If you’re asking, ‘Where is Dirk+Weiss!?’, then this may satisfy your curiosity, we hope. Truth is, we are the busiest we have ever been. Maybe a clear sign of a rebounding economy? We have been busy working steadily with our clients to provide the best solutions possible.
Since May, we have broken new ground with our website client from India, and are almost ready to launch a brand new website for them. We have also been in talks for a few new Apple iOS apps with local companies here in Boston, that range from utilities to more advanced experiential applications.
On a more technical note, we have gone 100% HTML5 and JavaScript in lieu of Flash for web and mobile based projects. While we believe flash can still have appropriate applications, the ever growing sector of mobile devices and platforms has shown it’s demand for such lightweight, open programming environments. And at the end of the day, we are looking at solutions for our clients that can range from computer screens to mobile devices, maximizing return on investment, as this is the road we are all on as consumers.
As the summer continues, we are preparing for a busy fall. We have some projects in the pipeline, and are working on what seems like a million things all the time. In addition to all the new projects that we are working towards, Matthew White of DW is working hard expanding his teaching experience over at the Art Institute of Boston @ Lesley University and Bunker Hill Community College teaching marketing and design classes.
Stay tuned to dirkweiss.com for a fresh, new, fast, efficient look coming soon. While the economy is rebounding, we all still live in an environment where trimming the economic fat is a necessity. If you’re unsure who to contact about your new design or marketing project, just give us a ring.
Networking is our thing.
Meeting some new folks at the LittleBigBird networking event. Good brew, good friends at the Harpoon Brewery in Boston, MA. Even met some people who knew us, and we secretly knew them!
Go global with Google Ads
About a month ago, we received a free $100 credit for Google Ads. We deposited our free coupon, and in return, have landed a client on the other side of the world.
These Google Ads are the ‘Sponsored Results’ that appear when you see search results, on the right side of the page. The way it works is quite simple. You decide what search phrases pertain to your business, and decide how much per day you would like to spend. The more you spend, the more visibility you have.
In our scenario, we decided to just try it out, and spend only $1.50 per day. So after about 60 days, our credit will have been spent. So far, we have only spend $45 out of the $100, and we have had some great results.
Pocket change in the world of advertising. We are planning to ramp up or daily allowances for Google Ads, to increase our visibility. Even if we deposit $1,000, it is still considerably more cost effective and efficient than taking out an ad in the newspaper or printed media.
The other upside to Gooogle vs. Printed Ads is the turnaround. It takes time to create and publish printed media, and the ads that live there. With Google, your ads are up in minuets, and tracking happens in less than 12 hours, with millions of potential clients to see your ad.
This method landed us an India based client, that found us via Google, and loved what they saw. We are currently working on a new website design / development, and a re-working of their branding elements.
This type of advertising is manageable and accessible from small to large businesses, placing many competitive businesses on the same playing field.
Last night, Dirk+Weiss attended the launch party for Design MuseumBoston. The party started at 7:30, and by then, a good amount of attendees had already shown up. By the 8:00 hour, the place was booming, shoulder to shoulder.
The event had many interesting components, including a silent auction, with many donated items from such companies as Bose, Philips, Wacom and Converse. All proceeds going to help fund the new museum initiatives.
By far, the most exciting thing to see was the turnout. The almost overwhelming number of people out at this event, supporting design, was fabulous. There was definitely an electricity in the air, and lots of networking going on.
We believe that design is strongest when collaboration happens (www.ourdesign.us). Pigeonholing your self as one type of designer can be limiting. The Design Museum Boston launch event was proof that there is strong motivation towards melding the formerly narrow paths of design (graphic, industrial, instructional, marketing etc..), into a unified mission.
Speaking of missions, Design Museum Boston’s mission also is a reflection not only the design profession, but our economic environment. Firstly, having many venues and locales for events and showings, rather than one space that rotates work. Maybe even renting spaces that have been long vacant, to help support local realtors. Secondly, a focus on design education, especially to the general public, about the role of design in their lives. Communicating, and creating a new value for design.
Design Museum Boston’s crew is currently working on two new events, to be coming soon to the Boston area. When they happen, we will most certainly support in any way that we can, even if it’s just buying the special drink at the bar. We feel that this initiative is a real push forward for design, in the right direction.
We’re Back! When websites get hacked–
Above Graphic: How are phishing sites created? – Symatec
This is mostly and update to let you all know we have officially eradicated our Dirk+Weiss website hackers. They did quite a number on us. Besides leaving files everywhere on our server, they also deleted folders and created new ones. So, some content from our site had gone missing! But now it is back.
So, on that note, here is some information about what hackers like to do with your web server and websites –
Most people now-a-days know two main things about websites. First, websites are designed on the front end and run by some sort of code on the back end. Well, theres the back end, and the way back end.
