Internet solutions for an evolving market
by Daniel Mortimer

Internet and New Media Solutions -

Since the formation of Red Ant Design the Internet has seen many changes and advances in web site development. From businesses initially requiring a basic Internet presence through the trend of flash animation to the current emphasis being usability and functionality, the Internet is still progressing rapidly. Red Ant Design have had to tailor and expand their Internet services to suit their clients’ various requirements.

New Media production has come to the forefront of all successful corporate marketing strategies. Proficiency in all areas of multimedia creation and digital media production is required to produce a wider possibility of communicative outputs. Red Ant Design’s flexible working process enables all members of the team from illustrators and animators to programmers and musicians to input throughout project development.

Listed below, with a brief description, are three primary internet/new media services:

Web Design

It is paramount to corporate marketing success to have an influential Internet presence. An effective web site needs to be interesting, entertaining, innovative, quick to download, easy to navigate and constantly evolving. Red Ant Design strongly believe that visual design, usability and functionality are the main elements to a successful web site. Other important aspects of web site design include data management systems, full search functions, secure password areas and client profiler facilities. These areas can develop a site into the complete marketing tool.

CD Roms / E-Cards

Dynamic Multimedia presentations are key to effective marketing and sales promotion. Deliver your message with sound, animation and video to powerfully communicate the benefits of your company, its services and products.

CD ROMs hold a huge amount of information, which make them cost effective to manufacture as opposed to mass printing - ideal for product catalogues or interactive training programs.

E-Cards can contain everything a prospective client would need to know about your company, its services and products. These could include your corporate company brochure, video presentations, product details, price lists, client lists and a direct link to your web site. The most informative business card available, E-Cards, can also be used for press releases, newsletters, collectable cards and direct mail campaigns.

Data Management

Database driven web sites are potentially one of the most important innovations to emerge on the Internet. Such sites enable the user to browse and interact with dynamic content whilst giving the site administrator full control over data management.

Red Ant Design has created a dedicated web development team to deal with the high demand for dynamic applications.

Reasons to include a data management system in your web site:

• Enable instant updates
• Cut maintenance charges
• Update without a need for a knowledge of HTML
• Keep control of your marketing tool

The following is a case study that highlights the implementation of Red Ant Designs Internet solutions:

Providing bespoke Internet solutions for Tempest Technology who are a market leader in supplying billing and customer care platforms.

Brief

The brief from Tempest Technology was to create an online presence that enhances attractiveness and awareness of their brand. They required functionality and usability for the user while providing a cost effective content management solution for themselves. Finally they expressed the need for sticky content that enticed viewers to visit and return.

Solution

The site is a fully dynamic, updateable marketing tool developed in HTML, JavaScript and ASP. The site includes full search functionality and secure client areas which run along side their Intranet system.

The sites key areas include:

Content management system

This system allows Tempest Technology total control to update, expand and manage the whole site. This system will allow the administrator to add, delete and modify all sections of the site and to set up password access, all within minutes.

Visual Design

The visual design is a representation of the Tempest Technology brand with a clean technical look to compliment the products and services shown.

Paramount to the visual design is the relationship with the pre-designed user-friendly layout and functionality.

Red Ant Design strongly believe that visual design, usability and functionality are the key elements to a successful web site. In this case, effective and innovative visual design was achieved without sacrificing the other aforementioned key elements.

Animation

Included in the site are subtle animations that increase visual awareness and depth. The site’s ‘Media’ section includes a main movie, which will be used at various shows and presentations and also includes a branded screen saver.

Interactive game

The game shows a fun lighthearted side to Tempest.

The original retro game ‘Pacman’ was developed into a newly branded ‘Blow away Bill’ multi-level game that’s taking the Internet by storm!

This game encourages visitors to return with the added incentive of an automatically updated leader board enabling users to register and view top scores.