LGA Holding Page Design

Since this original design for Lochaber Geopark Association was just a 'holding page' (live for about a year from August 2006) pending the design and launch of their full site (too large a job for me to consider as a very part-time designer!), I've taken the decision to replace the original top panel text with some explanatory paragraphs of similar length to what was there.

It's unusual for me in being a fixed width design when I'm a great believer in fluid layouts for fluid media, but was done this way to maximise the effect of the dramatic Ben Nevis photo by Noel Williams, where some visual trickery with a carefully chosen background colour has added a seemingly endless stack of sky above the clouds to make a seamless backdrop for the text. (See this at its most striking when using Paul Sowden's style sheet switcher — top right — to toggle the text size!)

The indigo background (effectively just a border at 800px width) to the left and right of the central panels was taken from the colour of the LGA logo (top left) as it was at the time this page went up, and the #000066 text colour chosen to 'go' with both 'sky' and logo.

A pop-up location map (drawn by Noel, who also did the logo) was linked from the opening paragraph (starting 'The Lochaber area is renowned for its spectacular scenery'), and proper 'noscript' content provided for both this and the style sheet changer.

The objects of Lochaber Geopark Association are: [archived unchanged]

to raise awareness of Lochaber's outstanding geology and geomorphology, both locally and outwith the area;
to encourage and support the sensitive interpretation of Lochaber's geological heritage;
to encourage and support economic and social development based on Lochaber's geological heritage;
to promote awareness and appreciation of the links between the geological heritage, the natural heritage, the cultural heritage, the landscape and land use in Lochaber;
to encourage educational initiatives, training opportunities and research activities that relate to Lochaber's geological heritage;
to encourage and promote the sustainable use of geological resources in Lochaber.

The objects of Lochaber Geopark Association are: [archived unchanged]

Lochaber Geopark Association is supported by a number of national and local bodies: [2018 edit: links removed because several were dead]