Design your own dress by choosing fabrics and the style. We created a Flash interface that connects to a client-maintained database of fabric swatches. Due to limitations of such a the simulation, we included a way to alter the scale and angle of the tiled pattern.

Behind the scenes, the client is able to update the swatches using SlideShowPro, our favorite image management database tool. The content of most pages is also easily updated using a very friendly content management system. A blog is also included, which helps add the personal touch essential for reaching out to customers.

We also created the sketches. Working from a computer-generated diagram, our artist chose a brush stroke to capture the nature of “shibui.” Rather than trying to be dead-on realistic, which would require massive amounts of rendering time and result in an unnatural “CGI” look, we opted for the brush-swatch approach‚Äîthe loose style also helps to leave some room for the imagination as to how the dress will ultimately turn out in a particular pattern.

Prior to our design, the site was managed through Dreamweaver, which is fine if you are handy with HTML and keeping track of your links yourself. But for a small organization, it became quite time-consuming as the site grew. Through the use of WordPress, we made it possible for the staff to update the site in-house. And with a limited budget, every penny saved there can help further the cause of their mission, preventing violence and domestic abuse.