El Roboto

El Roboto - Stunning Digistrations

vicky@el-roboto.co.uk — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:47:54 GMT

We’re totally mesmerised by the digital illustration work from Russian artist Tatiana Plakhova’s ‘Complexity Graphics’ ‘Bio’ and ‘Folk Complexity’ portfolios. Futuristic, organic and just beautiful. Well worth a closer look.

El Roboto - Street inspired illustration

vicky@el-roboto.co.uk — Fri, 2 Jul 2010 16:56:37 GMT

Inspired by the urban environment, illustrator Sandrine Estrade Boulet creates these brilliantly imaginative images.

via Trendland

El Roboto - Origami rama!

vicky@el-roboto.co.uk — Fri, 28 May 2010 16:58:23 GMT

As part of this years Thinking Digital Conference we attended an origami workshop led by one of the worlds leading experts Robert Lang. We were particularly taken with the craft meets maths modular techniques used to make 3D structures [pictured] He had us at ‘unit’ (one of Johans favourite words apparently!) and we will definitely be attempting more of these ourselves.

The Gallery shows impressive folding from Carlos Natan Lopez Nazario who uses a single sheet of paper to create awesome 3D type.

El Roboto - Robot Weddings!

vicky@el-roboto.co.uk — Fri, 21 May 2010 17:10:55 GMT

Japanese couple first to be married by robot!

Via Geekologie

El Roboto - BBDO Germany create Jacko tribute

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:24:02 GMT

German agency BBDO have created a suitably classy tribute to MJ - see the MTV Flash movie here. Stick on the first 30 seconds of "Don't stop till you get enough" and remember the good times! Visit the BBDO website for more info

Alternatively check out the Eternal Moonwalk... not quite as classy but more addictive than peanut KitKats.

El Roboto - Paul Friedlander - Blending science and art...

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:22:14 GMT

Paul Friedlander is a physicist and award winning kinetic light sculptor who's work has been exhibited all over the world since he began in the 70's. His most eye catching pieces use rapidly spinning rope and chromastrobic projection (sometimes up to a whopping 400,000 lumens!) to create the appearance of flowing waves of light in mid air.

Those like myself, who get geekishly giddy about quantum physics will find some of Paul's articles on time travel interesting too - even if they do leave your head spinning like his ropes.

www.paulfriedlander.com

El Roboto - Help on hand for creative startups from Wayne Hemingway and Gateshead Council

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:20:04 GMT

Starter for Ten is a pilot project by Gateshead Council and designer Wayne Hemingway, aimed at revitalising Gateshead centre by providing temporary workspace for creative people. The deadline for applications is 11^th June 2009 and those shortlisted will be invited to interview.

Visit the Starter for Ten website for more information.

El Roboto - Local Talent - Afid Design Furniture

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Wed, 13 May 2009 10:00:00 GMT

Afid Designs is the home of furniture designer / maker Michael Armstrong, who I was delighted to discover is based only a minutes walk away, at The Mushroom Works in Newcastle upon Tyne.

To quote Afid Design's website

"Focusing on simple, innovative, functional forms, produced with quality materials, subtle detailing and fine finishes, Michael delivers considered, well-proportioned furniture suitable for a wide range of interior environments. His collection of distinctive modern designs are produced in a wide range of quality materials, from FSC certified hardwoods to minimal, contemporary acrylic."

Well worth a closer look!

www.afiddesign.co.uk

El Roboto - Capitan Content Management

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Sun, 3 Jan 2010 22:14:20 GMT

Capitan is a feature rich and extremely versatile online content management system first developed by El Roboto in 2006.

Capitan v3 is a completely new development which took valued feedback from our clients into account. We have no doubt this is our best ever system and feedback from clients on v3 backs this up.

If you like the sound of Capitan and would like to arrange a demonstration please call us on 0191 580 8050.

Dashboard Overview

The Dashboard provides a vast array of live data on the usage of your website. Graphical statistics on visitors, page hits & interactions over the past day, week and year. Realtime statistics on the most popular content for the current day and month, online users, incoming search terms, downloads, referring domains, in various report formats.

Capitan’s visitor activity log allows you to track visitors movements through your website to help you understand the effectiveness of the navigation you have provided.

The dashboard also contains an administrators notice board and quick website backup functionality. A fully featured setup also allows you to set up an unlimited number of websites to run on a single installation of Capitan. These subsites can appear completely independent of the master site, even running on their own domains, HTML templates and CSS, and each subsite benefits from the same range of Capitan tools and reports.

Page Management Overview

Capitan provides an innovative and flexible templating system in which you can easily control the layout and appearance of all pages in your website. Page by page SEO is easy with control over keywords, meta description, title, and sitemap inclusion levels, the xml sitemap is even automatically updated whenever the website is modified.

Those who want to impose page access restrictions for ‘member only’ type sections can do so easily, restricting access by user level or user group while editing the page. This section of the page manager also allows control over which administrators can edit the page.

Advanced users have the ability to include snippets of PHP and Javascript in any page header and to link up addition files to the page.

