Hello Steffen,
I want to first thank you again for giving me the opportunity to redesign the coal truth. My first thought was to quickly rebuild a website that followed modern design conventions in seam with my style. Over the weekend I spent a good amount of time reading your content watching the videos and listening to your interviews about coal. I found myself creating a UX that would only moderately differentiate you message, the coal truth.
So naturally I felt research into the coal industry in contrast with the alternative energy marketing segments would help me to better understand the digital footprints of how the content is presented and how the story is being told on both sides of the aisle in order to improve the delivery method. After a considerable amount of time in research I’ve come to a conclusion: The story is being told in an outdated fashion
The Proposition Focus
The focus of the website is the text content but it doesn’t look really appealing right now. The content of the landing page should not change (the arrangement is subject to design considerations, of course).
At a later stage we will probably add more content but for now we want to display what’s there and have an easy way to add items as we go. We will also feed our email list with additional materials over time but that’s independent of the website looks.
As with our brand, I don’t think we will have issues with growing this as soon as we have an appealing design. We can promote this on multiple platforms and have experience in creating content our targeted audience wants.
Is there a way to add thematic visuals?
As for Coal
I did a deep dive looking for the best coal sites, blogs etc. in order to define what good looks like on your side of the aisle. With a number of different queries, I come to a general example list of how the coal industry Is conveying the message (I will note, the message is important as I have gained an invaluable insight into energy moving forward).
Here is a list of Pro coal sites, please take note of the static nature of telling the story.
Pro Coal Branding
Us Energy – Coal Explained — here
Wired – Clean Coal — here
NA of Sciences – Coal — here
Kentucky Coal Education – 10 Reasons Why Coal is Good — here
Alternative Energy Tutorials – Coal Energy Facts here
World Coal Association – Coals; role in electricity — here
Union of Concerned Scientist – Coal and other Fossil Fuels — here
Triple J hack – Coal v renewables — here
As for the Alternatives
Alternative energy as a result of being the proverbial, new kid on the block, has a more modern method for conveying their message in favor of renewables. The sites I reference below, some are more of the same, others more aesthetically pleasing only because they were built with newer technology and design standards, yet still lack the capacity of telling the story in a modern way.
Here are a list of various alternative/renewable energy sites and how they are different to the coal industry
Pro Alternative Branding
Modern Agriculture – The Power of Mother Nature — here
Amber Energy – Change the way you see utilities — here
Conserve Energy Future – blog — here
Enphase – Solar Energy — here
enelx – 2017 Energy Website Winner — here
Solar Optimum – Solar Panels — here
Sunrun – Go Solar in California — here
Renewable Focus Energy – Blog — here
Green Tech Media – Blog — here
Renewable Energy World – Blog — here
Green Clean Guide – Blog — here
Award winning Magazine and Blog sites 2018
In lieu of research, I found myself looking at award winning magazine and blog sites that by internet standards tell their story with a better visual and interactive user experience. The key to successful messaging is in differentiating yourself in how the story is told. I’m not saying the content is irrelevant, I’m suggesting that if the content is uniquely offered, the engagement and recall of the user will produce a paradigm in which will afford your site, the possibility of interacting with the user in a way in which compels the target audience to listen. Otherwise, it is human nature to gravitate towards what we have already touched, saw, felt and experienced online inseam with how we already want to see the world.
Here is a list of award winning sites that first show you a different experience and at the same time engage the senses out of curiosity. Take note of how different these sites look to either respective industry and also the subtle nuance of feature sets.
Provocative/Edgy Branding
Awwwards – Best Magazine and blog sites of 2018 — here
Batenka – Blog — here
Valnet – Agency — here
Crème – Blog — here
Travamigos – App — here
Thomas de Dorlodot – Magazine — here
Dot Lung – Agency — here
Weekendavisen – Blog — here
Power Digital Marketing – Agency — here
Space – Magazine — here
Love for Iceland – blog — here
How I See It
I have all the assets, the images videos etc. all curated, yet I want to make sure that I brand the site in the fashion you see fit. I will deliver something that is best in class but also is responsible for the academic element of your message from within your guidance. I said one week to deliver the goods and I have 2 days to make good on my word. I just want to make sure I hit the nail on the head.
In respect to my word, I want to create art and cause inseam to your vision of things, not just my own. I’m just making sure I treat this contract with care and concern.
Please advise,
Seth
