CSDC can design your Flash Presentation, web site, banner ad or product demonstration based upon your needs and the needs of your target audience. (Remember though, Flash may not be appropriate for your needs.) We'll be happy to sit down and discuss your vision and target audience's needs and come up with a real spiffy Flash design for you. (Do people still says "spiffy?") Just give us a call. (732) 774-5516.
