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tag:econsultancy.com,2008:/topics/web-design Latest Design content from Econsultancy 2016-10-12T17:29:40+01:00 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:RoundtableEvent/832 2016-10-12T17:29:40+01:00 2016-10-12T17:29:40+01:00 Email: Making Design and Content Mobile Friendly
Exclusively available for Econsultancy Enterprise subscribers, this roundtable gives you the opportunity to meet with your peers and share knowledge, best practice, opportunities and challenges in particular areas of Email,

Attendance is limited to 14 - 16 attendees, with discussion chaired and facilitated by Econsultancy.

Agenda

Agenda to be published shortly...
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:RoundtableEvent/830 2016-10-12T17:29:33+01:00 2016-10-12T17:29:33+01:00 Mobile Web Design and Development
Exclusively available for Econsultancy Enterprise subscribers, this roundtable gives you the opportunity to meet with your peers and share knowledge, best practice, opportunities and challenges in particular areas of Mobile Web Design and Development.

Attendance is limited to 14 - 16 attendees, with discussion chaired and facilitated by Econsultancy.

Agenda

Agenda points to be published shortly...
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68375 2016-10-12T14:00:00+01:00 2016-10-12T14:00:00+01:00 Airbnb: How its customer experience is revolutionising the travel industry Paul Rouke
Despite the fact my family have booked our last seven holidays with Airbnb, I still think it is one of the internet's best kept secrets.

Here's how Airbnb is shaping the future of the travel industry:

It's aspirational

Remember the saying, there is no place like home?

The rise in popularity of boutique hotels proved that there was a growing segment of travellers who wanted a more varied choice of accommodation; an experience characterised with personalised touches and the chance to be immersed in the local culture.

Essentially, Airbnb is a boutique hotel on steroids.

With a homepage headline of "live there", Airbnb offers the chance to stay in (sorry live in) aspirational, unique homes.

The whole idea is that staying with Airbnb is more than just a holiday, you get to experience new places just like the locals do, which appeals to people who don't like to see themselves as normal tourists.

Offering some really unique properties for rent, in some of the world's most spectacular locations, you'd expect that when you first land on the Airbnb website your emotions will be stirred.

Whether it be excitement, amazement or belonging, Airbnb captures these emotions with carefully chosen imagery and background videos.

Yes, there is the search facility layered on top, but first and foremost it has focused on connecting with visitors on a more personable level than any travel agency website I have been on.

I was recently in one of my local travel agents to exchange some money.

While scanning over the shelves of brochures, I couldn't help but wonder what the cover of an Airbnb holiday brochure would look like.

It's built on pure trust

The only part of the whole customer experience that Airbnb has full control over is the website.

This means that the brand has to place complete trust and faith in the people from around the world who choose to rent their properties on the platform.

It also requires the people renting out their houses to place trust in their guests (who they have never met before), not to mention the trust the holidaymaker or business traveller has to place in their host, with the hope that "what they see online, is what they get."

As expected, social proof plays an integral role in building that trust.

For people to spend money on their holiday, weekend getaway or business trip with no physical interaction and no "credible travel agent" behind the booking, requires great levels of transparency and confidence.

Don't forget, you are not getting an ATOL protected holiday through Airbnb.

As you can see, Airbnb is definitely the best when it comes down to harnessing the power of genuine social proof.

It's price sensible

Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point.

For all those millions of people with children who have to go on holiday in school holidays, Airbnb is perhaps the biggest secret they are waiting to discover.

My family and I have booked our last seven family holidays through Airbnb, genuinely saving hundreds of pounds compared to what we would have paid booking through traditional channels.

It's personable

From the copy used on the website, through to contacting Airbnb, you always receive a very personable experience.

Very often when you arrive at your property, hosts will leave a small welcome note or present to welcome you on your arrival.

You may even get a welcome message on the chalkboard of your new home…

The biggest success that Airbnb delivers in this area is that 99% of the time you never actually interact in person with another human. Now that is a special user experience.

It's innovative

Airbnb isn't standing still.

I love how the company is now harnessing its community of hosts around the world to provide unique and memorable experiences for travellers whilst staying at their property.

This really helps Airbnb customers to 'live like a local'.

It's memorable

Whether a flat for a night, a castle for a week or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique and inspirational travel experiences.

With property type search filters including Tipi, Earth House and Treehouse, you know you are on to something quite unique.

For all us business travellers, Airbnb also provides us with unique opportunities at competitive prices.

In 2015, myself and two colleagues spent five days in central Vancouver staying in a luxury penthouse apartment worth over £2m.

The cost to us? £130 per person, per night.

It's responsive

As a brand, Airbnb can provide lessons in responsiveness to many larger, and more experienced businesses.

In my seven family holidays through Airbnb, there was only one occasion where we were let down and when it became clear that we needed Airbnb to resolve our issue with our host, they got on to fixing the issues straight away.

Airbnb recognised the opportunity to turn a potential brand detractor into a brand advocate, by simply being responsive and respectful.

I, for one, gained increased levels of respect for their brand following this.

How many brands are truly responsive and respectful to customers when they have a negative user experience?

It's beautiful

From the brand logo, through to the app the Airbnb design and user experience is quite simply beautiful.

I will hold my hands up and say, the Airbnb digital experience played a significant role in a current re-thinking of one of our client's online experience.

It's relevant

Small things throughout your stay show you how Airbnb is all about ensuring that customers truly enjoy their experience.

For example, when arriving at your destination Airbnb offers helpful directions to your accomodation.

It's human

In summary, Airbnb is human. Browse around and you see people like you and me who are a part of this unique, growing community.

The people who are taking a different path to experience more memorable, unique and personable travel experiences than we have ever had before.

Conclusion

To me, Airbnb is one of the most inspirational and progressive brands in the world, regardless of industry.

This is mainly due to its forward thinking and absolute focus on the customer experience.

The question is, will the Airbnb experience become the future of the travel industry?

And what can travel agents do to start offering their current customers some of what Airbnb have made central to their overall customer experience?

For more on this topic, see:

Could travel sites like Airbnb be doing more with their content?

10 examples of great Airbnb marketing creative

Creating Superior Customer Experiences Training Course

 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68317 2016-10-03T09:52:35+01:00 2016-10-03T09:52:35+01:00 A day in the life of... CTO at Resident Advisor Ben Davis
Remember, if you're looking for a new challenge in digital our jobs board lists hundreds of open positions, and you can benchmark your own digital knowledge using our Digital Skills Index.

Please describe your job: What do you do?

I'm CTO for Resident Advisor - a global online electronic music magazine and ticketing platform.

I manage and work in the development team who are responsible for web and app development of our entire platform.

Generally I ensure that we are using the correct processes, methodology, architecture and infrastructure to deliver high quality software with a focus on value and iterative delivery.

I also facilitate roadmap sessions to ensure that we are delivering items of the highest value for our end users and liaise with other departments to ensure that we are developing smart solutions to their problems to help make their jobs easier.

Whereabouts do you sit within the organisation? Who do you report to?

I report directly into one of the co-founders but have a close relationship with both of them. I also work closely with the head of product to manage the roadmap.

What kind of skills do you need to be effective in your role? Tell us about a typical working day…

I try very actively to stay as technical as I can.

Of course, I can't spend my whole day coding anymore but I do try to make sure I am at least pairing with a developer or planning out architectural improvements around 50% of the time - I see this as vital in being as effective as I can for the tech teams.

Other bits of my time are taken up by requests for development time, process management, DevOps, roadmap management and stakeholder engagement.

What do you love about your job? What sucks?

I love that I can be part of an organisation made up of such talented people that is so open to change. No one is selfish with their ideas and there is a real feeling that we are all in it together.

I also have a great team that I can bounce ideas off and who come up with some great solutions.

Of course my first love has always been coding and not always being able to do that can be frustrating but being able to mix that with higher level business challenges means that there is never a dull moment and always a lot to learn.

What kind of goals do you have? What are the most useful metrics and KPIs for measuring success?

A fair few of my goals involve delivery management and comms.

Quality is something that I heavily strive for and helping the team deliver software that is both bug free and easy to maintain is a constant battle in our world.

It's actually fairly difficult and risky to apply KPIs or success metrics to development. However, by always retrospecting and striving for continuous improvement I think our effectiveness becomes obvious.

Happiness and engagement of the development team is also a good measure of success. And obviously improvement of our offering to our end users!

The Resident Advisor website

What are your favourite tools to help you to get the job done?

I use both Trello and Jira. We started using Trello when I first started at Resident Advisor as I had been using it to manage my own workflow for a long time.

The team eventually and naturally outgrew Trello as we needed more advanced features that Jira offers. Jira isn't perfect but it does have the majority of features that you can ask for from an electronic board and is good value.

