Overview

Pretend is an agency on a mission to make motion graphics accessible to everyone. They achieve this by providing straightforward service and fast project turnaround. Instead of requiring you to learn motion design or edit intricate templates, Pretend handles the entire process for you. While they do offer options for more complex videos, their primary expertise lies in efficiently producing ready-to-post content that you can have on hand whenever you need it.

I was the lead designer on this project for three months, working in collaboration with graphic designer Justin Valdez.

Research

At the project's outset, we initially envisioned designing a web application for motion graphics. However, as we delved deeper into understanding the client's objectives, we decided on a more traditional website. My approach to each project starts with a series of fundamental questions to establish a clear understanding of the client's brand and target audience. This process allows me to identify the aspects that resonate most with their goals.

Our journey proceeded with a comprehensive competitor analysis, where we thoroughly evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of similar agencies. To refine the project further, we supplemented this analysis with a simple style guide and mood board. This allowed the client to provide valuable feedback on the website's visual identity and overall look and feel.

Ideation

We wanted to explore every option, casting a wide net to ultimately distill down to the most vital elements. Drawing inspiration from various agency websites, we promptly generated multiple wireframes and mockups. The client's primary goal was to ensure clarity and simplicity on the website, making it effortless for customers to discern the type of content the agency offered and understand the process for making a request.

Design

The most challenging aspect of the design has been optimizing the checkout process. Balancing clarity for both the user and the agency when handling project requests has proven to be intricate. It's important to acknowledge that customers may not always have the expertise to articulate their needs effectively. Pretend's objective is to streamline the majority of projects without requiring additional phone consultations. Consequently, the request encompasses all essential project details to facilitate the editors' understanding of customer requirements.

Validation

At present, the website is not yet live. The client has expressed high satisfaction with the progress made thus far, but they are deliberating their approach to development. Meanwhile, a fully completed prototype is undergoing internal testing to identify any potential updates or modifications before the final launch.