To get them to make the changes YOU WANT you need to get the project to a point where the designer simply doesn’t care any more. Here are some tips on effective ways to accomplish this:

• Ask for countless minor changes to everything.
• Most designers take on a specific project because it offers them an opportunity to do something new and potentially ground-breaking. Find out what this is and demand they change it back to something conventional and tired.
• Initially demand the website be designed and online in a very short amount of time- then gradually add your content to it over the course of several months.
• When demanding a change to the design, use as many subjective reasons as possible. Counter any logical or reasonable explanation for their design choices with- “I just want it this way”.
• Expect the target user to be exactly like you. EXACTLY!
• Once the website had been signed and delivered. Send a long email making as many technical changes as you think you can get away with, with the subject “one last thing”.

Once the designer starts making changes without objection, you know you have achieved your goal. You can then make any request you wish and the designer will simply implement them- ignoring their better judgement.

Congratulations! You now have a designer zombie!

Warning: this process can be lengthy, and so expect the project to blow out to 300-400% what was initially estimated. Of course you will have to pay all of this figure, but at least you get the mediocre website you wanted with none of that pesky uniqueness or style!

/sarcasm

imagetalk is a boutique large format digital printing company whom I originally discovered when I needed some design work printed in a hurry and Judy was more than helpful in getting the job done.

imagetalk’s current website was 100% flash, which made it hard to update and was not good for search engine organics (that is- google can’t see into Flash websites very well), and it took ages to download. I worked with Judy on a new web concept.

There are a number of unique elements to the website.

• The tree animation on the homepage
• The Flash image gallery
• The ‘shadowbox’ effect on the services page
• The client needed to be able to manage the content

One of the major problems of the previous website was that the Flash was incredibly cumbersome and really distracted from the user experience. It was important that if this site was to use Flash then it had to be a streamlined fashion. Using some tricky Flash techniques I was able to use a single Flash file which was able to detect which page was being viewed and present the animation accordingly. This saved having to download a new Flash file each page and speeds up the user’s experience of the site.

Noni B is one of Australia’s leading womens’ fashion retailers, however their website didn’t match the glossy and stylish look of their print brochures and retail stores.

However, in only 6 weeks we designed, built and launched a new elegant website which showcased their clothing collection. We chose a classic and simple style & layout which helped emphasise the website’s great photography. A number of interactive Flash elements were created to help users view the clothing collection and an accompanying Email newsletter template was created for email marketing.

The client is still extremely pleased with the result, and the website has successfully been updated across a number of seasons since its launch late 2008.

Andy worked on this website while he was part of the team at Solutions Outsourced.

The Barnabas Network is a website aimed at helping and encouraging church Minister and pastors. Started by Mike, a retired Baptist Minister who wanted to share his knowledge and experience with other Ministers and any other “fellow travellers”, to help and encourage people through their life and ministries.

When creating the logo, Mike wanted to use the image of a lighthouse in reference to Jesus’ command of his followers being like “lights on a hill”. From there the website developed a nautical theme which was continued through out the rest of the site. There were 3 main types of website users identified, and we wanted to help these 3 different groups of people quickly access the specific section of the website that would interest them. To achieve this we designed 3 large button areas at the top of the homepage with different images to represent the kind of content they would find in that section. Once the website was launched several users indicated how easy the website was to navigate and browse the vast libraries of content.

This was a fun logo and website to create, and Mike and his wife Bev were a pleasure to design for. You can visit the Barnabas Network website here.

A new website was needed that truly reflected the life and vibrancy of Summer Hill Church.

Summer Hill Church needed a new website. The old website hadn’t been updated in years; which gave the impression that the church itself was old and lifeless. However when visiting Summer Hill Church it’s apparent that this is far from the truth. The sunday morning service is steadily growing with people of all ages, and with the number of mid-week groups and kid/youth activities as well as a brand new night service starting up- a website was needed that truly reflected the life and vibrancy of Summer Hill Church.

This new website provides plenty of ways to show the dynamism and busyness of Summer Hill Church. The homepage has a time-based rotational banner area uses flash to add movement as well as show important information and events. The smaller buttons to the right provide opportunity to advertise regular events within the church, as well as recent news to keep user up-to-date.

Each internal page has space for a custom header image, however a default image is used if no image is selected. This enables Summer Hill Church staff much more control over the customisation and look of each page on the site, but only if needed.

The entire website is powered using Siteflex, which has provided the much needed ability for individuals to log in and edit content, as well as driving the sophisticated homepage. You can visit the Summer Hill Church website here.

Here’s what everyone posted on:

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Image Test! ... Sad storm trooper

Summerfest is a Kids and Youth holiday program that’s run on the Central Coast. Each year it attracts 500+ kids and youth to the morning and evening programs where they have heaps of fun and learn about Jesus from the Bible. Summerfest also runs a “getaway Cafe” for the 150-ish parents who come along.

In 2009 Andy was asked to design a brochure to advertise Summerfest to the families on the Central Coast. An A5 brochure was designed with 50,000 copies printed and handed out to every kid in the local primary schools, and also handed out at local community event and shops. Summerfest 2010 was a great success, as was the biggest it had ever been.

Since the invention of the printing press in 1609, print media has been used to effectively communicate countless messages.

A brochure for Summerfest

Andy has designed countless print jobs, including brochures, banners, pamphlets, booklets, pricing catalogues and Tshirts. The possibilities are virtually limitless.

However a successful print job requires more than just a good design- you need to have a firm understanding of the technical limitations of the required print media. Colours and fonts need to be set up correctly. The job specifications and requirements need to be clearly communicated with the printers. That said, once you’re holding the final printed product in your hand (or mount it on the wall, or put it on, whatever), and smell that hot-off-the-press smell- you remember why print is such an effective piece of communication.

View some of Andy’s recent print work. To have that hot-off-the-press smell for some of your own stuff, contact Andy.

A good website is like a nice piece of fruit; it’s important that it not only looks good, but doesn’t make you throw up… Or something. Actually, a good website is like a good metaphor- it just works.

imagetalk website

Today, more than ever, websites are important. It’s the first impression you give a potential client. It’s a way to communicate and build relationships with existing customers. It’s accessible worldwide 24/7. But just having a website isn’t enough. You want a website that looks good, is easy to use and most importantly is appealing to your customers. That’s the kind of website you want, which is funny because that’s the kind of website that we love to create!

View examples of websites Andy has designed recently.

If you need a new website, or would like an old website revamped contact us for more information.

A good corporate identity is crucial for creating a long-lasting and memorable brand. It’s important that a logo is an accurate representation of it’s company, that it is appropriate for the target audience, while also looking good!

View some recent logos that Andy’s designed.