I now use Trello for our high level roadmap which is working really well for us.

Personally, I prefer physical boards for tracking work as there is something real (and thus more satisfying) about moving tasks through your workflow.

But physical boards have obvious drawbacks like not being viable for distributed teams.

How did you get started in the digital industry, and where might you go from here?

I graduated with a degree in computer engineering. My course was a sandwich degree and my placement - Avco Systems - sponsored me through my final year and offered me a job on graduation.

After that I worked for a larger internal development team at Totaljobs where I learned a lot about agile delivery and grew to become a dev manager in charge of around 16 teams.

Eventually, I wanted to take what I had learnt and do it in a setup where I could have more say and control on a product that I really care about, now here I am at Resident Advisor!

It's early days and I'm loving every minute of it so it's hard to see further ahead from here.

Which brands do you think are doing digital well?

The Guardian are great. Being traditionally print I feel like they've have had to come from behind thus making their achievement even more impressive.

Do you have any advice for people who want to work in the digital industry?

I tend to find that the best people in the industry have a genuine interest in what they do.

The best developers eat, live and breathe development and I think the same can be true of all digital disciplines.

For example, marketing and sales people are so much more effective when they truly believe in the product. Follow your interests and work hard.
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68266 2016-09-13T10:13:05+01:00 2016-09-13T10:13:05+01:00 Oooh, cars! We review the new Lamborghini website Ben Davis
(TL;DR - it's not a bad website at all; I like the layout and there's some stunning photography, but there are some simple bits of content strategy that Lamborghini should heed to ensure its impressive content is showed off to its fullest.)

What could Lamborghini improve?

Copywriting and formatting needs improvement

It feels silly to concentrate on the words straightaway when Lamborghini is so famous for the visual.

But this feels like an area where improvement can be made.

Look at the screenshots from the Huracàn product page below. The subheadings are about as uninspiring as it gets - does 'overview' get the blood pumping?

The other subheaders aren't much better ('emotion' for example). And look at the copy itself, just block paragraphs that are difficult to read.

Sadly, this is the story throughout quite a lot of the website. Check out the accessory page, which is majorly lacking copy.

There's also a problem with large chunks of text on mobile being even more unreadable.

There is a some hope, though. Take a look at the concept car product pages and the subheadings are a big improvement.

The formatting of the text could still be better - even within a fairly rigid template, line breaks are a must.

Data capture needs improvement

I spent a bit of time trying to find a way to give my email address to Lamborghini.

'Contact us' is right at the bottom of the page and includes mainly phone numbers, as well as a contact form.

But how do I subscribe to updates, or register my interest quickly from a product page?

Header menu needs improvement

For quite a simple menu (shown below), the header drops down a long way when you scroll over it.

Spreading the dropdown categories horizontally would allow Lamborghini to reduce this big overlap with page content.

The menu font is grey on grey, which is not ideal at all, making it quite difficult to make out the categories in the dropdowns.

Furthermore, though one can click on 'Models' to go to a category page, this isn't immediately obvious and perhaps a 'see all' option should be introduced to the menu.

Lastly and perhaps most importantly, for such as visual-led brand, I think thumbnail images of the models should be included in the header menu.

It must be said that no major supercar manufacturer website has managed this (as far as my research leads me to believe), but I believe it would aid easy navigation.

Compare Lamborghini's header menu with BMW.

I think a compromise between the two would be ideal for Lamborghini. It should be noted that on mobile, however, the menu text is much clearer.

Lamborghini header menu (please note that my GIF quality makes the menu font ever so slightly fainter)

BMW header menu

Lastly, take a look at the 'Experience' tab in the header menu.

The categories within are pretty opaque - Esperienza and Accademia - but they include fantastic driving experiences.

Lamborghini could do with adding some copy in the menu so this is made clear.

Search function needs improvement

Not much commentary needed here, just a screenshot of search results.

Some tidying up is required. Other languages are returned in results, page titles are missing ('False?') and the descriptions aren't presented as nicely as they could be.

Additionally, a search bar within the homepage would be preferable to the current button which summons a light box.

What has Lamborghini done well?

Scrolling experiences are done well

Automotive websites have quite a bit of content in them and that's why I like it when they go for long scrolling pages.

A scrolling homepage gives lots of room to link off to other pages with content blocks, lots of room for imagery and for text.

I don't think it's overstating the point to say that the experience of scrolling through car photography is a lot more enjoyable (even sensuous) than, for example, the static and click-heavy pages that Mercedes uses (see below).

Product page imagery and video are done well

The hero imagery at the top of each product page is great.

Each product page also has an extensive gallery, which often includes neatly embedded videos with the option to subscribe to Lamborghini's YouTube channel.

For all the faults of this website, it nails this most important factor - showing off the cars.

Some of the photos may be slightly photoshopped, but they portray the cars in a stylised fashion that is hard to argue with.

Social is done well

There are plenty of social icons on the homepage, and a tesselation of latest posts from various accounts (below).

Homepage featured content and events is done well

The homepage includes little content blocks that link through to news items, as well as upcoming events and experiences.

There's also a large gallery on the homepage and plenty of features highlighting various pages on the site.

The homepage is the website in microcosm - the imagery is great but the copy could be improved a little to make it more coherent.

However, I particularly like the Lamborghini World news items - these blocks link to simple blog posts with hero images, and they add some topical flavour to the site, something that many manufacturers neglect.

The ability to publish to quickly to an automotive website helps content strategy (working in tandem with social) and keeps everything fresh.

What is up for debate?

'Find a dealer' could be more obvious

The 'find a dealer' content is quite a way down the homepage (almost at the bottom) and is also a bit hidden in the header menu.

Perhaps this could have its own tab at the top level of the header menu.

Homepage sliders are not everyone's cup of tea

There are three hero images at the top of the homepage that rotate.

Though this slider gives the opportunity to pack in more content, some people find them distracting.

Personally, I'm not a fan, but others may argue a bit of dynamism is no bad thing.

The sliders are carried through to mobile, but there is no way to manually move through them on the smaller screen.

More focus on technical detail?

Should there be more focus on technical detail and performance?

There are specs on each model product page and some small photos (see below), but I want to see a beautiful high definition photo of an engine I can get excited about.

There is a page about carbon fibre technology, but perhaps this should be better integrated in product pages.

Car configurator is a bit lost?

You can customise your own Lamborghini through the configurator.

You can't do this for all models, but I still think it warrants inclusion somewhere on the homepage.

At the moment there's a CTA on each relevant product page, but a customised Lamborghini is surely something that people will share once they have created it, so why not make it more of a bit of marketing than a product page tool.

The configurator is a new feature, so perhaps Lamborghini is going for a soft launch here.

The same page template can get a bit repetitive

This is the one downside of scrolling templates - each page can feel samey.

I don't think that's a massive problem for Lamborghini here, but it's something that could be improved by the occasional interactive element in product pages.

Conclusion...

There's lots of potential here. Lamborghini has added content, some of which we haven't covered (Museum, History etc.) and the website is very browsable (despite search and menu deficiencies).

All in all, the rich media, publishing capability (news) and the new configurator make for a website that should blend well with social media strategy.

Some tweaks, particularly on data capture and copy formatting, would make a big difference.

What do you think, car lovers?

More on automotive:

How can automotive brands use digital to appeal to car buyers?

How Lamborghini uses social engagement & loyalty KPIs to measure 'desire'

What can brands learn from automotive website trends?

Land Rover: an automotive revolution in luxury content marketing

Lovers of cars and digital marketing can see speakers from Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover at the Festival of Marketing 2016, October 5-6. Get your tickets here.
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68222 2016-08-30T10:34:00+01:00 2016-08-30T10:34:00+01:00 Ecommerce product filters: Best practice tips for a great UX Greg Randall
There are best practice guidelines to the use of filters that retailers should consider following. This is the purpose of this article.

It will address issues and present the best methods to construct filter behaviour in the context of enhancing online experiences.

Due to the size of this topic which must span the various screen sizes, this article only focuses on desktop screens (and makes some references to tablet screens).

For retailers who have large product ranges, filters are an essential part of improving online experiences.

If retailers can present and treat filters in the right manner, it enables consumers to quickly refine a large product range by the product attributes he/she deems important and aligned to his/her intent.

Some would call this act of empowering consumers with the means to manipulate content by their own hand, a personalised experience.

In order for filters to add value to a consumer's journey, there are a core set of "filtering characteristics" to consider:

 Filter placement: Where should filters be located on a page?

 Presenting relevant filters by product range: Different products with different attributes demand different filter options.

 Presenting the filtering options: How should a long list of filter options display as a default?

 Visually validating selected filters: When consumers select a filter, how should this be presented to provide consumers the confidence the site has reacted to this request?

