MRJ Constructors
Project Description
Logo and Website Redesign for Seattle Construction Firm
MRJ has spent the last 27 years approaching each project with integrity, fiscal responsibility, and innovative practices to ensure their finished project is something that makes both parties proud. Whether it’s tenant improvements in Belltown, contracting a car dealership in Kirkland or historic renovations in Pioneer Square, MRJ’s clients can trust the project will be completed with attention to detail and quality workmanship.
Project Objectives
With this website project, MRJ wanted to refresh its current online presence with a modern design that matches the level of professionalism they provide with their projects. The new MRJ website needed to maximize the first impression and appeal to its multiple target audiences.
Personas & Logo Refresh
We began the project creating user personas for each of the target personas that may be visiting the site. This allowed us to better understand the user path of each persona and decide how they’d be using the site, helping us build up a hierarchy of information.
Next, we worked on evolving the logo to a refreshed design with updated brand guidelines. We wanted to keep the integrity of the brand there while offering a refreshed look for the logo. This involved keeping the icon, but restructuring the logo and darkening the colors. We implemented the blocks.
Website Design
With an updated logo, brand guidelines, and personas in hand, our design team was excited to get started on the site. Throughout the construction firm's website, you’ll see the repeated use of squares and rectangles to represent the “building blocks” of the company and reflect the logo.
Previously, the MRJ site did not have an easy to navigate portfolio. During the persona development, we found out how crucial it was for all of the target markets to be able to easily find and navigate the portfolio. We divided the overview page into their main sections, then created a page that allowed for a quick and easy overview of the project, as well as large pictures and specific details about the type, location, and architect. If the team at MRJ has a testimonial from the specific project, the site will pull it in below the project description.
We also added more robust Team and Careers pages to the site. The team at MRJ really wanted to show the real people behind the projects that were occurring, and by sharing their leadership team and more lifestyle images throughout the site, they can attract both business owners and potential employees. Finally, one of our favorite parts of the site was the amazing video that the MRJ team had shot to go with this new website. It does a wonderful job showing their team and the entire process of builds and is featured on the website prominently as the masthead video.
Website Development
The team at MRJ updates their site pretty regularly, with new project announcements, new portfolios, and career opportunities. The site was built on FusionCMS which makes it easy for the team to update their site.
When the team adds a new project to the portfolio, they are prompted to fill out the information on each page. The images are automatically scaled and the content is easily added through the WYSIWYG. When someone adds a new project, they are prompted to tag the services. When the project goes live on the site, it will automatically be listed under the services it was tagged under, allowing users to easily be able to find example projects.
Hear It From the Client
"Last year, MRJ started the process of interviewing several companies (including our previous website designer) to help us with our new website. Starting with our initial interviews with efelle and looking at their experience developing websites for other companies in our industry, we knew that they would be a great fit for us.
We were looking for a website designer that could help us creatively design a site that represents our company as it is today and going forward into the future. We wanted the new website to be focused on our team; client relationships; future recruitment of employees and subcontractors and a great display of our project portfolio and be flexible (for adding new projects, photos and revisions to the site). We also wanted them to help us "refresh" our logo and company image.
From the start, efelle's process was perfect. They really took the time to understand what we were looking for and walked us through every step. The entire teams enthusiasm and creativity was fantastic. I am so happy we selected efelle. I would not hesitate to recommend efelle to other companies!"
-Martin Hogger, President/CEO MRJ Constructors