Work background:

• Three years+ experience in respected UK design/ communication agencies
• Worked within a high performance technical artwork team
• Ability to implement design identities via guidelines, as directed
• Integrated changes and amends to existing InDesign artwork files
• Prepare and flightcheck artwork including large annual reports
• Committed to a career in artwork and artwork management

Core competencies:

• Adobe Creative Suite 4/ 5: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat Pro, Bridge (essential)
• Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint (for templating purposes – but not essential)
• Other software (e.g. Final Cut Pro or 3D/ CGI packages) an advantage (but not essential)

Studio responsibilities:

• Maintain the server and pre-determined file system
• Manage freelance artworkers, process and studio artwork standards
• Oversee external printers ensuring quality standards through to delivery
• Archive, store and back-up studio work correctly
• Report to the creative director at production and board level

Personal qualities:

• Have a high standard of rigour, attention to detail and process
• Progressive interest in all brand channels, media and print
• Able to self-manage work-flow flexibly and proactively
• Approach each project with enthusiasm and energy
• Demonstrate a thirst for learning and industry innovations
• Keep Dusted ahead of studio technology and best practice systems
• Share and inform best practice within Dusted
• Become a key part of the team as we grow
• Be an expert ‘safe pair of hands’ in the studio for the client service team
• Have a good sense of humour

Salary based on experience. Immediate start (with three month probationary period).

Apply now!

In what seemed like the next logical step forward from 2009’s Mince Pie Audit, 2011 saw us baking our own mince pies, bringing them in and taste-testing them. We used similar judging criteria too, critiquing the baked goods on;

• Packaging
• Appearance
• Pie Access
• Pastry
• Filling
• Mince-meat to volume ratio
• Xmas Factor

Each of these categories were scored out of 5 giving a possible total of 35 points. We all tasted each others pies and we also employed the services of an impartial judge, Ryan Wood—a regular freelancer at Dusted.

So without further ado, the results.

So in summary, Lucy came out on top, Caroline in second and Matt in third. And I think I speak for every one of us—if I never see another mince pie it will be too soon (well, until next Christmas at least).

On my day off I decided to reproduce the Dusted logo through CSS. CSS3 properties have allowed us to reproduce some images and icons purely with code — whilst it is pretty cool, it also has some disadvantages.

From left to right: The original JPG, CSS and CSS — but without border-radius. As you can see, the creation has been pretty successful, I used two key CSS3 properties to help achieve this. Setting border radiuses and gradients of several elements.

The finished product

Technically it wasn’t that hard to produce — a couple of CSS3 properties and we can achieve the below. The tricky bit is getting the shapes and curvature to match the image. It needs a fair bit of trial and error and you could spend hours perfecting it. Matching the typeface took longest — luckily we don’t use a font with serifs.

If you look closely, you will see a small imperfection with the highlighted layer — it should be straighter, but that was the best I could get it. Anyone got any ideas how I can make this line look more accurate? Perhaps by rotating the element slightly?

Whilst this is quite cool, is it the right thing to do?

Semantically I don’t agree with inserting empty HTML elements like divs, although I’ve inserted nbsp in some tags for this example, we really shouldn’t be inserting blank content into these elements — they exist to hold objects like text, not to be styled to look like text. HTML5 Canvas is the current web tool that we should be using or starting to use when drawing 2d elements and graphics. This is just an experiment.

Canvas however, is not supported by ‘less distinguished’ web browsers and that is a problem for developers who need to produce these 2d objects and make them appear consistent across each and every browser. CSS3 tools like border-radius and gradients are also not supported by these browsers — meaning our developments will look like the far right icon above. Here our D appears as an pixelated O — quite cool as it happens, but suicide for the brand. I’m hoping I don’t get shot for that.

For now we can just use images right?

Yes, at the moment images are just fine. If you’re really desperate to produce something with pure code, have a crack at Raphael.js — something which is accessible for all browsers. You can also do a lot more than just draw with it.

The Dusted “D.” device are registered trademarks of Dusted Design Partners Limited.

This article originally appeared on My Blog.

Photo credit: Flickr user sATEK

The death of Steve Jobs last month naturally prompted a huge amount of media coverage and surprisingly an outpouring of emotion online as devotees came to terms with the passing of the Apple visionary. You could forgive the twitterati for generalising on the cause of death but many official news reports continued to refer to his diagnosis as pancreatic cancer.

