Our client purchased a website template, and we integrated WordPress onto the site and customized a number of sections and pages.

After configuring WordPress as a blog and CMS platform, we then created a Facebook page for Sandcastle CM. The project included:

• CMS & Blog setup and integration
• Javascript programming
• Flash programming
• Search Engine Optimization
• Image formatting
• Facebook page setup and design

Check out the new website hereRecent Posts:

• Why You Shouldn’t Hire Cheap in Web Design[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launched – Sanibel Sea School[ August 24, 2010 ]
• PC Productivity, Android Phones and more…[ August 24, 2010 ]
• 5 Things You Should Know – Tech News[ August 22, 2010 ]

The work we completed for the custom blog design for Sanibel Sea School included:

• Custom blog design to match the current website
• Import of previous WordPress.com hosted blog
• Configuration of database, and all imported data
• Configuration of “recent posts”
• Addition of buttons to connect with Twitter, Facebook and RSS feed
• Category of archives

We are also currently completing an online classroom website for them and are excited to see that launch very soon also.

You can check out the new Sanibel Sea School blog hereRecent Posts:

• Why You Shouldn’t Hire Cheap in Web Design[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launch | Sandcastle Community Management[ August 24, 2010 ]
• PC Productivity, Android Phones and more…[ August 24, 2010 ]
• 5 Things You Should Know – Tech News[ August 22, 2010 ]

Brian Joseph Studios was responsible for the design and development of this new website. With a custom design to match their existing branding, we created a strong, clean and professional online presence for Sandbill Homes and we’re excited to continue working with them to market the site online and drive traffic to it.

The new Cape Coral Foreclosures website features:

• A custom web design
• Interactive “Featured Properties” slideshow on the homepage
• Custom built Google Map property search tool
• A custom plugin developed for listing management in the backend
• “Favorites” tab that allows users to save properties to a cart-like system
• Lead tracking and management tools in the backend
• “VIP of the Week” – weekly email to subscribers  containing exclusive, non-MLS Sandbill Homes
• Online “Schedule a Showing” feature
• and a lot more!

Check out the new Sandbill Homes website now by clicking here . You can also follow them on TwitterRecent Posts:

• Why You Shouldn’t Hire Cheap in Web Design[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launch | Sandcastle Community Management[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launched – Sanibel Sea School[ August 24, 2010 ]
• PC Productivity, Android Phones and more…[ August 24, 2010 ]

The details of what the winner receives are unclear in the inquiry, with the only promise made being that the designer will receive compensation if they are chosen.  This brings us to the major problem with this process:

This company will only compensate the winning firm for their work, time and effort. All other designers that enter a bid receive nothing.

A competition like this is called “Speculative Work” and is disrespectful to both the design industry and the designers involved.

The approach they are pursuing is one that compromises quality of work  and also violates a tacit, long-standing ethical standard in the communication design profession worldwide.

If this was spec work, one of these dogs would be fed at the end of the race!

AIGA, the nation’s largest and oldest professional association for design, strongly discourages the practice of requesting that design work be produced and submitted on a speculative basis in order to be considered for acceptance on a project.

There are two main reasons for this position:

1. To assure the client receives the most appropriate and responsive work. Successful design work results from a collaborative process between a client and the designer with the intention of developing a clear sense of the client’s objectives, competitive situation and needs. Speculative design competitions or processes result in a superficial assessment of the project at hand that is not grounded in a client’s business dynamics. Design creates value for clients as a result of the strategic approach designers take in addressing the problems or needs of the client and only at the end of that process is a “design” created. Speculative or open competitions for work based on a perfunctory problem statement will not result in the best design solution for the client.
2. Requesting work for free demonstrates a lack of respect for the designer and the design process. Requesting work for free reflects a lack of understanding and respect for the value of effective design as well as the time of the professionals who are asked to provide it. This approach, therefore, reflects on the client’s practices and standards and may be harmful to the professional reputation of both the client and their  business.There are few professions where all possible candidates are asked to do the work first, allowing the buyer to choose which one to compensate for their efforts.
   

   Just consider the response if you were to ask a dozen lawyers to write a brief for you, from which you would then choose which one to pay!

   We realize that there are some creative professions with a different set of standards, such as advertising and architecture, for which billings are substantial and continuous after you select a firm of record. In those cases, you are not receiving the final outcome (the advertising campaign or the building) for free up front as you would be in receiving a communication design solution.

There are designers and design firms that will agree to “work on spec”. They will most likely be less professional and less experienced  than a firm that disagrees with speculative work.

If a designer agrees to work on spec during the bid process in the hopes of being chosen as the winner, it displays a level of desperation which is a common characteristic of an unsuccessful business. If you as a client choose to work with a designer that agrees to spec work, you should not be surprised when you don’t receive the level of service or quality that you are hoping for.

There is an appropriate way to explore the work of various designers. A more effective and ethical approach to requesting speculative work is to ask designers to submit examples of their work from previous assignments as well as a statement of how they would approach your project. It is also wise to judge a design firm’s merit by reviewing their client list. You can then judge the quality of the designer’s previous work and easily determine the level of skill and experience the designer or firm possesses.

More useful information on spec work can be read here

Update – Sunday, August 1st 2010

We responded to the inquiry notifying the client that we would not be entering into their bid process and we included much of the above information in our email to them. It appears that a few hours after our response, the company has now modified the document (hosted on their servers) that contains the details of the bid process that they are sending to designers.

They are no longer requiring two homepage designs to enter with the bid, but have added the alternative option to meet with them and “schedule a time to show us why….you are different from the rest.”.

