-- Project Overview -----
Shreya Rao, a sustainability influencer, reached out to me for assistance in realizing her vision: a job page designed to help students seeking experience in sustainable industries. Initially, the project was named after the grant funding it received, but after a brainstorming session, we settled on the name "Planted." From the outset, Shreya emphasized her desire for the project to avoid a corporate feel; she wanted it to resonate as a genuine creation by students for students. In her words, it should embody a "scrapbook" aesthetic, celebrating the beauty of Gen-Z internet culture.
-- Moodboard -----
This is the moodboard I created to kickstart the brand. It went through several iterations as we explored different color palettes, ultimately leading to this expanded selection, which reflects Shreya's desire for a variety of colors. In addition to visuals, the moodboard also emphasizes the tone of the copy, since most of the text would be written by her. I wanted to ensure our visions were aligned throughout the process.
-- Logo Exploration -----
-- The Final Logo (With Iterations) -----
The (very rough) branding guidelines so keep the visuals consistent between us. After this was approved, further color iterations were made to the main solid & outline logo to use throughout the website and on social media.
-- The Wireframes -----
The initial website wireframes (on Figma) to map out the structure and what content would be needed for the final product. As you can see... many green comments on what to change! We realized that since this is part of her influencer brand, we needed professional photos to go on the websites about page, so I put on my photographer hat, rented a camera and booked a studio.
-- The Photoshoot -----
Some of the photos from the shoot. It was my first time managing the three point lights and camera all alone while directing the shoot, but I would say it went pretty well. Snuck a little photo of me on the job ;)
-- The Website -----
Here are a few images from the final website. The design aligns with the brand's youthful and playful aesthetic while incorporating visuals that emphasize sustainability. It utilizes Wix databases for the opportunity search function, ensuring it can grow over time and remain manageable for Shreya in my absence. The footer embodies the initial vision of resembling a patch of grass and encourages visitors to sign up for the mailing list, which is one of the company's key differentiators.
-- What I Learned ----
① You Might Hate It, and That's Okay
I’ll never forget my vision of having the landing page resemble the sky to complement the grass design in the footer. When I mocked it up, Shreya and I both immediately agreed that we hated it. It was frustrating in the moment, as reimagining the design felt disorienting. However, I’m genuinely grateful we decided to start over because the final design captures the brand much more effectively.
I’ll never forget my vision of having the landing page resemble the sky to complement the grass design in the footer. When I mocked it up, Shreya and I both immediately agreed that we hated it. It was frustrating in the moment, as reimagining the design felt disorienting. However, I’m genuinely grateful we decided to start over because the final design captures the brand much more effectively.
② Realistic Timelines Are Essential
One of the biggest challenges of this project was time management. With both Shreya and I juggling full-time studies and other jobs, staying on track for the intended delivery date was tough. This experience taught me the importance of being realistic when launching something of this magnitude and understanding that it doesn’t happen overnight—especially with just a two-person team.
One of the biggest challenges of this project was time management. With both Shreya and I juggling full-time studies and other jobs, staying on track for the intended delivery date was tough. This experience taught me the importance of being realistic when launching something of this magnitude and understanding that it doesn’t happen overnight—especially with just a two-person team.
③ It's a Work in Progress
As of now, we are still refining the website. When launching a brand with a small team, sometimes you need to start with a viable product and continue iterating based on feedback. There’s no such thing as a perfect launch on the first try; that’s why iterations are essential, and designers are always in demand.
As of now, we are still refining the website. When launching a brand with a small team, sometimes you need to start with a viable product and continue iterating based on feedback. There’s no such thing as a perfect launch on the first try; that’s why iterations are essential, and designers are always in demand.
