The Slightly Different Newsletter has won An Interactive Media  Associations Outstanding Achievement award, only one of two awarded in this category (e-zines/newsletters), out of 33 entries. As the IMA spokesman, Aaron Warner said:

“The Outstanding Achievement award is the second highest honour bestowed by the IMA and is an extremely challenging award to win. Your work has excelled in all areas of our judging criteria and represents a very high standard of planning, execution and overall professionalism.”

It was really important to us that we created a newsletter that not only encompassed our Slightly Different ethos but that worked for us as a business and enabled us to show off all of our skills whilst communicating effectively with our clients at the same time.

The magazine cover idea we decided would be a great opportunity to not only have fun with design, but also to link through to our blog and encourage our clients to post feedback and comments.

The whole team at SD are involved in the newsletter every month, writing articles, agreeing to be defaced for the cover shot, creating killer designs, getting Marion (our email marketing system/lady) ready to send it out.

 It’s all down to these people that we get this newsletter to you each month, and I’m very proud to be part of such a dedicated and enthusiastic team (….sniff sniff).

We also recently carried out an integrated marketing campaign that involved our newsletter, linking through to our blog, an offline print promotion based on our newsletter theme and an online animated version of the postcard on our website. Yep that covered all bases!

If you’d like to talk to us about your email marketing needs, or if you are interested in a Slightly Different integrated campaign, thinking about Christmas and need some inspiration or hey.. if you just want to talk to us..  say congratulations..

t:01326 372416

The Interactive Media Awards are run by The Interactive Media Council.

The Awards are designed to elevate the standards of excellence on the Internet and to recognize the highest standards of excellence in website design and development and honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievement.

The Best in Class award is the highest award you can achieve and we are incredibly proud to have earned such an accolade for our work.

Cornwall and Devon media asked us to develop this site to help their business advertisers to find the information they required easily and avoiding as much of the in-house print language often involved when discussing advertising spaces in publications. The entire project was developed around the end user experience, and we worked closely with the team at Cornwall and Devon Media to ensure we got this right, holding real user testing sessions throughout the development stages. 

One of the most important aspects of the project for our clients was that they needed full control over the content on the site, this was to be changing very regularly and it was imperative that they be able to do this quickly and simply.

Another important element of the project was to develop a system that allowed for CDM to have several versions of the site for their many different regional offices but updateable using one system, have a look at the North Devon Example

We thoroughly enjoyed working on this project, and the team at CDM made this a really enjoyable project, Katie Atkins, Catherine Bicknell and Ed Rowe to name but a few of the CDM team.

Since the advertising site has launched, CDM have seen a rapid increase in online enquiries for advertising space, and feedback from these customers shows that the site and content has been incredibly useful and informative, mission accomplished then!

Although everything we do here at Slightly Different  is always of course,  a big team effort, a big mention has to go out to our own Rob Suckley who designed the site, managed the project and ensured that the end result was indeed award winning!

Well done Rob, we salute you!

Are you interested in an award winning solution for your business ?

Give me a call or drop me an email

t: 01326 372416

e: saira@ slightlydifferent.co.uk

Why is it that people are always harping on about how strange developers are, how they hang out in the dark in basements and can’t communicate if not in code? Well we must be really lucky then because our developers are nothing like that, and Andrew is no exception………..apart from when he’s writing code, and hanging out in the basement.

Me: Hi Andrew, can you give our readers a brief synopsis of what you do here at SD?

Andrew: Anything technical that a site needs, from intergrating with third part applications to writing custom shopping cart systems to creating custom plugins for exisiting platforms – anything that involves a programming language of whatever sort. Although it’s nice to chillout with a simple bit of HTML templating every now and then. Oh, and I’m the resident old-fart and grumbler.

Me: Do you think that developers are often portrayed in the wrong light, or are the writers generally right?

Andrew: I can’t think of the last time a developer/programmer was displayed as anything but a nerd (except in the film “Hackers” which was awful anyway). I know very few nerdy developers and even then the most “nerdy” do something that breaks down that stereotype; for instance I know an ubernerd that loves nothing more than stripping motorbikes and kitesurfing.

Me: Which project have you worked on that you’ve found most challenging and why?

Andrew: I would have to say the recent Charlie Bears project – php, mysql, xml, actionscript 2 and 3, javascript, google maps integration, thirdparty backoffice integration. I’m very proud of the php backend that creates the data that populates the site. Once I created a decent architecture everything fell into place and now it’s actually a pleasure to add extra functionality.

