I found this great tool that dynamically creates animate gif load bars on the fly. It has a bunch of templates you can choose from. If you want a quick fix for a load bar and don’t want to create it from scratch check out the link below.

http://www.ajaxload.info/

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How long does it take to build a website?

Projects vary depending on the scope. When we first tackle a website we will usually inform the client on cost, timeline and projected delivery date. Sometimes the request of the client extend the timeline, but careful planning is key in assuring the planned launch date is successfully met.

How much does a website cost?

Websites can range anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000 dollars depending on the scope of the project. Web development is a complex and detailed process. Every site is different. We encourage you to contact us to get your own custom quote for your project.

How does the design of a website effect traffic?

When designing sites we always take into account the best way to display the supplied content. Search engines crawl sites in specific ways, so we always take this into account when designing web solutions. The more detailed and accurate the planning of the design and front end code can drastically improve your sites traffic.

What is the process in creating a website from scratch?

First we take any branding materials you may have and base our suggestions for the design on your core values and offerings. This process can be easy or complicated depending on the purpose and target market for your site. For more details or information contact us.

Do you redesign or work with existing websites?

Yes, Of course. We are knowledgeable in the workings of existing domains and can redesign, Optimize or take over hosting for your existing site. We offer competitive pricing on hosting and maintenance solutions and can assist in spring boarding your site into a useful marketing tool.

How many people work on building a website?

The workload can vary depending on the scope of the project. Usually we work with a tight ship of 1 designer/creative director and 1 to 2 developers. You are guaranteed to get personalized service and always have access to brainstorm, comment or ask questions any time throughout the design and development process, and beyond.

Can I manage my own content in my site?

Yes, We work with some of the most popular open source content management systems (CMS) and can suggest the most appropriate system to fit your needs.

What is a CMS system?

Content management system. This allows people with no design or development skills to access website content, make edits, create new content and manage their own site content.

What options of CMS systems do you offer?

We offer a full set of content management systems and can customize any system to fit the individual needs of the client. A couple systems we work with are; Wordpress, Joomla, CMS Made Simple, Drupal, OSCommerce and much more.

What is a blog?

A blog is one of the best ways to keep your content fresh and search engine friendly. Blogs are set up on a post system and can be archived by tags, keywords, date posted and more. We encourage all of our clients to have a blog. It is your best tool in keeping your website traffic up.

Do you work with companies with small budgets?

Yes, Of course. We can advise you as to the best solution for your website and can suggest simple alternatives to keep costs low and meet your defined budget.

What is the advantages and disadvantages of a full flash site?

More and more full flash sites are dying out as the main offering for large companies. Simply because flash websites are almost invisible to search engines. There are ways of making flash sites visible on most search engines but requires extensive work to accomplish. Most of our solutions balance HTML and Flash and create a unity that ensures high rankings on search engines and that WOW factor you looking for with flash and motion graphics.

Full flash sites have their place, and can be very useful marketing material. Please visit our flash work section to see some successful executions of full flash and partial flash sites.

Do you do flash advertisements?

Yes, and it’s one of our greatest pleasures. We can concept, design and execute flash banner campaigns that can help promote your site traffic in a unique and dynamic way.

Do you manage advertising campaigns?

Yes, from simple Google AdWords campaigns to cross media advertisements on multiple sites.

How do I advertise on google?

With us! We can show you how, or take care of it for you.

What is your process in creating online animated banner advertisements?

First we talk to our clients and find out what they are looking to accomplish with the ad, what target market they are looking at and how the brand can work with the ads. We then conceptualize, brainstorm and storyboard out our ads to give the full effect of the campaign. We will then execute the ad based on the defined cues outlined in the storyboards.

Do you have more examples of print work?

Although it is not our main focus we do execute some interesting print materials for our clients. The web never does them much justice, but we are working on posting our examples soon. Stay tuned!

Do you do print advertising?

Yes, We work with some of Long Islands premier publications to ensure your ads hit their target. Read more in our advertising service section.

Have more questions?

Please if you have more we would be glad to answer them and post them here. Please fill out the comment section below for more answers to any un-listed questions.

