Simien

Need led site design

Thu, 17 Nov 2005 10:16:42 +0000

Great article by Jason Hobbs on the benefits of modeling user journeys as stories and designing for the actual need of that user. This approach goes deeper than just modelling around user profiles and allows IAs and designers to create the interface paths and functionality to support the user. Read more

Five Steps to Wayfinding

Tue, 08 Nov 2005 15:14:42 +0000

You can think of Wayfinding as a five step process. It starts with knowing where you are. It means knowing your destination, following the best route to your destination, being able to recognise your destination, and finding your way back to your starting point.

Sound simple enough, what struck me though was what a simple set of instructions it offers in architecture and interface design and how important accessibility and usability are in achieving findability.

Rainbow Trust Goes Live

Sat, 29 Oct 2005 19:01:54 +0000

A new site for the Rainbow Trust Childrens chartity has just launched. Simien was responsible for the project's planning, architecture and design.

The site features a custom built content management system giving Rainbow's staff full control over all aspects of the site's content and structure.

The CMS uses an intuitive interface for editing requiring the user to understand only a small number of basic HTML commands, requiring a mimimum of training in comparison to most CMS packages.

Visit the site: www.rainbowtrust.org.uk

Keep the focus

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 18:00:38 +0000

Common mistakes in developing websites can be avoided if the client and the agency take the time to look further into why they are building a site and who for. Sounds simple enough but how many websites seem to have been built with little or no purpose behind them?

If you can't read it how can a search engine?

Mon, 03 Oct 2005 00:27:45 +0000

I like to think, or perhaps just hope, that despite the advances in technology the human brain still has a pretty good edge on the machines. If you want your website to show up in a search engine why not build it so it's actually readable to a human - if you can't read it how do you expect a search engine too?

The 80:20 rule

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 14:37:28 +0000

If you are putting out a print or televised communication it's got to be right, once it's out there is no turning back, can you imagine the joy of spotting the typo as the national print campaign hits the streets? But this approach doesn't serve as well online.

Soft launch or hard landing?

Thu, 15 Sep 2005 00:28:49 +0000

Google seems to like the Beta phase, Gmail has been a Beta for nearly a year now, and one begins to wonder when it will be out? But there�??s a lesson in this.

Travelling Light

Mon, 05 Sep 2005 14:40:04 +0000

August was a quiet month for work but a busy one for going up mountains. Twelve days of wandering along the Haute Route with a 14Kg rucksack gave me plenty of time to think about travelling light, and what not to take the next time.

Have you got ICE in your phone?

Mon, 11 Jul 2005 14:41:44 +0000

East Anglian Ambulance Service have launched a national "In case of Emergency ( ICE ) " campaign. You store the word "ICE " in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency".

New Site for Y-shop

Sat, 25 Jun 2005 00:00:54 +0000

To find out what you should be wearing this season, or even next week, get along to the new site for Y.shop we've just launched with a new newsletter to keep you up to date and neatly wrapped with a brand new design and web based content management system.

visit the site

Getting to the Root of the Change Challenge

Wed, 23 Mar 2005 23:54:27 +0000

An article written by Harry Parkes and published by eGov monitor on how eGovernment projects often fail due to the cultural and organisational challenges they represent than technical issues, and unless the organisation's management can deal with these first they might feel they are fighting a losing battle.

Read the article

Basecamp a Go Go!

Wed, 23 Mar 2005 00:04:20 +0000

We've moved all our projects over to Basecamp, the web project management application, this has applied to all of Simien's client and internal project's. Basecamp is not only it is great example of what can be done with web interfaces and CSS today but it offers a great bridge to better project management and communications.

Simien clients can log into their projects via the homepage.

The Pensions Reform Group selects Simien to develop its online strategy

Thu, 06 Jan 2005 00:06:35 +0000

The Pensions Reform Group was set-up and is chaired by Rt Hon Frank Field MP. It has been founded to identify weaknesses in the current pensions system and to present plans aimed at providing for a simple and workable, long-term settlement that will allow everyone retiring after a working life to live free of poverty.

Simien has been appointed by the Group to help it develop the online strategy and systems to facilitate discussion and debate between its members, the wider public and other key stakeholder groups.

www.pensionsreformgroup.org

Simien appointed to redesign the Rainbow Trust website

Thu, 04 Nov 2004 00:08:02 +0000

Rainbow Trust Children's Charity have appointed Simien to redesign and develop their new Internet site to launch Spring 2005. Rainbow Trust offers practical and emotional support to families who have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness.

McGlashans launches new residential lettings website

Mon, 27 Sep 2004 00:17:41 +0000

McGlashans Property services, an estate agent specialising in premium lettings to first class tenants in Central London, have launched their upgraded website developed by Simien, in partnership with Woobar.