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This particular image is a partial screen capture we took from the main menu on the home page of the web site before we started working on it. Our first take on the site was that it could be improved substantially, both from an aesthetic point of view, as well as function.

Aside from the odd little ticks on the image (which for the ever-curious, is caused by not putting your image end tag on the same physical line as the rest of the tag), this menu is clean. But the thing that kind of disturbed us is that it left us stilted and uninspired. Further, the "look" projected nothing of strength or dignity to parallel the image of this client.

Now, here is another partial screen shot, only this time it is taken of the navigation area of an internal page on the site. Again, this treatment felt clip-arty to us, and we felt the Diocese deserved a much classier treatment.

At the same time, we wanted to minimize the use of gratuitous graphics, and provide a fast load time, once the couple core images were cached by the browser. Our goal was to give this site some class, but also to give it function. In addition, we wanted the site to "hang" together well, with some cohesiveness and consistency. We created a consistent navigation bar, and a color pallette enhanced from the colors of the official seal. That color pallette is used throughout the site. The diocese site is now complete, and is updated continually (a key strategy for repeat visitors).

Visually, you will see what we did, but strategically, you may miss it. Interestingly enough, this is one of the clients we are equipping to do the work internally, and they have caught on very quickly; they are updating the Catholic Moments sections and weekly Bishop's column using designs we gave them as shells to change every week, while we continue to design the parish areas, and others to be used in the same way. We'll tell you more about strategies later. For now, take a look at the site, and tell us what you think.

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