In the world of aviation, making a strong first impression is vital. I recently had the opportunity to design a website for Cranfield Aerospace, an aircraft maintenance organization. This project combined my expertise in web design, content creation, and branding while overcoming unique challenges along the way.
Note: Cranfield Aerospace is no longer supported by me, the frame above is a copy of the website I made and some features are no longer available to view. You can find their current website here or if you want to view the original website in full, it is available at https://cranfieldaerospace.alistairfry.co.uk
Project Goals: Targeting Private Operators and Flying Schools
Cranfield Aerospace wanted a website that would resonate with private general aviation aircraft operators and flying schools. The goal was to highlight their top-tier maintenance services while making the site both functional and visually appealing.
The new website was designed to:
- Attract and convert potential customers.
- Provide visitors with clear navigation to essential information, including directions for flying in.
- Reinforce Cranfield Aerospace’s professional brand identity.
End-to-End Creation
I worked solo on this project, handling every aspect of the design and content. Using Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, I produced all the visuals, including photos, videos, and graphics. Here’s a breakdown of the tools I used:
- Photoshop & Illustrator: For creating brand-aligned imagery and infographics.
- Premiere Pro & After Effects: To design the eye-catching hero video and header animations.
- WordPress: The platform for building a responsive, user-friendly website.
Cranfield Aerospace provided a branding guide with strict requirements for colors and fonts. While this ensured the site adhered to their corporate identity, it left little room for creative freedom.
To make the website stand out, I pushed the boundaries subtly. For example, I designed a captivating hero video to immediately engage visitors. Each page’s header imagery was carefully crafted to be visually striking without straying from the brand guidelines.
Features Designed for the User Experience
The website was tailored to make information easily accessible to visitors. Key features included:
- Intuitive Navigation: Ensuring users could quickly find details about services or locate directions.
- Hero Video: A dynamic introduction to captivate visitors from the moment they land on the site.
- Contact Options: Multiple pathways for visitors to connect with the team or plan their visit by air.
Every project comes with its unique challenges, and this one was no exception. Gaining feedback from the staff at Cranfield Aerospace turned out to be a quirky obstacle. Some team members made suggestions purely to leave their mark on the project. This taught me to manage input diplomatically while staying focused on the site’s purpose.
Despite these hurdles, the project was incredibly rewarding and showcased my ability to deliver under constraints.
Handover and Reflections
I completed the website just before leaving Cranfield Aerospace. Unfortunately, the company decided not to adopt the final design. This wasn’t due to the quality of the work but rather logistical factors, including handing control to a newly appointed developer.
While the website didn’t go live as intended, I’m proud of the skills and creativity I brought to the project. This experience reinforced the importance of understanding post-launch workflows when transitioning projects.
This project was a true showcase of my expertise with Adobe Creative Cloud apps. From designing graphics to editing videos, every element demonstrated my proficiency in creating cohesive, engaging content that meets professional standards.
Designing the Cranfield Aerospace website was an incredible journey of creativity and problem-solving. It’s a project that highlights my ability to balance strict branding guidelines with innovative ideas while delivering an engaging user experience.
If you’d like to learn more about my work or discuss a project, feel free to reach out!