Minimalism... bland or beautiful?

My fascination in minimal design styles is on the increase of late, so much so that I felt compelled to share this growing interest.

As web design is evolving and the requirements of a web visitor change at an alarming rate, the importance of focus on areas such as user experience and intuitive user interface design cannot be ignored. It is when a designed is restrictive, minimal and concise that the features of user experience are so apparent, not lost amongst a sea of visual flourishes, collages, shadows and gradients.

Typically I would associate a minimal style with the far east, japanese-pan-asian style of order, subtlety and discreet aesthetics, rather than maximal Vegas-style rah-rah in your face vibrant visuals. I would say that without the ability to hide under an assault of design touches and retouches, the minimal design by contrast can be that much more bold and impactive, as it is restricted to only a few crucial elements that must be carefully selected and precisely ordered to guarantee useability and success.

Clearly each design must reflect it's intention, a kid's site for instance must include a vibrant colour palette, big graphics and moving parts; clearly not a field to benefit from restriction and minimalism. Whereas typically 'portfolio' sites, highly corporate sites or those representing legal or accountancy firms can have a huge impact with a sharp and minimal style.

Some examples of great minimal designs are listed below.

1. http://www.kellyshaw.co.uk/

2. http://crane-brothers.com/

3. http://madebytemple.com/

King of Hearts - I O U (Making of...)

Here's a few images of myself and the lead singer Josh putting the video together.

King of Hearts - I O U (Music Video)

Recently commissioned to put together a music video for fantastic yet currently unsigned act King of Hearts for their new track IOU.

Put together a simple concept for a low budget, but with fantastic results (we think).

See below for the the video

Supersized background image using CSS only

So everyone has seen Sam Dunn's amazingly versatile supersized jquery plugin here. It really was groundbreaking, and my hat truly goes off to the man for opening the doors for some seriously impactive website backgrounds.

But have you ever wondered how to achieve the supersized effect in CSS only?

I know that some of my sites can become a bit jQuery happy, and for those which involve a lot of dynamic database interaction anyway, the more achieved through CSS the better!

Check out this demo, or use the download link below to play with the code and files yourself!

View Demo →

Download →

Follow me on Twitter for the latest updates - or just to say hi!

CSS Styling

img.bkd { 


/* Cover Background */ 


min-height: 100%; 
min-width: 1024px; 




/* Scaling */ 


height: auto; 
width: 100%; 


/* Fixed Positioning */ 


position: fixed; 
top: 0; 
left: 0; 
z-index:-1; 
} 


/* Set max width to equal your image */ 


@media screen and (max-width: 1024px) 
{ 
/* Centre the image */
img.bkd { 


left: 50%; 
margin-left: -512px; /* Half your original image width */ 


} }

HTML

<img src="images/supersize-bkd.jpg" class="bkd" />

Trends in Web Design 2011

2011 was a great year for digital design. The industry has expanded across all mediums, and with the increasing encouragement of HTML5, CSS3 and mobile browsing, the floodgates really are open for designers to explore their creativity.

Here are some trends that have emerged over the recent year.

1. Texture

The use of texture has become such a trend that it is now subject to overuse by insecure designers.

Subtle inclusion in a design can add depth and visual interest to a page, and properly used can have a great effect on the overall visual of a page.

2. HTML5 & CSS3

With the possibilities emerging from the introduction of HTML5 and CSS3, the future looks bright for digital design.

While browsers keep on catching up and though compatibility is still an issue - one hopes that these new strands of internet technology will fast move into the mainstream.

3. One-Pagers

A cost effective and often visually impactive means to introduce your business to a viewer.

The one-page solution also helps SEO, and encourages a positive user experience in the provision of important information quickly.

4. Parallax

Brought to the global stage mostly by the Nike Better World site, and now with tutorials and different examples cropping up all over.

This visual effect and reactive technology instantly engages the viewer's attention, and used subtly can really make a page stand out.

5. Responsive Design

With the HUGE variety of display devices on offer, from mobile to 27" mac, from iPad to Android, the new requirement is for websites to respond to the viewer's portal.

Try and stretch the screen for the 'Captain Dash' website below and watch the effect on the images and navigation - very clever!

6. Typography

With the increasing prominence of font squirrel, font face, cufon and Google webfonts - people are starting to play with their typography options.

A great tool for marketing and impactive headlines, some websites are even chopping and changing their typographic styles for the body text content to give their site the extra punch.

QR Codes and Recruitment

You must have seen them by now, but not everyone knows what they are...