User Management Overview

When a new member registers or is set up in Capitan a user profile is automatically created in the user directory. Along with user info captured on registration such as name, email, address details (and even photo), the profile displays any recent visits this user has made to the site, detailing the trail of pages they viewed.

Capitan allows you to create groups to allow marketing to specific sets of users. The user directory allows you to filter the members by various demographics such as age and gender and creating so you can create very specific target groups.
In addition to site members, administrative users and groups are extremely easy to create and can be configured to have very specific access rights so you can control exactly who in your company can modify various aspects of the website and collected data.

The user management section also features user import / export tools for mass migration of CSV data, and reports on the top rated and most frequent visiting users.

Campaign Management Overview

Email campaigns can be created in minutes. Simply type in the message you wish to appear in the email subject line, select the recipient group ie women aged 21-29 and enter content into your HTML email template. Prior to sending, you can send a test to yourself and also generate a spam-check report. Once dispatched you can observe an array of reports on the effectiveness of the campaign, including clickthrough and open rates.

If you run online advertising campaigns such as google adwords or use banner advertising networks. Give Capitan the details of the campaign and it will provide you with a unique tracking URL for the campaign which you provide to the advertiser along with your advert. Capitan will then record how many people click your ad and which websitesit appeared on, and generate a set of statistics on the effectiveness of the campaign and its positioning.

File Management Overview

Capitan allows the upload and management of files and directories through your web browser and as previously noted provides file download statistics. In addition, you can restrict download availability by creating private file directories, allowing you to control who can obtain files and how many times they can do so.

El Roboto - Narec Rebrand

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:19:25 GMT

Narec is a national centre for the UK, dedicated to accelerating the deployment and grid integration of renewable energy and low carbon generation technologies.

El Roboto were approached in 2009 to assist the company in refreshing their corporate image, starting with a new logo which needed to represent the company's involvement in the energy sector, as well as it's four core sectors.

The icon we developed was inspired by the use of multiple lines and concentric shapes which came up a number of times in our research into visualising energy, in the form of wave sets, electrical and magnetic fields and Isobars.

The flowing shape of the icon is intended to interact with the letter 'c' like an infinity symbol, representing narec’s role in ‘renewing or recycling’ energy, while the split into 4 concentric shapes represents the company's four sectors.

Following the development of the logo, the project has seen us provide a new content managed website using Capitan, a range of company literature and stationery, large format exhibition artwork and new internal and external signage for the company's offices and research facilities.

www.narec.co.uk

El Roboto - Monument Mall Website

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:18:59 GMT

El Roboto were awarded the contract to re-design and re-develop the website for Newcastle upon Tyne's Monument Mall shopping centre in 2009. In accordance with our clients brief, the new website has a striking new look and an array of content management and reporting tools.

Utilising the new features of Capitan v3, each of the stores in the Mall has access to update their own news, events, and vacancies. These updates are then queued for approval by the shopping centre manager to ensure total control over published content.

The website makes use of Capitan's User Management suite which can be populated by on-site registration or CSV import for mass migration of existing data. The system then allows easy compilation of user groups by demographics such as age, sex and location which can be individually targeted by Capitan's Email Campaigns if desired.

Our client was also keen to improve the website's SERP positioning for competitive terms such as 'newcastle shopping' and 'shopping newcastle upon tyne'. Our approach was to take on a new primary domain which includes important keywords - www.newcastle-shopping.co.uk, and to use www.monument-mall.co.uk as a scondary domain for use on marketing materials.

This was easy to roll out using Capitan's Domain Manager which also ensures no duplicate content penalty is incurred. Using Capitan's SEO Management tools along with this new domain setup led to an impressive rise in traffic from search engines. In the first month of the website being live Capitan's Statistics Suite tracked over 600 incoming visitors using the desired search terms.

www.newcastle-shopping.co.uk

El Roboto - NHS North East Guide

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:02:25 GMT

Your guide to NHS North East is a booklet desiged to keep stakeholders up to date with regional activities and the latest performance figures.

Presenting statistics in an interesting way is challenging and the solution was to come up with something creative for the format. With a 210mm x 210mm cover and A5 inners the NHS branding can be visible throughout the document without being in your face and the document gets a much nicer feel.

El Roboto - Northern Architecture Making Architecture Count

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:59:09 GMT

Making Architectrue Count is a project by Northern Architecture inviting schools to explore buildings through key stage 3 maths.

Working with maths specialist, Steve Humble (Dr. Maths), Northern Architecture aims to bring Key Stage 3 Maths to life through exploring some of the region’s greatest buildings.

By using visual techniques and interactive team-based problem solving activities, Making Architecture Count will address mathematical ideas, making the concepts easier to grasp in a fun and stimulating way, outside of the classroom.

Pupils will respond directly to the Key Stage 3 learning aims of the National Curriculum in relation to architecture and space – numeracy, shape, rhythm, sequence, geometry, pattern, volume and scale.

A set of postcards using fluorescent inks were created with a highly striking design aimed to stand out in a large pile of mail. The three colour front design and the two colour back also help keeping printing costs down while retaining the exclusive feel of using two special inks. A project doesn't have to be big to be clever.

