Mechanical Hound Custom Themes  
 
quote requested
Your quote request has been sent. You will hear from us shortly. Thank you!
what we do
Mechanical Hound is a design studio specializing in custom themes for Four51 E-Commerce web sites. If you are running or developing a site through Four51, you are probably using a generic theme. We can help.

A good custom theme can redefine the entire look and feel of your site, forming the brand identity of your product line and creating an easy and memorable user experience. Four51 is a great application, but don't let a generic theme hold back your site.
The custom theme is meant to be a single-time project. We will work quickly to create a design and set it up on your site. You will maintain total control of your Four51 application and your e-commerce enterprise.

Mechanical Hound is based in New York City and all work is done in the US. We are committed to working closely with our clients and communicating every step of the way.

examples of our work
(screen shots are scaled down)

features
Western Star site with splash page
Custom Theme
We will create an original design for your site. Based on any materials already associated with the brand, we will sketch three prototype themes for you to choose from. Working from your feedback and tailoring the site to your particular needs, we will implement the prototype you select as a theme in the Four51 application.
Brand Modeling
If your product line is meant to tie in with an existing brand, we can model the custom theme on that brand's web site or other materials. Our themes for Freightliner, Reser's Fine Foods, Cadillac, and Western Star all integrate visually with their parent brands, while retaining the stamp of the specific Four51 venture. If available, we can work within brand compliance guidelines. Detail of a slide show
Highlight Products
We offer a number of ways to call users' attention to products and promotions, which can be built into the theme but controlled by you. These include animated slide shows, rotating banners, and custom splash pages.
Specialized Pages
In addition to the theme itself, we can create a customized login portal, a contact page, and even a landing site, if your users need to be directed to one of several different Four51 applications. The custom login page, housed on your server or ours, will be connected to a unique domain name (www.YourPromoSite.com) so that users need not remember the Four51 address.
case study: Save-a-Tree Printing
1. Project Description
Our client was developing a Four51 store to sell print products on 100%-recycled paper, called Save-a-Tree Printing. Because this was an original venture, there were no existing style guidelines. However, the look and feel needed to convey both the environmentally-friendly outlook of the store and the advanced capabilities of their digital printing technology. The features requested by the client included both the Four51 theme, with animated slideshow and stylized category images, and a "landing site" that would host web pages with additional information about the paper, the printing process, pricing, and so on.
2. Theme Sketches
After discussing the project and producing a job quote—defining the requested features, time frame, and price—we rapidly produced three different design sketches.
Sketch 1 Sketch 2 Sketch 3
Theme Sketch 1 Theme Sketch 2 Theme Sketch 3

3. Theme Revision and Building
Based on feedback from the client about the sketches, we revised the design of the theme, combining elements from both the first and third options. Once the design sketch was finalized, we began building the theme in HTML. A navigation template was constructed for both the Four51 site and the separate landing pages. Meanwhile, content from the client was added to the pages and the theme was applied to their Four51 buyer site.
Final Home Page
Final Home Page
   
4. Full Implementation
With the theme and landing pages built, the last phase involved filling out the rest of the content. An animated slideshow was created to highlight the mission of the store, as were category images that fit into the overall aesthetic. Before handing over the pages to the client, we tested the site for errors or inconsistencies and performed troubleshooting on any potential difficulties.
Category Images
Category Images
   

request a quote
    Tell us about your project and we will respond
with a price estimate to start the discussion...
Your Name  
Your Email  
Project Name  
Time Frame  
Existing Materials
(to be used as reference)
  Logo
Mailers / Pamphlets
Whole Brand Identity
Web Site
Photographs
Web Site Address  
Desired Features   Brand New Logo / Style
Splash / Landing Page
Animated Slide Show
Custom Category Images
Contact Page
Custom Domain Name
Notes