The way back end, is your server. Your server, or web hosting, is where all your files live that make up all the bits of your website. Basically, a web hosting server, is just another computer like what you are reading this on now. While servers are pretty secure, there are always vulnerabilities.
Last week, the Dirk+Weiss hosting server was hacked by a South African phishing scam. Phishing scams are usually fake emails or social media messages. The messages will tell you that your bank, or some other secure site, needs to verify your personal information. Theses fake sites look just like real sites, except they are collecting your personal information to steal your money, or identity. The scam that hit our server, was a bank scam.
How did we know we were hacked? Website Analytics. Our analytics engine tracks every page view and visitor to the site, and the unique internet address of the visitor. I noticed an increase of site hits to a certain folder on our sever. Then one folder location turned into many folder locations. All from the same internet address. I then took that internet address, and plugged it into a trace program that tracks the signal back to it’s source. In this case South Africa.
The first and most important step in eradicating hackers, is to change your web hosting passwords. Make them difficult to guess, and use lots of numbers and symbols. Then, go through and clean up all the files left behind by the hackers. The last step to do, is to add the internet addresses from your analytics, to the Blacklist or Blocked List on your hosting account. This prevents them from getting in from that internet address again.
Most of the time, hackers are not stealing data from you, but from others by taking over functions of your hosting account.The best advice we can give, is to keep a keen eye on your website traffic, and make note of any odd behavior. Also, it’s in your best interest to keep all your installed files and services up to date.
The project to be presented is a digital lab, used in professor Scott Benjamin’s science classes at BHCC. The lab’s subject matter is understanding Evolution by Natural Selection. Matthew worked directly with Scott to translate a previously analog lab, comprised of seeds, paperclips and bits of paper, to a Flash driven, interactive experience.
The process of creating this lab involved collaborating with Scott on every step, from graphic design to Flash Actionscripting.
The results of translating the lab to digital media, has proven to be quite successful. Scott has collected statistical data from his students, including pre and post lab usage. Based on his testing, Scott sees a definite increase in concept retainment after students have used the software. Matt and Scott will split the presentation between the design and development process (Matt), and the statistical data and impact of this digital lab in the classroom (Scott).
The 13th Annual Massachusetts Community College Conference on Teaching, Learning and Student Development happens on April 9th, 2010 at Bunker Hill Community College.
Boston Bridal Event Scam: Why it Worked
Monday 3/1/10 –
Are scam artists really just designers, designing a way to get paid illegally?
A giant event scam was unveiled this week in Boston Massachusetts. The event, promised to be “the biggest and most extravagant Home & Bridal show”, actually turned out to be a total scam that duped over 6,000 potential vendors and attendees. On NPR (WBUR) Boston, they reported that the head of the MCCA (people who run the venue) had no idea this site existed or the scam was happening.
So how did they do it? How did a few individuals scam hundreds of thousands of dollars out of wedding vendors and brides to be? Well, lets first take a step back and look at the evening TV lineup.
There has definitely been a huge increase in the last 2-3 years for bridal based shows on TV. Everything from the classic Bridezillas, to the ever popular Say Yes to the Dress. Here is the complete listing – http://bridestelevision.com/tv/allshows.php . Not to mention websites like The Knot, the largest wedding website community on the web.
This observation of TV and Web wedding domination is just one underlying factor. The second reason why this fake event scam worked, was the simplicity of execution and utilization of certain web services. The first service is available to anyone and allows a user to automatically create a convincing (and useful) event website in minuets. With this automated service you can sign up attendees, sell tickets and help promote your event. The only cost is a small fee on sales. Money can be sent to PayPal or GoogleCheckout with ease, or you can use the on-site service to collect payments and be paid.
Now, put on your business cap. Combine the heightened cultural saturation of Bridal TV Shows and Web Sites, with automated event planning and marketing services and spread the word virally via social networks. BAM! You have an event that people will pay money to be part of or attend.
Ok, now be smart about your scam (ha). Lets plan it around Valentines Day, the biggest wedding proposal day ever. Then, provide a phone number to call, and when people call you, answer the phone and be polite . Answer all questions, even if the question is “I do not see the event listed on the venue website, is it still happening?”.
So far, quite simple. The police even agree that the scam artists were “aware of the subject and market”. The whole operation was definitely planned out ahead of time, and most likely set up in as little as a few hours. Of course, we are not encouraging people to go out and make scam events and websites, but it is a fantastic example of how design, marketing, and cultural observation and research can make for great projects, and could even get you paid.
Design and marketing is about focusing your idea (or goal) to be the most effective. When talking in these primitive terms, ethics and legitimacy are not a factor. These scammers were aware of how to market, plan, and execute an event to a point of making hundreds of thousands of dollars. But, looks like they neglected to design how not to get caught.
