Armadillo Merino

The first design is probably our favourite, and we experimented with different backgrounds which could have been applied dynamically.  Our idea was that the site user could customise the site from a range of backgrounds to suit their own style.

Within these designs there are subtle changes to the way the navigation highlights for example and you can see this in the next four screenshots.

The next designs were more landscape based and the advantage of this was that we could minimise the amount of information needing to be displayed below the scroll line on a standard sized monitor. 

This, however, created a real estate problem and we felt this was a little too restrictive given that we wanted to maintain the large dynamic image to catch the attention of the site visitor.  It also minimised the number of capture points for the user to interact with the shop element of the site.

The client preferring the landscape version we then experimented with some different treatments of this, and added in some eye catching icons to draw attention to different areas of the site.  More focus was placed on education of the consumer to the benefits of merino wool, and the direct links to product areas within the shop were removed.

The final version of the site which can be seen in the next three screenshots (and also online) was then created containing a dynamic slideshow of images showing the product being modelled and also in action.  This can be added to as time goes on by the client.

From a back office perspective, the entire site was built using the Magento ecommerce system.  We  integrated the site with the cloud based Xero financial system and the client's stock control system, together with integration of various social media channels which the client can update through a single interface.