This narrative is based on the assumption that the integrity of a retailer's product master data is to a high standard.

If not, this becomes the first challenge the business must overcome.

Some recommendations in this article are reliant on this business function.

Filter Placement

NN Group's eye-tracking study back in 2010 found 69% of consumers spend most of their time focusing on the left hand side of the page.

There is no shortage of examples of well-known retailers placing their filters on the left hand side of the page, one of which is ASOS:

From the perspective of filter placement on a page, most retailers are doing a great job.

This is the easy part done.

Presenting relevant filters by product range

Filters have the potential to become an enabling ingredient for consumers to shop in their own individualised way based on their unique personal needs and preferences.

For retailers to make the most of this opportunity there is a need to deliver relevant and unique filtering options for each category.

This requires retailers to have a good understanding of how consumers want to buy from them. There is an increased need for consumer empathy.

One good example of relevant filtering per category is Sephora which has provided a number of different refinement options for consumers interested in Moisturisers.

Within the Sephora Moisturiser category consumers can filter by:

A consumer's age (something consumers might not be comfortable discussing in a physical retail setting).

Brand.

Concerns (another topic some consumers might not be comfortable discussing).

Ingredient preferences.

Size of the product (travel vs value). Some consumers may want this product to remain in their purse/handbag while others may want to purchase something larger to save money.

Skin type.

Sun protection.

Price Range.

Notice how price range is the last of the filters in presentation. This is done intentionally.

If the consumer finds a product perfectly matching her needs, does price matter?

Though there are over 450 moisturiser products to choose from, but with the comprehensive filter options on offer this range could grow in size and consumers would still have a good experience.

The Presentation of Filters

The majority of retailers present filters in four different ways.

They are:

Displaying all filters at once.

Applying scrolling capability within each filter type.

Presenting filter titles with no filter options to select.

Truncate filters (abbreviate the presentation by displaying a sub set of the filters and provide a "See more" or "See all" hyperlink to present all other filter options).

Displaying All Filters

When displaying all filters the list becomes too busy for the consumer's eye, making it difficult to identify and absorb all options presented.

An example of this in action is Gamestop.com.

While the filters are styled blue to indicate they are hyperlinks, the list is long, the font is small and the spacing is tight.

This style of filter presentation also makes for difficult finger targets when this is translated to tablet screens.

Click to see the full list of filters

Apply scrolling capability for filters

A good example of filters with scrolling capability is found at Sephora.com.

Click to see the full list of filters

The issue with this approach is the scroll bar itself.

Usability research completed on this type of filter presentation found the following issues:

The fixed height of the filter frame will only ever present four to five options for selection.

Small finger target on tablet screens.

"Scroll Hi-jacking". This is a term used to describe the consumer's need to be constantly aware of his/her mouse when using the scroll bars.

Slow page load speed.

Only presenting filter titles

Presenting only filter titles and not showing any options may sound like a good idea for retailers with many filter types, but it comes with issues.

For example, Staples.com does this across its entire site, below is what you see when you select the Laser Printer sub category.

The issues with this approach:

Sometimes the naming of the filter may not be intuitive and the filter options help to explain what it means.

The display of filters can prompt consumers to make a selection.

Hiding filter types increases the physical effort of a consumer in making a selection (more clicking is required).

Truncating filters

"Truncating filters" is a fancy term for partially displaying a selection of filtering options for each filter type with a clear "See/Show More" hyperlink prompting that action if necessary.

This filter presentation option has the most benefits, but there are conditions to this approach in order for it to be effective.

Retailers will know what brands are the most popular and should display these first. Once a user selects "See More" the list of filters would then present in alphabetical order.

"See More" or "See All" hyperlinks are clear and obvious.

In order to manage interaction cost there needs to be clear and obvious visual cues so users know their filter selection has been honoured. It is also important to present intuitive methods to deselect filters.

Macy's has the right idea by providing visual cues to the selected filters, and repeats the selected filters at the top of the page.

One of the better examples of visual filter validation in action is Newegg.com.

The selected filters are repeated and presented at the top of the page, they are visually strong, and simple to deselect.

The end...

That wraps up our quick tour of filters on desktop.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I enjoyed creating it!
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68177 2016-08-16T11:22:00+01:00 2016-08-16T11:22:00+01:00 Eight drool-worthy restaurant websites Nikki Gilliland
A way to showcase creativity and inspire cravings, a good restaurant website can enhance the dining experience before you've even sat down to eat.

Here are eight examples to drool over...

Dinner by Heston

Known for his experimental take on food, Blumenthal's Dinner by Heston website evokes the serious business of gastronomy.

A full-page background video gives the site a sensory feel, while clever copywriting breaks down the name and concept.

Like with most celebrity chefs, it's likely that people visit the restaurant because of the famous name.

Consequently, the personal voice of Heston is a nice touch, and offers further incentive to visit.

Zizzi

One of the most creative chain restaurant websites out there, Zizzi is a colourful contrast to the above example.

Zizzi is all about family and fun, and these characteristics are conveyed with playful visuals and interactive elements.

Further reflecting the 'social eating' theme, there are also nods to the brand's social media presence.

Like most chains, it also includes nutritional information and lots of calls-to-action on its bright, easy-to-navigate menu.

Bao

Bao's website is beautifully simple - a reflection of the restaurant's humble approach to food.

Instead of a menu, there is merely an explanation of the main dish.

With its less-is-more approach, Bao's website serves to intrigue more than entice.

Using social media to offer more information on the food and behind-the-scenes goings-on, it shrewdly plays up to the 'must-visit' hype.

Cod Black. New Bao at Fitzrovia pic.twitter.com/PGmcR3CJ1s
 — B A O 包 (@bao_london) August 9, 2016

Pho

Like Zizzi, Pho uses bright visuals to bring its brand to life.

Recognising that chains can feel overly-commercial compared to independent restaurants, it promotes authenticity by telling a personal story.

With the contrasting nature of quirky illustrations and photography, the menu is both engaging and fun.

Dishoom

It's easy to assume that the pared-down nature of Dishoom's landing page is a reflection of the whole website.

However, the subtle 'All Welcome' button leads the user to a surprising amount of engaging and valuable content.

Inspired by the old Irani cafe's of Bombay, Dishoom uses its digital space to bring to life the sights and sounds of the eating experience.

By calling what any other brand might call a blog a 'Journal', it cleverly evokes a sense of history and authenticity.

Using storytelling to great effect, it means the user is likely to get lost in the website rather than check one page and leave.

Jamie Oliver's Fifteen

With its understated background and subtle typography, the food is what really stands out on Fifteen's website.

Likewise, the decision to include all information on one-page (as well as the option to click on the header) means that it creates a pleasingly smooth scrolling experience.

A simple design, yet it proves that restaurant websites don't always need to be jam-packed full of content.

Max Brenner Chocolate Dessert Bar

Max Brenner describes its offering as a "chocolate sensory immersion that encourages you to open your mind about how you connect with chocolate".

Unsurprisingly, its website is a similarly indulgent experience.

Chock-full of tantalising imagery, it showcases its main ingredient to great effect.

With an added retail offering, it also promotes its products seamlessly thoughout the site.

The only thing that's missing is the option to actually buy online.

Burger and Lobster

The website for Burger and Lobster is impressive in both design and attention to detail.

With all content built onto just one page, it works by moving the user onto different sections depending on where they click.

While there is no need to include a menu (with just two very obvious dishes to choose from), it replaces it with an FAQ section instead.

It's rare for restaurants to experiment with a humorous tone of voice, so this makes for a refreshing approach.

For more on topics like this one, check out the following articles:

Why restuarants need a hyper-local influencer marketing strategy

UX design for restaurants leaves a bad taste in the mouth

How Zizzi uses gamification to boost voucher engagement

How London's favourite restaurants are performing on mobile

Food & Drink is just one of the sectors covered at the Festival of Marketing 2016, which takes place in London on October 5-6.
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/68028 2016-07-06T14:21:35+01:00 2016-07-06T14:21:35+01:00 Five ecommerce lessons from Burberry and Hermes Bart Mroz
Burberry is a luxury brand that really gets it right. The brand's digital experience is perfectly aligned with its image and persona - creating a sleek, chic, modern and cool feel.

The couture brand uses bold visuals throughout its site, with a dynamic homepage that integrates interactive elements and visually stunning photography that instantly captures the attention of any consumer.

Create compelling visual design

It's important to build an ecommerce site that offers compelling visual design to help differentiate your brand from the competition.

Burberry does an excellent job at this by creating innovative product pages that are dramatically different from those of its competitors.

The details that go into the design elevate the shopping experience and add to the perceived brand value.

