Design for Next Retail
Dan's Current Role as Lead Content Designer at Next
I am currently employed by Next as a Creative Web Designer for their UK website and sub-sites. My main responsibilities here include the project management and lead design of weekly creative content including the home page and editorial.
I also have sole ownership of 'Key Event' creative, such as London 2012 Olympics, Christmas, Valentines Day etc. This often involves designing immersive, bespoke Flash modules and the subsequent briefing of developers and programmers.
Website Design
Year, 2008 - Present
Project. The Home Page
Information. During my time at Next, I have taken responsibility for designing the weekly home pages and home page 'teaser' buttons. These serve as Next's all important 'shop window' on the World Wide Web and are strategically designed to entice the online shopper to take an interest in what Next has to offer them. Over the last few months, my involvement in Next's home page has evolved; although the example illustrated above is one of my recent designs, I now mainly manage the collation of the home page creative, gathering resources from the London and Leicester departments and ensuring that all elements are handed over in time to meet the strict weekly deadlines
Website Design
Year, 2008 - Present
Project. Next Fashion Editorial
Information. I have been the lead designer on Next's fashion editorial since 2008. Since then I have worked closely with Editorial Content Managers and Copy Writers to ensure that the editorial feature continues to grow and evolve. With very tight deadlines and last minute changes due to varying stock levels and even fluctuations in the weather, the weekly process of re-designing and handing this feature over is an exciting challenge and really good fun. Besides designing weekly editorial content for next.co.uk, I also produce versions adapted for facebook.com/nextonline and also 'editorial mobile'; available via the Next iPhone app
Logo and Website Design
Year, 2010
Project. Next Autumn / Winter 2010 Women's Denim Shop
Information. I designed the Denim Shop Flash application to present Next’s range of Autumn / Winter 2010 Women’s jeans. The application is both fun and simple to use and allows users to explore the various styles on offer, receive style tips and proceed to product pages very easily. Each denim style is illustrated with bespoke catwalk video and detail photography.
I took inspiration for the design from the colour themed hanging tags, which are used at point of sale on the denim styles sold in the Next retail stores
Website Design
Year, 2009 - Present
Project. Next TV
Information. I have been responsible for designing the Next TV video player through various incarnations since it's inception in 2009. Next TV has become an integral part of the fashion editorial, bringing the content to life with catwalk video, hot styling tips and interviews with fashion editors from Elle, Company, Prima and Now magazines etc. I recently designed the Next TV video vault which allows users to access arcchived videos featuring New Trends, Next Collections and Next Events. Next TV has been a huge success and received a very favorable review in Retail Week Magazine, January 30, 2009
Website Design
Year, 2010
Project. London 2012 Olympics
Information. Next has been appointed as the Official Clothing and Homeware Supplier to the London 2012 Games. The company will provide uniforms for technical officials at the Games and suits for London organising committee staff. It will also design opening and closing ceremony outfits and formal suits for Team GB athletes as well as supply linen for the athletes’ village. To recognise the 'two years to go until the Games begin' date, Next launched a range of exclusive t-shirts featuring Wenlock, the official Games mascot. I was appointed the task of designing the product pages and other pages that relate to Next's involvement in the Games. I was also responsible for liaising with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), to gain their sign-off for the creative
Graphic Design
Year, 2009
Project. Vehicle Livery Design for Hackney Carriages
Information. I designed the branding for 5 London, Hackney Carriages for the duration of London Fashion Week 2009. 4 of these vehicles were duel branded with associated fashion brands Cosmopolitan, Easy Living, Elle and Grazia. Next's imagery was chosen from their Autumn 2009 print and web advertising campaign which was shot in New York
Graphic Design
Year, 2010
Project. Transactional Pages
Information. These are examples of some of the transactional pages I have designed for the next.co.uk website during 2010. These generally include areas for 'live text' and form fields and are usually associated with accompanying print campaigns. These web pages often need to conform to pre-existing web templates