The client is a San Francisco-based private equity firm who requested their name to be withheld out of regulatory concern. I was approached by the client with a theme, but not a specific vision, for a website. The client wanted to convey a sense of establishment and stability by using some key elements: a pyramid-centered presentation to match the company logo, along with taupe, brown and similar tones.
The client also had some site management requirements: Client needed to restrict access only to fund members and other authorized users, and to be able to update the site content easily using DreamWeaver.
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Home Portal
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Content Page
The Solution
- Elegant Appearance
I developed a theme in accordance with the client’s wishes. A pyramid motif was constructed from stock photography and combined with shades of brown to create a sophisticated, understated appearance. Straight lines, subtle shadows and watermark add nuance to the theme created for this site. Images of the Louvre and ancient pyramids give the sense of permanence and endurance.
User and Content Management
Because the client’s hosting plan was very simple and did not include database access, I wrote a very straightforward management interface for managing users, files and content. This lightweight CMS has met the client’s needs well.
Simple Updates
A backend management interface was created for the site. I used the built-in XSLT libraries in PHP to meet the client’s requirement to use DreamWeaver to update the site. The client uses DreamWeaver to make a validated, unstyled document containing the content of the update. The document is uploaded to the server and then transformed into a styled document in line with the site’s theme using an XSLT I wrote.
The client can also use the interface to upload documents — such as press releases and periodic statements — and then link them from or insert them into pages on the site.
Creator.