Product images are all perfectly shot on a consistent backdrop with every element of the product and the model in clear, crisp focus.

This makes it possible to see even minute details without zooming in. Consistent and high-quality visuals such as these display your products in the best possible light.

One unique visual feature that Burberry's site utilizes is the use of large image tiles, which makes for a visually appealing browsing experience.

Additionally, supplementary product details are sectioned off so consumers can quickly find the exact information they desire.

And while many ecommerce sites provide product recommendations directly below the featured product, this practice can distract shoppers from following through on the purchase.

By reducing the footprint of the product recommendation display and aligning it off-center, Burberry presents shoppers with additional options without detracting from the main product.

Infuse branded content with commerce

An ecommerce site is much more than a destination to purchase products. It provides a platform for brands to engage with visitors and deliver content that tells an interactive story about the brand.

Burberry's website achieves this by seamlessly merging content and commerce to create a fluid and consistent brand image throughout the site.

These experiences give users an emotional connection to the brand – similar to that of visiting a physical retail store.

The Acoustic section, for example, features up-and-coming musicians performing in natural environments while dressed in Burberry clothing, yet there is no sign of a hard sell.

It feels more like an exclusive look into these individuals' lives which helps create emotional connections to visitors through music.

The Our History section provides a visual recap of how the iconic Trench Coat has evolved through the years, featuring world-famous models and prominent advertisements through different points in time.

Each of these iconic images imbues a deep connection into the history of the brand and the people who helped shape it.

Simplify the site's structure

Brands often feature an extensive product line-up so effectively categorizing each product can be challenging, making it difficult for consumers to find exactly what they are looking for.

Therefore, it's crucial to simplify the site's structure to make it easy for visitors to navigate your products.

Burberry did an excellent job of this by designing a site that makes exploring both intuitive and simple. The dynamic directory on the left-hand side of the page makes it simple to navigate and search products by category and/or collection.

Each and every part of the website can be accessed through this directory and major categories can be expanded into subcategories.

Hermes, while also a world-class luxury brand with exceptionally crafted merchandise, offers a digital commerce experience that's severely lacking.

When visitors first arrive at the homepage, they're immediately presented with three options: the brand site, the ecommerce store and store listings.

There is a major divide between content and commerce, forcing shoppers to pick one path instead of allowing them to experience the brand in its entirety, and this is just the beginning of the shopper's journey.

Balance creativity with functionality

Some brands go so far into differentiating their sites from the competition that they end up confusing their visitors.

The Hermes online shop is a prime example of this since the brand presents an unconventional design that makes visitors question whether it functions as an ecommerce site.

The homepage looks more like a boutique art gallery than a luxury brand store, with its hand-drawn images that lack descriptions.

 There is no information to be found about the Hermes brand or any of its product, both of which can add context and content to the brand.

Without these elements, the brand loses out on the opportunity to deliver an engaging brand experience.

Offer Robust Product Pages

On many of Hermes' product pages, product descriptions consist of a few sparse words such as "Printed beach towel" or "Hermes silk tie".

However, the lack of content and information doesn't stop there.

Many product pages offer just one or two images and products are presented on sketches rather than on models; this makes for a great artistic statement but it doesn't translate well for commerce.

.

The Hermes site seems to have been created by artists, for artists.

While this approach may resonate with some of the brand's loyal fans, brands can't afford to take ecommerce design to such an extreme creative direction in today's increasingly competitive digital commerce landscape.

If a brand's ecommerce offering doesn't drive sales or provide content that elevates the brand image, then it fails to deliver on consumer expectations and risks losing market share to its competitors.

For more on this topic, see:

Where are luxury brands going wrong online?

What's the point of social media for luxury brands?

Think affiliate marketing doesn't work for luxury brands? Think again

 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/67947 2016-06-14T11:04:00+01:00 2016-06-14T11:04:00+01:00 It's vital that web design takes human psychology into account – not just the latest technology Simon Norris
When it comes to creating the best possible outcomes for web users time and time again, keeping abreast of the latest technological developments is simply not enough.

Understanding the latest technical advances is all well and good, but not knowing how to apply them effectively is not going to achieve tangible and long lasting results.

The glory of owning a brand new Ferrari is sure to be all but lost when the realisation that nobody really knows how to drive it properly fully sets in.

Understanding the effect of web design on the brain

Only by gaining real insight into how the human brain deals with different elements, colours, contrast, symmetry and balance can we therefore truly bring ourselves closer to the desires of our key audiences.

Just as the neurological basis for why we find some things more attractive than others must be present before real beauty can be created within the eye of the beholder, understanding the full effect web design can have on the brain can only be achieved once a basic comprehension of how the human brain works has first been ascertained.

Ultimately, any additional working knowledge of exactly how the old grey matter perceives different experiences is undoubtedly going to bring us a step closer to creating the best possible outcomes for the user.

Using Neurodesign principles in web development

The majority of our decisions and subsequent actions are a resulting element of the subconscious and, by nature, human beings tend to look towards others as a means of understanding how they themselves should behave.

Such theory forms the basis of the overall working knowledge we have as experiential designers, which tells us consumers ultimately care about what other people think during the decision-making process, regardless of whether or not the individual is alone when those decisions are being made.

The consideration of this and other proven psychological factors is required in order to improve the web design process, and ultimately define what makes a good or bad user experience based on the practical processes of the brain, has led to the term 'neurodesign' becoming commonplace within the web design industry.

A philosophy subsequently summarised by a variety of practitioners, the basic principles of neurodesign tell us that getting users to truly engage with information comes down not only to how that content is presented visually, but moreover the feelings that are evoked in the very act of its consumption.

Web designing for the mind

The basic concept of a 'free gift' becomes altogether null and void when you consider that simply giving something away is proven to envoke feelings of indebtedness - or reciprocity - within the psyche of the receiver.

This gift does not have to be tangible, either, in order to trigger the emotional response required.

The gift at hand might therefore be freely available imagery or other kinds of information which, when presented within the context of scarcity (in that it may be made available to the consumer for a limited time only) can create a feeling of emotional debt sufficient enough for the user to feel compelled to return to a particular source time and again.

When combined with the right levels of technological know-how, such knowledge can mean the difference between creating a user experience that you think hits the spot, therefore, and achieving a true piece of web design created with the mind in mind.

By drawing on this expertise with a sufficient understanding of perceptual and cognitive psychology in tow, current UX design guidelines can often become intuitive.
 tag:econsultancy.com,2008:BlogPost/67853 2016-05-16T14:20:00+01:00 2016-05-16T14:20:00+01:00 Lead generation forms: Five uncommon strategies to increase conversion rates Marcus Taylor
And despite the importance forms have, we rarely give them the attention they deserve.

Below are five strategies you can use to take your forms to the next level.

1. Simplify your forms by reducing clicks-to-complete

When Microsoft released Windows Vista, fewer people shut down their PCs. Why?

It turns out that Microsoft updated its shutdown command from a button to a dropdown box. This trivial change meant that users now had to click three times to shut their computer down instead of once.

This small amount of additional effort led to a significant decrease in people using the feature.

While there are no right or wrong question field types to use, it's good practice to use field types that minimise the number of clicks-to-completion.

Clickable image/icon buttons, like the ones in the Microsoft example in the top left image, are one of the most efficient form elements to use.

Not only do they only require one click to answer, they also provide the user with visual prompts.

The fewer clicks required to complete your form, the less brain cycles and cognitive load (i.e. 'thinking') is required for your users to complete it.

In other words, the less your users have to think to complete your form, the better.

As a rule of thumb I've found reducing the number of 'clicks-to-completion' to be a good technique for improving the simplicity and completion time of forms.

2. Focus on motivation & outcomes

People use forms to achieve an outcome. The outcome your users are trying to achieve has a large impact on your conversion rate.

After all, if you gave everyone a free Ferrari for using your form - you would likely have a near-100% conversion rate.

While this is an exaggerated example, it illustrates how the performance of your form is influenced not only by the form itself - but by the promise of what lies on the other side of it.

By clearly communicating the benefits of using your form you can increase the user's desire to complete it.

This is a common tactic used by dating websites. WeLoveDates shows a photo of a happy couple placed next to the lead capture form.

As the users of this website are likely to be looking for a relationship this image represents the outcome that they're hoping for, and as a result, increases their motivation to join.

3. First impressions count

The first impression that your form creates helps visitors decide whether or not the outcome is worth their time and effort in filling out your form.

So, first impressions matter. A lot.

When we changed the lead capture form on the BrokerNotes homepage from a dropdown question box to a full-page clickable image select box, we saw a 212% increase in people using the lead capture form.

In addition to simplifying the questions, we tested adding large amounts of social proof and text to manage the visitors' expectations (e.g. indicating they're on step one of two).

