OPS designed the Northpoint City Church in 2010, and to give the site a breath of new life, we created a fresh new theme for the website.

The website is based on Drupal, which meant that the theme refresh was a fairly quick and cost-effective project.

At the same time as giving the site a fresh theme, we overhauled the Resources section to be more accessible and easier to use, as well as adding a new lifegroups browser which shows images of the lifegroup leaders along with their contact details.

The information pages on the site make use of an ‘accordion-style’ layout that allows for the various sub-sections of the page to pack and unpack in an interesting and different way, helping to keep the pages a manageable length, and keeping the reader engaged.

See the new site at npcc.org.za

The prevailing style on the Internet for the past two or three years has been called the Web 2.0 style, with shiny, glossy buttons and smooth, gradient finishes making websites appear to have been built using glass, water, and reflective metals. The inspiration for this trend seems to have been the design of Apple’s Aqua themed OS X Operating System (See example from Wikipedia).

There has been a trend away from the very clean, shiny appearance of the Web 2.0 style, with websites employing real-word textures to create a more gritty appearance. This foreshadows what we believe is the first major trend: skeuomorphism.

Trend #1: Skeuomorphism

Pronounced “Skew-a-morf”, this is a complicated word for a simple idea – making things look like other things. The idea has been around for a long time – Wikipedia lists two great examples; a hubcap which appears to have spokes, and decorative rivets on jeans – neither are functional, but they represent something from an earlier time. The spokes on the hubcap are not needed as they were on the first wheels – but it appeals to us nonetheless.

Skeuomorphs have been used on computers for ages – the folders on your computer are made to look like little cardboard folders – and this works, even though we all have plenty of computer folders, and probably no paper folders anymore – the metaphor still works. It is comforting.

Skeuomorphics are at the heart of Apple’s new design ethos. On the iPhone and iPad, the calendar is made to look like a real-world, leather-bound desk calendar. Selecting a time for your alarm clock brings up an old-style rotating dial with numbers on it. This style is being carried further into the operating system with each new version.

Microsoft is about to launch their next version of Windows. Windows 8 uses an interface Microsoft is calling Metro. Their design language is starkly different from Apple’s – they believe that Skeuomorphs add clutter and make things more complicated, and so they have gone for a style they’re calling “Authentically Digital”, and we believe this will be the second major trend.

Trend #2: “Authentically Digital”

The Authentically Digital idea in Windows 8 makes use of blocks of flat, bright colour tiles to represent the various programs. These are not representations of real world items – they’re not “buttons” or “windows” or “tiles” – they are digital elements that can only exist on the computer.

This look is bold, fluid, and must be used in conjunction with motion to keep it interesting – the actual elements are very plain, but they move fluidly when clicked to provide the user with feedback and guidance as to what is happening.

Why will two Operating Systems set trends in web design?

The reason we feel that these two OS trends will influence design on the web is that people look at their screens on a daily basis and interact with their computers in these two ways. This begins to form a set of expectations from users – if i see something that looks like a real-world dial, i expect to be able to click and drag it and interact with it as though it were real. If confronted with a page of large, colourful blocks, i will know these are active links.

The style you decide to go for on your next website will be determined by 2 things:

1. Your Brand’s personality. One of these two styles is going to feel more ‘right’ for your brand. Your Brand’s personality and style is the most important factor, it should come before personal preference!
2. Your Preference. Which of these appeals to you more?

If you would like to explore a redesign of your website to make it “Skeuomorphic” or more “Authentically Digital”, let us know and we will arrange to come and see you.

Click here to mail us about a site refresh.

Bryanston Bible Church approached One Part Scissors to design a fresh new website. The current website was looking dated, and was built on a confusing and difficult-to-use content management system.

“So much easier to use, understand and navigate! It feels like the Drupal programme is designed for ease of use for anyone, even non web professionals – I personally find updating and maintaining our website much less daunting using Drupal.”
– Jenalee Steenkamp, Bryanston Bible Church Marketing & Communications

OPS designed the website using Drupal, which makes it incredibly easy to keep the website up to date.

The new website’s theme is very robust, in that it allows for custom backgrounds and header images to be added, allowing key departments in the church to theme their section of the website to reflect their identity better – this is especially important for the youth ministries.

The resources section is also dynamic and easy to keep up to date, with large, inviting icons for the various audio series downloads.

Visit the new website at bbc.org.za

One Part Scissors recently completed an internal launch for Rand Merchant Bank called Nova Innovation. The project was done in collaboration with Michael Phillip.

RMB Nova Innovation is an internal mechanism designed to encourage innovative ideas. Any RMB employee who has an idea that can benefit the bank can submit their idea to the Nova intranet site. They must illustrate benefits and show how they plan to implement their idea, and their managers and peers will vote on the ideas. At the end of the year, the Innovations with the highest votes win substantial cash prizes.

The awareness and educational launch campaign made use of innovative channels to further underscore the message of Innovation.

The Tea Ladies were ‘branded’ with t-shirts, branded coffee cup tags and coffee cup collars and posters on their trolleys.
  
