If you are interested in harnessing the power of digital media to improve your company then you've come to the right place. 

faqs

> screen resolutions

will everyone see my website the way I do on my computer?
No. Users can set their screen resolutions via the control panel of their computer, therefore it's impossible to know exactly how EVERYONE will view your website. We used to design websites so that all content appears correctly when screens are set to 800px x 600px. Modern day monitors are improving and settings of 1024px x 786px have now become more widespread with some people frequently viewing content at 1280px x 1024px. View the chart below taken from statistics gathered across several typical websites.

screen resolutions

To clarify, best practices dictate that we should design our websites to the most commonly used screen resolution setting, 1024px x 768px.

Don't take our word for it! Please click on the links below to read what other people are saying:-

http://www.geekzilla.co.uk/View79ED7260-EC5C-42DC-ADAD-407A64C1AB88.htm

http://www.gameproducer.net/2006/12/28/which-screen-resolution/

> the pros and cons of 100 % Flash websites

the pros :)

  • It can look pretty to a human eye.
  • It can provide a rich animated interface
  • It can display text which looks much more effective than the ordinary HTML text rendered by browsers.
  • It can connect to databases, servers, and semantical formats.
  • It can be dynamically updated.
  • It can be used to integrate sound.
  • It can be used to make games and/or other web entertainment resources.

the cons :(

  • It cannot be readable by search engines.
  • It can't be navigatable by search engines.
  • It can be unusable by some users, either because:
    • The user does not prefer flash.
    • The user does not know about flash (and doesn't want to download it)
    • The user is on a platform which does not support flash (rare, but possible.)
  • It can be slow at loading on telephone-line connections.
  • There are often issues regarding accessibility.

MVG conclusion

We are committed to creating accessibile experiences on the web in line with best practices. We therefore usually recommend Flash in the following context:-

  • For adding video to a website
  • For creating high impact banner advertisments or presentations
  • For creating interactive 'wiggets' within a web page

We therefore rarely recommend that Flash is used for the integral navigation. We opt for creating more accessibile, standards compliant html and choose to use Flash components within the page to add style and impact. Having said this occasionally a project comes along where the target audience demands a full, multimedia style approach.

We are more than capable of creating engaging Flash experiences on the web and happy to do this for you – it's our duty as your web agency to ensure you are fully aware of the implications and limitations of a 100% Flash site, prior to development, in order that you make an informed decision on how you would like to proceed.

Further reading on this subject:-
http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2004/02/19/flash-web-design-pros-and-cons

> the pros and cons of splash pages

what is a splash page?

Splash pages are an introductory page to your Web site. They typically offer one or two of the following features:

  • graphic or logo
  • animation or flash movie
  • choice of how to enter the site (flash/no-flash, etc.)
  • technical requirements (browser, version, etc.)

Splash pages can be very popular, especially for designers, as they are a way to show your skills in Flash and other technologies on a single page. But before you run out and build your own splash page, you should consider all the pros and the cons.

pros to splash pages :)

  • Splash pages are fast loading, they get all the information up quickly on the first page without scrolling.
  • Splash pages ensure that your readers see your animation or flash, at least once.
  • They are a great way to show off your best work, like a portfolio.
  • Splash pages allow your readers to choose the site technology that fits them.
  • You can then use your server logs to see what the breakdown is of your actual customers.

cons to splash pages :(

  • The usability of a splash page is completely flawed. Your readers come to your site to enter it and a splash page prevents that.
  • Many readers don't like splash pages - and in some studies 25% of visitors left a site right after seeing a splash page.
  • Splash pages break search engines. Since many splash pages only include a flash animation there isn't a lot for a search engine to optimize on. And if you add content to the page in comments you can be penalized for spamdexing.
  • The animation can be repetitive. Readers who have seen the flash don't often want to sit through it again, but if you forget to include a "skip" option they will have to.
  • While the flash movie or fancy animation may look really nice, the impression they make may be one of pretentiousness rather than detailing your skills.
  • If you submit your splash page to a search engine, the JavaScript codes that move customers to the next page may prevent the search engine from adding any page on the site.

MVG conclusion on splash pages

Like many people we find them a little annoying. We personally, wouldn't recommend them. But once you've reviewed all the pros and cons, you should make your own decision.