In fact, Jobs had been suffering from pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (pNET), a slow growing and rare cancer that is often confused with the more aggressive pancreatic cancer. This misinformation underlines the need for better awareness and understanding of NET cancers and is exactly what our client, NET Cancer Day, aims to do via a newly designed website and social media strategy which launches today.

Now in its second year, Worldwide NET Cancer Awareness Day (WNCAD – an informal partnership between NET organisations from around the world) aims to raise awareness about cancers called neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and the need for timely detection, diagnosis and treatment; bring hope to patients, their caregivers and families; and drive action. More than 50% of NET patients are incorrectly diagnosed and initially treated for the wrong disease, for three to seven years on average.

Why the zebra?

The zebra mascot is derived from the campaign’s zebra-striped ribbon logo. It stems from the fact, medical students in some countries are taught, “When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras” to encourage them to think about the most likely and common cause of symptoms.  However, this approach risks that rarer diseases like NET cancers (“zebras”) will be overlooked because the symptoms are similar to those of more common diseases such as Crohn’s, IBS, asthma or rosacea (“horses”).

Building on the first year’s success

Dusted were briefed on the redevelopment of the Worldwide NET Cancer Day website after being appointed in August and following the successful redesign of the NET Patient Foundation website (which represents patients and carers in the UK). In its first year, WNCAD received more than 5,000 signatures to their online proclamation and this year the target is for site visitors to show their support via a global map featuring the zebra mascot and a virtual journey around the world. Sharing this message via Facebook, Twitter and email is naturally a key part of support strategy.

Continuing with the global community theme (and social media aspect), another map element of the site aims to join people together from across the world in a global video event brought ‘live’ on the day itself – November 10. As the day moves west, video clips (pulled from YouTube) will become available to watch – from Singapore to Sweden, from the UK to the USA – visitors will see how the World NET Community is working together to raise awareness of NET cancers around the globe.

Photo credit: Flickr user wwarby

Last year, Harrison raised the standard by recreating a ‘market stall’ as their stand, complete with boxes full of fresh vegetables, rustic backdrops and homemade giveaways.

This year they wanted to go even further, and recreate the dining rooms that feature in their schools. Day one was a reminiscent of a traditional school hall, with paneled walls, long tables and benches, an honours board and old master portraits that aren’t quite as they seem at first glance.

In complete contrast, day two was a ‘cafe culture’ sixth form common room, with a rapidly emptying food counter, students playing pool and cafe tables and chairs. Both were representations of school sites that Harrison currently operate in, showing the diversity and flexibility of their service offering in that particular sector.

Probably the most complex stand at the exhibition, with two false walls to encompass four flat-screen televisions, two sets of wall visuals, furniture and different giveaways on both days, the Harrison Catering stand caused quite a stir amongst those who visited it.

News of their piccalilli pots and cookie dough mix free gifts, spread amongst the delegates and exhibitors alike, and the videos incorporated into the walls on both days were a big talking point.

Watch this space next year for something even bigger and better.

If you have an unhealthy interest in design, detail and delivery we’d like to hear from you as we’re currently looking to hire a full-time front-end developer. You must have a minimum of two years’ experience working on websites for both corporate and consumer clients.

Core Responsibilities:

• Developing and maintaining websites, blogs, HTML emails, and other assorted front-end web projects
• Assisting team in ensuring web projects are delivered on time and within budget
• Working closely and collaboratively with the creative team

The following skills are absolutely required. Do not apply if you are not confident in your skills in each of these areas.

• The ability to write semantic XHTML and CSS
• Knowledge of Javascript and AJAX libraries/frameworks, especially jQuery
• Ability to translate a design into semantic code that works cross browser
• A portfolio with a range of examples that demonstrate all of the above
• Familiarity with popular CMSs such as Drupal, WordPress, Contao
• Strong working knowledge of standards compliant code
• Experience with accessibility issues (WCAG/WAI)

What else we are looking for…

• Ability to work under pressure, under tight deadlines with minimal supervision
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong communication skills, proactive and motivated
• Dependability, reliability, and attention to detail
• Ability to communicate your implementation process and collaborate with other developers
• Empathy for the end user
• Ability to estimate effort and time required
• Ability to provide alternative strategies when practical or more efficient
• Ability to quickly grasp new concepts, the desire to grow your skill-set and the passion to keep up with latest tools/patterns that can be applied to our process

Bonus points for experience with…

• HTML5 and CSS3
• 3rd party API integration and social web development
• SEO
• Web Analytics (Google Anlytics)
• User Testing techniques
• Flash/Actionscript
• PHP and MySQL
• Basic web server administration, DNS, SSL certificates, and other web server technologies
• Layout and typography

Apply now!