What do you most enjoy about your job?

Andrew: The problem solving and being given a free-reign to create elegant solutions.

Me: Tell us a bit about yourself then

Andrew: I started out doing allsorts of jobs from cooking to painting and decorating and running the kids video section for HMV on Oxford Street! I got into programming back in the mid-nineties and worked for GEC Plessey Semiconductors designing customer logic cells. I’ve worked with various high-profile companies over the years including Birdseye Walls, Guinness, BT, Philips, the O2 Arena and various large hotel chains on projects as diverse as Van Sales software and Video on Demand systems.

Me: When you aren’t staring at code or writing it, what do other pastimes do you have? (be honest! We know about the squirrels!)

Andrew: Here come the “breaking the stereotype” bit. Oddly enough I rarely use a computer at home and spend any free time I have hunting (I know you won’t believe me but squirrel really does taste lovely), free-diving, spearfishing and practicing instinctive archery. I have also started a rock-climbing course. I have two girls aged 9 and 17 – the youngest is a terrific rockclimber (that’s why I’m taking the course) and the eldest is hoping to go University College London to study Scandinavian, Russian and Slavik studies – as you can tell I’m a very proud dad. Oh and I’ve been with Zoe, my wife, for 24 years now – aww!

Me: So what about design? Never fancied venturing into that?

Andrew: I actually studied Graphic Design back in the eighties. We used markers and paper – none of this computer stuff! We were true hardcore designers! No, I’m quite happy to leave it to our super-talented design team whom I love dearly.

Me: Think back a long, long way…. What are your best and worst memories of going back to school?

Andrew: That’s going back a way! Summers seemed to go on for ever and I’d rather remember that than going back to school

The Friends and Relations website offers users the ability to create a lasting online memorial to a departed loved one, allowing others to leave comments and tributes.  It also allows for users to link and donate to chosen charities.

We are also just about to start the online marketing campaign for the site which will include full social media integration, link building, SEO and publishing.

Working on a site like this is very moving, especially when you see the tributes and comments on the online memorials.

The feedback from families is also very touching and there have been several occasions when people have managed to trace long lost family members through the site and then make contact with remaining family members.

Although it sometimes brings a tear to the eye, nevertheless, it makes us proud to be working with a site like this.

Slightly Different have been proud to work with the RNWA since 2005, and we are pleased to say that we have just been commissioned to redevelop the RNWA website with the aim that this will be a primary recruitment driver for people considering entry into the Writer specialisation.

The new website will feature a number of highly innovative approaches to appeal to people considering joining the Armed Forces of today including a blog, social media integration, members area, and an advanced mobile application, but the site will also cater for veterans of the Service.

Jeremy Hurst, the MD of Slightly Different said “We’re very proud to be associated with this website.  I have been a full member of the Association for almost 25 years, and as an ex-serviceman this gives my agency a unique insight into creating a website for the military which other agencies with more traditional civilian backgrounds just cannot understand.  We are therefore looking forward to replacing the existing RNWA site with something that will make the rest of the Armed Forces sit up and take notice.”

The new site is scheduled to launch in Winter 2010.

INCEPTION – the SD film club went to see this recently, and loved it.  Then we came across this very pertinent question…

Here are a couple of funny links we liked:

The onion – always great for a laugh.  Check out this out.

How about a friendship alarm?

Looking for a job?  How about this advert…

It seems that Christmas starts earlier and earlier every year.  I remember going into a local supermarket a few years ago when the mince pies had hit the shelves (yeah, I know a Northerner mentioning pies – quelle surprise!).  The sell by date on them was mid November.  I remember thinking how strange it was selling Christmas food that would have gone off long before Christmas.

I’m sure you’ve all groaned when the supermarket shelves start filling up with festive produce with seemingly ages to go, but spare a thought for the buyers and people looking after the promotional side of what is undoubtedly the most important retail period of the year.  For these folks, Christmas is something that is well planned months ahead of time.  Sure, some adjustments may be made ‘on the fly’ to react to current events, but most retailers will have a detailed plan of action in place by now.

If you haven’t started thinking about Christmas yet, I would advise you to do it as soon as possible.  The weeks will soon fly by and you’ll be left to scrabble around putting something in place at the last minute, and if this happens then inevitably, you will lose out.  In these days of austerity, it is criminal to miss out due to a lack of planning.

