SMS002 · Concept of the Station℠
This post will outline the concept, needs, and goals of the Station℠.
As promised in the previous issue, this post will outline the concept, needs, and goals of the Station℠.
But before we do that, I want to thank everyone who has read the first part of this series, and I also want to welcome all the people who subscribed. It's great to have you all here!
Now, let's dive in.
It starts with the 'why'
To start things off, I would like to outline the WHY behind this project and explain its motivation and purpose. The next bit will be a bit philosophical, so stay with me for a moment.
We all want to find or create our place in this world—a safe space where we can truly be ourselves. The word 'home' has probably crossed your mind now. It's usually the first association we make with this feeling. But 'home' is just a construct, it's a place. And thus, could anything be turned into a home? That's the thought I want to base this project on — I want to create my home.
Back to a more concrete description. It needs to become a hub that stores all the information that relates to myself, e.g., past projects, experiences, offerings, or anything new that might come up. I want something that can, at any moment, be shaped, changed, and taken apart without breaking. Something that doesn't have, and even disregards, strict rules.
You might have noticed that I am skipping over the word 'portfolio' here. That is very intentional, as I don't want to put the site into a certain box. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having or building a portfolio. But a portfolio addresses concrete goals and needs. Besides that, it also puts an expectation label on it, e.g., showcasing lots of images or work. Both of these points are not something I want to inject into the concept of the Station℠, at least not as a primary goal.
So why is it called Station℠?
As you've already noticed, I want this site to feel more like a real place. A place where ideas move. A place that people can visit, tune in, jump to a different location, move on, and continue their journey.
Through that thought process, 'station' came into my mind. It describes all the points above with just one simple word.
And so, it won't be a studio — it will be a Station℠ :)
That's a rough definition of the project. There is definitely more I could write up, but I don't want to run the risk of boring you. Please let me know if something is too vague and unclear or if you have questions. The format of the series is still being defined as we move along. Therefore, your feedback is valuable, so I can make it a fun one for you to read.
Moving on to the goals.
Overall goals
As this is neither an ordinary project nor one for a client, I want to set some “rules” for myself.
Rule #1: Have fun
Often, we take things too seriously. I especially see this evolution happening in the design industry. There is nothing wrong with doing something the “right” way, but in this specific case, I think that there is an opportunity to simply have fun. Not think about leads, churn, SEO, industry standard layouts, etc.
What I envision doing is:
Play with color to display past projects and their identities. Use animations to make the site feel more alive. Define a certain style in a way that also injects me as an entity into it. And for those who don't know me, I am rather calm than outgoing. So it will be an interesting challenge to find the right balance.
Rule #2: Challenge myself
One of the big motivators, as I believe, is being challenged. It's a lot more intriguing to start something that you don't yet know how you'll accomplish. As a bonus, it is inevitable that you will also learn something new along the way. Which is a nice and highly valuable benefit.
What I envision doing is:
Introduce design challenges, like the one mentioned above, that will require a visually balanced solution. But also, as the site is going to be executed with Webflow, I want to challenge my Webflow skills. Try out a different approach to things.
Rule #3: Do things differently
There's a perception that you shouldn't reinvent the wheel just for the sake of it. And in many cases, this holds true. But then again, how do we move forward if we don't reinvent things? Especially in the design field, we should feel safe doing things differently, even just for the sake of it.
What I envision doing is:
I want to create a layout that is different from the usual mid-centered approach. FYI: I am not saying the 'usual' layout is bad or wrong. This simply addresses the described rules above and adds another sprinkle of excitement to the process.
What's next
For a while, I've been toying with the idea of a rubber-like website. I want to see what that would feel like and how I would go about executing it. Besides that, I also want the site to use all the available space that the browser window has to offer. But in a way that will remain functional, readable, appealing, etc.
I think those two criteria can work well together, and it would be worthy of exploration. And that is what will be covered in the next part of this series.
Like, subscribe, click the bell icon, clap your hands, dance, jump, wiggle, and now take a break as this has probably made you sick. Until next time.
— Stas Moor