Photo credit: Flickr user mswine

My daughter’s favourite joke at the moment is “Why did six look so worried?” Answer: “Because seven ate nine”. Comedy gold I’m sure you’ll agree, but at the same time, kind of gives seven a bad name. In fact, the number seven has several negative connotations, not least the seven deadly sins – portrayed quite vividly in the movie, Se7en starring Brad Pitt – or Fleming’s agent with a licence to kill, 007 (though it could be argued that there is nothing but cool associated with James Bond).

As Dusted turns seven today, we’d rather focus on the positive and what better way than evoking notions such as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, memories of buying 7-inch singles or even Snapple’s ubiquitous fizzy drink, 7UP. Depending on your interests (and budget) a copy of Shakespeare’s Seven ages of Man or a Lotus Seven could be seen as the ideal, but for us, movies still provide the greatest influence.

No, not Snow White and the Seven Vertically Challenged Individuals but more the hugely optimistic, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and the likes of The Magnificent Seven – an Americanization of the film, Seven Samurai.

While ‘mighty warriors who became heroes’ might be a little over the top in describing our antics over the last year, we can’t help feeling buoyed about the year ahead. Happy birthday. Dusted.

EDIT: As this feed was driven by real-time technology it is now showing blank. However, if you would like to see the photos that featured in it you can visit Dusted’s TwitPic account.

Dusted USA continues to gain a foothold in the American market and just before Christmas, saw the launch of Donald Haack Diamonds & Fine Gems (DHD) – the highly respected jewelry store based in Charlotte, NC. Dusted were commissioned to redesign and build a new site for DHD, who were looking to update and drastically improve their online presence before venturing on a market push this year.

While the redesign was of great importance, the need for a Content Management System (CMS) was also a priority. Due to frequent changes in their product inventory, DHD required the ability to update their website catalog and content in-house.

In addition to the website build, we were also tasked with managing their social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) and providing an e-mail marketing platform that would enable DHD to easily create ‘e-blasts‘ and analyze the associated data (open rates, click-thrus, etc).

Alongside the online development, DHD were also planning their retail space with Dave Temple and Mike Jeffcoat of Temple + Jeffcoat, a Charlotte based creative firm who developed The Proposals, a series of DHD videos. With just four months until Christmas, we all had our work cut-out to communicate effectively and successfully deliver a new off and on-line brand.

As the project kicked-off, it quickly became clear that in order to successfully modernize the website and develop a social media offering, the existing identity needed a refresh. Luckily, our creative resource has a flair for typography and we were able to offer several solutions before moving forward with a new layout that translates very well across other digital platforms. This new identity is also soon to appear at their retail location, which will improve their visibility and attract new customers around the South Park area of Charlotte.

Although attracting a new, ‘modern’ audience was high on DHD’s list of priorities, maintaining their tradition, ethos and existing loyal customer base was also a top priority. It was vital that we adhered to their core messages – one of quality, knowledge and trust – whilst incorporating several attributes that would provide a fresh, modern approach.

In order to communicate this message, and encourage online customers to make contact, it was important to produce high quality product photography for the catalog. The shots were taken by Steve Cook who did a great job in capturing the essence of the jewelry and providing the photos which worked within the redesigned website.

The new website has been live for two months now, with an immediate upturn in visitors, pageviews, time on site and a drastic reduction in bounce rate. The email marketing platform has also successfully kept their customers up-to-date with the latest offerings and helped to communicate the revised identity and encourage brand recognition.

Moving forward, we will continue to work alongside Temple + Jeffcoat to manage the DHD brand and support their growing online presence.

EDIT: As this feed was driven by real-time technology it is now showing blank. However, if you would like to see the photos that had featured in it you can visit my flickr set of the day.