---
title: VCEDC Homepage Design System
type: article
created: '2026-04-05'
updated: '2026-04-05'
source_docs:
- raw/2025-11-25-vcedc-website-meeting-104341258.md
tags:
- vcedc
- website
- design
- homepage
layer: 2
client_source: null
industry_context: null
transferable: true
---

# VCEDC Homepage Design System

Design decisions and rationale for the VCEDC website homepage, established during the content and design finalization session ahead of board review.

## Header Design

After multiple rounds of iteration, the team approved a **lighter green header with a subtle "V" background** as the final direction.

### Decision Rationale

- The original darker forest green was rejected by the client (including board chair Jim) as feeling too similar to the previous site — "kind of what we had already, and it's dark"
- A lime/gradient option was rejected for feeling too bright and limey, particularly at the top gradient edge
- The lighter green with the "V" watermark was selected unanimously for its freshness and distinctiveness
- The designer independently preferred this direction as well, having been dissatisfied with the previously approved darker concept

### Key Characteristics

- **Color:** Lighter green accent tone (complement to the original forest green, not a replacement)
- **Background treatment:** Subtle "V" letterform in the background for visual interest
- **Feel:** Fresh, clean — a departure from the previous site's darker palette while remaining on-brand

## Hero Image

- **Photo:** Eagle River Animal Hospital
- **Crop directive:** Remove the back hallway visible in the original frame; crop in from left and right, or scale up slightly to cut legs if needed
- **Goal:** Focus on the subjects; eliminate distracting architectural background

## Remote Worker Section

A dedicated Remote Worker section appears on the homepage. As of the finalization meeting:

- **Headline and copy:** Pending — Kathy Schmitz to provide
- **Embedded video:** Non-functional at time of meeting; developer Aki assigned to fix
- **Content tone guidance:** Copy should speak to *what this means to the remote worker*, not to VCEDC's internal economic development strategy

## Success Stories Video Grid

A grid of embedded YouTube videos appears on the homepage under Success Stories.

### Content Requirements

- **Diversity:** All videos at time of meeting were Eagle River-focused; goal is to represent all of Vilas County
- **Target count:** 6 videos
- **Specific change:** Replace Advanced Welding with Amanda Cowart
- **Source:** Kathy to provide final list of 6 videos with YouTube links

### Technical Requirements

- Developer Aki must suppress YouTube branding (logo, black bars) on all embedded videos
- Applies to homepage grid and the Success Stories page

## Layout & Navigation Context

The homepage serves as the primary entry point and links to:

- [[wiki/clients/vcedc/_index|VCEDC]] program pages (Remote Work, Entrepreneur, Business Expansion, Broadband)
- [[wiki/knowledge/website/vcedc-content-consolidation|Content consolidation decisions]] (Success Stories, Events, Donate)
- Leadership section (bios sourced from live VCEDC site, not AI-generated drafts)

## Related Decisions

- [[wiki/knowledge/website/vcedc-content-consolidation|VCEDC Content Consolidation]] — Success Stories/Business Minute merge, Invest page removal, Annual Reports simplification
- [[wiki/knowledge/website/vcedc-events-page|VCEDC Events Page Redesign]] — Upcoming/Past split, CTA conventions

## Open Items (as of 2025-11-25)

| Item | Owner | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Worker headline + copy | Kathy Schmitz | Pending |
| Homepage video player fix | Developer Aki (via Melissa) | In progress |
| 6 success story video links | Kathy Schmitz | Pending |
| Hero image crop | Developer Aki | Pending |
| Hide YouTube branding on all videos | Developer Aki | Pending |