Posted at: 11:46 AM by Laura

Zabisco are putting the finishing touches to a new website for Nottingham University?s GNSS Research and Applications Centre of Excellence, giving us the opportunity to develop our relationship with the University?s Innovation Park.

The GRACE site is the internet face of a new £9.2million facility on the UNIP. We?ve worked on this site from strategy through to design and development using Joomla, and we believe we?ve created a site which works really well for the client and their users.

Using our firm belief in the importance of user-centred design, we?ve made a site which is not only easy to use and navigate through, but which also works aesthetically. The site includes a social community to allow people involved in the industry to engage and network, as well as news and events, job opportunities and a member directory providing all the information you need on the new facility.

This project is a continuation of our work with the University, with our previous work on the Ingenuity Gateway proving a great success.

Labels: user centred design, web design, web development. joomla, website

Posted at: 9:29 AM by Laura

After lots of work and some sleepless nights brainstorming ideas in the office, we are proud to announce that we have won a contract with the British Heart Foundation.

BHF have chosen us to undertake the task of putting together the information and content architecture for their redesigned website, ensuring their users get everything they need quickly and efficiently and that the site is easy to use.

This is not the first time we have dealt with a charity, as, amongst our extensive portfolio of clients, are the British Red Cross and Headway, so we are confident we can deliver the goods and exceed expectations on this project.

The British Heart Foundation understands how beneficial Information Architecture is in reducing design time, managing scope and generally ensuring that the end user is always the focus of the design. We firmly believe that an information architecture stage is beneficial to all projects. The strategy and structure of the site is just as important as a good look and feel.

We always encourage clients to feedback when we produce sitemaps and wireframes, which ensures that once the project reaches the graphic design stage, our designers have a clear and focused design to work from. Our experience shows us this reduces design time, allows the client more time to think about the structure of their content and helps keep both time and budget on target. Good news for everyone!

Labels: BHF, British Heart Foundation, charity, ia, information architecture, user centred design, web design, website

Posted at: 4:42 PM by Hammad

Flat Pack Marketing, a subsidiary of Persona has recently been re-launched with a brand new design and set of packages. The site targets small businesses looking for an affordable way to establish an effective online presence though professional web design and intuitive online marketing. Check out their web design package and online marketing package for more information.

Small businesses usually have a tight budget when it comes to web design and online marketing. Most are put off thinking it will cost too much for a quality website or pessimistic of their chances of succeeding and generating new business online. Enter Flat Pack Marketing; a specialist provider of effective websites for small businesses.

Although their services are mainly focused on web design in Nottingham they offer services to small businesses around the UK. Whether you need some friendly advice on where to begin or you have a plan ready to go Flat Pack Marketing can help by providing the correct strategy and action.

Flat Pack Marketing's most recent project is www.akhtarkhan.com, an Asian wedding photography company. A unique design coupled with a fantastic gallery makes this site stand out from its competition.

So if you're a small business looking for a unique, afforable and effective web presence get yourself over to Flat Pack Marketing.

Labels: creative, marketing, online advertising, sme, web design

Posted at: 11:12 AM by Mark

For a while at Persona we've been bookmarking one website that never fails to inspire us all; designers, developers, and information architects alike. Even the boss can't get enough! Smashing Magazine is a resource that

"delivers useful and innovative information for designers and Web developers with the aim of informing readers about the latest trends and techniques in Web development: clearly, precisely and regularly."

And that it does! Acting as a handbook of all things web dev, the site consists of a collection of professional references and solutions on various topics of interest. With daily postings such as 40 Creative Layouts, CSS Expert Ideas and Usability Nightmares, there really is something for everyone and each post is always thoroughly researched, well presented and right at the forefront of what's going on in the industry. Having this sort of content to hand is a great timesaver and source of inspiration just when the creative juices are starting to dry up.

