Strings+Attached

= = =**Strings Attached Music Store**=

Address: 3 Main St. Streetsville ON L5M 1X4


 * Colour**
 * Dark colour scheme – sets a mood, seems visually attractive and elegant
 * Limited colour palette – black, grey
 * red used for mailing list subscribers ß draw attention, also placed on home page

- Trebuchet font size 9 for body text 16.5 for titles “Welcome to Strings Attached” - Body font is readable but could be bigger
 * Font**


 * Images** –
 * “the corner music store” atmosphere—the first image we see on homepage
 * Images placed consistently in header of each page
 * Images of customers and employees attached at the bottom of pages as well (see Contact, Recording Studio, Repairs)


 * Tagline** –
 * “Welcome to Strings Attached” – more inviting than “Lowest Price guaranteed”
 * “lowest price…” sounds aggressive à more interested in sales than customer experience


 * Graphics** --
 * background--gestural/ rough ink work creates visual image of place—creates visceral experience
 * Conveys idea of art, free expression etc.
 * Use of tilted font : “Strings Attached Music Shop”—creates visual interest
 * No use of animation, videos, live content
 * But links change from white to grey when mouse rolls over (shows some interactivity)
 * Website is overall very static


 * Concept**
 * Strings Attached has a RECORDING STUDIO!
 * also has a Google maps direction—makes it clear for customers on how to locate store
 * Not available for LA Music
 * LA music seems large and overwhelming in comparison (like a warehouse, not a store)
 * Strings Attached has a consistent layout –not overwhelming with information
 * Strings Attached has a limited amount of links --> Directs viewers, you don’t feel lost
 * Website ambiance creates a more “local”, approachable feel—
 * customers may interpret this as more of a service oriented place than LA music, which appears more product and sales oriented
 * Consistent look and feel in other **social networking**branches (Tumblr, Twitter)--
 * **Social networking information:**AREA OF INTEREST/CONCERN**
 * **Strings Attached-**Twitter} utilizing social networking power
 * Tweets 139
 * Followers 582
 * Following 1727
 * Display image is of store –creates visual familiarity
 * **LA – Twitter**
 * Tweets 38
 * Followers 0
 * Following 0
 * Display Image is logo—very stark and authoritarian (logo also varies from website—creates confusion


 * Weakness of Strings Attached**
 * Large blocks of text (in conjunction with small font) turns off reader
 * Lacks content compared to LA Music, which appears more comprehensive (helpful to customers)
 * No prices/images of products listed for Strings Attached
 * Social networking aspect– strings attached doesn’t have a YouTube link (LA Music does)
 * Spelling errors on certain pages could make customer question credibility (LA seems more professional in this regard)
 * Strings Attached – Facebook “likes”: 386
 * LA – Facebook 904 “likes”
 * No information about how to pay (ex. Visa, PayPal, MasterCard etc.)
 * Certain links do not work (see email addresses under **Contact**) and you cannot copy/paste information either (to pass onto others)


 * Benefits of our proposal**
 * Our redesign should aim for greater accessibility
 * The guests should feel welcomed to LA Music, not overwhelmed with information
 * We want to change customer experience/response to the site by making visually appealing
 * Design elements to consider are:
 * Colour scheme
 * Font
 * Brevity of links and sub-menus


 * Other things to consider:**
 * What do their current business cards, letter heads, envelopes and stationary look like?
 * Is there consistency?