small business Archives | Samantha Soper

Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI) Brand Identity Kit

April 29, 2019April 29, 2019
by Samantha Soper

In an effort to differentiate, the Austin Asian Resource Center non-profit decided to rebrand as Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI). Previously, I helped board member Ramey Ko with his rebranding for The Ko Law Firm, so he recommended my services. After a rigorous selection process, I won the contract to create the non-profit’s new brand identity.

Through my brand identity exploration questionnaire, I learned that AACHI wanted a simple, minimalist design. They also wanted to promote feelings of wellness, authority, knowledge, and friendliness. Additionally, I researched brands of several large non-profits, including Feeding America, the ADA, and March of Dimes.

Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI)

Final Brand Identity

HostGator Blog Theme on WordPress

September 7, 2018September 13, 2018
by Samantha Soper

After the successful implementation of the Bluehost blog theme, I was referred to their sister company for the HostGator blog theme redesign. While the Bluehost project was more development-focused, HostGator’s team wanted full UX design, theme development, and implementation.

HostGator Blog Theme

First of all, I single-handedly took this project through UX design and development to final implementation in under six months. Significant improvements to SEO, schema markup, and customizability were the HostGator team’s most important objectives. Therefore, those requests were kept in mind throughout the design and development process.

Current Live Site

UX Planning

As a result of my blog questionnaire, I learned that their content manager was inspired by FitBit and Hubspot’s blogs. Additionally, they wanted a more modern look using colorful flat graphics, matching their new brand direction. They also liked board-style content blocks and subtle hover effects.

Sketch Concepts

Home Page Wireframe Sketch Options

Single Post Wireframe Sketch Options

Archive Page Wireframe Sketch Options

Wireframe Mockups

Home Page Wireframe

HostGator Blog Single Post Final Wireframe

Single Post Wireframe

Archive Page Wireframe

Tools Used:

Lean WordPress Theme Foundation: _S (UnderscoreS)
WordPress Test Data: WP Theme Unit Test
Framework: Bootstrap
Class for Recent Posts Widget Adjustment: Extend Recent Posts
Class for Category Meta Additions: Catapult Taxonomy Meta Class

Bluehost Blog Theme on WordPress

March 2, 2018August 29, 2018
by Samantha Soper

A former colleague, Machielle Thomas, contacted me to build the Bluehost blog theme, since they were looking to redesign. They had worked with their in-house designer some mockups, but they didn’t have a developer on staff with time available to complete it. Their blog was built on WordPress and Machielle worked with me during the Golfsmith blog build. As a result, she knew my experience and skillset would be a good fit for the project.

Bluehost Blog Theme

Based on the provided homepage and single post mockups, I built out the blog in a short time frame with little other creative direction. Significant improvements to SEO and customizability were the Bluehost team’s most important objectives. Therefore, those requests were kept in mind throughout the development process.

Current Live Site

Tools Used:

Lean WordPress Theme Foundation: _S (UnderscoreS)

WordPress Test Data: WP Theme Unit Test

Framework: Bootstrap

Kettlebell Kings Character Concept Art & Illustration

January 18, 2018May 1, 2018
by Samantha Soper

When the art directors working with Kettlebell Kings put out a call for a figure illustrator on Facebook, I answered. The company was looking to enhance their social content with infographics of their workouts. My digital illustration and figure drawing experience was especially relevant for the gig.

The Kettlebell Kings Character

Concept Art & Model Sheet

First of all, I had to help them come up with the character concept for the figures. The client wanted a character based upon their logo, but with a comic book twist. Additionally, the art directors were inspired by the workout infographics on Deezify and vintage Charles Atlas illustrations. After a couple of rounds of proofs, the client agreed on the concept below.

Kettlebell King Model Sheet

Studies & Initial Concept Sketch

Early Character Proofs

Kettlebooty Figures & Infographic

Click to enlarge.

Band Goblet Squat Illustrations

Curtsy Lunge Illustrations

Kettlebooty Infographic by School of Life Design

Credits:

Art Direction & Graphic Design: School of Life Design

The Ko Law Firm Brand Identity Kit

April 19, 2017February 9, 2018
by Samantha Soper

When transitioning from a partnership to a solo operation, Ramey Ko approached me about establishing the brand identity for The Ko Law Firm. This local Austin firm specializes in corporate and real estate law. Through my brand identity exploration questionnaire, I learned that Ramey wanted to build feelings of trust, professionalism, and friendliness from his small firm. Additionally, he would need correspondence stock and a few advertising pieces to reflect the new branding.

