Contributors
Stephan Church - Web Design / Artist / Animator / Coding
David Klingler - JS/Php Troubleshooting
Timeframe
May 2021 - Present Day
Programs/Software
InDesign | Illustrator | Local | Photoshop | Visual Studio Code | Woocommerce | Wordpress | XD
TCA Gaming LLC was my first client when I started as a contract worker. It is an ecommerce
website focused on selling pokemon cards. I first updated his website on Ochanoko before creating a Wordpress site using
a custom created wordpress template. The project was based around the Woocommerce plug-in and utilizes Php and Javascript
built around the Wordpress/Woocommerce architecture.
[Stephan] has worked very extensively over the past year to not only rebuild my old website but start a new website from the ground up for my business. Stephan is very prompt with responses to my many questions about the site and issues that I run into. He is constantly working to improve the site even with functions that I do not bring up as problem areas. I look forward to working with him for years to come and would recommend him to others any day.
Russel Oakley
Founder of TCA Gaming
Website Design
Introduction
The website was created to capture nostalgia using traditional design trends. The container was made more tight
and primary colors were chosen due to their use in traditional pokemon brand use. I worked with the client
directly to get a better sense of his brand identity. For more information, refer to the design document attached below.
Visual Design
Introduction
Being based on an already established IP, I already had an established design language to work with.
TCA Gaming is hyper focused on the nostalgia of pokemon so rather than copying the current design language,
I focused on abandoned 90s concepts. This included a focus on the classic Sugimori art style that once defined
the series.
It was a bit harder to create art based on complex marketing imagery.
In this case, I preserved a large part of the details, but limited my palette
to painting with two tone art with a white lighting effect to create visual cohesion.
Avatars
I purposely locked the avatar system to avatars that I designed to keep the users immersed in the visual style of the site.
Marketing
Adverts/Banners
As part of our contract, I create new slides to market products and services as they become available.
Below are a sample of slides without text. Text is added through the backend of WordPress to allow for variance in product marketing
For the slides, I broke my visual rules to make the visuals stand out. This also allows for faster conversion to keep slides current.
For the slides, I broke my visual rules to make the visuals stand out. This also allows for faster conversion to keep slides current.
Functionality
Host Communication
The site uses appropriate Wordpress and Woocommerce hooks to allow for communication to the theme
through the backend of wordpress.
Group Based Discounts
Using plugins, users receive automatic discounts based on their group. I wrote scripts that streamline discounts
and displays the icons for each discounted items.
Custom Avatar System
A custom avatar system was created using javascript, Php and Jquery. Avatars were implemented
throughout Wordpress and Woocommerce architecture for blog and shop use.
Custom Shopping Menu
I made a customizable shopping menu on the header of the site. The menu is adjustable through Wordpress and offers a dynamic
shopping experience in a responsive layout.