Homelink – Ipod Application

I also decided to create an Ipod application for HomeLink to attract more custoers. Ipod Apps are becoming a popular marketing device for companies. The convenience and accessibility make it perfect for customers to use on the go – wherever and whenever. The Ipod App I have created for HomeLink allows you to search homes on the go. You don’t want to be sat on a computer all day – and this is where an Ipod App can be helpfulces for your perfect home swap. The app also allows you to receive push notifications when receiving messages from other members and also a ‘Weekly Pick’ option in which you can be notified of a random house which may appeal to you every week. This allows the user to find out new places in which they might like, and also to remind them of the company.

Homelink – Website Design

As part of advertising the company ‘HomeLink’, I decided to re-design their website (www.homelink.org.uk), which currently looks cheap and untrustworthy; the last thing you want when booking a holiday! I chose to use the same theme as my poster design, creating a consistency across the different medias I chose to re-design. I also made the site more interesting, eye-catching and user friendly. I included an easier navigation and also integrated the social networking into the site (bottom right corner).

Homelink – Social Networking

Social Networking is a free and easy way to advertise a company, therefore I thought it would be perfect for HomeLink; being on a tight budget. I created a Facebook and Twitter page for HomeLink and used the same style used in the poster advert as a display picture/background, so people would recognize the style after seeing the advert, and also to make the pages more attractive. Social Networking is a great way to get the word out there for your company as it is a part of every day life for some people and once people start liking the pages, people will follow the trend and follow them also – a bit like word of mouth advertising. Both pages would allow users to receive updates, but Facebook would also let the user add their own photographs, share their experiences of HomeLink and have their questions answered. You can also create Facebook adverts for a small price which you can then target at a certain audience, for example, those interested in travel. The social networking pages would also be integrated into the official website, along with ‘Like’ buttons on the website e.g. when clicked would appear on Facebook as ‘Hannah Furnell likes www.homelink.org.uk’. Here are the pages I created:

(Click on images to be taken to Social Networking pages)

Homelink – Initial Design 3

The third design I tried out played on the idea of people packing EVERYTHING when they go away, including the house, and that this isn’t needed if you will be staying in someone else’s house (it could also link to saving on additional baggage costs at the airport also, saving money). I have chosen to use quite a different style in these, using bright colours which I think makes it look more interesting and eye-catching compared to other travel ads. I can also see this style working across a range of different medias. I think I will stick with this idea to develop further since it may stand out with it’s unique style. I now need to come up with different strap lines to go with the imagery of the ads, with them all being the same at the moment and also look into cheap ways of advertising the company since the budget is tight.

Homelink – Initial Design 2

For my second design idea I used the same style as my A-Z Summer Project, using a mixture of illustrated typography and images. I would create one for each letter of Homelink, each with a different word relating to Homelink.

H is for Holiday (or Home)
O is for Opportunity (or Options)
M is for Money Saving
E is for Explore (or Exchange, Experience, Enjoy)
L is for Lifestyle
I is for Iconic Places (or Idealism)
N is for New World (or New Culture)
K is for Key (to a new house)

Homelink – Initial Design 1

Here is my first initial design for the Homelink brief set for the Roses Student Creativity Awards 2011. In this design I came up with the strap line ‘Exchange. Explore. Enjoy’ which I think fits really well with Homelink as it suggests adventure and exploring new things. The images within the typography also suggest exploring the new and make the viewer want to find out more on the subject since not much is given away. The logo is displayed and also the website of Homelink to allow the viewer to do this. Although I like this design, I believe it looks too much like any other travel advert and wouldn’t really stand out amongst other travel ads.

NOTE: I did not take any of the photographs used, all images are copyrighted to members ‘Timobalk’, ‘DZM’, ‘Loafer’, ‘Hisks’, ‘MarkHan’, ‘Cimmarron’, ‘Nossirom’, ‘Blary54′, ‘Willem’, ‘Emilioqp’, ‘Somadinn’, ‘Fenias’, ‘Jimroda’ and ‘Hermanopan’ on http://www.sxc.hu/

Roses Brief – Homelink

We have now been given our briefs for the Roses Student Creativity Awards 2011, which if won can give us a chance to win a placement in the sponsering companies. I have chosen to go with the Homelink brief. Here is the brief that I have chosen:

Homelink is an alternative to paying for holiday accommodation. You can literally swap homes with almost anyone around the world. Given the financial climate this could be the future for holidaying on a budget. Raise awareness of the Homelink concept by devising a UK campaign that works across traditional media (e.g. press), online advertising, social media (Twitter, Facebook etc.), any other nontraditional ideas. Bear in mind the budget is tight. Ensure the Homelink logo and web address appear.

I now need to research more into the company ‘Homelink’ and come up with a good concept/ idea.