9web - Branding and website design for Southern Cross Spars

Southern Cross Spars specialise in the rigging of sailing boats. 9web were commissioned to create a website that would showcase both Southern Cross Spars wide ranging expertise and the facilities available at their Oslo boatyard.

Southern Cross Spars did not have a formal corporate identity in place, so the first stage was to create suitable branding. The logo needed to convey the freedom and sense of adventure familiar to sailors everywhere, but also the skilled craftsmanship and high tech materials that the company employ.

Ed Tadzik the company founder is Australian and the company takes it's name from a key navigational constellation, which is also depicted on the Australian flag. The final logo combines the clean geometry of mast rigging and billowing sails with the symbolic Southern Cross.

With the branding work completed we began to plan the website, examining how to present the diverse range of services and products Southern Cross Spars offer, alongside a series of rigging maintenance guides for boat owners. A noteworthy challenge of this project was that all content needed to be available in both Norwegian and English, whilst still retaining ease of update.

An iterative creative design process followed, developing the new branding work into an online presence. Particular focus was paid to incorporating exciting imagery, the site needed to be informative but also compelling.

The final design is clean and uncluttered, allowing the product and services information to stand out. Further layouts were created for product sections and the maintenance guides.

The completed site is easy to navigate and viewers can switch easily between Norwegian and English language content without losing their place in the site. The new website has already successfully set Southern Cross Spars apart from their competitors.