They're called QR codes for those who are unaware, and there are a number of ways they can assist your business - particularly relating to recruitment.

What is it?

'QR' stands for Quick Response code, to be read using a smart phone or enabled mobile device - many of which now include the relevant software at purchase, whereas some older devices may require program or app installation to begin.

How does it work?

Once you have the correct software installed, all you do is take a quick picture of the QR code and the program will take the relevant action - usually open a mobile web browser with a specific page open.

QR codes offer a means to quickly direct a viewer to a purpose-built landing page within your website.

Why is this useful?

Just a few examples of ways this can be useful:

• Print Adverts - allow the newspaper reader an instant link to the relevant job description that they are reading about in the paper.
• Business Cards - point the relevant party to your contact details online, your biography or business background.
• Flyer or Company Brochure Design - a direct link from a static print document to an interactive online experience will encourage the viewer to interact with your business.

Of course the best thing about this highly efficient manner to direct targeted traffic to relevant pages of your website - they are free to generate!

How to generate your own QR Code

• Visit Google's URL shortening service 'http://goo.gl'
• enter your URL
• shorten it
• copy the shortened URL to your address bar and  add '.qr' to the end
• hey presto there's your QR code!

Imagine the effect if your website is mobile optimised? The mobile-savvy viewer will enjoy an enriched experience throughout.

A few signs that your website is out of date

As everybody knows, your website is crucially important when marketing your business, for most it is the first point of contact for almost all potential customers, and where your business is introduced in brief and in detail to the world.

In many cases individuals would rather make an assumption about your business based on a few seconds on your site than picking up a phone, meaning your business is introduced to a potentially vast variety of individuals on a daily basis, the only issue is whether that introduction leaves a positive or negative impression.

In this series of articles I will be discussing the manner in which you are able to build a successful site that fulfills the ultimate task of any commercial website that should be for relevant visitors to enjoy a positive experience that boosts your businesses profile, contact base or sales as a result.

I will begin by addressing the issue of your existing site and some tell tale signs it may be time for an update. Looking at one's own site objectively can be tricky, and assessing its effectiveness likewise. However if any of the following conditions are met, it is likely your business could gain a great amount from an update.

1. Site visitors are decreasing.

Clearly this is not limited to solely the design of your site - it could just as easily be caused by a substandard service offering or unfocused marketing.

If alternative influences are ruled out however, decreasing visitor attraction/retention can be the result of your site not offering the experience a visitor requires from your site.

One solution to this issue is a clearly structured user workflow definition, to anticipate and design for the intended actions a user would take on visiting the site, and make sure your site is planned and intuitively structured to suit that activity.

Alternatively, interrogate your visitor traffic information, from which page do visitors most commonly leave your site? do people most commonly leave from the home page or another page?

Assuming your web designer has installed Analytics reporting on your site - this can be investigated with relative ease. This will tell you which areas need your greatest attention, and ensure the greatest commercial benefit is derived from your website.

2. Have you checked your site on a mobile?

As you may (or may not) have seen in previous articles, mobile internet traffic accounts for 15-45% of all UK internet traffic according to the BBC and National Office of Statistics, that's a huge portion of your website visitors!

Mobile visitors require a different set of features and styles to those required by a desktop or laptop visitor. A site that appears broken for a mobile visitor will only cause frustration and leave a negative impression of your business for that viewer. Similarly, a tailored mobile site would instantly demonstrate your business as a contemporary organisation, and guarantee your mobile visitors leave your site feeling satisfied and impressed - thats 15-45% of all your website visitors!

Ignore mobile internet at your peril!

3. Your site simply looks dated

A tricky one to establish objectively as I mentioned earlier. Check out your competitors' sites, have a look at other websites for businesses you interact with. How do they compare with yours?

Imagine you were looking to work with a business describing themselves as 'established', 'market-leading', 'cutting-edge' or other similar terms, but they clearly have not invested in their website? As your website can often supply potential clients with their first impression of your business, it is vital that it creates an immediate positive impression.

4. It's been two or three years since you last updated your site

I don't have to tell you that the digital sector moves at a serious rate of knots, and keeping on top of it can be a daunting task. The unfortunate truth of the matter is that if you do not keep your website up to date you can be left behind by your competitors and appear out of touch to any visitors.

Areas such as Search Engine Optimisation, Pay Per Click advertising, social media integration and other online marketing can have a huge impact on your business' success online, and they are all fast-paced and constantly evolving sectors.

