Expanding the Universe of Mars Websites
From Outsourcing Execution to Strategic Partnership
Client
Mars
Services
Visual Design
UI & UX Design
Industries
Retail & distribution (B2C)
Date
October 2021
Project Overview
Mars has a lot of food brands, and their websites look different. Management has decided to align all Mars’ websites to the common structure using one robust component library on the whole universe of their brand websites.
As a design team, we were engaged to create a new Suzi Wan website according to platform capabilities and brand guidelines.
Universe of Mars brand websites:
Design Challenges & Goals
Challenges
Brand colors are not suitable for web accessibility;
CMS platform has pre-defined principles which are applied for colors and their relationship to each other;
The brand book does not have all the needed elements for the web;
The selected CMS platform has several technical constraints where content can be represented in pre-defined blocks.
Goals
Design possible workarounds for platform limitations;
Apply all needed brand book elements;
Design website considering all Drupal platform possibilities;
Support mockups delivery and development into the final product.
Roadmap
To understand the scope of work, we started by defining a sitemap. Then, in collaboration with the stakeholders, we created a coherent roadmap. Further, we determined the design phases and deliverables of every stage. We had a small timeframe, so we set dates of demo calls to follow our plan and receive feedback in time.
Discovery and Research
The easiest way to present user flow to the stakeholder was to create a diagram according to the sitemap and investigate platform capabilities.
Color accessibility
To meet WCAG (World content accessibility guidelines), we dug deep into the customer brand book to research possible solutions for the right color combination.
It was a challenge to adapt the brand’s color pallet for the CMS because the platform had predefined relationships between colors. We could use only six colors across the pages, so we had no right to make a mistake even at such an early stage.
We conducted a demo for the brand team and demonstrated the most optimal options to stick with to maintain web accessibility standards and save the original brand look & feel while keeping everything in a match with platform color combination restrictions.
Colors relationships examples:
Atomic Design System
To save the client’s budget and avoid any code change of the platform, we created a design system based on the platform building blocks. The assembly development team used ready components for creating web pages.
Components library
We used the Atomic Design approach to keep the design system scalable and flexible. Thanks to this, we cut time and concentrated on delivering the best user experience and expression of brand identity.
We established an eight pixels-based spacing system to maintain consistency across all components and used it on each website page.
Brand’s Look & Feel
Some of the brand elements could not be used on the web. So we conducted several brainstorming sessions to overcome this challenge and express brand identity and spirit. The client was happy with the presented options.
Summary Outcome
Developers
We delivered a color scheme, theme configurator, brand assets, adapted images, media recommendations, and mockups. Developers appreciated our approach and teamwork because they could use our components library on the platform without any additional changes.
Brand Team
Mars brand team gave very positive feedback. We considered all of their wishes and helped express the brand identity at the design level and the content level creating covers for pages.
From Outsourcing Execution to Strategic Partnership
Such an approach allowed the development of relationships between Mars and EPAM into a strategic partnership. As proof Mars wanted to continue work with EPAM using the existing design process (focused on the high quality of delivery) on more than ten brands websites from January 2022.
Mockups
We reused the same blocks from the existing platform based on sitemap and user flow to provide reserve time for development and complete the design phase earlier.
Through extensive user research, we discovered that many e-bike users felt overwhelmed by the technology and controls on their bikes. To address this, we created a simple and intuitive interface that allows riders to easily adjust their level of assist and monitor their battery life. We also incorporated GPS navigation, allowing riders to plan their route and track their progress.
Through extensive user research, we discovered that many e-bike users felt overwhelmed by the technology and controls on their bikes. To address this, we created a simple and intuitive interface that allows riders to easily adjust their level of assist and monitor their battery life. We also incorporated GPS navigation, allowing riders to plan their route and track their progress.
Project Overview
Mars has a lot of food brands, and their websites look different. Management has decided to align all Mars’ websites to the common structure using one robust component library on the whole universe of their brand websites.
As a design team, we were engaged to create a new Suzi Wan website according to platform capabilities and brand guidelines.
Universe of Mars brand websites:
Design Challenges & Goals
Challenges
Brand colors are not suitable for web accessibility;
CMS platform has pre-defined principles which are applied for colors and their relationship to each other;
The brand book does not have all the needed elements for the web;
The selected CMS platform has several technical constraints where content can be represented in pre-defined blocks.
Goals
Design possible workarounds for platform limitations;
Apply all needed brand book elements;
Design website considering all Drupal platform possibilities;
Support mockups delivery and development into the final product.
Roadmap
To understand the scope of work, we started by defining a sitemap. Then, in collaboration with the stakeholders, we created a coherent roadmap. Further, we determined the design phases and deliverables of every stage. We had a small timeframe, so we set dates of demo calls to follow our plan and receive feedback in time.
Color accessibility
To meet WCAG (World content accessibility guidelines), we dug deep into the customer brand book to research possible solutions for the right color combination.
It was a challenge to adapt the brand’s color pallet for the CMS because the platform had predefined relationships between colors. We could use only six colors across the pages, so we had no right to make a mistake even at such an early stage.
