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We've been working on a number of improvements for our website.
Check out the latest updates on www.design49.co.uk
This time we've included lots more useful information including handy hints and tips on how to maximise your marketing budget whilst money's still tight.
Cutting down on your marketing budget is a dangerous strategy in times like these. The temptation to reduce your costs is understandable - but sometimes you've got to spend money to make money - knowing how to spend your money carefully and to maximum effect makes the difference between a successful business and a business that is not quite so profitable.
Download our Top 10 Marketing Tips today, copy and paste this link into your browser:
http://www.design49.co.uk/marketing/marketing-contact.php
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Monday, 15 February 2010
What is new in Graphic Web Design?
The web is constantly evolving and web designers are adapting their styles accordingly in order to reflect the new technology and the expectations of today's web users.
When employing the services of a graphic designer to create your website it's important that you are confident that your designer is up to speed with not only the latest style trends, but the latest technology and how users expect the be able to interact with your website.
The overall look of your website will obviously vary depending on what line of business you are in and who you are aiming your product/service at i.e. your target audience. But there are still some basic trends that are developing that will no doubt influence the appearance of your site.
Current trends in the design of web sites tend towards simplification. Modern, clean and simple designs make a site more arresting and easier for the user to read and understand.
Here's a brief summary of some of the main trends:
Use of strong colour – backgrounds are kept muted saving the strong colours to pull important areas of the web site to the fore. Whether it be text or graphics bursting with bright colour – trends focus on bold reds and other intense colours demanding attention.
Neutral Backgrounds – Use of white, greyscale or pastel backgrounds prevent the eye from being distracted from important areas of the site being emphasised by the use of strong colour, flashing or 3D effects, all of which are now frequently used.
Copious amounts of whitespace – To convey a message quickly and effectively, the eye and brain respond well to large amounts of white space surrounding the content. Space is the vital issue; it doesn’t necessarily have to be white.
Simplified Layout – Clear and uncluttered pages enable the reader’s attention to be drawn to those areas the designer wishes to highlight. Multi columns are being revisited as they ease readability and save the reader from having to scroll to the next page to keep reading.
Alignment of Text – Text is usually centred and aligned to both left and right margins within the columns. This creates order and balance, assisting the reader.
Frugal use of Icons and Logos – Whilst it is vital to highlight a company’s branding using logos and icons; their overuse can clutter and cheapen the look of the page. Less is more, use them sparingly, but make them count when you do.
3D and special effects – As with Logos, special effects are often be used to demand the attention of the casual browser, but by common consent it is agreed that their overuse will dumb down a site and take the overall image down market.
Text Size – Unsurprisingly, the fashion to use larger text for the most important messages on a site, ensures that the reader’s attention is directed to the principle points.
When employing the services of a graphic designer to create your website it's important that you are confident that your designer is up to speed with not only the latest style trends, but the latest technology and how users expect the be able to interact with your website.
The overall look of your website will obviously vary depending on what line of business you are in and who you are aiming your product/service at i.e. your target audience. But there are still some basic trends that are developing that will no doubt influence the appearance of your site.
Current trends in the design of web sites tend towards simplification. Modern, clean and simple designs make a site more arresting and easier for the user to read and understand.
Here's a brief summary of some of the main trends:
Use of strong colour – backgrounds are kept muted saving the strong colours to pull important areas of the web site to the fore. Whether it be text or graphics bursting with bright colour – trends focus on bold reds and other intense colours demanding attention.
Neutral Backgrounds – Use of white, greyscale or pastel backgrounds prevent the eye from being distracted from important areas of the site being emphasised by the use of strong colour, flashing or 3D effects, all of which are now frequently used.
Copious amounts of whitespace – To convey a message quickly and effectively, the eye and brain respond well to large amounts of white space surrounding the content. Space is the vital issue; it doesn’t necessarily have to be white.
Simplified Layout – Clear and uncluttered pages enable the reader’s attention to be drawn to those areas the designer wishes to highlight. Multi columns are being revisited as they ease readability and save the reader from having to scroll to the next page to keep reading.
Alignment of Text – Text is usually centred and aligned to both left and right margins within the columns. This creates order and balance, assisting the reader.
