Archive for June, 2009

Level 2 Has An Opening

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

Level 2 Design is looking for a web programmer.
The position will start out on a contract basis, with a goal of full time-employment.

The job requirements are as follows:

Expertise:
PHP/MySQL
HTML
CSS
Javascript (jQuery, Ajax, etc.)

Familiar with:
Flash Actionscript/Flex
PHP frameworks (Cake, CodeIgnitor, Zend, etc.)
ASP
Server maintenance
DNS configuration

The job includes building comprehensive websites with complex IA and various features for users. You will be working closely with a team of other developers, and designers to create the best possible products for clients.

If you are interested feel free to give us a call at 423.779.7172

Found Letterform

Friday, June 19th, 2009

I love found letterform. Mostly in vintage 3d signage like the one on our website. However, old or new, I like to see well played out letterform. Here are a few photos I have taken of some that I like. I will probably try to make a found-letterform post everyweek of found 3-dimensional letters I find. Enjoy.

Extra points if anyone can tell us where all of these photos are from. Anyone who can get them all exactly right will get a free custom Level 2 Design poster.

Level 2 Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-06-12

Friday, June 12th, 2009
  • The new safari is really nice. Really great attention to detail. #
  • Ha. Thanks @gizmodo http://digg.com/u158EJ #
  • The new playlist on http://iso50.com is the best one yet! Thanks for sharing @iso50 and when are we going to get a new Tycho album? #
  • google you could have done a lot better with your Tetris effect. A lot better. #

Commiting To Your Website

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

Valuable products require a commitment. A house requires repair and upkeep, a car requires regular maintenance, and animals require food and shelter, amongst other things. A website is no different. While it can be a costly investment, if properly maintained, it can be one of the best investments you have.

If you ignore your website, however, and don’t fully commit to it, it will be like a valuable car that you keep in your garage and never take out, and after time the parts will rust, the gas will separate and the car will be undrivable.

So what are some things you can do to make sure your website is fulfilling its potential.

  • 1. Update your website regularly. This is the most important thing, so schedule time to update or you won’t do it. Whether it’s once a week, or once a month, updates will pay off. The more frequent the better.
  • 2. Give your website a good surrounding cast. Point people to your website with a good overall marketing plan. Brochures, Business cards, fliers, email and print newsletters, and any advertising should all point to the website.
  • 3. Think creatively about how to push people to your site. Events, promotions, & contests are all good ways to get people to your site. If your website contains information for a contest for a new ipod then you can be sure people will go there to get it.

Here are more examples of ways to promote your website. Remember, your website does nothing for you if you don’t commit to it.

It’s Not About You

Monday, June 8th, 2009

This is a commonly overlooked concept when companies start either a new website, or a website redesign. If you are about start with your website, you need to know, the website is a reflection of your company, but the result is about the VISITOR. It needs to be a place for the visitor to find what they want, and it needs to function how they want.

So often we make the mistake of creating a website exactly how we want it to look and function, and the visitor is not taken into account. When we do this, we don’t think of the visitor, and what they know. We need to assume they know little to nothing about your company, and the product or service you provide, and they really don’t care how you look in your picture.

Here are some simple questions that can help you focus on the visitor.

1. What is your product or service, and how would you explain it to a five-year old?

2. Do you have great (not just good) professional photographs of your products so they are clear, and easy to recognize? Worry more about the visitor wants/needs to see, and less about what you want to show.

3. Is your website simple? This is VITAL

4. If visitors left your site and went to a competitors website would you be confident they would choose you?

If you have any thoughts about usability or simplicity please add them. Let us know what has or has not worked for you.