Web Design Case Studies

EatNoise clearly specified its requirements for the new website. The site would need to be an intuitive, user-friendly site that worked hand in hand with popular social media and video-sharing sites, such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and more. The bands using the site would need a secure members section with password protection to control who can upload, modify, and delete information about the bands’ music and upcoming shows. Finally, EatNoise would need a customised content management system (CMS) that would allow it to update all pages as needed, without needing the services of a programmer or other IT professional.

The Delivery

At the project’s outset, before beginning to design or develop website applications, Melbourne-based Design Industries took the time to understand the specific needs of its client. This meant analysing not only EatNoise itself, but also the bands, solo artists, and music venues that the website was intended to serve. Once the site requirements and potential uses were understood, Design Industries’ designers began to create a site that would complement the EatNoise name and theme. Throughout the process, they ensured that the creative layout supported and enhanced the customised website application’s underlying functionality.

The web developers created a great new backend system with room to grow and expand the website as the company’s client base grows. This backend system includes a password-protected CMS that makes it easy for authorised users to create, modify, and delete information as it appears on the website, regardless of how much experience they have working with the internet and web pages.

EatNoise’s new custom web application also includes an extensive and secure members-only section. Artists and bands can log into the site with their unique account and then use the intuitive interface to quickly and easily input and publish information about their music and upcoming gigs. For simplicity, band managers and other individuals affiliated with multiple bands can access and modify multiple band profiles with a single username and password. Similarly, music venues can log into the password-protected members’ section and share information about upcoming live music performances, thereby attracting a new, broader clientele.

The EatNoise site that Design Industries delivered has a simple search engine that allows music fans and other members of the public to conduct simple searches to find information about specific bands, artists, genres, and shows, as well as information about when and where they can find upcoming gigs in their local area. They can also identify individual artists and bands as their favourites, so that they receive tailored news feeds about new album releases and related gigs near where they live. A personalised calendar within the members-only section displays all the upcoming shows of the user’s favourite performers.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the new EatNoise site is its full integration with popular social media sites. Each band’s profile page can serve as a portal to its respective profiles on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and the band’s own website. Bands can also add YouTube videos to their EatNoise profile page. This allows bands to maximise their exposure and take advantage of their existing profiles and followers on other social media sites.

The new EatNoise site was launched as a beta release in April 2009, and many bands and artists have already begun promoting their work through EatNoise. With all these pieces in place, EatNoise is poised to take centre stage in the Australian music industry.