So the moral of the story here is to please trust your common sense. Weddings are fun and exciting, and take lots of planning and effort. The last thing you need is to be, as a bride-to-be, is sucked dry of funds. Not to mention getting into a fight with your Fiancee about why you bought tickets to a fake event.
The site contains a collection of ideas and projects, and is loaded with lots of information and connections.
This new site is built in Flash, and contains information graphics, video, marketing, web development and graphic design.
Talking Apps and business: ‘Design Is My Thing’
Creator Jason Stevens asks Matthew White of Dirk+Weiss a series of questions about what and how we do, what we do. Here is our response to our questions.
[DIMT]Where are you from and what do you do? [DW] I am from Medford, MA and I design and author iPhone Apps and Websites for a living.
[DIMT]What does an iphone app look like during development, what’s the file type and what are the major components? [DW] In a nutshell, during the development stage, Apps are code. But, thanks to Apple’s XCode environment, iPhone Apps have two overall parts: XCode (Under The Hood) and Interface Builder (The Look). The file extension is .xcodeproj until the building stage when they are packaged into .app files.
[DIMT] How is it there are 120,000+ iphone apps, plus those for other mobile devices, are apps easy to make?
[DW] First and foremost, Apps are lucrative if you know how to make them, and sell companies on having them. At this point in the game, to make apps, you need to know the CocoaTouch (Objective C) programming language. Could be a hurdle for some, but in the reality of things, that is no excuse. I am a designer, and I continue to learn code. Its not difficult, it’s actually quite logical. There are websites and forums out there that have thousands of developers sharing code and project files for learning. If you have time, you can learn to make apps. PLEASE do not go buy a $40+ book at Barnes and Noble. Just last week I watched a YouTube tutorial on how to incorporate horizontal finger gestures into my app. We all know Apple is known for there easy to use applications like iMovie and iPhoto. I would put money on the next iLife series having an iApp program so anyone can make Apps (ugh…Apple tablet…ugh). Speculation only of course.
[DIMT] Apps are just a portion of your business under your technology focus, what else is keeping you busy these days?
[DW] Designers that need programmers, and business that need results. Like I said, I am a designer that does development. There is ample value in being able to drive on both sides of the street, and clients know it. I would also say that clients (a.k.a the people and business of the world) expect graphic designers to be able to at least talk about current web solutions right off the bat. If this is not the case, you can appear a bit antiquated. In our case, we find clients almost never request print design. Apparently this is a trend for not just us but lots of designers. In addition to clients, we also work on new initiatives for Dirk+Weiss that include our weekly Podcast, workshops, and of course iPhone Apps. I also am an Adjunct Faculty member at the Art Institute of Boston (AIB) @ Lesley University, teaching design and marketing related courses.
The new graphic design Street Cred
Forget about posters in museums, and covers of Rolling Stone(age)… Dreaming is ok, but fantases can be dangerous.
In January, Wordpress, the famous Open Source blogging and web publishing software maker, announced a new inititatve to get designers involved in improving the overall user interface and user expereice with Wordpress.
Dirk+Weiss loves Wordpress. It enables our clients to have full control over their content, thus keeping their site relevant and fresh. This is great for customers and search engines. We have seen many iterations of Wordpress over the years, and love the improvments made each time.
This initiative also points out that for designers, web publishing is not the same horse has old, static, HTML type sites. In our experience, traditional Graphic Designers always have a bit of hesitation towards the web. Part of this is due to the cumbersome thought of learning programming. In reality, its programming is quite logical. And straight HTML code is so 15 years ago. Standalone HTML has been replaced by newer, server side technologies such as PHP and MySQL. And honestly, these solutions make life easier for clients, designers and programmers, and take less time to develop.
Speaking of development time, lets chat quickly about the value of design in 2010. Remember when designers had hourly rates of $100/hr or more? Good luck getting jobs when telling a client that your rate is that pricey. We believe that value of design has shifted dramatically. Clients favor speed and efficiency over pretty graphics. Now, that does not mean ugly graphics are ok (even though they sell), it simply means that if the design of graphics is necessary, they must be smart and efficient, rather than decorative and fluffy.
So how can graphic designers, that for so long dreaded programming, step up their service offering in 2010? Simple. Offer solutions that require zero code for clients, and damn near minimal code for you, the designer. Wordpress is a great example. And when we say minimal code for the designer, we mean CSS only. Don’t know CSS, check out and learn at W3Schools. Its Free.
Designers: Please do not go out and buy a $60 book on making websites, and designing for web. Just ask Google, and watch You Tube. It’s all out there, for free.
Take some time, and learn whats new out there with web technologies. Maybe even take part in the Wordpress UI / UX inititative. Make bold steps towards learning about the current world of design.
Our approach to design and technology allows us to cross the boundaries of design, business, technology, promotion, education and culture. See Some Clients>>