All of this led to an improved first impression that converted over 46% of visitors.

One of the best tips for improving the first impression that your form creates is to split it into multiple steps (if you're currently using a single-step form).

When designed well, multi-step forms appear less overwhelming, and have been repeatedly shown to convert better than single-step forms.

4. Use cognitive biases to your advantage

Cognitive biases are proven ways in which the brain makes illogical decisions.

They can be thought of as 'mental shortcuts', such as jumping to the conclusion that a restaurant with a queue outside must be good.

For example, it's proven that people overvalue things that they play a part in building (known as the 'IKEA effect').

There are hundreds of these cognitive biases, which you can use to your advantage to improve your form's performance.

One application of this that can improve form completion is using a bias called the endowed progress effect. This bias proved that people are more likely to complete something if there is an illusion that progress has already been made.

Here's an example of the endowed progress effect in use. In this form, the progress bar starts one third complete, subtly indicating that by seeing the first step you've already made progress.

Because of this illusion of progress, users are more likely to go on to the second and third steps.

There are hundreds of cognitive biases at your dispense. Use them wisely!

5. Don't be afraid to make forms visual

The old adage says that a picture paints 1,000 words. Scientifically, this isn't far from the truth.

Our brains process images significantly faster than text. In fact, recent research from MIT found that the brain can identify images seen for as little as 13 milliseconds!

Images have an inherent advantage over text. Yet, most forms don't use them.

One of my favourite examples of a visual form is TopTal.com.

TopTal could say "we keep your Skype details private", but instead it places a subtle padlock icon in the 'Skype username' field implying that this will be kept private and secure.

TopTal could use text in the dropdown question box, like most other forms.

But instead it uses recognisable colourful icons that make it easier to process the range of options.

In the form on this web hosting guide, you can see how without even having to read the questions, it's clear what is being asked just from scanning the images.

Images also make a form appear more engaging and less form-like.

From my research studying high-converting forms, I've found that these kinds of forms, which appear more like 'tools' or 'quizzes', typically convert best.

Where to start?

Form optimisation can be overwhelming. With so many opportunities and elements to test, it can be difficult knowing where to start.

If you're not sure where to begin, I'd suggest using the Form Optimisation Pyramid as a framework.

Start at the bottom by brainstorming everything that can be done to increase the motivation your users have to use your form.

For example, you might want to test using strong imagery or different copy to communicate why people should use your form.

From here you can move on to brainstorming ways to improve the user's ability to use the form.

Is your form accessible to people who are colour blind? Is it easy to use on a mobile device in bright light? What about for users who like to navigate through forms using the tab key?

Once your form passes this phase, you can then focus on ideas to improve the user's peace of mind, ease of using your form, and how engaging your form is to complete.

Most form optimisation advice focuses on usability and ease of use.

Using the framework above will ensure that you first take a few steps back to consider the underlying motivation driving your form conversions and whether or not your visitors have the ability to convert.


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The Wailers set to take Foundry stage Wednesday
July 10, 2014
WHO: The Wailers Celebrate 30th Anniversary of "Legend"
WHEN: 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 16 Doors 8 p.m., All-Ages
WHERE: Miners Foundry Cultural Center, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City, CA
TICKETS: Tickets are $25 Advance, $30 Door. Tickets are
available online at http://www.minersfoundry.org, by phone or in person at
the Miners Foundry, and in person at Briar Patch Co-Op.
INFO: http://www.minersfoundry.org
The Wailers will be in Nevada City Wednesday for one of only two Northern California performances, in a concert presented by Miners Foundry Cultural Center. Together with Bob Marley, the Wailers have more than 250 million albums and have played to an estimated 24 million people across the globe. On the 30th anniversary of its release in 1984, The Wailers will perform the iconic album "Legend" in its entirety.
Named by Time Magazine as the "Best Album of the 20th Century" and #46 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, "Legend" is also the best-selling reggae album of all time, with more than 30 million copies sold worldwide.
Outside of their groundbreaking work with Marley, the Wailers have also played or performed with international acts such as Sting, the Fugees, Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, and Alpha Blondy, as well as reggae legends such as Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, and Burning Spear.
They have collaborated with contemporary artists such as Kenny Chesney, Eve, Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. As the greatest living exponents of Jamaica's reggae tradition, they have release nine albums including five live albums.
Their nucleus formed in 1969, when Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, and Peter Tosh recruited the Barrett brothers – bassist Aston "Family Man" and drummer Carly – from Lee Perry's Upsetters to play on hits such as "Lively Up Yourself", "Trenchtown Rock", "Duppy Conqueror", and many more.
Inspired by Rastafari and their ambitions of reaching an international audience, this is the line-up that pioneered roots rock reggae, and signed to Island Records in 1971. Bunny and Peter left two years later. It was at this point that the in-demand Barrett brothers – whose rhythms also underpinned innumerable '70s reggae hits by other acts – assumed the title of Wailers, and backed Marley on the group's international breakthrough album, Natty Dread. Under Family Man's musical leadership, they then partnered Bob Marley on the succession of hit singles and albums that made him a global icon, winner of several Lifetime Achievement awards, and Jamaica's best-loved musical superstar. Drummer Carlton "Carlie" Barrett died in 1987, leaving his brother as the main beneficiary of the Wailers' mantle.
The current lineup includes the veteran keyboardist Keith Sterling, a veteran of '70s studio greats, the Soul Syndicate, as well as Peter Tosh's Word Sound and Power band. He is so respected by his colleagues in The Wailers that they call him "Coach." Fams' young son, Aston Jr., a multi-talented musician, plays organ and is the heir apparent, helping bring the music forward to a new generation. Filling the role of lead singer is a highly disciplined young Jamaican star on the rise, Dwayne Anglin, known as Danglin. "Drummie Zeb" excels on percussion. He is a founding member of Chicago's Awareness Art Ensemble, and has toured with Kenny Chesney. Lead and rhythm guitar and backing vocals are handled expertly by Audley "Chizzy" Chisholm. Backing vocals are also supplied by the Trinidadian Cegee Victory.
Tickets for the 9 p.m. Wednesday show are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and are available online at http://www.minersfoundry.org, by phone or in person at the Miners Foundry, and in person at BriarPatch Co-Op.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tacoma FSMs
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I'm also making an assumption that Toyota is behind the curve, it could just be a temporary situation because of a demand spike. I am on the list from Helm when they come back in stock and so the list may just be growing until they get enough on it to do a print run. Toyota is all about just in time, so no sense printing a bunch of 2-inch thick manuals that will just sit on the shelf for 5 years. My guess is most dealerships have the manuals as electronic files and it's just knuckleheads who still want printed manuals.
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University of Kentucky freshman Willie Cauley-Stein did not travel with the team to Auburn for its men's basketball game Saturday night. "Willie stayed home so he could get a double dose of treatment so we can get him back sooner," Coach John Calipari tweeted on Saturday afternoon. The team announced Friday that Cauley-Stein had a "minor procedure" done on his left knee Thursday to clear up an old injury he recently aggravated but left open the possibility that he might play Saturday...
Kentucky's Cauley-Stein Not on Auburn Trip
From Kentucky.com
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PlayStation 3
This is a split board - You can return to the Split List for other boards.
- Boards
- PlayStation 3
- so i'm listening to FF9 music...
AndehPandy 4 years ago#1
I remember when i was 11, sitting on the floor in the living room, eyes really close to the TV, glued to FF9.
It really made me realize how much i miss RPGs. Lately i've been feeling like games just don't capture me like they use to, I even noticed that i'm starting to buy less and less games because nothing interests me. I use to be ready for the next FF or the next RPG or WHATEVER that was going to make me become someone else, throw me into a gripping story and surround me in a interesting world. I REALLY use to love RPGs.
Now i don't know if it's because i'm getting older or maybe just the quality of RPGs has gone down but i just can't find myself to sit down and play through an entire game and feel the excitement i use to get for these games.
I really envy the new generation of gamers who will experience the same feeling i use to feel when i played a new game. Now it just kinda feels like a chore...
Anyone else in this slump?
Some of my favorite games(In no particular order)
1)Legend of Mana
2) Chrono Trigger
3) Final Fantasy 8
4) Final Fantasy 9
5) Chrono Cross
6) Dark Cloud 2
7) FF Tactics
nihilist212 4 years ago#2
I'm feeling a loss of RPGs, since I love that classic turn based style that most RPGs now seem to ignore. At the same time, there are a lot of great games that I've been playing so I'm still ok with it.
Go, then.....there are other worlds than these.
psn: jcvdismyhero
Yes sir. That song brings back the most FF9 nostalgia for me.
I too have fallen away from RPGs in particular, and VG's more generally. The premise and story of most games just don't grab me.
That said, I enjoyed Valkyria Chronicles (the only RPG that really grabbed me this gen).
My attention has turned to other genres. I am excited about GTA5 and The Last of Us.
Final Fantasy Tactics...we need more RPG's with a serious tone/story/theme as it did...
Shineboxer 4 years ago#4
Sounds like crappy music from my Nokia 3390 phone in 2000.
Intel Core i5-3570K | ASUS P8Z77-V DELUXE |ASUS GeForce GTX 660 Ti SLI | G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB | 3TB Seagate Barracuda x2 | 256GB Crucial M4 SSD
Yeah... good times. I remember calling the Mog out to save the game.
I used to lay on my stomach and play, that's how I mostly played my games. And I'd have a folder next to me where I'd take notes of stuff.
I haven't really fallen away from RPGs, I still love them. I wish there was more around. Everyone says Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon, but I've finished those already. I am mostly just sticking to older ones I missed and a few on PSP and 3/DS. People think there's RPGs on PC but I haven't found any that give me the same feelings as those weekends when I'd just lay on my stomach and play FF all day... so emerged in their worlds.
No you bad
Shineboxer 4 years ago#6
From: Bekness | #005
Yeah... good times. I remember calling the Mog out to save the game.
lol, it's hard to pander to nostalgia, and as much as I hate FF and JRPG's, I understand your sentiment.
Intel Core i5-3570K | ASUS P8Z77-V DELUXE |ASUS GeForce GTX 660 Ti SLI | G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB | 3TB Seagate Barracuda x2 | 256GB Crucial M4 SSD
TC have you played Ni no Kuni? it's great like the old RPG'S.
"I don't like being held down by rules. The Man can't keep me down." - HeartlessCharms
Gunzleader 4 years ago#8
had to bring up the past didn't you? imo i prefer rpgs without voices this brings back memorys. i find my self not buying next gen rpgs. just they can't bake a cake to the older rpgs no voices great music.. i miss ps1. id give ANYTHING to play legend of legaia without paying ebay prices.
im not a troll sorry if i offend you in anyway. RIP Everquest Online Adventures 2003-2012
The JRPG genre is definitely in it's lowest point in the last 20 years but hey at least it had a good run. Nothing great can last forever.
HybridLinX 4 years ago#10
I know exactly where you're coming from, some of my best gaming memories were of playing RPGs like FF9 (Personal favorite). I still remember playing non-stop until I got to Burmecia.
Also here's another great tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSYrRrz2oJg
It feels as if those moments will forever elude us now with the lack of great RPGs and the fact we have most definitely become jaded to gaming in general.
I'm looking forward to the FFX/X-2 HD release to try to recapture that spark, but im really just looking back into nostalgia. I believe that RPGs CAN return, and that with the next gen we could see this happen.
Here are some gems in not particular order
-Final Fantasy 9
-Final Fantasy 10
-Chrono Trigger
-Rouge Galaxy
-Legend of Legaia
Stand Tall and Shake the Heavens
- Boards
- PlayStation 3
- so i'm listening to FF9 music...
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Peter Wright
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Molecular Biology The Scripps Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, U.S.A. Send an email to Peter Wright
To send an email to Peter Wright please complete the short form below. Please note that all enquiries should relate specifically to Journal of Molecular Biology. All the fields are required so please make sure you complete them all otherwise we won't be able to send your message.


