We come across a great new way to send large files over the internet without the arduous task of massive emails and FTP directories.

We Transfer is as good as it get. Not only that it looks great, (checkout the timeline animation) but, quite literally, it simply works brilliantly.

Needless to say with file size getting bigger and broadband getting faster it’s been a pretty useless tool. A definite contender for our 2010 Web Awards*!

wetransfer.info

*Not that we have any awards but if we did it would be contender.

Wow doesn’t time fly by! It only seems like yesterday we were all basking in the luke warm British summer and now the season of good will and glad tidings is thrust upon us!

And so, from all of us at Provide Design would like to thank all our clients, both new and existing, for keeping us incredibly busy these past twelve months and to wish everyone a great Christmas and an equally busy new year.

Cheers!

The 960 grid as perhaps regarded as the web design grid. Workable, simple and flexible this Photoshop layout really helps when putting those first pixels to screen and the template saves a few minutes ’set-up’ time too.

So here, as a gift in this time of Yule, please feel free to download.

960-grid.psd.zip (16kb)

Provide Design are proud to announce that our hard work and creativity have bagged Dunstable College a FE First Marketing Excellence award for the ‘Heroes’ recruitment campaign.

The campaign itself was entered in the highly subscribed ‘best 14-19 year old campaign’ category, and came home with the silver.

This national award is strong recognition for the campaign that has largely contributed to a massive 30% increase in full-time age 16-19 student numbers at the College.

We have just been re-comissioned to develop the visual identity of the 2010 Heroes Evolution campaign so watch this space to see how we raise the bar for next year.

You can see some of our work from the 2009 campaign here: Dunstable Heroes Campaign

Or visit: www.dunstable.ac.uk to see our work in action

Gavin and Alex bring their amazing skill with lighting, shooting and editing video to the team. We are proud to have them on board.

So if you need video for you website, an advert for TV or short film producing please contact us.

Please see below some examples of recently completed video work. A full show reel is coming soon.

Having seen a sneak preview of some of this collection of work, we must say it some his finest to date. If you are passionate about abstract art, or you are looking for that original piece to fit that empty wall in your home or office, please go along and check it out.

The exhibition is at The Courtyard Gallery in Aylesbury town centre and the private view is on Friday 12th June – 7.30pm to 9.30pm. If you would like an invitation please email simon@simonchambers.net

The exhibition is open to the public from June 13th – 28th, Mon – Sun, 11.00am to 6.00pm.

Visit www.simonchambers.net for more info.

When my Dad was 6 years old he saw the Dagenham Girl Pipers performing a march. He has been telling us all about this memory for the last year mentioning that he would love to throw some kind of party and have them perform at it. A nonsense fantasy he thought.

With my Dad’s 60th birthday happening this year, some how my Uncle Tony managed to book 7 of the 22 strong Dagenham Girl Pipers Marching Band to come and play for my Dad. A surprise party was organised, cryptic invitations sent out and on the day it was a total shock for my Dad and most of the party guests too!

The band performed brilliantly and blew everyone away. It was a surreal experience watching a bagpipe marching band doing their thing on my parent’s lawn, but one I will remember for ever.

Then after the band were done, there were more suprises! A convoy of steam engines on their way to the local pub for a skittles match just happened to pass by. With invitations of beer shouted to them from across the road they pulled in and showed everyone at the party their fantastic machines…

Then after they had left, with the party well under way another surprise floated over the horizon. A local balloon flight decided to take a landing spot in a nearby field. The balloon flew so close overhead that words were exchanged from party revellers to the flying travellers.

The party then went on into the night with wine, song and ping pong. A day to remember!

Full photo set at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/providedesign/sets/72157617589304241/

Are you looking for a hotdesk near Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard or Aylesbury? FunkBunk, the home of Provide Design is now offering hot desks to writers, designers, freelancers, photographers, marketeers, muskateers and anyone else who needs a desk for just a few days out of the month.

In addition to full time desks being available there are 3 desks currently available for hotdesking. Prices for hotdesk spaces start from £30 per day depending on how many days you book in advance. Hot desk rental includes wireless or wired high speed broadband access, free parking and free tea and coffee.

The atmosphere here is non-intrusive, friendly and creative. With the added bonus of having somewhere to hold meetings and your own business address, hot desking at the FunkBunk is the way to go!

For more photos and information please visit www.funkbunk.com

If you would like to book a space or come over and have a look for yourself please email iwanttobe@funkbunk.com or call us on 0845 003 9559

Here at Provide Design we don’t like to think of ourselves as Party Poopers. We like to think of ourselves as Christmas Crackers – explosively good and containing lots of nice surprises (and the odd really bad joke). Today we just wanted to write about something which becomes very apparent this time of year.

We’re not being Party Poopers and there isn’t a humbug in sight, but as Christmas gets closer it seems a lot of us use it as a reason to panic and forget about what lies ahead until it is all over and we are comfortably in the New Year.

From a business perspective we have seen many Christmases where everything is rushed into the last few days. Suppliers drop the ball, clients ring expecting the impossible and there isn’t even time to think about the Christmas shopping! This is when detail is missed and our need to get the year over and done with can cloud our foresight and we forget about planning for the coming months.

This year we did it differently. We planned all our marketing activity, we booked our jobs in advance so there would be no need for Christmas Eve deliveries and we made sure that when January comes round it will be a solid continuation on from 2008. No drastic resolutions – just keep stuck to the business plan.

We also employed the assistance of marketing experts to guide us on what our next move should be. Designers and creatives we are, but as marketeers we have a lot to learn – always bring in the professionals to move this part of your business forward.

So this year we will be relaxed and comfy over Christmas knowing what is coming next. Nice feeling – works great with mulled wine.

So Merry Christmas everyone – have a great time. Unwind and if you’ve not done it already, at least mentally prepare for an awesome 2009 – it will be one!

Well, here are our favourite design related websites for 2008. We have selected these sites as they have not only inspired us, but have become the weekly read with a cup of coffee as well as useful tools and resources we call upon now and then.

Graphic Exchange

www.graphic-exchange.com

Web Designers Wall

www.webdesignerwall.com

I Love Typography

www.ilovetypography.com

Think Design Blog

www.thinkdesignblog.com

CSSRemix

www.cssremix.com

Coroflot

www.coroflot.com

Core77

www.Core77.com

ffffound

www.ffffound.com

Colour Lovers

www.colourlovers.com

The Favourite Website Awards

www.thefwa.com