Download: 1920x1200 • 1680x1050 • 1280x800 • 1024x768

Download: 1920x1200 • 1680x1050 • 1280x800 • 1024x768

Download: 1920x1200 • 1680x1050 • 1280x800 • 1024x768

Each month Smashing Magazine post a collection of themed desktop wallpapers designed and submitted by their readers and we obligingly browse through and download our favourites. So this month we've decided to have a go ourselves and create a November wallpaper that we can submit to the magazine and which you can download here for your viewing pleasure. After all, it's better to give than to receive at this time of year (well, almost). Our effort is based around the magic of bonfire night and features some lovely geometric fireworks intended to provide you with a little warmth and enjoyment as you gaze at your screen; something we all need at the minute, brrr.

In the coming months we hope to create more wallpapers for you all, building up a little resource of our own and you never know, we may get some of them featured on the hallowed pages of Smashing magazine.

Labels: creative, downloads, illustration, persona, web design

Posted at: 11:44 AM by Hammad

Intercede are one of the world's leading Identity and Credential Management companies. Their services include enabling and managing: secure registration, biometric capture, application vetting and approval through to smart card personalization, issuance and management.

Here at Persona we were charged with overhauling their corporate website to provide a more modern look and feel but also to produce a site which was logically, informatively and strategically structured in order to optimise content and create an excellent first impression for visitors to the site.

The project is being developed in a phased approach; phase 1 has just been completed with a flat HTML site, which is now live at www.intercede.com. Phase 2 will see the site expand in terms of the number of pages, whilst at the same time pages being developed into our CMS to allow Intercede staff to manage the content for their website.

The Intercede site does contain a lot of information as is the primary focus for sales based activity. As such we have ensured that the information is clearly presented and does not intimidate the visitor with huge blocks of copy. One of the ways we have sought to achieve this can be seen at http://www.intercede.com/products-techspecs.html - the page contains a lot of copy, however with clever use of an "accordion" tool, the content can be read in easily digestible chunks.

Phase 2 kicks off in the next few weeks, and we'll keep you posted on developments...

Labels: cms, technical, web design, website

Posted at: 4:14 PM by Mark

In the last few weeks I've done something I never thought I'd do, or even think I'd be interested in doing... I've joined the dark side! That's right; I've taken my first few tepid steps into the strange and daunting world of code.

Until now, developers have always been those geeks at the other end of the office, non-creatives permanently docked at their little PC stations consumed in page after page of coloured dots, colons and squiggly brackets. Like well oiled machines, they endlessly create, edit and refresh pages of code, only surfacing from their online havens and engaging in the real world for the occasional service or refuel. The distance between them and us has been understandably well observed and any contact confined to email. This is simply the way it's always been and is best for everyone concerned, right?

Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a little. After all, the pursuits of the two professions cannot be fully realised without our harmonious collaboration. Despite our fundamental creative and technical differences, we rely on each other for the success of each and every project we undertake. Without us creative types, developers have no page layouts to code away at all day and without their technical skills, we designers have no one to turn our works of art into something useful! Yet the journey of creating a web site always remains a process of two distinct and separate phases, design then development, in which the intricacies and limitations of both fields inevitably arise, occasionally causing friction and frustration for either camp dealing with the ignorance of the other. It is this lack of understanding about the each other's field that has prompted me to do learn more about the dark art.

I've realised that I will never fully understand the restrictions of the web and how that effects my precious design until I actually get my head stuck into some code and try to see things from the perspective of the poor old developer. For too long, I've just has to grumpily sigh and resign myself to defeat when Lewis comes and tells me that some part of my design just isn't possible to recreate or the primary font I've used will just look terrible in IE6! My well thought out and balanced response that "the web sucks" simply won't cut it anymore.

So with the Lewis' help and complete disregard for my previous bad experiences with linguistics (GSCE French and German), I've set about studying the languages of HTML and CSS, in a bid to broaden my horizons, understand how to code a web site and ultimately learn how to best optimise my future designs for web.

