ZEBRA & JOJO PHOTOGRAPHY
PROJECT TYPE:
- BASIC LOGO DESIGN
- PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE DESIGN
INDUSTRY: BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY
Silke Dietz is the owner of ZebraJojo Photography, a brand photography studio based in Singapore. I met Silke through the local chapter of Rising Tide Society, and was so impressed with her work, I reached out to her to take my brand photos. (Which turned out amazing, by the way! I couldn't be happier! ) She in turn asked me to redesign her website, and move it from Wix to a self-hosted WordPress site. I couldn't wait to dive in and collaborate with her, as her old website & brand identity were not serving her well.
MOODBOARD
Although we were basically keeping the same colour palette, I softened the yellows and made them creamier, and also darkened the grey. The slightly higher contrast is still easy on the eyes, while staying true to the reasons for her brand name (Zebra for the contrast between light and dark, and Jojo (Japanese for butterfly) for its fragile colourful beauty. And that is also why when we had to choose one symbol for her brand, she chose the butterfly.
LOGO DESIGN
STORYTELLING THRU BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY
The only one in Singapore to exclusively specialize in brand photography, Silke is well-known for her unique storytelling approach. She doesn't just take headshots, she tells her clients' stories through her photos. And that is why we decided it should be the main theme for her website.
HOMEPAGE DESIGN
Her homepage starts with a slider that looks like a moodboard, complete with washi tapes! I loved this idea, although I had misgivings at first (fearful that it might make the site look "crafty" instead of elegant). But I was the first to admit that I was wrong. It's perfect for the message that her website is trying to convey, and shows just what makes her different from ordinary portrait photographers. Also, it's a perfect way to convey her attention to detail, which is evident in everything she does.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF HER WEBSITE
I cannot begin to enumerate all of the special features and details that we included in the website. Aside from moodboard-style collages, tropical leaf shadows, the luxurious use of white space, clean typography, unique (but clean) layouts, we also included a client portal for her clients to see and download their images straight from the site.
It helps that Silke herself has tons of amazing headshots and behind the scenes photos, and that she looks like a model! We used these all over the website; selecting each image carefully to show not just her range, but also a good mix of colours and poses.
I think my favourite feature is the way her portfolio is laid out, or what she calls 'Brand Stories'. They're not just photo albums, they are case studies with a good mix of images and stories. I created templates that she can easily duplicate for all of her future posts. It's one of the most impressive portfolios I have ever seen - Silke is a perfect mix of talent and tactics.
It was great collaborating with such a smart and talented creative like Silke, and I am so proud of the website that we launched! Do check it out! This definitely ranks in the top tier of my Best of 2020 projects!
Here's what Silke had to say:
"Sometimes I just look at my website to fall in love with myself. I remember the moment when Pat sent over the first draft, I sat with goosebumps and butterflies in my stomach as I was blown away. A website is the essence of every business and therefore utmost important. Pat is not only the most creative person I know (and the bar lies high as I know a few working in this field) but she also understands the functional side of a website which in the end is even more important. What good is a pretty page, if it takes ages to load? So if you are looking for a trusted web designer who’s bubbling over with ideas whilst being one step ahead of the latest technology, look no further. Call her!"