Here are a just a few of things to think about:

Christmas Cards – do not leave this to the last minute, unless you are going to buy some off the shelf.  If you want your own custom cards, get those quotes in now.  You will impress clients and potential clients a lot more if you put some effort in.  Even if you decide to go down the environmentally friendlier e-card route, make sure the planning for this is in place now so that it ties in with the rest of your brand messages.

Point of Sale – if you are in retail, point of sale is vital.  You are unlikely to see as many people through your doors (whether real or virtual) as you will over the few weeks running up to Christmas.  Plan for this extra traffic.  If you are running special offers and discounts, make sure these are obvious, with strong calls to action, tie them in with any offline print work you do and have an email created to spread the message as widely as possible.

Printed Matter – leaving your printing until the last minute will bite you on the ass.  Remember everyone else wants stuff printed at the is time of year as well, so normally short print deadlines will be much longer than normal.  Think about everything you might need, flyers, stationery, vouchers, gift wrap.  If you’re an e-tailer, make sure you have enough packaging material – don’t miss out because you didn’t buy enough envelopes!

Remember the old addage, ‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’.

If you need some help planning for Christmas, why not get in touch to see how we can help, from a shiny new website to a fully integrated marketing campaign, from Point of sale to Christmas cards, we can help.

In the beginning there was a word and a machine.  The word was the machine.  And that machine was the word.  On the first day, the machine evolved into a platform.  On the second the word became a language.  On the third – the first people learned the language.  The fourth day brought first direct connection between the platform and the humans.  On the fifth day the platform joined the human society.  On the sixth – the birth of new words, languages and platforms.   And on the seventh day all the platforms and all of the humans rested, while the author wrote this article.

Though it might sound like an ancient science fiction – romance novel, this is actually a really basic history of the computer, computer programs, people who develop them and the people who use it.

From the Antikythera mechanism to the Slide rule, from the Z1 to the “Deep Blue”, from the IBM PC to the modern smartphones and tablets.  Since the first rational thought of the mind, human beings have tried to find new ways of making calculus easier, automating mechanical process, travel, even design.  And though the modern computer was only developed in the 30s of the twentieth century, but you can easily find fine examples of automated process going back as far as the human mind can remember.  The Antikythera mechanism is considered to be the oldest mechanical computer, but you should always consider that a machine, which uses gears is basically a computer program and the system of gears is its program.

The thing is – all this would not have been possible without programmers.  And a programmer is merely a human being but with an incredible divine superpower – creation.

Sure, one can possibly try to disagree and say that all the people are involved in this magical process – artists, designers, engineers, even philosophers and politicians.  They are and in fact – they are all programmers.  Just for different kind of devices.

Modern computer and electronic device programmers are one of the most important people in our society.  Since computers have been integrated into almost all parts of our life, they cannot program themselves (yet).  This has to be done by programmers.  And that is why they are so powerful and even dangerous.  Think about it.  Nuclear weapon launch code buttons are controlled by politicians or military personnel, but they are all programmed by programmers.

Yet, the idea that a programmer can be dangerous is not more realistic than the idea of a mad scientist trying to destroy the world using a “graviton ray” to attract a giant meteor.  A programmer would never destroy a world he tries so much to improve.

He or she will use the combination of the greatest arts in the world – mathematics, logic, creativity and philosophy to create the computer program, mobile app, website or any other virtual machine.  As a developer you must keep learning new things constantly to keep your creations up to date and fully functional.  Furthermore, you have to maintain a proper structure, to keep the things well organised, have good documentation and commenting system, so others might help you take care of the programming, have a good team of designers to help it look modern and slick, have bright and rational QA specialists to find the bugs and technical issues and finally have the best marketing and management staff to make it alive and popular (to make it into an application or a website superstar).  Still, most of the bug fixes, design changes and “promotional agent” API implementations (from such as Google, Yahoo or Bing) have to be done by programmers.

And all of those people who are developers and programmers knowing what kind of power they have on their hands, still walk silently among us smiling, watching at our happy expressions when our mobile phone sends a message full of joy to others, a space probe flies to the outskirts of the solar system, we buy our jars of marmite from a local shop.  They are always ready for bugs and technical issues, always keeping their minds alert and open for new ways of developing applications.

We are much like the Jedi from Star Wars.  Our Force is the code, our lightsaber is the logic and our wisdom is our knowledge of mathematics and rational thinking.  And the good thing is – there are no Sith Lords.  They are usually overwhelmed by good programmers and open source code, which always wins.

