Web Design

We just love building web sites. We enjoy working with clients right from project inception to create a clear set of site objectives, an overview of planned content and functionality, and a project plan. And then it gets even more interesting ...

Designing and building a site that makes an effective contribution to our clients' businesses is the core of our business. Although visual design is important, web sites are dynamic and we apply the full range of our design, programming and database skills to ensure that the sites we build don't just look good, but work effectively too.

From introductory web sites for small and start up businesses, to sophisticated content management systems, we apply the same principles and approaches. Our work is based on the latest standards for cross-browser compatibility and accessibility, and we produce lightweight, fast loading and easily-maintainable sites. Then we test them on the latest versions of all the major browsers on Windows, OSX and Linux (plus Internet Explorer 6).

Building new web sites is fun. But taking existing web sites and making them more effective can be even more satisfying. As the internet matures, technologies, design principles and even fashions move on. If your web site is looking dated, a bit stale or just too passive, let us take a look and report back to you on how it could be refreshed, improved, upgraded or brought to live.

e-commerce

Despite our roots in general web design, e-commerce has developed into our major area of expertise, and our special passion. An increasing proportion of sites require some level of commerical fulfilment and integrating e-commerce seamlessly into a wider site is one of our key skills.

Our online cart of choice is Zen Cart. This open source package is both closely aligned with our standards-compliant approach and has a comprehensive range of built-in features and add-on modules. And when that's not enough, easy access to its source makes it easy for us to create custom modules to satisfy specific client requirements.

Our e-commerce work is not limited to designing and building online stores. Our wider expertise enables us to advise clients on their overall business strategy and marketing of their site. In addition, we have experience of integrating Zen Carts with other applications such as forums, picture galleries and blogs to add community-based stickiness to online stores (or commercial opportunities for existing communities).

Video Tuition

"A picture tells a thousand words." A cliche? Maybe. But still very true. So imagine the power of a whole video ...

Since our early days, we've been using video tutorials to show clients how to maintain their sites and online stores. They allow clients to absorb information at their own convenience and pace, and to return to it as often and as many times as they wish. Our clients love them.

Now this experience and expertise is also available as a stand-alone service. If your organisation has training needs suited to this medium, we can work with you to agree scope; assess the technological competence of the audience; plan a program; develop it; make it available via the internet, a corporate intranet, or on DVD; and even monitor effectiveness.