The making of the Miss Russia website

Starting off by analyzing the website’s audience. Boiling it down to a few main groups and constructing model users that determine the website functional core.

Coming to a conclusion that each phase of the contest calls not only for a different front page, but also for a different key model user. First stage, call for entries, is all about the potential contestants and requires the optimal environment for filling in and submitting the application. Shortly before and right after the final show it’s important to focus on the contest’s spectators and provide them a communication platform. The days of initial and the final rounds are to give all the details about the current status to the press.

Initiating the concept search with the motto: the participants are the stars of the website and the main attention magnet. Placing them up front.

The concept is ok. Searching for the color scheme.

Too bland. Trying to set the finalists against backdrops of breathtaking views of the regions they represent.

It’s simply not in the same league with the contest. Looking for something of the appropriate scale. Adding the flag and success story of the current Miss Russia.

Too busy. Need to trim it down.

The shape is not the problem, but we need to get rid of the rigid black in favor of a softer look.

Bingo. Presenting to the customer. Learning that the design turned out too formal. Instead, we must take women’s magazine as inspiration and render it more colorful and feminine.

Nope. Need to make it feel more youthful and appealing to girls age 13–15.

Approved. Moving on to building prototypes for all standard pages.

Drawing several versions of the front page to reflect different stages of the contest.

Deciding it’s important to draw more attention to the crown. Preparing a separate promo page in dark tones.

Preparing clear and pretty pictograms for the application form to communicate to the potential contestants what’s out of limits.

Consulting with our technologists, drawing and completing the online fitting room, giving girls the chance to try on the crown.

Sending the materials to the typesetters. During the process, coming across an idea of pumping up the chic factor by throwing in a parallax effect.

Fixing the bugs with the technologists and art director.