Trolley Posters
Posters were modeled on the usual ‘for sale’ type flyers that can be found on notice boards near water coolers, with the message “Innovators wanted”, complete with tear-off “I will innovate” tags that have the website address on them.

Notice Board Flyers
The Nova project is structured to have ‘Champions’ that can promote the project to their colleagues within their departments and business units. These Nova Champions were equipped with a Champions Toolkit that contains resources to assist them in promoting Nova. This includes branded post-it notes, whiteboard stickers with innovation messages, desk-drop flyers and posters, and digital resources such as email invitations and powerpoint templates.

Champions Toolkit CD Cover & Hanging Mobile

Nova Post-It Notes

Whiteboard Stickers

 
Posters & Flyers

On launch day, all RMB employees found a promotional ‘cheque’ to promote the project – a tactile illustration of the prize on offer.

Lastly, wall mounted decals were places in interesting and unusual locations to spark the imagination and draw attention.

 
Stair & Wall Decals

 Wall decals were placed in unusual locations to draw the attention of people who walk these halls on a daly basis.

Other elements of the Nova launch campaign include a comic book, featuring a Nova Superhero that will illustrate the process to the employees of RMB. The comic book is due to be released in the next 2 – 3 weeks.

iMesh Construction & Design is a new company with an innovative product that allows them to build safe, quality homes at extremely affordable rates, making them perfectly positioned to assist in the creation of low-cost housing to solve one of South Africa’s largest social problems. The iMesh logo One Part Scissors designed conveys the concept of the mesh design used in the product.

One Part Scissors created a logo, as well as corporate stationary and an information brochure to present the company and their innovative concept.

The iMesh website will be launching soon at ime.sh

Vagabond Vintage create vintage inspired decor and interior items. One Part Scissors was tasked with creating an identity for the new business, as well as a website and online shop.

The website has gone live, with the online shop launching soon.

OPS designed a website that was stylish and conveyed the style of personality of Vagabond Vintage.

The website is built on the Drupal content management system, which allows Vagabond Vintage quick and easy access to update the website with new products, news & events, and inspiration stories for the blog.

Along with the website, a social media presence has been established on Facebook and Twitter to allow for customers and fans to interact with Vagabond Vintage.

See the vagabondvintage.co.za website

Like the Vagabond Vintage Facebook page

Follow Vagabond Vintage on Twitter

BOBCAT manufactures construction and farming equipment, such as skid-steer loaders, excavators, and other hydraulic equipment.

BOBCAT SA approached One Part Scissors to design a new website to mirror the refreshed style of the brand and bring it more in line with the style of the BOBCAT USA website.

The website OPS built for BOBCAT has a bold, heavy-duty feel using the intense colours of the brand – red, black, and white. The background is textured to give the website a ‘real world’ feel.

The BOBCAT SA website is built on the excellent Drupal content management system, which allows BOBCAT the ability to quickly and easily keep the website up to date. The site is set up in such a way that new products can be added to the product library quickly and easily.

See the new site at bobcatsa.co.za

One Part Scissors continues to assist GodFirst in keeping their website up to date on a monthly basis, but the website theme was beginning to look dated, and the time was right to give the website a complete refresh.

Having being built on the excellent Drupal Content Management System meant that the update was relatively quick and painless – all the previous content was retained, which allowed us to create a visually striking theme, and focus on the usability of some key sections of the website – such as the hugely popular resources centre.

Along with adding usability features such as search and an easier to navigate menu, we created a ‘Big Footer’ for the bottom of the website. This new trend in web design allows for all the links on the website to be viewed at a glance – making finding a specific page very easy. This footer begins to act as a site map for people who are new to the site or lost – and allows search engines to quickly index all the pages on the website.

See the new site at godfirst.co.za

Blue Horizon Licensing approached One Part Scissors to create a new website that better reflected the company on the Internet.

Blue Horizon Licensing manages the licensing for several brands in the Mattel stable, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Monster High. The website has a strong Blue Horizon identity, but the pages with info on the various brands carries the brand’s look-and-feel through to the pages, giving the site additional colour and interest.

Barbie Info Page

Hot Wheels Info Page

OPS worked in conjunction with Blue Horizon’s designers to create the website based on a visual concept created by Chantelle Thessner.

Monster High Info Page

The Blue Horizon Contacts Page features a Google Map which is interactive, allowing visitors to get customized directions based on their own location.

See the website at blueh.co.za

Vagabond Vintage create vintage inspired decor and interior items. One Part Scissors was tasked with creating an identity for the new business, as well as a website and online shop.

The logo is inspired by Audrey Hepburn, a style icon and inspiration to the Vagabond Vintage founder. The mascot of Vagabond Vintage is a sheep, and the owners of Vagabond Vintage have a house sheep as a pet, which will feature on the soon-to-be-launched website.

The typeface is inspired by vintage french signage, giving it a soft and feminine feel.

Stay tuned for the launch of vagabondvintage.co.za later this month.