Web Design Blog

Well with the current growth of JB and G web design, there hasn't really been much in the way of spare time to post up much on the blog. However, we don't want it to get neglected, so thought we would fill you in on current events.

Whilst we still work with existing clients and are forming even closer relationships, we are also very pleased to say we are taking on new ones as well.

One such project we are currently working on is the redesign and build of Premia Solutions, an Automotive Insurance Company in Warwick. We shall no doubt keep you informed when this, and our other current projects are live, up and running.

Something else worth watching out for is the redesign of the JB and G website itself! It's not coming along very quickly to be honest due to our commitments to other projects, but it will be done at some stage, and hopefully in the not too distant future!

Labels: web design

Myself and my colleague Neil have managed to complete a couple of personal projects this month in between juggling our other stuff, and figured it would be rude not to share!

Firstly, a site for me! There are three main passions in my life: web design, cars, and music. Particularly funky house and electro house. I did a lot more DJ'ing in the past than I do now unfortunately, but I still like recording my sets, and figured why not set up a website and share them with the world.

View the website here: Midlands Electro House DJ

I have also set up a podcast too, enabling users to keep up to date with my releases with the minimal level of fuss. Details of that can be found in the electro podcast section.

When we're not coding, designing, making mixes, or sleeping, myself and Neil (like many others of you I'm sure) find ourselves immersed in battle in Call Of Duty 4 on the Playstation 3.

After having made a few top lads online and setting up a Clan, aptly named Clan Fail, we decided to set up a website for the group, including a forum section. I personally hadn't dealt with setting up forums before this, so it was a worthwhile exercise.

Again, please click here to view our COD4 PS3 Clan Fail website.

As ever, any thoughts or comments are greatly appreciated!

Labels: web design

A lot of you will probably have already heard about the good people at Sitepoint, and the range of products they offer. Well, for a very limited time only, they are offering a free download of their 278 Page PDF entitled "The Photoshop Anthology".

As taken from their website:

"It’s brimming with tried and tested real-world Photoshop solutions that will add impact to your next web design project. If you’ve ever been stuck for inspiration, have puzzled over just how to create a shiny aqua-style button, or wanted to create that seamlessly tiling background image you saw on a site recently, you need download this book."

Want to get your copy? Download the PDF here.

Labels: web design

I have absolutely no idea what provoked him to do this, but I have to say it's pretty good! He also speaks a lot of truth too! :) Check out the YouTube video below.

Labels: web design

Last night saw our latest web design project go live. Feel free to check it out should you wish, and as always all comments are greatly received and appreciated!

Ian Haring Wedding Photography

What Ian had to say about our services:

"Although I was pleased with the look of my initial website, it was under-performing, and I needed somebody who knew exactly what they were doing to take the project on and make it work.

It was great to actually sit down over a coffee and speak to real people about this. James and Neil at JB and G explained where my current site was going wrong, and what could be done to improve it. They accommodated our ideas, and incorporated these into a fresh clean design which, most importantly, was search engine friendly.

I also opted for their Advanced Search Engine Optimisation package, and after just a few weeks since go-live I am already noticing extremely promising results, and I know this will only continue to improve in time.

The monthly reports provided are extremely beneficial in monitoring the increasing progress of my sites performance, and with JB and G managing my website, and occasional meetings since the site has gone live, I know it will always be kept up to date at my request and continue to grow.

Cannot recommend highly enough to other local businesses."

Labels: web design

I was today reading a most fascinating blog post highlighting the differences in design of ten highly popular websites on the net today, over the course of a number of years.

There were some sites that have stayed true to their brand - and other than tidying up round the edges a bit, have remained fairly similar.

CNN is one such example. This is how the CNN website looks now:

And how it looked 8 years ago:

However, other websites highlighted in the blog post are dramatically different! The MTV website was my favourite transformation..

MTV website today:

MTV website 11 years ago:

I was also horrified to see that they even sported a "Best viewed in IE" button. Fail!

Labels: web design

Following on from my recent post regarding a free flash video player for websites, I have decided to briefly continue the media sharing theme after finding another free offering, this time a fully customisable MP3 player for your website.

There are a number of different varieties of the player available, for a simple one-track player, to a mini jukebox listing all the tracklists in the playlist.

This could be extremely useful for hosting soundclips on your website without having to rely on the user to have the necessary software on their PC to play the file.

For full details, and to download, click here.

Labels: web design

I think I have stumbled across a gem here - and the beauty of this code is its completely free!!

Those of you that use iTunes (shame on you if you don't!) will be more than aware of the pretty funky album artwork showreel at the top of the application.

