Our progress up to this point has primarily been focused on creating the initial "blueprints" for the layout of the actual site. To embark on this endeavor, we had to first gather some preliminary information pertaining to the company profile, such as the type of establishment, the menus and services offered, as well as a brief history. In doing so, we could get a general idea of the image that Mr. Jao wanted to project through the web site. We also brought the issue of including an online catering form as an additional service on the site. However, Mr. Jao was not interested in this, because he did not feel that it was needed. Also, he did not want the additional workload and responsibility of maintaining such a service. As mentioned in our previous journal, we suggested the use of a downloadable menu, complete with prices and Mr. Jao's contact information. This alternative would provide the similar benefits to that of an online catering order form, but without the extra responsibility involved.



Our main preoccupation has been concentrated on producing something tangible on the Internet. We decided to begin with designing the homepage, as well as a "splash page" for the site. We had to consider and discuss the content that was to go on the navigation menus, as well as the way in which we were to categorize the menus themselves. Once we organized this information, we discussed possible color schemes for the site. We envisioned the site to be fresh and contemporary, but we wanted to stay true to the image that Cultures had already established as a well-known franchise. For example, Cultures has predominantly used the color green in the way that they design their individual restaurants, as well as the logo itself. Therefore, our web site will incorporate this detail into every variation of potential color schemes.



To further help us with brainstorming potential ideas for the layout of the site, we visited the sites of other restaurants to see what considerations they had made when establishing their web presence. Each site had its own unique styles and preferences, but we observed some commonalities. Most had similar navigational menu categories, such as menus, contact information, directions, and profile. If applicable, some also had galleries that displayed pictures of the establishment. With a good idea of the basic expectations that a restaurant website should meet, we felt ready to advance to the actual creation stage of the site.