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There's A Local Harvest Of Yarn At Gale Woods Farm
MKG Cable Gram - Volume 21, Number 2
Are you looking for yarn produced with locally-grown wool? Gale Woods Farm is now selling yarn! This yarn offers you a new opportunity to support your local farms and farmers.
Gale Woods Farm, a working educational farm in Minnetrista operated by Three RiversPark District, raises Border Leicester, Finn, and Clun Forest sheep. Following aspring shearing, a dedicated group of Girl Scouts spent a full day skirting fleecesto prepare them for washing and spinning. Bartlettyarns, in Harmony Maine, returned the 270 pounds of wool as 37 colors of beautiful yarn.
A Knitter's Tour
MKG Cable Gram - Volume 21, Number 2
A Sheepy Yarn Shoppe
The Place: Autumn is an ideal time to laze away an afternoon at the art galleries, gift shops, and restaurants of downtown White Bear Lake. And nestled among all the bear-themed businesses (Bear Town Lounge, Bear Patch Quilting, Bear City Stylists, Sunbear Spa...) knitters will be delighted to discover the town's lone sheep: A Sheepy Yarn Shoppe. It's easy to see why this friendly place, opened in 1991, attracts 3,000 knitters a year. Owner Marj IntVeld keeps her 1,200-square-foot shop brightly lit, well-organized, and tranquil. No jangling cell phones will intrude on your knitting pleasure here; they're banned from the premises.
'Glorious Knits' Author To Speak At Gala Event
MKG Cable Gram - Volume 21, Number 2
Don't miss the chance to see a legend in person as Kaffe Fassett comes to the Textile Centeron Friday, October 7, starting at 6 pm. Tickets for the gala event (it includes a receptionand book-signing as well as a talk by Fassett) are not cheap, but all proceeds go to benefit the Textile Center library. Advance tickets, which are selling at a brisk pace, are $50 - call 612-436-0464 and be ready to use your credit card or to send a check pronto - because tickets at the door, if there are any left, will be $75. The auditorium will seat about 250 people, and as of this writing we've sold about 180 tickets. Kaffe Fassett, the California-born textile designer who made an indelible mark as a designer for knitters for the British company Rowan Yarns in the 1980s and 1990s, is returning to his London roots with a new book, Kaffe Fassett's Museum Quilts: Designs Inspired by the Victoria & Albert Museum (published by Taunton Press and released September 6). He is on tour to promote this new book.
Artists Helping Children
MKG Website Exclusive - knitters.org
Artists Helping Children is a nonprofit organization that is gathering knitted teddy bears, dolls, and bags to send to gravely ill children in hospitals. They fill up these bags full of art supplies, cuddley animals/dolls, amongst other things to make children smile. They have tons of art supplies, but not enough cuddly animals and bags.
While this organization is not currently endorsed by the Minnesota Knitters' Guild, if you are interested in knitting for this charity, here is the link to their website.
Red Sweaters Project
MKG Website Exclusive - knitters.org
The Red sweaters Project is an art installation designed to raise awareness of the war in Iraq. Volunteers are needed to knit or crochet the sweaters. The concept: Suspend 1500+ hand-knit mini red sweaters from a tree (one for each US soldier who has died in the war). Participants: Anyone who can knit or crochet! Purpose: This project is an art installation that was inspired by the war in Iraq. Its purpose is to spread public awareness, encourage thought, and inspire discussions about war and current events without promoting a specific view. Credits: This project began Saturday, February 19, 2005 in San Francisco, California at 1:32am by Nina Rosenberg. For more information see their website: http://www.redsweaters.org
2005-2006 Minnesota Knitters' Guild Board Election Results
MKG Website Exclusive - knitters.org
The results of the Minnesota Knitters' Guild Board election was announced by Bob Gotwalt at the Tuesday, April 19, 2005 Guild meeting. The new mail in ballot method of voting was a great success, in that we reached quorum (20% of membership) on the first count of ballots received by the April 16th 2005 deadline.
Effective Tuesday, April 19, 2005 the elected board members are:
Get the most out of your love of knitting! Membership benefits include pre-registration for Yarnover, a subscription to our quarterly Cable Gram, organized public service projects and camaraderie with fellow knitters. Annual dues are $30.
- December (5)
- November (5)
- October (13)
- September (8)
- August (6)
- July (2)
- June (4)
- May (3)
- March (1)
- January (1)


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The modern analytics movement in world football has defined three main metrics to measure defenders: clearances, blocks and interceptions.
Tackles are utilized as well but are less specific to a defensive player.
While the aforementioned categories alone do not tell the entire story of a given player's effectiveness, they do help define different types of defenders.
A defender like Sporting Kansas City's Aurelien Collin, for instance, can be explained by looking at his defensive statistics.
Collin is a bruising center back. He is physical, aggressive and consistently throws his body in harm's ways for the sake of SKC. As a result, the Frenchman averages the second most clearances per match (9.9) of any player in Major League Soccer.
He embodies the type of challenge-first defender that will seek out contact and attempt to make life difficult for his mark.
To have a high number of clearances requires good positioning but it is more a result of fearlessness and emergency defending.
36 - @RealSaltLake defender Chris Schuler has 36 interceptions in @MLS 2013 thus far, more than any other player. Stolen.— OptaJack (@OptaJack) April 3, 2013
Conversely, interceptions are useful in determining how a footballer reads and anticipates the game. Cutting off a passing lane and intercepting a pass helps start an attack quickly. It is far cleaner than a tackle or clearance in terms of recovering possession. It also is less likely to lead to a committed foul.
Defenders with numerous interceptions per match cover tons of ground and are more likely to be intelligent in how they attempt to win the ball back.
23 - Despite playing in just half of their games, @LAGalaxy's @Omar4Gonzalez was fifth in @MLS 2012 with 23 blocks (Jakovic 29). Selected.— OptaJack (@OptaJack) January 6, 2013
The third statistic, blocks, requires a combination of fine positioning and a willingness to sacrifice for the sake of a team. Defenders who consistently block shots provide a duel service—they frustrate attackers and give their goalkeepers much needed respite.
It is an underrated statistic because of how preventative blocking a shot can be.
Tackles offer an insight into a team's tactics.
To be a player who attempts to tackle frequently is one who consistently involves his or herself in the action of a match. It suggests that perhaps a team's strategy is to high press to try and win the ball back at all costs.
Defenders and teams that do not tackle too frequently could prefer to sit back and absorb pressure.
There is still much work to be done in regards to statistics in world football and defenders.
That said, though, the metrics discussed above are a useful method for any manager desiring to numerically judge a defenders' styles and tendencies.
Data gathered from WhoScored?