So far, I've been surprised how much I've enjoyed learning about elements, attributes and divs. At first it plays havoc on the eyes and is pretty taxing on the brain, but like with anything, putting the theory into practise and repeating tutorials is proving to be working well. I so far understand everything these languages have thrown at me and can rustle up a pretty basic but solid web site from scratch.

My only previous experience in building websites has been through Dreamweaver's "Design view" and that has always been a pretty frustrating one, with elements on a page jumping around when previewed, no matter what changes I seem to make. When creating pages using code, everything feels that little bit more deliberate and stable.

Needless to say, the time I've spent in code view has helped me appreciate the restrictions of the web in terms of the way different elements display on a page and how the medium is much more fluid than that of print design. I can't necessarily make every bit of design sit precisely where I want like I can in print, simply because of the organic nature of the web and the sheer number of variables there are (browsers, fold lines, anti-alias's etc). With each new web site I come to design, these are the sort of factors that I can keep in mind to make the whole process run a bit smoother and improve Lewis' quality of life.

Not only does my foray into uncharted technical territory help with the efficiency and enjoyment of the design and development process in the studio, it also helps me to expand my skill set and improve my employability in an industry where the role of the designer is becoming ever broader.

When studying graphic design at university, there is very little mention of designing for web, in fact there are entirely separate degrees dedicated to digital and multimedia design. My course focused entirely on conceptual "ideas" based print design, occasionally venturing into the worlds of advertising or packaging design. Yet this separation in design courses is not really mirrored in the real world, where many design/marketing agencies strive to meet the needs of clients wanting a range of services: branding, printed literature, web design and search marketing for example. Unless you happen to join a huge agency which has a team covering each of these bases and thus employ you solely for your branding abilities, then you're going to have to be able to branch out somewhat and adapt to the requirements of each individual project.

Many job descriptions for designers these days specify requirements for candidates to have experience and skills in both print and web design, and the relevant computer software for each. It would seem that knowledge of HTML, CSS and Flash etc. is becoming just as important as that of Adobe's Creative Suite and the print industry for those employing the next wave of graduates. For the purist designer who ignores this trend though, preferring to stick to their guns and the world of print, the opportunities may well become that little bit harder to find. This is an industry changing to meet the needs of those wanting to communicate their message, and with the web being at the forefront of the communication age, I for one am not going to rest on my laurels.

Labels: creative, css, persona, web design

Posted at: 12:02 PM by Hammad

If you're a small, growing business that could benefit from some equity investment, you wont find a better place to research and contact the right people than the new Growth Investment East Midlands web site which was launched this month.

www.ginem.co.uk

Following a formal tendering process, the EMDA backed organisation commissioned Persona as their brand stewards and communications agency.

Our remit has been fully integrated and so far we've delivered a new visual identity, marketing material, advertorials and event signage.

The key channel though is the new web site at www.ginem.co.uk which has been developed on our Content Management System (CMS) for easy maintenance and longevity. The site has a clean, professional and modern design that's aimed at entrepreneurs, along with a suitable wealth of no nonsense news, articles and resources. It's worth bookmarking this one, as already the site content is updated regularly with events and videos.

Don't forget, if you need to regain control of your web site and could benefit from a more user-centric communications strategy, speak to us and we can have a friendly chat to see if we can help.

Labels: advertorials, cms, illustration, signage, technical, web design, website

Posted at: 6:13 PM by Hammad

Is there no end to our domination of the press?

Well, not just yet there isn't.

One of the UK's most popular trade magazines, 'Web Designer' (www.webdesignermag.co.uk) has a 3 page profile all about Persona.

The feature is in a team interview format; with Hammad, Lisa and Stuart sharing their thoughts on the recent Transformers/Toshiba project and Andy, Mark and Lewis discussing how the production went down.

Be sure to pick up a copy in your local WH Smiths before it's too late!

There is also still time to get a copy of .NET Magazine 168 - with a 6 page cover feature from Persona discussing online user experience.

http://www.netmag.co.uk/zine/podcast/episode-18

Labels: magazine, marketing, persona, podcast, pr, web design