El Roboto - NewcastleGateshead Initiative Get Out and Active Guide

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:53:28 GMT

As part of their remit to promote the region’s outdoor activity opportunities, NewcastleGateshead Initiative commissioned El Roboto to create a vibrant, energetic campaign across a range of media. The goal is to encourage residents and visitors to the region to ‘Get Out and Active’ - to make the most of the vast range of outdoor activities on offer locally.

The campaign includes a What-to-do Guide, accompanied by a vast array of outdoor, large format advertising, appearing across the whole Metro network.

El Roboto - Environmental Resource Group rebrand

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:48:42 GMT

Environmental Resource Group are a waste management and environmental management company operating throughout the UK and Europe.

El Roboto were approached to develop the organisation's visual identity, which included refreshing the main company logo and redeveloping sub-company websites.

The original logo featured a droplet icon which the company were keen to retain, so we created a new icon based on this shape with gradually fading droplets. intended to represent the company's involvement with recycling and the treatment of hazardous waste materials

El Roboto - Mouth of the Tyne festival 09 festival

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:43:16 GMT

We were invited by North Tyneside Council to produce a promotional piece for the 2009 Mouth of the Tyne Festival, featuring The Script (who had to approve the design and apparently really liked it!).

We couldn't resist taking this opportunity to get back to basics and put pen to paper - producing this rather fetching illustration which we think does well to envisage all the sunny fun of your typical summer festival.

El Roboto - Berghaus Catalogues

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:40:19 GMT

For the past 4 seasons El Roboto have produced the catalogues for a number of the Berghaus ranges, these have included 365Life, Ator, and most recently a multi-language guide which combines 3 of the ranges.

Each of these documents has had a specific look and feel but as content heavy documents, have needed to be laid out in an engaging and highly accurate manner.

Our other work with Berghaus has recently included photoshoots, national window displays, point of sale and flash work for their annual European conference.

El Roboto - Tourism Tyne and Wear Discover Pass

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:34:44 GMT

The Discover Pass allows users to take advantage of a vast range of special offers in a large number of local attractions. Having won a major pitch to brand, create and produce all supporting literature for the pass, El Roboto continue to provide all design for this ongoing campaign.

Due to the success of the original campaign, the second year is even more of the same. The vivid pink has in the past appeared on flags, bus shelters, T-shirts and even underwater at Tynemouth Blue Reef Aquarium.

El Roboto - Urban Halo Overview

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:28:09 GMT

It’s always great to create characters for a company, especially when they are allowed to be covered in tattoos and piercings and to sport Mohawks and dreadlocks.

Urban Halo are well known for their high quality hair extensions and piercing merchandise and commissioned El Roboto to refresh the brand and create a cast of characters who now grace a number of merchandising elements, including the website, which we are due to re-launch shortly.

El Roboto - Ipso Facto Films Overview

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:19:41 GMT

Having produced a range of posters in the past for Ipso Facto Films for use at Cannes and other European Film festivals, in mid 2008 El Roboto were approached to brand, create the website and design each of the film posters for The Big Pitch.

As the climax of the Northern Lights Film Festival, The Big Pitch was an opportunity for filmmakers to win £250,000 to have their personal project realised – 200 applicants were whittled down to a final 4.

The site provided updateable blogs to each of the 4 shortlisted filmmaking teams with the option for registrants to vote online for their preferred choice. With over 3000 registrants, the site was a huge success, with the chosen film, Different Shades of Graham, now in production.

El Roboto - Xperience Extreme Sports Festival

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:15:31 GMT

Having hosted the UK surfing championships for a number of years, Tynemouth saw 2008’s event being expanded into Xperience08, bringing together snowboarding, skateboarding, BMX and live music. El Roboto worked with North Tyneside Council to create the branding and all supporting advertising, literature and promotional merchandise.

The event was a huge success and Xperience09 was given the go-ahead shortly afterwards. Sponsored by Quiksilver, the event attracted internationally renowned sportsmen and the line-up for next year is set to be even bigger and better.

El Roboto have already been approached to develop the 09 brand and the development of this year’s advertising.

El Roboto - Northern Architecture Origami Guide

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:11:20 GMT

When we were asked to create the guide for Architecture Week, the brief was simply to create something relevant, interactive, engaging and cool.

The final solution was a fold-out guide which could be refolded into an origami building block – something which certainly engaged the kids involved and was very well received, encapsulating the ethos of the event – to raise awareness and for people to interact with the architecture around them.

El Roboto - Jotun Paints Overview

capitan@el-roboto.co.uk — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:43:20 GMT

Jotun Paints are one of the World’s biggest manufacturers of Protective, Decorative, Marine and Powder coatings. With huge market shares in the Middle East and Northern Europe, Jotun are now expanding into the UK market.

El Roboto have recently redesigned the Decorative Division identity, all Jotun corporate advertising and various tin liveries, most notably for Butinox - a range of woodstains now sold throughout the UK and mainland Europe.