Discovery and Research
The easiest way to present user flow to the stakeholder was to create a diagram according to the sitemap and investigate platform capabilities.
Brand’s Look & Feel
Some of the brand elements could not be used on the web. So we conducted several brainstorming sessions to overcome this challenge and express brand identity and spirit. The client was happy with the presented options.
Atomic Design System
To save the client’s budget and avoid any code change of the platform, we created a design system based on the platform building blocks. The assembly development team used ready components for creating web pages.
Components library
We used the Atomic Design approach to keep the design system scalable and flexible. Thanks to this, we cut time and concentrated on delivering the best user experience and expression of brand identity.
We established an eight pixels-based spacing system to maintain consistency across all components and used it on each website page.
We conducted a demo for the brand team and demonstrated the most optimal options to stick with to maintain web accessibility standards and save the original brand look & feel while keeping everything in a match with platform color combination restrictions.
Colors relationships examples:
Summary Outcome
Summary Outcome
Developers
We delivered a color scheme, theme configurator, brand assets, adapted images, media recommendations, and mockups. Developers appreciated our approach and teamwork because they could use our components library on the platform without any additional changes.
Brand Team
Mars brand team gave very positive feedback. We considered all of their wishes and helped express the brand identity at the design level and the content level creating covers for pages.
From Outsourcing Execution to Strategic Partnership
Such an approach allowed the development of relationships between Mars and EPAM into a strategic partnership. As proof Mars wanted to continue work with EPAM using the existing design process (focused on the high quality of delivery) on more than ten brands websites from January 2022.
Mockups
We reused the same blocks from the existing platform based on sitemap and user flow to provide reserve time for development and complete the design phase earlier.
Expanding the Universe of Mars Websites
From Outsourcing Execution to Strategic Partnership
Client
Mars
Services
Visual Design
UI & UX Design
Industries
Retail & distribution (B2C)
Date
October 2021
Through extensive user research, we discovered that many e-bike users felt overwhelmed by the technology and controls on their bikes. To address this, we created a simple and intuitive interface that allows riders to easily adjust their level of assist and monitor their battery life. We also incorporated GPS navigation, allowing riders to plan their route and track their progress.
Through extensive user research, we discovered that many e-bike users felt overwhelmed by the technology and controls on their bikes. To address this, we created a simple and intuitive interface that allows riders to easily adjust their level of assist and monitor their battery life. We also incorporated GPS navigation, allowing riders to plan their route and track their progress.
Project Overview
Project Overview
Mars has a lot of food brands, and their websites look different. Management has decided to align all Mars’ websites to the common structure using one robust component library on the whole universe of their brand websites.
As a design team, we were engaged to create a new Suzi Wan website according to platform capabilities and brand guidelines.
Universe of Mars brand websites:
Problems & Goals
Problems & Goals
Challenges
Brand colors are not suitable for web accessibility;
CMS platform has pre-defined principles which are applied for colors and their relationship to each other;
The brand book does not have all the needed elements for the web;
The selected CMS platform has several technical constraints where content can be represented in pre-defined blocks.
Goals
Design possible workarounds for platform limitations;
Apply all needed brand book elements;
Design website considering all Drupal platform possibilities;
Support mockups delivery and development into the final product.
Roadmap
To understand the scope of work, we started by defining a sitemap. Then, in collaboration with the stakeholders, we created a coherent roadmap. Further, we determined the design phases and deliverables of every stage. We had a small timeframe, so we set dates of demo calls to follow our plan and receive feedback in time.
Discovery and Research
The easiest way to present user flow to the stakeholder was to create a diagram according to the sitemap and investigate platform capabilities.
Color accessibility
To meet WCAG (World content accessibility guidelines), we dug deep into the customer brand book to research possible solutions for the right color combination.
It was a challenge to adapt the brand’s color pallet for the CMS because the platform had predefined relationships between colors. We could use only six colors across the pages, so we had no right to make a mistake even at such an early stage.
We conducted a demo for the brand team and demonstrated the most optimal options to stick with to maintain web accessibility standards and save the original brand look & feel while keeping everything in a match with platform color combination restrictions.
Mockups
Mockups
We reused the same blocks from the existing platform based on sitemap and user flow to provide reserve time for development and complete the design phase earlier.
Expanding the Universe of Mars Websites
From Outsourcing Execution to Strategic Partnership
Client
Mars
Services
Visual Design
UI & UX Design
Industries
Retail & distribution (B2C)
Date
October 2021
Colors relationships examples:
Atomic Design System
To save the client’s budget and avoid any code change of the platform, we created a design system based on the platform building blocks. The assembly development team used ready components for creating web pages.
Components library
We used the Atomic Design approach to keep the design system scalable and flexible. Thanks to this, we cut time and concentrated on delivering the best user experience and expression of brand identity.
We established an eight pixels-based spacing system to maintain consistency across all components and used it on each website page.
Brand’s Look & Feel
Some of the brand elements could not be used on the web. So we conducted several brainstorming sessions to overcome this challenge and express brand identity and spirit. The client was happy with the presented options.