Slowly and surely the introduction of this in websites began, almost always as an embedded flash video.

As we all know, flash isn't 100% ideal for Search Engine Optimisation, as mainly it doesn't allow for the inclusion of good keywords in your markup.

Now though, I have found a completely different method to get a very, very similar result, and it uses regular HTML markup and some rather clever javascript.

For a full demo and the files to download, you can find out more here.

Labels: web design

I recently found a rather useful resource on the net - a downloadable Flash Web Video Player - which for personal use is completely free!

It looks pretty stylish, and is also highly customisable using javascript.

If I find a suitable use, I might even try it out on the JB and G site.

You can find out all about it here..

Flow Player

Labels: web design

One of the key things I believe in regarding web design is that it's the attention to detail that matters.

You'd struggle to find a good "web 2.0" site these days that didnt make good use of aesthetic buttons. That's why I thought I would share this roundub of button tutorials I found at Design Vitality. Enjoy!

Veerle: Creating Flexible Buttons Using Photoshop Shapes and Styles

IRIS Design: Web 2.0 Style Photoshop Button Tutorial

BlogWatts: A Different Stlye of Web 2.0 Buttons

AvivaDirectory: Windows Vista Style Nav Bar Buttons

PSCloud: Create a Navigation Bar Like the Current Apple Site

Talk-Mania: Create a Navigation Bar like the Old Apple Site

VDC: Create iMac Style Buttons in Photoshop

Spoono: How to Create Gradient Micro Buttons

TutorialWiz: Creating Simple Pixel Micro Buttons

PhotoshopStar: Creating Buttons for a Game Site like the Warcraft III site

EVOGfx: Creating an XBox 360 Syle Navigation Bar and Buttons

PhotoshopPoint: How to Make an Industrial Strength Button

Photoshop-Pack: Simple and Clean Photoshop Menu Bar Buttons

YourPhotoshopGuide: Transparent Glass Button Photoshop Tutorial

N-Sane: Glowing Glass Buttons in Photoshop

PhotoshopStar: Carbon Fibre Navigation Button Tutorial

TutorialStream: Making Big Attractive Buttons in Photoshop

PSDSpy: Small Chrome Micro Button Photoshop Tutorial

WipeOut44: Stylish Rounded Gradient Photoshop Button Tutorial

PixelDigest: Create an MP3 Player Style Glass Navigation Bar

UpUpMedia: Make a Slick Tabbed Navigation Bar in Photoshop

EVOGfx: How to Make a Dark Vertical Navigation Bar and Buttons

TutorialPark: Plastic Button Navigation Bar

Toxiclab: Creating Web Buttons for Your Site Layout

PhotoshopBuddy: Animated Click here Button

SkeletorScope: Brushed Metal Photosho Button Tutorial

RetireAt21: Floral Buttons for a Website Selling Something like Flowers

Time2Photoshop: Sleek Submit Button with Grungy Text

SaberFusion: Create Buttons like the Search button on MSN

Photoshop-Pack: Making Stylish Buttons in Just a Minute

ZASDesign: Inset Photoshop Button Tutorial

PhotoshopStar: Creating a 2.0 Download Button in Photoshop

PSDTuts: Make a Button Like the Ones you Pin on a Shirt

EmpireDezign: Creating a Button with a Gel Effect

Boonage: Creating an Orb Button in Photoshop

TutorialSubmitter: Creating a ‘Push Button’ in Photoshop

Boonage: Perfect Shine Photoshop Button Tutorial

OKTutorials: Making a Sleek ‘Shut Down’ Button in Photoshop

DesignTutorials: How to Make Custom Volume Control Button

Labels: Photoshop Tutorial, web design

The first post of 2008, and I'd just like to say I hope you had a good Xmas and New Year!

Over the last month or so, I have done a couple of major and significant things.

Firstly, I bought a PS3, and then I bought a 42" 1080p TV. In light of which, I'm utterly astounded I'm about to also reveal that.. my website has been revamped. I'm surprised I found the time considering!

2008 sees the addition of a good friend to the JBandG fold. With many years of web design under his belt, myself and Neil Dewing have decided to join forces, and the re-design tied in with that perfectly.

We are always very very keen to get feedback, be it good or bad. So why not have a cheeky peek and post your findings!

JB and G Web Design

I will also be using this blog over the coming year a lot more, and for a lot more relevant things. No more random flash dancing monkeys (well ok, maybe one or two), but lots more in the way of web design tips, hints and tricks that I may find along the way. And if you have some of your own, please feel free to let me know and I shall also add them to the pile.

Labels: Playstation 3, web design