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Running Board Question
Does anyone know how to open the tubular running boards/side steps? On the OEM ones, there is a plastic traction thing on the top that says jeep, I want to take that off in order to better clean them up?but do not want to break them... I tend to break a lot of things off my jeep whilst trying to remove them, I also seem to be an expert at sheering off bolt heads ;)
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*- Everything else aside, this team played with the kind of fire and desire that hasn't been seen since the days of Duke, really began beating the Horns in pretty much every category, including the scoreboard.
However, Williams wasn't the only Blue Devil Buckman went after with physical play. He also worked on Shavlik Randolph who, like Williams, responded with inspired play on both ends of the floor. While both had been very good on the defensive end so far, it was nice to see them going aggressively to the basket and either converting or earning trips to the free throw line.
With the big guys dominating inside, the Blue Devils were all of a sudden a much more dangerous team with Chris Duhon running the offensive show. This was, perhaps, Duhon's finest game in a Duke uniform as the senior took control early and led his team to a huge win in a big game.
*- The rebounding was superb, when Texas' ability on the boards was a major concern for Duke coming into the ball game. On the afternoon the Blue Devils out-rebounded their opponents 36-30 including nine boards each from Williams and Randolph, who also were able to put points on the board – Shelden had 14, while Shav added 10.
*- The defense was once again the deciding factor, as it had been in the four straight previous victories. Duke held Texas to just 37 percent shooting (25% in the first half) on the afternoon, while forcing 10 turnovers. However the offense also began to click with Chris Duhon looking to score when it was available and dishing the ball off to teammates who were also playing aggressively on the offensive end of the floor.
*- Perhaps the best news of the day for Duke fans was the breakout shooting performance of J.J. Redick, who hit four of his five three point attempts on the way to 20 points. If Redick begins to knock down his shots, the Blue Devils become a much more dangerous team.
What Went Wrong:
*- Despite their strong play on the interior, Shelden and Shavlik still struggled to convert on the free throw line. Had the game not been out of reach, it could have come back and bitten the Devils. Moving forward, as a Duke fan you have to hope the big guys will be able to convert more than 6-of-14 after getting inside and drawing fouls.
*- Again focusing on the interior, it would be nice to see Luol Deng it may not be crucial in a drive towards late March, but it couldn't hurt.
*- On the perimeter Duke fans are still waiting for Daniel Ewing to have his breakout game now that Redick has apparently found his stroke again. If the reigning ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player begins to hit his stride and the team continues its rate of improvement, it could be a fun ride in Durham going forward.
Player of the Game:
Chris Duhon has asserted himself as the leader of this young group of Devils, and that was crystal clear today as the senior logged 15 points, nine assists, and just one turnover.
Notable Statlines:
Shelden Williams – 14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks
Shavlik Randolph – 10 points, 9 rebounds,
Chris Duhon – 15 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
J.J. Redick – 20 points, six rebounds
Looking Ahead:
After putting together a very impressive five game win streak after losing in Alaska, Duke gets a well deserved break before returning to action against Davidson on December 29th.
In those five games the Devils have averaged a score of 79-53 against two top ten teams and three others. Hopefully the layoff won't add any rust as Duke heads into the ACC season, which is unusually loaded this year with four of the top ten teams calling the ACC home.


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Estimating the population of female sex workers in two Chinese cities on the basis of the HIV/AIDS behavioural surveillance approach combined with a multiplier method
- 1Department of Epidemiology, The National Centre for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- 2The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Guizhou, China
- 3The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Guiyang, China
- 4The Centre for STD Control and Prevention, Xingyi, China
- 5The Department of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Correspondence to: D Zhang Department of Epidemiology, National Centre for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, 27 Nanwei Road, Beijing 100050, China; dapeng.zhang{at}adelaide.edu.au
- Accepted 19 October 2006
- Published Online First 7 November 2006
Objective: To estimate the size of the population of female sex workers (FSWs) on the basis of the HIV/AIDS behavioural surveillance approach in two Chinese cities, using a multiplier method.
Method: Relevant questions were inserted into the questionnaires given to two behavioural surveillance groups—female attendees of sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics and FSWs. The size of the FSW population was derived by multiplying the number of FSWs in selected STD clinics during the study period by the proportion of FSW population who reported having attended the selected STD clinics during the same period.
Results: The size of the FSW population in the urban area of Xingyi, China, was estimated to be about 2500 (95% CI 2000 to 3400). This accounted for 3.6% of the total urban adult female population. There were an estimated 17 500 FSWs in the urban area of Guiyang, China (95% CI 10 300 to 31 900) or about 3.4% of its total urban adult female population (rounded to the nearest 100).
Conclusions: The multiplier method could be a useful and cost-effective approach to estimate the FSW population, especially suitable in countries where HIV behavioural surveillance has been established in high-risk populations.
- BSS, behavioural and social science
- CRC, capture–recapture
- FSW, female sex worker
- STD, sexually transmitted disease
Published Online First 7 November 2006
Competing interests: None declared.
Contributions: DZ and LW conceived the idea of this manuscript, generated the initial survey protocol, and participated in the data collection and data analysis. FL was the PI for this project and supervised the whole survey. LS and JZ participated in the Guiyang study design, implementation and data collection. WS participated in the design and implementation of the survey in Xingyi. PB provided suggestions for the study design and data analysis, as well as review and comment on the manuscript.


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The latest news and views about music in Milwaukee and beyond
This week in videos: Milwaukee's Logic & Raze get freaky and more
It's shaping up to be a really good year for Milwaukee music, and a really good year for Milwaukee music videos. On the heels of the stunning video for Altos' "Sing (for Trouble)" off its self-titled debut album is this ultra freaky, and very cool, new video for Logic & Raze's club-crushing "EYE GEE OH" from last year's album "...STILL untitled." It's got a spooky barn setting, "Walking Dead" worthy make-up and Raze slamming his head against a wall like a billion times, amongst other elements, and is perfectly cut to the beat. See Jack Packard's music video below (be warned, bad language), as well as video he shot for a recent John The Savage set.
Who: Logic & Raze
What: Music video for "EYE GEE OH"
Milwaukee Connection: The hip-hop duo is Milwaukee's own, and director Jack Packard lives in Milwaukee as well.