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In designing web solutions sometimes we forget to include some of the basic techniques in order to make a page stand out. It’s simple and most creatives think of it but for some, it isn’t put into emphasis enough. Backgrounds are essential in creating stimulating web pages that pop out at the visitor. Whether it be a repeating pattern or a drop shadow behind the main interface the background adds depth and a dynamic feel to any web GUI. Standard web GUI width should span a maximum of 900px in order to make sure all monitors are able to see the bulk of the main site. SO when we create layouts is always important to include space in order to show what the background of the site will look like. Another key idea is to always show your design comp within a browser. Sizing is a large issue when it comes to the development of web sites, as we all know and showing a client the design in its environment is always the best to minimize confusion.

I have been in countless companies where the focus is set on the main body of the site without the thought of what the site will look like within the browser. Clients sign off on the design and a solid background is coded taking away much needed depth in the design of the page. As designers, we must think of the whole picture. Incorporating depth and establishing the full environment is key! Give your design BACK! and bring your design into the light.

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“I need a website” is usually the first couple words that are said to me before I start a project, obviously. But when I get these types of requests most of the time a problem arises that is not always seen until the project starts. Not all people are educated in the techniques and process that goes into good web design. These types of projects tend to get lengthy and stale due to the fact that the client does not understand the full idea in developing something that will be successful for them.

I have run into the problem before many times. The client knows what they want, but fail to understand the principals behind good design. Fighting creative freedom is not always the best route to take when dealing with designers. In order for a creative pro to get into a project and give it the best treatment necessary it is important to honor the requests and advice of the creative director that is handling the project. Micro managing every fine detail takes the “fun” out of the project and tends to produce a stale result.

Communication is important in any situation of this type. Trying to understand the clients vision is the most difficult process of any project. Once understood and the two parties are on the same page, the project can turn a new leaf and become something that will be beneficial to both the client and the designer.

For this reason it is one of our jobs as designers to educate the client on the process before the project is even started. Anyone can spit out a generic website that maintains the basic structure and is functional, but successful hard hitting websites don’t come easy. It takes time and effort to develop a site that is both engaging and portrays the image, message and feeling behind the subject matter. Educate and create and the design process will be a lot smoother for both you and your clients.

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In an age where everyone has access to post the innermost workings of everyones lives, broadcast for the public eye to see we come across this idea of Lifecasting. The success of reality TV, MySpace and YouTube has shown us that people want to know all there is to know about other people’s lives. I came across this idea of “Lifecasting” the other day in one of my magazines. Its an interesting concept that people have been doing for some time now. The posting of pretty much everything and everything that has to do with your everyday life. Blogs like this one are an outlet for people to display their info or lives and have become a large part of the web containing some of the best up to date information on the web.

The popularity of blogs, the posting of random funny pictures of unusual antics by random people, the success of the media mentioned above are all proof that everyday people are becoming more interesting than the stars in Hollywood. It’s a free expression of ideas, and people love it. Sharing photos, videos and everyday life excites the viewer creating a new type of community online. The basis of the internet is the free expression of ideas, a voice to the world to say what you want with no limitations for everyone to see.

We can apply this concept to Interactive Media and capitalize on the draw that this type of idea creates. If visitors are able to customize and personalize, they attach a certain ownership to the media that they have created. Create a profile, pick out a picture to associate your account to, change the color, change the layout, control hooks the masses. X-Box Live does a great job of hooking its users by allowing the customization of gamer profiles, tags, pictures, slogans, motos, friend groups, a message center, and more. This type of engagement attracts people to keep going back and checking in time after time to see what more they can customize and change.

Forums and interactive user communities are another sample of this and add a sense of validity and ownership to a product or service they are attached to. In user forums people can speak their minds regarding certain subjects and or products and help guide the company to better serve their customers. Its the new type of customer service, a integrated database of user opinions, rants and free ideas. It’s the idea of transparency, allow your customers or people interested in your business to freely speak their minds and help guide others and aid to sculpt a company into a customer service powerhouse.

We are integrated with the web in our everyday lives. Lifecasting is the beginning of a new era of technology being fused with society. We can either embrace this new media or be left in the dust…

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