Project Galgo
Project Galgo is a small, UK based, volunteer led, not-for-profit animal welfare rescue organisation dedicated to relieving and preventing the suffering predominantly, though not exclusively, of Galgos and Podencos (Spanish sighthounds) and Salukis who are in need of care and protection, in particular by rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing. They became a registered charity in 2022. They collaborate as the only UK partners, a number of similar organisations in Spain and Bahrain who work tirelessly to free the Galgos and Podencos.
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The Brief
This project was starting from the ground up with only a logo. The client had a hand drawn logo by a professional artist, and that would inform every design choice made for the website. As a dog rescue charity, there were a number of key elements with a focus on function, simplicity and usability. The client needed easy site navigation as this site would have a number of services to be promoted. Key for the client were a gallery to showcase dogs available for adoption, a page about fostering, with online application forms for both, a page on sponsorship and a news and events page. As a charity the donate button needed to always be visible throughout the site.
The Process
The hand drawn logo provided by the client was the starting design point for the website. We made the decision to keep the colours throughout the site the same as the logo in black and white. This minimalist black and white palette allowed the dog images to colour pop throughout and really draw the users attention to them. In collaboration with the client we produced a website like no other, especially in this field.
We build a custom admin dashboard for each client. This user friendly interface, more akin to a social media platform allows the business owner to add and update content, add and update media, and change basic business info. This was a very important step for this type of website as the client needs to constantly update with new dogs or when dogs are home. In addition, adding news and events regularly keeps visitors along on a dog’s journey, immersing them into the positives of rescue and adoption. The front end of this was the gallery, and we decided to make each image look like a polaroid photo with the dog’s name and a one word description, Mick “Gorgeous”.
Whether a person is looking to foster or adopt a dog, the process is long and complex. A dog rescue charity website has forms that very few other websites have; eight pages long, required fields, and special features like image upload. Forms like this take years of experience to programme correctly, not just experience with WordPress, but other specialist software, Elementor and Crocoblock. These forms are the lifeblood of Project Galgo. Prospective adopters and fosterers from all over the UK fill them out, and they have to work… every time. The form submissions are organised into a database stored in, and easily accessible from, the WordPress Dashboard.
All FutureProof Digital websites are designed and developed with SEO (search engine optimization) in mind from day 1, and this project was no different. If you submit a page to Google for indexation, then you should target a keyword or search term for that page. For example, this page targets the term “Dog Rescue Charity Website”. After only a few days, Project Galgo ranked number 1 for their name (a great sign, if you are looking for early indicators) and after weeks and months is ranking for very valuable terms, “galgo adoption UK” for example.
Original Design & Layout
FutureProof websites are designed and developed from the ground up, we don't use templates, or even a traditional WordPress theme. This project for web design in Essex would be no different. Every business, or charity, or public figure, gets a custom theme; colours, fonts, layouts, everything. This dog rescue charity website is the same, and it shows. In collaboration with the client we produced a website like no other, especially in this field. This client was thrilled, and left us a glowing review, which always means so much.
Image Gallery
An image gallery can be a valuable addition to a website, helping to improve its visual appeal, user experience, and SEO, while showcasing products or services and telling a brand's story. We use Crocoblock JetEngine to build custom galleries for our clients, styled specifically for each brand and programmed for even a WordPress novice to manage and update. The dogs stand out, everywhere on this website.
Complex Form Submission
Whether a person is looking to foster or adopt a dog, the process is long and complex. A dog rescue charity website has forms that very few other websites have; eight pages long, required fields, and special features like image upload. Forms like this take years experience to programme correctly, not just experience with WordPress, but other specialist software, Elementor and Crocoblock.
These forms are the lifeblood of Project Galgo. Prospective adopters and fosterers from all over the UK fill them out, and they have to work... every time. The form submissions are organized into a database stored in, and easily accessible from, the WordPress Dashboard.
A website designed by FutureProof Digital is as much for the client as it is for the users of the website. If we can reduce paperwork for the business, by creating forms and databases, then we do. For many of our clients this will be customers, and we create email marketing funnels for this. But in the case of Project Galgo it's prospective adopters, so we adapted our standard system.
Dog Adoption Features
The primary goal of the Project Galgo website is to rescue dogs, mostly from Spain, bring them to the UK, and then offer them for foster or adoption. It may sound strange, but building this type of functionality is very similar to that of a dating website; scrolling through dog images (instead of people), profile pages and finally the process of meeting them. In this case it involves filling in a lot of forms. We'll look at that next. FutureProof Digital websites are always built the future in mind, Web Design in Essex is the same as any other part of the world. The client has to be able to run the site smoothly; upload images and all the information needed for clients to choose a dog to adopt.
The Results
- An attractive, arty and minimalist black and white palette to allow the stars of the show, the dogs, to stand out.
- SEO – After only a few days, Project Galgo ranked number 1 for their name (a great sign, if you are looking for early indicators) and after weeks and months is ranking for very valuable terms, “galgo adoption UK” for example.
- Easy to find and use forms.
All FutureProof Digital websites are designed and developed with SEO (search engine optimization) in mind from day 1, and this Web Design in Essex project was no different. If you submit a page to Google for indexation, then you should a target keyword or search term for that page. For example, this page targets the term “Dog Rescue Charity Website,” I want to rank on page one of the search results when someone types those words. After only a few days, Project Galgo ranked number 1 for their name (a great sign, if you are looking for early indicators) and after weeks and months is ranking for very valuable terms, “galgo adoption UK” for example.
