Web design news
Small Business Starter Pack - Auto Distributions, Leeds
Auto Distributions has appointed Northstar to design and host a new website, create a customised eBay account, stationery, and create a corporate identity, .
The first stage was developing a logo.
To give potential clients the reassurance they need, the logo borrowed the current fad of car manufacturers for a 3 dimensional badge - the steering wheel was styled on the classic 1960's Ford Mustang.
The typeface is modern, professional and friendly: Myriad Pro - the same font used by Apple.
17.8.08
New business drive - Stretch Therapy, London
Stretch Therapy is beginning a new business drive, with door drop distribution and an email marketing campaign.
A four page leaflet was written and designed to promote their services, with an insert detailing special offers.
The leaflet was artworked by Northstar, and the 50,000 run was printed in Leeds.
(Even with delivery to London, we undercut their local suppliers.)
The newsletter was emailed to 1,200 subscribers, highlighting their new services and promotions.
31.7.08
Video edit / web movie - UDC, Leeds
Universal Dance Creations were performing their popular Moulin Rouge show at Land Rover's 60th Anniversary celebrations.
The event was capured by the client who supplied Northstar with 30 minutes of video footage shot with a standard mini DV camera.
This was edited down to 2 minutes of fast cutting film to a bespoke soundtrack, which will be distributed via the web and DVD to promote their show.
28.7.08
Photo retouching – Military Inisgnia, Leeds
Military Insignia is a small business selling regimental gold and silver lapel badges and tie pins, via their online shop.
Rather than using a professional photographer, the client takes his own - which are then cropped, resized and colour corrected in Photoshop at Northstar.
21.7.08
New website launched - Le Raj
Le Raj takeaway wanted a website to promote their business and allow customers to view their extensive menu online. The site was optimized for the search engines, a sitemap generated and submitted to Google.
Additional services included loyalty cards, menu design, artwork and print.
16.7.08
New website launched – Pro Elec, Otley
Pro Elec are a small electrician firm catering for the domestic and commercial markets.
Their website was designed to generate business from the search engines and reflect the professional nature of the service.
Lighting is a major role for any electrician, and this was represented in design terms, with the use of drop shadow and reflections in the graphic treatment.
Professional photography was used to differentiate Pro Elec from the competition and reassure potential customers / clients as to the quality of their work.
The launch site has the bare minimum of content, and additional pages will be developed over time to target key search phrases.
9.7.08
Firefox 3 - new browser released
Firefox 3 - certainly the best browser available for the web - has been released. Amongst its many new features for consumers, it has changed the way that it renders type and runarounds.
All Norhtstar websites were immediately checked to see if throws up any compatibility issues - as Firefox now accounts for over 30% of all web browsers.
As Northstar websites are designed to be future-proof, only one problem was identified with one site, and rectified at no charge to the client.
You can download Firefox for free - it's safer, faster, more secure and better than any version Internet Explorer.
6.7.08
New business launch - Good Company, Leeds
Northstar has been appointed by a new business start-up to produce a corporate ID, website, promotional material and stationery.
The concept is an network for single people, who are not looking for a partner, just something to do - meeting like minded individuals and enjoying a range of social events.
We're at the initial stages of corporate ID and branding, but the logo has been developed: utilizing an icon that combines the initials and a face. The font a 1920's Avant Garde Gothic cut.
23.6.08
Ecommerce website launched – Love You, Bramhope
I'm Sorry But I Love You is a new business venture with the original concept of ready-made or bespoke canvasses for people to express their feelings to a loved ones.
A website was required to support their other marketing activity, and costs had to be kept to a minimum.
A simple Google Checkout shopping cart was incorporated for people to buy online.
Their existing range of canvasses was expanded with original designs created by Northstar.
4.6.08
Video shoot and edit – UDC, Leeds
In the world of corporate entertainment, video is all important to win contracts.
Universal Dance Creations provided six professional dancers for the Bench Fashion and Store opening In Manchester at the Trafford Centre.
They shot the event on mini DV and supplied Northstar with 45 minutes of footage, this was then edited down to 2 minute high impact video to be released on DVD and distributed on web.
24.5.08
Northstar web design makeover
You know the saying 'the cobbler always wears the worst shoes" — well it's true.
You get so busy organizing client's websites that your own is left to last. After 4 months of late shifts and early mornings, the site has been revamped and extended.
It took a while because there are over 100 pages - each had to be painstakingly redesigned, built and optimized for the search engines.
...Well you know, content is king. More content, more traffic, more page 1 results.
We went for a wider format, with a cleaner design that's more in keeping with today's monitor sizes.
22.5.08
E-newsletter – Baltic Group, London
Baltic approached Northstar for an e-newsletter to keep their customers up to date with events and promotions for their London restaurants: Baltic, Wodka and Chez Kristoff.
The project included: bespoke template design, account setup and phone support.
From here, the client can completely manage their own mail outs, manage subscribers, add photos / text, and view live statistical data.
15.5.08
Corporate ID – Pro Elec, Otley
Duncan Pitts is an independent electrical contractor.
As a new new business, he required a corporate ID, stationery and website.
Northstar came up with the company name, bought the domain, set up email, printed business cards and stationery which reflected the his professional service.
The objective was to develop an ID that separated him from the crowd and portrayed a professional service.
The logo design was supplied in all formats for print, email stationery, mobile phone wallpaper.
9.5.08
New website – The Small Business Consultancy, London
The Small Business Consultancy (TSBC) is a PR and Marketing business managed by Emma Hall.
Emma has over 20 year's experience in the industry, starting at Saatchi & Saatchi and working with clients such as Chrysler, Merrill Lynch, Boeing and Hilton Hotels.
TSBC provides an integrated approach to marketing and business communications, ultimately helping to achieve long term business goals, cost effectively.
"Northstar designed the perfect website for my business; stylish yet simple and easy to navigate and covers everything I need to convey."
Emma Hall, Consultant
Launch TSBC website.
5.5.08
SEO – Take 1 Transcription, London
Take 1 Transcription loved the look of their beautiful new website, the trouble was no one else could see it.
Northstar was commissioned to evaluate the site and the competition, before proposing recommendations.
Costs were kept down as the website has a Client Content Management system and alterations could be handled in-house.
A two prongued approach was taken, re-writing the text and meta data for the existing pages, and creating 22 new pages specifically targetted at key search phrases.
1.5.08