Two or three years is only intended as a guide, and several factors come into play such as the lasting effectiveness of your design and the market sector in which you operate.

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If you would like a free consultation or a chat about your business website - simply enter your contact details in the form in the right column and I will get back to you asap - I will never spam you. Ever.

→ Email Me

Christmas in Brief

Very brief selection of Christmas pictures mostly taken on the mobile!

A few photos of Bristol

A few photos of Bristol before taken before we moved to London. Love how colourful the city is, will always have a soft spot for Bristol. Please ask permission if you want to use any of the images for any reason! Hope you enjoy.

The worst possible addition to any recruitment site

What could this possibly be?

The one design addition that makes my hairs stand on end in a rage and fury of how uncreative and unimaginative it is that anyone working in the online industry, a sector generally requiring some element of artistic integrity, would include THIS on their design.

Yes ladies and gentlemen, I'm talking about the inevitable 'shaking hands' picture.

The image used when a designer can't think of anything remotely intelligent to apply to recruitment - so they add that.

You can almost see inside the designers head, amongst the flys and hay bails kicking around in there you've got a thought along the lines of 'uuurrrmmmm business.... with people... who meet... and agree on things if they're good...I'VE GOT THE PERFECT PICTURE!'.

Something so horrendously obvious in it's metaphorical meaning ('ooo the shirt cuffs make it look business-like!'), like a written confession by the designer stating they have seen this on other equally terrible business sites, and have neither the talent or sufficient time left prior to the project deadline to find a better alternative.

If your designer includes a shaking hands picture in your design, fire them immediately for being so terribly unimaginative.

Improve your Recruitment Website in 5 Simple Steps

Recruitment is fast becoming an online game, slowly becoming less reliant on the telephone and moving towards the digital sector.

As recruiters begin to understand the usefulness of Linkedin, Twitter, Search Engine Optimisation and other already-established technologies, they are realising the importance of their own website as the hub from which all other online promotion stems.

It is easy to be daunted by social media jargon, internet acronyms and tech-speak, but sift through the ambiguous elements and you'll find a business solution that is far simpler than you might think and simply cannot be avoided.

Here I have attempted to simplify a few steps on small adjustments that could be made to an existing site to get you started.

1. Printer versions

So from iPads to Android, from Macs to Smart TVs, everything seems to be digitised in some shape or form; but it's always easier to read content from a sheet of paper than a screen.

Many people would rather read a printed sheet than a screen shot, particularly if it's a topic that needs to be carefully examined like a company specification or a job description.

It is not hard to include a small option to add 'printer version' functionality to a page where a single click will reduce the page to a white background, black text, and all non-essential images and website features removed.

Instantly your website has not only demonstrated some useful content, but you have made it incredibly easy for a visitor to retain a hard copy of your company branded materials.

Try clicking the 'Print View' icon at the foot of the page on my portfolio for an example - http://www.mikewedge.co.uk

This brings me to my next point.

2. One-click downloadable company profile (pdf)

Many visitors to your site will be looking for a snapshot of information on your business.

By offering a concise introduction to your business via an omnipresent link around the site, you encourage the visitor to take information about your business away with them, and also command what exactly that information includes.

3. Social media share options

Social media should never be overlooked by any website owner regardless of sector.

The power of social media in online marketing is still hugely underrated by business owners. Twitter has over 300 million members, there are definitely people on Twitter who are interested in what your business does, and they will likely find you eventually.

Likewise Linkedin, mostly for those aiming at the higher-end professionals, and of course Facebook, mostly applicable to high volume and temp recruitment (although the fastest growing membership on Facebook is in fact the older audience).

A simple button to encourage users to 'Tweet this page', 'Share on Facebook', or 'Share on Linkedin' is not only a hugely effective way of benefiting from user interactivity and promotion, but it's also very easy to set up, and most importantly of all - it's free!

Check out 'AddThis' buttons here, or 'ShareThis' buttons here to find out how you could add this simple but incredibly effective tool to your site.

4. Search-engine-friendly URLs

Search engine friendly URLs involve the practice of organising your files online.

A search engine is meant to act intuitively to find the most relevant content searched for, it does this by scanning through all the information on the page (spidering) and deciding it's relevance to various terms.

If a candidate was to Google 'project manager jobs swindon' which of the following URL's do you think would likely have greater success?

