Justification of Website Choices

Justification of choices in designing and creating my website

Originally, I had planned to use a still image for the background of my website. I took original images in Shoreditch, with my artist as a central focus, and street art in the background. However, as I created the website, and thought more about the brief, I realized, that it might be more appropriate to have a clip from the music video, as a video, in the background of my home page. This would enable me to effectively link the two products together, and remind any user that goes onto the site, that the music video is a large part of the brand. Having the background as a tracking shot also further, in my opinion, links to the dance genre, as the dynamic movement of the camera is quick paced, mimicking the quick pace often associated with the dance genre.

Furthermore, originally, I had planned to have two other pages, a tour page, and a merchandise page. however, when I re-evaluated the overall website, in regards to the assigned brief, and bearing in mind I wanted to make effective links to the music video, overall dance genre, and include audience generated content, it didn't make sense to have two separate pages for elements that could easily be combined into one.  I decided to combine these two elements together on the home page, this then allowed me to have greater freedom with the second page.

I chose to do a 'Music' page. I chose a music page because this would then allow me to include my artists newest album, where I used a picture taken on the same day as many of the shots for my music video, further providing links to the video. Another reason for choosing a music page was it gave me ample opportunity to bring in institution, with Universal Music Group and my chosen label Republic Records. I decided to include a screenshot from Republic Records where they said that they had been voted the number One record label of 2018, as i thought this was a good way to further reinforce why i have chosen that particular label.  Another factor influencing my decision to choose a music page was the fact that I could then include my 'In The Name Of Love' video on the website, along with a comment section, where I could include comments left by my target demographic, a further link to my first media product, and a good way to include audience interaction on the website.

My main way of including fan-generated content, as well as ensuring I had original audio-visual content, was my 'audience-led' campaign #DaisyChain4DaisyReign. I thought of the idea of having the audience singing along to the 'In The Name Of Love' song and then having these videos flow on from one another was a good example of fan interaction, and original audio/visual content. it also allowed me to get another element of branding in, because the cyclical nature of the fans lipsyching the song is reminiscent of the cyclical nature of a daisy chain.

In addition to this, I decided to have a Lightbox when the user opens my sight. I was influenced in this by having seen Due Lipa's website, where she too has a Lightbox. Similarly, my decision to have white and yellow typography, was a link to the daisy inspired branding of my website, because the colors reflect the colors of a daisy.

Finally, I chose to have my logo expand into the front page because it is in keeping with the way the logo appears on the music video, a further link between the two pages.