Blue Escapes offers luxury vacation villas throughout the Caribbean. With that type of business, and the fact that the owner, Hunter Butler, was named one of the Top 50 Villa Rental Specialists by Condé Nast Traveler magazine in 2008, it was time to give Blue Escapes a much needed facelift.

By focusing on font usage, Caribbean colors, awe-inspiring images that make you say “I wanna go there,” and high-end sophistication, Blue Escapes has become the premiere vacation specialist for islands like Anguilla, St. Thomas and Tortola.

Heres a quick glance at the before and after. See details below.

Before:

• The large logo, elementary colors, clip art usage and heavy text advertised the locations on offer as Caribbean “deals” vs high-end luxury getaways.
• The website lacked a strong conversion driver per page. The phone number and email address alone were too passive for immediate action.
• Photography usage didn’t showcase the amazing villas Blue Escapes has to offer. Because the images didn’t include captions, the user couldn’t easily get detailed information about a villa they were interested in.
• Overall, the website didn’t feel special, warm or Caribbean-like.

After:

• The colors and images used represent the ocean and landscape surrounding the Caribbean islands.
• Adjusting the logo size and color presents Blue Escapes as an intimate company and puts more emphasis on the villas.
• Having the email, phone number and contact form on each page increases conversion rates and makes it easy to get in immediate contact with Blue Escapes.
• Using a caption on each villa image creates a direct avenue for prospects to explore the site further.
• Large photos instantly draw the audience into the website.

See more after images.

When beginning this project, we were shown the University of Texas School of Law’s latest faculty brochure along with the faculty brochures from their top competitors. Given a budget, tight deadline and major effort on our client’s part to provide us with copy and quick feedback, we ended up with a stellar piece that not only met all their requirements but was easily remembered by recipients.

Heres a quick glance at the before and after. See details below.

The former faculty brochure served the University of Texas School of Law well, however, we saw the need for improvement. In our minds, their former piece didn’t stand apart from the rest of the faculty brochures being distributed by top law schools in the nation. Since the University of Texas School of Law had an impressive 11 new faculty members, we wanted to make sure that messaging got top billing.

• Typical layout with copy wrapping image.
• Square format adds postage cost.
• Saddle-stitching bindery and coated glossy paper feels mass-produced.

• 9 x 3.75 dimension stands out in size, cuts printing costs and can be mailed in a #10 standard envelope, saving on postage.
• Sewn bindery makes the piece feel custom and personal.
• Embossed cover adds prestige and gives the piece tactility.
• Inside layout dedicates a spread per faculty member with die cut tabs emphasizing each faculty member’s importance.
• Translucent cover paper and uncoated interior paper gives the overall piece a boutique feel.

Read more about this project or see images below.

We started by updating UBSki’s logo and redesigning their posters, which get hung all over college campuses promoting their vacation packages. The poster design greatly influenced the website design in order to enhance their brand awareness.

Here’s a quick glance at the before and after. See details below.

• UBSki’s old website was full of random information and graphics which made it difficult for the user to concentrate on the main message.
• Navigation was partially duplicated on the top and side and was inconsistent from page to page. This made it difficult for users to navigate around the site.
• The trip date and information was overwhelmed by other site content making it difficult to see what UBSki offers.
• The styling of the fonts varied in family, size and justification. This made the website unclear and unprofessional.
• We deleted all unnecessary content and cleaned up the design by placing important information into three visual buckets. In doing this, not only is the message direct but the UBSki difference is clear, putting them at an advantage over the competition.
• The trip date and information can’t be missed. With large type and framing graphics, the call to action in the middle of the page is clear and bold.
• Navigation is on the top only and is categorized in a concise, intuitive manner for ease of use.
• The font styling is consistent throughout the website and offers a balanced hierarchy that helps the user digest the information presented.
• The graphics hint at what the site is about while creating an excitement for UBSki’s services.
• The design appeals to a youthful college crowd while staying professional and true to a “snowboard” lifestyle.
• Adding features like the social media links help UBSki become more relevant and engaging for their current and potential customers.

See more after images.