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Inbhir Chluaidh
|Coordinates: 55°54′N 4°45′W / 55.900°N 4.750°WCoordinates: 55°54′N 4°45′W / 55.900°N 4.750°W
|Admin HQ
|• Body
|Inverclyde Council
|• Control
|TBA (council NOC) (Lab minority)
|• MPs
|• MSPs
|• Total
|60 sq mi (160 km2)
|Area rank
|Ranked 29th
|Population (2010 est.)
|• Total
|• Rank
|Ranked 28th
|• Density
|1,290/sq mi (497/km2)
|ONS code
|ISO 3166 code
Inverclyde (Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Chluaidh, pronounced [iɲiɾʲˈxlˠ̪uəj], "mouth of the Clyde") is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Together with the East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire council areas, Inverclyde forms part of the historic county of Renfrewshire, which currently exists as a registration county and lieutenancy area - located in the west central Lowlands. It borders the North Ayrshire and Renfrewshire council areas, and is otherwise surrounded by the Firth of Clyde.
Inverclyde District was one of nineteen districts within Strathclyde Region, from 1975 until 1996. Prior to 1975, Inverclyde was governed as part of the local government county of Renfrewshire, comprising the burghs of Greenock, Port Glasgow and Gourock, and the former fifth district of the county. Its landward area is bordered by the Kelly, North and South Routen burns to the south west (separating Wemyss Bay and Skelmorlie, North Ayrshire), part of the River Gryfe and the Finlaystone Burn to the south-east.
It is one of the smallest in terms of area (29th) and population (27th) out of the 32 Scottish unitary authorities. Along with the council areas clustered around Glasgow it is considered part of Greater Glasgow in some definitions,[1] although it is physically separated from the city area by open countryside and does not share a border with the city.
The name derives from the extinct barony of Inverclyde (1897) conferred upon Sir John Burns of Wemyss Bay and his heirs.
Towns and villages[edit]
|Population (2001 census)
|Port Glasgow
|Quarrier's Village
|> 999 ‡
|Wemyss Bay
‡ Taken from Inverclyde Ward 1 figure, minus Kilmacolm settlement population.
Until recently, Inverclyde was the only authority in the United Kingdom not to have named electoral wards: whilst the local authority reserved its right to name wards, it failed to supply any to the Local Government Boundary Commission. This was rectified in the 2006 review.
Following the Council elections of 2012, 10 Labour Councillors were elected, 6 SNP, 2 Liberal Democrats, 1 Conservative and 1 Independent. In 2014 during the Scottish Independence Referendum, one of the Labour Councillors, Cllr V. Jones, announced she would be supporting the YES campaign, and shortly thereafter left the Labour party, remaining on the Council as an Independent member. Therefore, the current composition of Inverclyde Council is:
|Liberal Democrats
• denotes coalition parties
The election resulted in no overall control of the council.
Recent history[edit]
The council gained national notoriety in 2005 following harsh criticism from the Accounts Commission regarding poor leadership and accountability.[2] In November 2005 the council was given a 6-month deadline to reorganise and improve further, following the resignation of the council chief in September and organisational changes in the wake of the original report.[3]
Following this criticism the Chief Executive of Inverclyde Council Robert Cleary stepped down and a new chief executive John Mundell was appointed. The position of Chief Executive commands an annual salary of £112,000. There was criticism over the benefits the outgoing chief executive received on leaving—he was given a six figure severance payment and his pension will be approximately £50,000 per annum.[citation needed]
In June 2006, changes were still ongoing: Inverclyde Council altered its directorship structure by adding new corporate director positions and removing senior manager positions. It was expected that the £90,000 a year posts will mostly be filled by new applicants, although existing Council workers were able to apply.[4] There was some criticism with regards to the merging of council services; for instance, Education and Social Work merged and now share the same director. This was frowned upon as at the time the Director responsible for the two merged departments had an educational qualification, not a social work one.
The 2007 council elections took place at the same time as the Scottish Parliament elections. The Liberal Democrats lost nine seats; Labour gained two, but fell short of a majority. The SNP and Conservatives both entered the council with five seats and one seat respectively, while an independent candidate also won a place. In 2014, one of the Labour Councillors, Vaughan Jones, announced she would be supporting a YES vote in the Independence referendum - and shortly thereafter left the Labour party, to remain on the Council as an independent member.[5]
On the 18th September 2014, Inverclyde said "No" in the Scottish Independence Referendum with a 87% turnout (54,601 votes) - just, with 50.1% votes for NO - a majority of 86 votes from the YES vote on 49.9%.
Places of interest[edit]
- Ardgowan Estate
- The Bogal Stone
- Cappielow
- Castle Levan
- Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park
- Greenock Cut Visitor Centre[6]
- Custom House Quay and Museum[7]
- Duchal House
- Finlaystone House
- Gourock Outdoor Pool[8]
- Granny Kempock Stone
- Loch Thom
- Lunderston Bay[9]
- McLean Museum and Art Gallery[10]
- Newark Castle[11]
- Waterfront Leisure Complex[12]
Inverclyde has twenty primary schools serving all areas of its settlements. These are:
- Aileymill Primary School, Greenock (merger of Larkfield and Ravenscraig primaries). Head Teacher is Mrs Catriona Miller.
- All Saints Primary School, Greenock (merger of St. Kenneth's and St. Lawrence's primaries). Head Teacher is Mrs Angela Kennedy.
- Ardgowan Primary School, Greenock. Head Teacher is Mrs Alison McLellan.
- Gourock Primary School, Gourock. Head Teacher is Mrs Patricia Robertson.
- Inverkip Primary School, Inverkip. Head Teacher is Mrs Diane Blyth.
- Kilmacolm Primary School, Kilmacolm/Port Glasgow. Head Teacher is Mrs Simone McCredie.
- King's Oak Primary School, Greenock (merger of King's Glen and Oakfield primaries). Acting Head Teacher is Mr Graeme Marshall.
- Lady Alice Primary School, Greenock. Head Teacher is Mrs Maureen Morris.
- Moorfoot Primary School, Gourock. Head Teacher is Mrs Alison Irvine.
- Newark Primary School, Port Glasgow (merger of Boglestone, Clune Park, Highholm and Slaemuir primaries). Head Teacher is Mr Douglas Creighton.
- St. Andrew's Primary School, Greenock (merger of Sacred Heart and St. Gabriel's primaries). Head Teacher is Mr Alan Connick.
- St. Francis' Primary School, Port Glasgow. Head Teacher is Mrs Anne Marie Mullan.
- St. John's Primary School, Port Glasgow. Head Teacher is Mr Mark Coyle.
- St. Joseph's Primary School, Greenock. Head Teacher is Mr Alan Graham.
- St. Mary's Primary School, Greenock. Head Teacher is Mrs Angela Guthrie.
- St. Michael's Primary School, Port Glasgow. Head Teacher is Mrs Colette Wallace.
- St. Ninian's Primary School, Gourock. Head Teacher is Mrs Lesley McCabe.
- St. Patrick's Primary School, Greenock. Head Teacher is Mrs Kirsteen Doherty.
- Wemyss Bay Primary School, Wemyss Bay. Head Teacher is Mrs Elaine Montgomery.
- Whinhill Primary School, Greenock (merger of Highlanders' Academy and Overton primaries). Head Teacher is Mrs Elizabeth Ruddy.
These are connected to several Secondary schools which serve Inverclyde as follows:
- Clydeview Academy, serving the West End of Greenock and the town of Gourock. Head Teacher is Mr Willie Todd.
- Inverclyde Academy, serving South and East Greenock as well as the villages of Inverkip and Wemyss Bay. Head Teacher is Mrs Denise Crawford.
- Notre Dame High School, serving Greenock. Head Teacher is Mr Grant McGovern.
- Port Glasgow High School, serving Port Glasgow and Kilmacolm. Acting Head Teacher is Mrs Fiona Craig.
- St. Columba's High School, Gourock/Greenock, serving Gourock, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay. Head Teacher is Mr Jim Docherty.
- St. Stephen's High School, serving Port Glasgow, Kilmacolm and the East End of Greenock. Head Teacher is Mr Stephen Parsons.
According to research by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Inverclyde male residents have the second-lowest life expectancy in the UK, with only Glasgow having a shorter projected lifespan per resident. The average Inverclyde male lives for 73.7 years. The average Inverclyde female lives for 79.9 years, to rank 28th out of the 32 areas in Scotland.[13] There are large health disparities between settlements in Inverclyde with many health indicators being above the Scottish average in certain areas, whilst considerably below in others.[14]
See also[edit]
- ^ http://www.gcvcore.gov.uk/About/about.htm
- ^ "Council urged to tackle failings". BBC News. 2 June 2005. Retrieved 2006-07-08.
- ^ "Council given deadline to improve". BBC News. 30 November 2005. Retrieved 2006-07-08.
- ^ "Inverclyde starts big changes at the top". The Herald. 23 June 2006. Archived from the original on July 1, 2013. Retrieved 2006-07-08.
- ^ "Inverclyde Council leader tells of plans after councillor leaves party". Greenock Telegraph. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-18.
- ^ http://www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk
- ^ http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/portal/index.php?module=article&view=55&MMN_position=41:36:39
- ^ http://www.inverclydeleisure.com/html/pools.asp
- ^ http://www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk
- ^ http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/Museum_Gallery/index.php
- ^ http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk
- ^ http://www.inverclydeleisure.com/html/water.asp
- ^ "Life expectancy in Scotland 2010-2012". General register of for Scotland. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
- ^ http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Health&mainLevel=Locality&mainText=Kilmacolm&mainTextExplicitMatch=null&compLevel=Locality&compText=Port+Glasgow&compTextExplicitMatch=false
External links[edit]
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Inverclyde.
- Inverclyde Council website
- Internet Radio for Inverclyde
- Inverclyde at DMOZ
- Inverclyde Tourist Group
- Inverclyde photo gallery
- Inverclyde forums
- Photographs