You too can join this wonderful world of programmers and developers.  Just “Go back to school” and learn one of many wonderful languages of the code.

Join us.  Join the bright side of the force!

Here are a set of top tips to get the best from your web design.

Navigation

Clear navigation don’t over clutter, use a maximum over 7-8 top level links.  Make the link names obvious, and above all don’t make me think.

Focus

Make the purpose of your site standout.  What do you do? Why should I be interested?
Attraction: grab my attention!
Interest: make me salivate!
Desire: make me want it!

Action

Use clear calls-to-action.  Ok you’ve got me to your site, what do I do now?

Trust

Why should I trust you? For instance if you are selling something I want to know that it will arrive in one piece if at all!

Relate

Does the design relate to your business and the type of user you are targeting? For instance too many colours, fancy fonts and crazy imagery and grunge is not necessarily going to work for an insurance firm targeting pensioners.

Typography

Dont over complicate the text, don’t use too much and watch that line-height!

Images

Images are good, but too many may spoil the party!

Contact

How can I get hold of you?  If I can’t contact you does that mean that you actually exist?

Relevant

How old is the content? I think it was written in the 60’s. Keep your content upto date. Not only is this great for SEO but humans also want to read content that is fresh!

Don’t make me think

Above all don’t make the user have to work out how to use a website.  Certain elements for example the search bar on a website have become standard to be placed top right, logo top left.  Always remember what John Lee Hooker said … “Less is More”.

Fellow web-users, by the very fact that you are reading this article, I’m going to assume that you are savvy enough to understand what the web is and also what a typeface is. (For those of you who are a litte foggy, this should clear things up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typeface)

In today’s modern classroom, the blackboard is no more and the humble chalk has taken on a much more sinister meaning.  Children are no longer practicing their hand-writing on the board in front of the class, but rather selecting which font to use in Word.  Yet many people are un-aware of the difference between fonts that you can use on your computer, and font’s displayed on the web.  And so without further a due our lesson in Web Typography begins…I hope you are all sitting comfortably.

It is a common misconception that a font that you use for documents or printed material, possibly even your corporate typeface can be slapped onto a website and used just as you would any other format.  From the dawn of the web when HTML was first created, font faces and styles were controlled exclusively by the settings of each user’s web browser.  Then in 1995, Netscape introduced the <font> tag which was then standardized in the HTML 2 specification. However, the font specified by the tag had to be installed on the user’s computer or a fallback font, such as a browser’s default sans-serif or monospace font, would be used.  A list of fonts were compiled based on the most likely to be installed across all browsers and Operating Systems, these were considered ‘Web Safe’ fonts (For a complete list of what fonts were considered ‘safe’ for web, see this site: http://web.mit.edu/jmorzins/www/fonts.html) In summary, the most-used were (and still are!):

• Arial / Helvetica
• Times New Roman / Times
• Courier New / Courier
• Verdana
• Georgia
• Trebuchet MS

And so web designers were either limited to these web-safe fonts, or forced to find other methods of using them.  Such methods would involve ‘Font Replacement’ techniques, which would either use code to embed a non-web font or alternatively convert the text into an image with a non-web font.  The problem for designers with these methods however, was that using code to replace text would often cause long bug-fixing sessions and many headaches to ensure that it worked cross-browser.  And with image replacement, the text was no longer selectable and so could only be implemented on very short blocks of text or headings, where a user was unlikely to select it.

However due to the rate of progression, the web is now opening up much easier methods to use different fonts online. Coupled with that, the fact that the average user’s computer now comes preloaded with more fonts than it would have 10 years ago.  This therefore means that we are now seeing an influx of websites that can be very creative with the way they use typography.  While this is great in the sense that traditional and digital design are becoming ever closer, it does mean that some maverick designers now have more options to create something hideous and illegible.

And so web designers now face the crux that has been at the forefront of art and design over the last few decades;  Form over Function.  Or vice versa, as readability, usability, and style should all be balanced in perfect harmony to both visually represent the website, but also make it easier for the user to access information.  While there will be inevitable failures, there will also be some truly stunning design (see http://carsonified.com/ as an example).  As it happens, here at Slightly Different HQ we have a number of sites in-development that not only use beautiful typography, but they are also accessible, legible and most importantly, user-friendly.  Watch this space for a sneak peak!