Fluid Layouts with Wave PR

We have just launched Wave’s new website, not only are we pleased with the final result but have built it using fluid layouts allowing the site to scale and flow seamlessly to match your screen size. As discussed earlier we feel this is vital for the future with tablets and touch screens becoming increasing common, touch screen also have a large impact on the navigation which has influenced the design with an interactive and animated grid layout used for the homepage. This allows the user to jump to the key content while offering a neater way to integrate the social media content. The main navigation has also had to be recreated to work on smaller screens; all this is made possible using CSS3.

As this is a dynamic industry with a dynamic award winning client it has of course been built around a CMS system. In this case its Joomla utilising the K2 module to drive the additional fields for the homepage. The site has of course be constructed with custom templates for the layout, K2 categories and items throughout the site. Consistency of design with a unique feel is something we pride ourselves on hence you will not see our sites looking like a re-skinned system template but custom throughout.

This approach has allowed us to develop a number of other sites with similar qualities, completely different designs of course and launching soon. visit www.wavepr.co.uk to find out more about this exciting company.

desktop version

tablet version

phone version

Carbon FX is launched...

We've just completed the branding and marketing materials for North Sea Plastics new product CarbonFX. This carbon fibre material is used to give prosthetics a more dynamic look which will appeal to a younger, more style aware, disabled audience who have role models such as Oscar Pistorius to look up to.

Independent state of mind...

We were asked recently to come up with some ideas for branding the cross party Pro Scottish Independence campaign. Such a high profile, not to say exciting project...how could we say no.

The brief was fairly open, the cross party committee wanted an Obama style approach with a device that could be used across print, digital, promotional bits and pieces, badges, flags...you get the idea.

We gave it some thought, well a lot of thought actually. After all, given the responsibility of changing history you need to give it your best shot.

The campaign has such a wide target audience that it was going to be hard to pin down something that might appeal to everyone. In fact we came to the conclusion that trying to please everyone would be impossible...look no further than the logo for London Olympics. We also came to the conclusion that whatever we did would probably be slated by anyone opposed to the campaign, but that's OK our skin is thicker than it looks. Scotland is an increasingly multicultural society and as well as native Scots there are many recent immigrants, eligible to vote, who may or may not be aware of the campaign and what it means.

But then there's one thing that people recognise. Whether it's a superpower like the USA or a small island nation in the south pacific there's one symbol that a whole country can rally behind...THE NATIONAL FLAG.

Our flag is part of our nation's identity, awash with history, meaning and pride. It means something and is instantly recognisable to both new and native scots.

Our saltire = Scotland.

It was a no brainer to do something with the flag, but the saltire while it certainly is an icon isn't a logo. So we set about turning it into one.

We introduced colours from the Scottish Landscape, trying hard not to use any party colours. We used bold geometric shapes which we knew would give us scope to develop the branding further down the line. And of course we had the bold white cross of the saltire to show everyone that it stood for Scotland.

It worked big, it worked small, in different colours, in print and on-screen.

It was good, it answered the brief and we won the pitch...it was a winner.



Well nearly.

As you might be aware the campaign launched earlier this month with a different logo. Not ours and not one that was part of the original pitch submissions. But that's a long story and we know they have their reasons...it's a pity but in the best British tradition we stay calm and carry on.

Say cheese...

I remember as a kid going to Woolies to get our pictures taken in the photo booth. Back then we'd have to adjust the seat, check our reflection in the glass, smile, wait, wait, wait, blink, flash...then hang around outside for the inevitable disappointing results.

Well we've just finished work on a website for Flash Bang Booth. They supply portable photobooths for parties and events. Of course since I was a nipper things have moved on a bit and it's all digital, instant...and fun. It's different to your usual party entertainment fare and we reckon it's going to be a huge success.

Take a look www.flashbangbooth.co.uk

Pfanks Pfizer...

We are very pleased to add Pfizer Pharmaceuticals to our list of clients. We have been working with them to produce materials aimed at promoting several events over the past few months. The latest of which is a conference on Women's Health which took place earlier this month. We designed the branding for the event as well as support material including invitations, conference packs and display stands.

CSS 3 and the EU

There has been alot of interest in HTML 5 recently and although not officially finalised it has by use and browser implementation already become standardised / established. This organic development seems very adpt for the nature of the web, no doubt when they have finalised it we will have moved on which makes validation a bit of a pain. However the technology I am most impressed with is HTML 5's partner CSS 3  which has had a far greater impact upon front end development and getting us ready for multiplatform sites.

 The ability to target items with fist child, code etc. plus read screen sizes and resolution offers great opportunities. We just need a standardised image format similar to icons to match this flexibility then we can create sites for anything from 240/320 pixels upto full HD not sure what the new 4x HD will bring but unless BT get their finger out that won't be an issue in the UK.

 Combine these developments with tools such as jQuery and MooTools and you have the ability to create truly interactive experiences, web sites that are in effect becoming apps. You also have the ability to create icons and display rules for adding your site to iOS home screens making short cuts visualy appealing. This is partly thanks to HTML 5 catching abilities on browsers and os's, let see what EU piracy laws say about that after the latest cookie directive.

 Although at Glowfish we have been using these technologies for over a year its our next set of web sites launching this summer which are starting to fully utilise these technologies.

 On the issue with the EU cookie directive why did they not just apply it to sharing data across domains which would solve most issues, we only then need to ask users permission to use Google analytics or use your own server logs. This is in in fact how I see it affecting most of my clients anyway as there is enough vagueness in the current regs regarding exceptions:

 "Exemptions from the right to refuse a cookie The Regulations specify that service providers should not have to provide the information and obtain consent where that device is to be used:

"For the sole purpose of carrying out or facilitating the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network; or where such storage or access is strictly necessary to provide an information society service requested by the subscriber or user."

This covers most shopping carts but you still need your data protection policy and information on how you use cookies.

This job will drive us to drink...

Where does the time go? Over a month since my last post but hey ho that's just because we've been so so busy.

We're glad to say that we have finally seen the launch of Inspired Wine 's website. Together with our good friends Netfocus we have shed blood, sweat and tears over this (well two of the three anyway). Some jobs get log-jammed while we try and get on the client's wavelength and for a while we couldn't work out why, creatively, this was giving us such a headache. Only when we took a step back from the brand guidelines did we finally understand what the client really wanted. Sometimes you need to take a step back to go forward and so it proved here. But while it was certainly testing at times we all think it's the better for it.

Inspired Wine reckon they've spotted a gap in the UK market and are selling premium quality wine in boxes, delivering direct to your door or using customer collect via ByBox. A big problem for them is having to change people's attitudes to boxed wine which was traditionally cheap plonk you'd buy for parties at New Year. Anyway this is different, it's good stuff (my favourite is the Block Shiraz but apparently the Big House Zinfandel is a winner too) and we needed to make sure the website helps get that message across.

There's plenty of stuff to look at on the site but the main focus is the products so we wanted to push them right up front. The Meet the Wines feature was originally much bigger but we had to scale it down to get more content on screen, still I think it works. Social media, video and interactive jQuery elements all add to the user experience but Phill will no doubt bore you with the technical stuff in a follow up technical post.

Best thing to do is go take a look for yourself...and even better try some of the wine.

www.inspiredwine.co.uk