This still isn’t ideal , as they are still asking for bidders to present design work for free (unless chosen as the winner) as the first option, but at least we helped to educate them and encouraged them to re-think their process. Recent Posts:

• Why You Shouldn’t Hire Cheap in Web Design[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launch | Sandcastle Community Management[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launched – Sanibel Sea School[ August 24, 2010 ]
• PC Productivity, Android Phones and more…[ August 24, 2010 ]

Our client was in need of a new website as soon as possible, and so we developed a single page design to get them started immediately. We are currently in the process of developing a full website featuring a blog platform, photo galleries, weekly tour updates and much more.

Together with some search engine marketing, we are currently developing a marketing strategy which includes brochure design and placement and PR with hotels and various other businesses in Dublin City. We are excited to help this new business take off!

Some of the one-page website features include:

• Custom web design
• Jquery coding – glide/slide and fade functions
• CMS system
• Online booking form with email notifications

Check back here soon to see read about the full website when we complete it. Recent Posts:

• Why You Shouldn’t Hire Cheap in Web Design[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launch | Sandcastle Community Management[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launched – Sanibel Sea School[ August 24, 2010 ]
• PC Productivity, Android Phones and more…[ August 24, 2010 ]

We designed a strong visual for this web design project, to ensure a unique online presence was achieved for “Pool Tile Restoration of Naples”. We also utilized some new CSS and Jquery technology to enhance the overall user experience of the website.

Included features in this web design and development project:

• Content Management System
• CSS/XHTML code
• Blogging Platform
• Jquery slideshow
• Contact and Service Request Forms

If you have a pool that looks out-dated and has that white lime-scale buildup on the tiles, please give “Pool Tile Restoration of Naples” a call and check out their new website, they will bring your pool back to life! Recent Posts:

• Why You Shouldn’t Hire Cheap in Web Design[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launch | Sandcastle Community Management[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launched – Sanibel Sea School[ August 24, 2010 ]
• PC Productivity, Android Phones and more…[ August 24, 2010 ]

Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s just opened its doors today on Sanibel Island, Florida, and Brian Joseph Studios was responsible for designing their website and developing the company’s identity/logo design.

The client wanted an “art deco” look, with an old-fashioned feel to it to match the interior design of the cafe. We researched our font library for a suitable look, and with some customizations to the lettering, we began to develop the concept. As with all professional logo designs, the identity had to be clean, organized and simple , yet able to present the message, and the feeling of the cafe.

We came up with the concept of using a coffee stain as the “o” in coffee and along with a right chocolate/coffee color scheme, the identity was born. The client requested that we add the “at Bailey’s” tag to the logo so that Sanibel residents can relate Bailey’s Shopping Center with the Coffee Bar.

The web design came together nicely once the logo design was completed, and it really stands out and continues the memorable look of this new coffee shop on Sanibel.

SanibelCoffeeBar.com has an admin area for the client to edit the content, pictures etc, and they will be updating the blog/latest news section frequently with all of the happenings going on at the cafe. We’re excited to see the success of this new business and wish them all the best.

The “Coffee Bar @ Bailey’s” owners are delighted with the finished logo design and web design and we enjoyed working with them on this project.

Recent Posts:

• Why You Shouldn’t Hire Cheap in Web Design[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launch | Sandcastle Community Management[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launched – Sanibel Sea School[ August 24, 2010 ]
• PC Productivity, Android Phones and more…[ August 24, 2010 ]

The charity festival was organized by Snook Bight Yacht Club & Marina, and Marine Max to generate donations for Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida affiliate, and raised over $70,000 in two days.

Brian Joseph Studios was responsible for the design of all print marketing materials, and the overall online presence of the charity festival event. AllAboardFest.org was developed and launched to provide the event with a powerful website for this new annual event. Facebook and Twitter accounts were also launched as part of an active social media marketing strategy.

As an active member in the Fort Myers community, Brian Joseph Studios donated a large portion of their services to this local charity event and “we are looking forward to assisting with the promotion of this event in the coming years” says Account Executive of Brian Joseph Studios, Sarah McMann.

### Recent Posts:

• Why You Shouldn’t Hire Cheap in Web Design[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launch | Sandcastle Community Management[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launched – Sanibel Sea School[ August 24, 2010 ]
• PC Productivity, Android Phones and more…[ August 24, 2010 ]

You can read more about this story in our recent press release – “Naples Web Design Firm Expands “The Exceptional Team” “.

Recent Posts:

• Why You Shouldn’t Hire Cheap in Web Design[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launch | Sandcastle Community Management[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launched – Sanibel Sea School[ August 24, 2010 ]
• PC Productivity, Android Phones and more…[ August 24, 2010 ]

Yesterday, we launched a new client website, GO-SB.com. GO-SB maximizes hospital revenue using specialized knowledge, superior technology and advanced training.

This new company, based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida needed a custom web design fast, and we delivered with powerful results. The new brochure style website was developed on a content management system, providing the client with access to edit the content on each page, add pictures and much more. We enjoyed working with this client on this web design project and look forward to completing several of the others projects in line with them.

Some website features include:

• Content Management System
• Custom Web Design
• Website Hosting
• Jquery programming
• CSS / XHTML

You can view the new website by clicking here

Recent Posts:

• Why You Shouldn’t Hire Cheap in Web Design[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launch | Sandcastle Community Management[ August 24, 2010 ]
• New Website Launched – Sanibel Sea School[ August 24, 2010 ]
• PC Productivity, Android Phones and more…[ August 24, 2010 ]