A: http://www.recruitmentcompany.com/detailtemp/cands/jobview.asp?v=1280679

or

B: http://www.recruitmentcompany.com/jobs/swindon/project-manager.asp

Additionally, if a potential candidate were to see either URL, they would either instantly recognise what is and ascertain it's relevance to them or it would be ignored.

This is a swift change in the structure of your online database, where doing so would help both your online organisation and the visibility of the content you are wishing to display.

5. External links open a new window

Finally a simple one to finish this instalment.

If your site links to a different site elsewhere on the internet, it must open in a new window.

This will mean that your site will remain open once the user has finished with the additional content, and the visitor will continue to interact with your site.

This includes links to pdf's (some of which open in browsers), links to external sites and any other document links that might take over the 'parent window'.

Please bear in mind you should not open new window within your own site, as this can seriously affect user experience and become very irritating!

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The next instalments of quick improvements to be published in due course, feel free to sign your email address up to receive updates if you wish to be kept up to date - I will never spam you. Ever.

If you have any questions about any of the topics mentioned above please do not hesitate to get in touch and see how your website might benefit from an update.

→ Email Me

Harness Twitter's recruiting potential...

Recruiters! Did you know you can harness the power of Twitter, without actually having to do very much...

You probably spend a lot of time talking to people, on the phone, meeting people, and generally not having the kind of time required to maintain a Twitter account to the level required to accumulate a sizeable group of meaningful followers.

I would also imagine, that you suspect there are ways it could help your business, but you don't really have the time to invest in the required research, set up and maintenance of a Twitter account.

The best way to accumulate a relevant audience of followers, is with regularly updated, searchable information for your target audience, in your case on Twitter, your candidates.


So all you need to do is post job updates to Twitter, but you don't want to do it manually because it would take more time than you care to imagine.

This is where the useful little tool twitterfeed comes in - www.twitterfeed.com. Using this (free) tool you can take your jobs RSS feed and automatically populate a Twitter account.

So what's an RSS feed? This is something very often associated with a regularly updated, uniformly organised list of information online (such as vacancies, blog articles, podcasts etc). You probably have an RSS feed attached to either your website's vacancies page, or a job board where you post your jobs without even knowing it.

Once you have this feed, you simply plug it into your Twitter account, and that's it! Once the Twitter masses begin to catch on and your business is recognised as a regularly updated source of the kind of jobs they're interested in, you will find your follower audience will drastically increase.

If you were to use your own website's RSS feed, you will also benefit from the increased visitor traffic, the vast amount of links to your site will hugely impact your search engine presence, and it will boost your businesses profile in the area as a result.

If you would like any more information on this topic, or simply want a free consultation on how your business could benefit, just get in touch on info@mikewedge.co.uk.

Is your site breaking for 1 in 7 visitors?

Smart phones are accelerating in popularity, we all know this, but did you know that mobile traffic now accounts for 15% of all UK internet traffic? (ref: http://bit.ly/sR9qwp)


The BBC has since reported a figure from the National Office of Statistics that up to 45% of all UK internet traffic comes via a mobile device. (ref: http://bit.ly/vQAZ1I)


If your website is not mobile compatible, for a minimum of 1 in 7 people your site will:

• appear incorrectly
• malfunction in critical areas
• operate in a frustrating fashion for any reader
• often break entirely

Let's say you're a small to medium sized business, achieving 900-1000 hits a month on your website, that means for a minimum of 130 people a month your site appears broken!

If you were looking to find out some more information on a business, and their website did not work, would you stay or would you just look for a competitor?


It is well known that the internet is the new place for your shop front, the first point of access for any customers or clients wishing to interact with your business. If that shop front is broken, or does not work, what do you think that says about your business?


To gain an idea as to your mobile compatibility, try putting your site URL into the validation check offered by the globally acknowledged internet standards body W3C. Although this validator does not take into account a number of possible anomalies, it can certainly be a bit of an eye opener.

http://validator.w3.org/mobile/


Adding a 'mobile version' of your site is often a fairly painless task, not requiring a huge investment of money, much of the time it is simply a case of restyling the information your website already contains.


Doing so would ensure you attract and retain the extra 1 in 7 of your website visitors be they clients or candidates, and would give any visitor confidence that you are a cutting edge and technologically-savvy organisation.


There are other benefits too, for instance did you know that Google has a separate index of websites for mobile search? the rapidly emerging mobile search engine market is wide open with huge marketing potential for any business sharp enough to exploit it.


If you require any further information on mobile web technologies, or are interested in how this may be applied to your business, please do not hesitate to contact me for a free consultation on info@mikewedge.co.uk.