The upcoming new hotspot off the pedestrian mall in downtown Iowa City, Share Wine Lounge & Small Plate Bistro aims to provide an elegant atmosphere, and an excellent selection of wines by the glass or by the bottle. The goal: to have a website that matches the atmosphere of the physical space, remains simplistic, and implores you to Sip, Swirl, and Share.
Update: 10/04/2009
ShareWineLounge.com now showcases the new website designed by Capo Lavoro. It features slight crosshatch side panels with black accents and a clean content container. All text is very legible in the container, and images take on new life. Some pages feature a rotating image banner, while others display a static image.
We built their new website from the ground up to be clean, simplistic, and user friendly. The website features easy navigation, emphasis on content and images, downloadable PDF formatted breakfast, lunch, dinner, and wine menus, map and driving directions, as well as an online reservations form for easy dining accommodations.
Services Utilized
- Table-less HTML/CSS coding
- AJAX image rotator
- Photoshop graphic manipulation for the banner and navigation bar
- PHP coding for contact us form + online reservations feature
- Hosting provided by our Server Farm in Chicago
Going on four years since a major update to their website, Hotel Vetro: Studio Suites and Conference Center decided it was time to get a new look and feel.
They wanted something new, something sophisticated to match their metropolitan feel, something fresh. They are going to get all that and more, with Capo Lavoro.
More Coming Soon.
Update: 08/31/2009
HotelVetro.com now reflects the new website designed by Capo Lavoro. It features an elegant background schema that coincides with their logo, a fading image reel on each page featuring highlights of their amenities, and a sliding pull-down menu at the top of any given page allowing quick access to booking information.
We built their new website from the ground up to be on par with their physical location in terms of style, with a large emphasis on increasing visitor usability. We increased the the size and visibility of the navigation menu, put photos center-stage with smooth fading between each, and made it a snap for their web visitors to make a reservation from any page.
Services Utilized
- Table-less HTML/CSS coding
- AJAX image reel and pull-down menu
- Photoshop graphic manipulation for the menu and navigation bar
- Graphic design for Iowa City Info image reel + Romance Package design
- PHP coding for contact us form
- Hosting provided by our
Desiring another scheduled revamp, M.C. Ginsberg’s in downtown Iowa City decided it’s time to bring on that summer vibe! They commissioned us to provide the banner for their jewelry and art for the body website.
Using Adobe Photoshop, we created a warm harvest feel background with bright text that matches the Iowa City Summer of the Arts colors. We created a green band behind the text to give it more emphasis. To bring the focus back to the fact that this location specializes in antique jewelry and custom jewelry design, we through in some large loose gems and diamonds.
Wilson’s Apple Orchard, run by the Goering family, is an icon to the local communities from the young of age to the old. Wilson’s Apple Orchard is one of the first field trips that many local students can remember, and the fresh produce they offer is top quality. They were ready to take the plunge into the world wide web and we were ready to help every step of the way.
We did the full immersion set, including:
- website design
- coding
- AJAX user interface enhancements
- PHP contact form
They now have a full web presence, simplistic and more brochure in function showing clientele what they offer, how, why, and a method of getting in contact.
Having a website can be one of the most profitable decisions you undertake for your business, increasing the awareness and being able to offer new and different types of services based on an internet-saavy customer base. If you are considering making the plunge, we invite you to take a look at examples of our work like what we have done for the Wilson’s Apple Orchard! We are ready to assist you in every way to make your transition to the web more enjoyable.
Working with Robust Recordings is always a joy. From sitting down with Neal O’flaherty, founder, to discuss utilizing the internet to reach his target market, to listening in on a band’s jam session. Everything revolving around Robust Recordings is fun, quality, and usually loud!
In working with Neal, we established a conceptual design for both his logo as well as his website, which required a “robust” wooden feel throughout. This was accomplished with the woodgrain textured record in his logo as well as encapsulating his website. The business cards were very simplistic, emphasizing the logo with contact details on the reverse side.
Double Sided Printing + UV Gloss
For the website, beyond just a wooden feel, some functionality was also desired. Neal has lots of sample MP3s he wanted to stream to website visitors, providing a sneak peak at his quality of service. So, we went about using the latest AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML for you geeks out there) technology plus some PHP backend scripting to create the Robust Music Player. Also, an easy contact form was desired so we created a simplistic contact details page, also using PHP.
Services Used:
- Logo Design
- Double Sided Printing of Business Cards + UV Gloss
- Website Design
- Contact Form Scripting
- AJAX-Powered Music Player Scripting
If you’re in the market for sound, don’t hesitate to give Neal a call! Having worked audio for clientele such as Atmosphere, The Devil Wears Prada, Blue Scholars, and more, Robust Recordings will add an entire new dimension to your sound.
Behold, what was old has become new.” Taking the information from Inner Balance’s old website, redesigning the layout into a more user friendly, eye-pleasing interface and re-inserting the text might sound easy, but it’s only after long hours that you get something truly amazing.
Taking into consideration the colors from their logo, we went about creating a clean, smooth, and welcoming website interface. This included hughes and tones in the images that convey warmth as well as tying them in with the logo. Using stock photography we were able to fill in some gaps as well as taking advantage of the images of their massage rooms and store location.
Desiring an easy method of contact, we also developed a PHP contact form for clients that prefer to use email as a contact method. This will automatically wrap up the message typed and package it as an email sent directly to their info@ibalancemassage.com email address.
We will be performing updates on this website as requested, so check back often, and when you need to relax, give Lauren Wipperman at Inner Balance Massage a ring!
In our continued work with M.C. Ginsberg, we developed a network portal landing page for all of their operations. This page, in conjunction with strategic advertising, will allow web visitors to visit each of their different departments available online – the primary website, the Metal Arts studio, as well as their online auctions.
We used a starscape design, emphasizing the “portal” aspect of the page. Feel free to navigate their network of sites. If you’re design enthusiasts like we are, don’t just stop at their website – check out the gallery downtown as well!
Utilizing our design services, we create web and print-ready graphics for M.C. Ginsberg Jewelers in downtown Iowa City. This is an example of typographic design.
What is Typographic Design?
Typographic Design is the art and technique of arranging movable type. This includes simply using text, or arranging text to fill in as a unique element in an overall work. Here we replaced the “9″ with text found on the ginsberg website, giving added definition to what 200′9′ will entail if you work with m.c. ginsbergs. We plan to do more graphic work for them in the upcoming months!
Steve & Tracy of Premier Cleaning of Iowa City already had a website. However, they weren’t showing up for the right search terms on Google and needed some things fine-tuned.
Services Used
- Professional Design
- META Tag Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- AJAX+PHP Automated Contact Script
- AJAX Dropdown Menus / Image Slider
Laurie McCoy came to us with a desire to utilize the internet for her homemade toffee business. We used a chocolate-toned backdrop design to get her online in style.
Services Used
- Professional Design
- META Tag Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- AJAX+PHP Automated Contact Script
- Shopping Cart System
- Merchant Account for accepting credit cards ( Visa/Mastercard/Discover )