The Ko Law Firm

Final Brand Identity

The Ko Law Firm Final Logo Sheet

Letterhead with Small-Case Wide Logo & Icon Overlay Background

Double-sided Business Cards with Modified Stacked Logo

Facebook Cover Graphic

Texas Capital News Half-Page Ad

Envelope with Logo Icon

Pecan Street Web Solutions Brand Identity

March 13, 2017August 17, 2017
by Samantha Soper

I established the brand identity for Pecan Street Web Solutions when Matt Haracz launched the e-commerce and website management company. Most of all, Matt loved the trees featured in some golf logos, so that was my creative direction. Due to the Pecan Street reference, I felt it needed a taste of downtown Austin. I gathered inspiration and set to work sketching up concepts.

Within a week, we’d narrowed down to the option below, presented in multiple mockups. In addition, I have provided detail of my process on this project for anyone interested.

Pecan Street Web Solutions

Final Brand Identity

Pecan Street Web Final Logo Sheet

Street Sign Logo on Postcard

Knock-out Logo on Business Card

Website with Horizontal Minimal Logo

Envelope with Horizontal Minimal Logo

The Realization Process

As part of my Realization Identity Package, Matt received 2 different type/mark logo options to chose from. After he made his decision, 1 free round of logo revisions was provided to tweak everything just how he wanted. The Realization Identity Package provides small business owners with a cost-effective option to get their dream logo in a short timeframe.

Pecan Street Inspiration Board

Concept Sketch for Initial Designs & Detailing of Pecan Tree Icon

Street Sign Initial Concept

Skyline in a Pecan Initial Concept

Nina Davis, MA, LMT Site on WordPress

January 10, 2013March 29, 2018
by Samantha Soper

Nina Davis, MA, LMT is a biodynamic craniosacral and lymph drainage therapist. Located in Austin since 1996, she treats adults and children. Her gentle, touch-based therapeutic modalities move energy and fluid around the body. Most noteworthy, she was voted Best infant Craniosacral Therapist for three years by the Austin Birthing Community.

About Nina Davis’s WordPress Site

Nina contacted me wanting to expand her business online and spread the word about her small business. Furthermore, she wanted a unique user experience that highlights naturally-occurring fractals. As a result, each page features on a large, natural fractal and matching background. Blue and green menu themes correspond to the fractal image, as well, while a frosted glass pane displays page content. I built page subsections with jQuery tabs.

Current Live Examples

NOTE ON LIVE EXAMPLES: I built this site in 2013 and was not hired to maintain it.
Visit Nina’s website

Screenshots

I collected these screenshots soon after I built the site.

Home page

About Nina page

About therapeutic modalities page

Referrals & resources page

Contact page

Lyfe Water by Amazon Juice Co.

January 10, 2011November 7, 2016
by Samantha Soper

Bob Weingarten, owner of Amazon Juice Company, developed Lyfe water. Since Lyfe is bottled at the heart of the Amazon, Bob wanted the brand identity to feel like the rainforest. In addition to this new brand identity, I designed the package concept. As a result, watercolor textures and bright colors support the brand tagline of “Lively, Youthful, Focused, Energetic.”

Lyfe Water Brand Identity & Packaging

NeuSkin Organic Skin Care on WordPress

January 9, 2011March 29, 2018
by Samantha Soper

Started by Elizabeth Bentley, NeuSkin Austin performs organic, non-invasive dermatological procedures. In 2007, Elizabeth got her esthetician license from the Aveda Institute. Her unique approach works closely with each client to determine the cause of their skin problems. In addition, she engages in an in-depth consultation about the client’s insecurities and concerns. As a result, she delivers a soothing, effective and pain-free skin care solution.

About the NeuSkin WordPress Site

In 2010, I worked with Elizabeth to launch her website for her new small business. As NeuSkin grew, she reached out to me to add an e-commerce store to her website. In conclusion, she’s been able to offer organic skin care products for several years and has grown her product offerings.

View the Project

A NOTE ON LIVE EXAMPLES: I launched the original neuskinaustin.com site back in 2011, so it has since been redesigned. However, I collected the screenshots below while the site was still active. You can also visit the old site via the WayBack Machine, but it is an archived version so some data may be missing or non-functional.

Home page

About page

Services page

eCommerce store

Project Tag: small business

Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI) Brand Identity Kit

Austin Asian Community Health Initiative (AACHI)

Final Brand Identity

HostGator Blog Theme on WordPress

HostGator Blog Theme

Current Live Site

UX Planning

Sketch Concepts

Wireframe Mockups

Tools Used:

Bluehost Blog Theme on WordPress

Bluehost Blog Theme

Current Live Site

Tools Used:

Pecan Street Web Solutions Brand Identity

Pecan Street Web Solutions

Final Brand Identity

The Realization Process

Nina Davis, MA, LMT Site on WordPress

About Nina Davis’s WordPress Site

Current Live Examples

Screenshots

Lyfe Water by Amazon Juice Co.

Lyfe Water Brand Identity & Packaging

NeuSkin Organic Skin Care on WordPress

About the NeuSkin WordPress Site

View the Project

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