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F.J. Darley are a leading shipwright in Victoria, specialising in traditional timber construction. With more than 30 years of experience, they provide a reputable and professional service as a traditional, and modern shipwright for commercial and private vessels. F.J. Darley are diversifying into architectural projects, using shipwright techniques to bring a unique feel to building projects.
project
F.J. Darley have undertaken many projects using traditional techniques. ThompsonCooke Creative were briefed to create a new responsive website to describe these projects and the process's used. From arrival of the vessel into the 'shed' through to its launch back into service, all repair stages have been captured with video and images both archival, and recent. Each unique project has its own page describing the vessel and the techniques used, with added depth through client testimonials. Each project highlights the craftsmanship and attention to detail that Ferdi and the team bring to each and every project.
The main navigation is split into two project categories: Marine and Architectural. F.J. Darley use modern advanced CNC machining that enable design and engineering of 3D fibreglass and composite products for the architectural, construction and marine industries. Quicklink images are used throughout the website, granting the viewer easy access to each and every project.
The headline typeface chosen for the website is Copperplate Bold, a traditional typeface used on many marine vessels - and in the F.J. Darley signage. The upper case, tracked (spaced) headlines use a smaller point size that is easily read. The body copy is a contrasting sans serif font that performs well on all responsive (Phone, Pad and Screen) formats of the website.
In terms of functionality, the website is responsive and easy to navigate, making the process of finding information as simple as possible. All photography has been cropped to a 16x9 widescreen format. The F.J. Darley Instagram feed runs in the footer of the website, giving the viewer a light hearted look into everyday life in the 'shed'. (and for ongoing SEO of the website) A youtube channel was set up as part of the project, so new video’s can be uploaded and linked to the website as required.
challenges
Over the years Ferdi and the team have worked on hundreds of projects and a huge range of vessels, so sifting through the archive of photography, optimising and creating order in amongst photography chaos was an enormous undertaking!
