In March 2010 we were contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and informed they were in the process of redesigning their website. After some discussion we were asked to assist with some of the design and flash work. Of course we thought this was the coolest opportunity ever.

I remember touring the FBI headquarters years ago (probably around 1994) on a family trip to Washington D.C. Ever since, I’ve been fascinated by the work and achievements of the FBI. Being asked to help with the web site was a great honor.

The project was divided into three main parts: (1) The History of the FBI; (2) Fun & Games; and (3) the Kids Pages. Each of these sections include sub-pages and content developed in conjunction with the main pages.

The History page was one of the most exciting and interesting components of the project. The goal was to create an environment that highlights an important event in the FBI’s history. The guys at the Bureau wanted to feature the Biograph Theater in the 1930’s where the FBI took out john Dillinger, one of the best know gangsters of all time, right outside the theater.

We started by collecting images, making sketches, and developing ideas that would represent this important time in history. After a couple rounds of failing to hit the mark, we came up with a layout that fits with the desired historical theme.

FBI - History Step 1 - Initial colors and shapes

FBI - History Step 2 - Adding textures and general layout elements

FBI - History Step 3 - Cropping and additional lighting and textures added

FBI - History Step 4 - Final textures and tones added. finilizing position of elements.

After the environment was fully developed, we produced a series of posters representing the different sections linked to the History page. Each poster was enlarged, enabling the visitor to roll over each element while the poster “pops out,” highlighting the linked section.

FBI History Poster - History of the 10 Most Wanted

FBI History Poster - A Short History of the FBI

FBI History Poster - Directors Then and Now

FBI History Poster - FBI Headquarters

FBI History Poster - Seal and Motto

FBI History Poster - Historic Records

FBI History Poster - Field Office Histories

FBI History Poster - Hall of Honor

Our goal for the historical time-line was to create an interactive element that would allow visitors to access selections without taking them away from the original page. The guys from the FBI recommended a virtual car or truck-type element that would move across the screen, with the back of the vehicle containing a time-line with clickable options.

The car drives across the screen when you click the timeline link on the side of it

So check out the site History of the FBI and give us your feedback. In the next post we’ll highlight the FBI history theater.

Developing concepts and ideas for a website design, icon or logo, or any type of graphic development can seem like an overwhelming task at times. No matter how many websites you have created or logos you’ve developed, the creative process is always something that can take a lot out of you. True, there are days when this process seems to come as easily and naturally as walking or breathing, but those days come about less often then I would care to admit. This is where sketching, for me, enters the picture (no pun intended). Sketching out ideas and concepts helps me quickly sift throughout the ideas trapped inside my head. I must admit, I do spend a bit too much time in this phase of the project because of my love for it.

Layout sketches for Zoowee Music. Developed layout for container that would hold Artist profile, album list, songs, etc.

Thanks to an extremely talented artistic mother, I have been sketching obsessively since I was young. Thankfully web and graphic design gives me an outlet to put this obsession to use. Sketching out layouts for websites is essential to my process, but I really enjoy icon and graphic development. This is where the pen and pencil really helps me plan out how an objects or graphics will end up being rendered on the computer.

Zoowee Icon Development

Sketch for Zoowee Dashboard Graphics. Depicting the monitoring and managment of your Zoowee Bubbles.

Launch Icon Development

Rocky Horton helped me discover the graph paper moleskin (I know, I know its typical designer to carry this around but it fits so well into my bag and they are so easy to keep organized) which has really helped with sketches for websites and logos. Its a wonder I didn’t make this connection sooner (living in a pixel based world).

Layout sketch for Addicted to the Outdoors

I’ll post a follow-up to this with more of my sketches once I get my sketch books together. This just happens to be the sketchbook sitting in front of me at the time, but I will sift through the boxes I have at home and post some more detailed images and more on my process in my next post.