Smyle It Happens:
the story:
We were requested by the owners of Smyle to design and develop their upcoming website. It is important to note that the entirety of this website was built for easy administration updates. These updates include adding products to the eCommerce platform, posting blog articles, and changing any or all of the content on the website. Each product image was added to the website by Smyle's administration.
SmyleItHappens.com was not only a fun site to work on but when we finished - we couldn't stop playing with our creation. It is a fully interactive eCommerce (shopping) platform packed with a blog, animated graphics, and smooth flowing transitions. When you view the Smyle website, make sure to look for the animated clouds in the background. It is a slight and subtle attribute that really increases Smyle's online brand presence. We absolutely loved the final product and hope that users really "smile" when they are navigating through it.
Website Features: The following custom options were requested by our client.
ajax blog platform lightbox ecommerce closeAJAX
If you have browsed around on Smyle's website you will notice that the pages and animations load almost instantly. What you are experiencing is a development technique called AJAX. AJAX is used for displaying hidden content or images without having to reload or affect the current display/feel for the user. After the home page on Smyle loads, there are be no more additional pages left to load. The site's content, pages, and images load immediately from thereafter. Moreover, AJAX provides entertaining elements that provide movability and subtle animations. This creates a fun and interactive experience for the user.
blog platform
Updating your client base, your fans, and future customers with readily available news and company information can be a vital attribute to anyones online success. Smyle requested for our web team to integrate a custom blog that they could update freely and that would also match their brand. As always, we went slightly overboard when designing and customizing the Smyle blog. The blog includes transparencies, archive/category links, and provides a 'back-to-the-top button (link) for a quick return to the top of the page. Our overall goal was to keep the attention of an average user scrolling down the content/imagery on Smyle's blog.
lightbox
Smyle was provided with lightbox integration. Each product photo within Smyle's eCommerce platform can be enlarged for a vivid view of the image. We developed this section so that the photograph and product content loads within a lightbox display. After viewing, the user can then exit the lighbox by clicking on the X, which is located on the top right of the image. The user (potential customer) also has the ability to order directly (add to cart) within the lightbox display. This is an affordable and favorable attribute that can be added to any website we create.
ecommerce
The internet has become the most popular and quickest way to purchase items and products. It is not only acceptable and safe to buy online but it is an extremely easy way to promote affordably to virtually anyone. Remember that the internet is world-wide, where a brick and mortor is limited to the local culture and a specific client base surrounding the establishment. Smyle requested for their website to contain the ability to accept, process, and fulfill orders without having to speak with their customers directly. Using preloaded content (AJAX), we provided Smyle's management with an interactive shopping experience. Smyle products can be filtered by category without having to load additional pages. Smyle was also designed and developed to have a two click ordering system. Meaning, it only takes two clicks (add to cart, plus order) for SmyleItHappens.com to process an order online.