Frugal use of Icons and Logos – Whilst it is vital to highlight a company’s branding using logos and icons; their overuse can clutter and cheapen the look of the page. Less is more, use them sparingly, but make them count when you do.
3D and special effects – As with Logos, special effects are often be used to demand the attention of the casual browser, but by common consent it is agreed that their overuse will dumb down a site and take the overall image down market.
Text Size – Unsurprisingly, the fashion to use larger text for the most important messages on a site, ensures that the reader’s attention is directed to the principle points.
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Expanding Business in a Recession
We're proud to be able to work with successful local businessman Daniele Ciacciofera who owns and manages Mamma Mia Restaurant in Historic end of Tonbridge High Street.
Despite the doom and gloom of the recession Mr Ciacciofera and his business partners are striving in times when other businesses are struggling to make ends meet.
We've been working very closely with Mamma Mia's to assist them with the opening of their Rochester branch in May 09 and the recent launch of a new Coffee Shop also in Rochester.
Having initially only been commissioned to revamp the menus in their Tonbridge restaurant (established for 1 year), our close business working relationship quickly enabled Mr Ciacciofera to recognise the advantage of working with a small local agency who value their time with each and every client.
Shortly after completing the original commission of providing some fresher looking menus, we were asked to revamp all of the literature for both of his restaurants as well as creating a brand new website for the flourishing business.
We are now preparing to launch the new Delicia de Mamma Mia, a new coffee shop in Rochester for which we have provided advice on branding, marketing and shop front curb appeal.
The new window graphics are being installed as we speak and the new literature is due to arrive tomorrow in time for the exciting launch of this new arm of the business on 3rd of December 2009.
Despite the doom and gloom of the recession Mr Ciacciofera and his business partners are striving in times when other businesses are struggling to make ends meet.
We've been working very closely with Mamma Mia's to assist them with the opening of their Rochester branch in May 09 and the recent launch of a new Coffee Shop also in Rochester.
Having initially only been commissioned to revamp the menus in their Tonbridge restaurant (established for 1 year), our close business working relationship quickly enabled Mr Ciacciofera to recognise the advantage of working with a small local agency who value their time with each and every client.
Shortly after completing the original commission of providing some fresher looking menus, we were asked to revamp all of the literature for both of his restaurants as well as creating a brand new website for the flourishing business.
We are now preparing to launch the new Delicia de Mamma Mia, a new coffee shop in Rochester for which we have provided advice on branding, marketing and shop front curb appeal.
The new window graphics are being installed as we speak and the new literature is due to arrive tomorrow in time for the exciting launch of this new arm of the business on 3rd of December 2009.
Traditional Family Carols
Design49 have been asked to assist the Tonbridge Philharmonic Society in providing the advertising literature and the evening programmes for the Family Carol Concert taking place at the Tonbridge School Chapel on 19th of December.
Proceeds from this event will be donated to Tonbridge Cottage Hospital & Cystic Fibrosis by Tonbridge Round Table.
Proceeds from this event will be donated to Tonbridge Cottage Hospital & Cystic Fibrosis by Tonbridge Round Table.
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Tonbridge Christmas Festival
Design49 have been working with the Tonbridge & Malling Council to arrange sponsorships for the Tonbridge Christmas Festival.
The event was held on the 28th of December and attracted over a 1000 local families.
There were local stalls selling local produce, a precession through the high street and a fun fair providing festive fun and entertainment to visitors of all ages.
Proceeds from this event were donated the Hospice in the Weald, a fantastic charity doing amazing work providing specialist palliative care advice and clinical support for people with life limiting illness, their family and the bereaved.
A worthy cause we’re sure you’ll all agree.
Thank you to all the local businesses that supported the event by way of generous donations and to all those who attended on the day.
The event was held on the 28th of December and attracted over a 1000 local families.
There were local stalls selling local produce, a precession through the high street and a fun fair providing festive fun and entertainment to visitors of all ages.
Proceeds from this event were donated the Hospice in the Weald, a fantastic charity doing amazing work providing specialist palliative care advice and clinical support for people with life limiting illness, their family and the bereaved.
A worthy cause we’re sure you’ll all agree.
Thank you to all the local businesses that supported the event by way of generous donations and to all those who attended on the day.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Website Launch
Design 49 is now live on the world wide web! We hope you will enjoy the site as much as we have enjoyed constructing it.
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