Services

Platform has the artist's work at the heart of the design process.

Websites
The process for design is two way, a collaboration between artist and designer. Each inputting their ideas to the design. The ethos behind each website is one where the process of engagement is at its core. That the way a site is navigated can add to the style and feel of a site, as much as the content.

Once a project begins a draft design is drawn up usually within one month of receiving the intiial site contnet and input from the client. From there the final design then evolves and takes shape. The duration of a project is usually 1-3 months for an artist site, or 3-6 months for an online shop.

A service offered by Platform that promotes the work of the artists and makers it designs sites for. This includes news items on the latest sites being designed, the latest updates of new work, and of new and current exhibitions. All news will also be announced on twitter at arttalk. This is being offered as a free service to all platform clients, with new material being announced at least once per month. arttalk is an editorial service particularly aimed at galleries, craft and textile design audiences, aiming to provide coverage for all contributions submitted.

Range of sites
As can be seen in the portfolio, Platform creates a range of sites: professional artist sites, to self managed online shops, apps, blogs, open studio event sites and sites for small organisations and business start-ups.

Search engine optimisation
Complete within each website design is the building of a necessary structure that will aid search engine optimisation. However the optimising of any site is an ongoing process and will benefit from monitoring and reviewing on a continual basis. Add-on seo can also be arranged, monitoring your site on a regular monthly basis, should this be so required.

Site stats
Platform inserts an invisible counter into your web pages when they are designed using google analytics for monitoring usage.

Web hosting + Email + Webmail
Platform can arrange web hosting and domain name purchase for you. Many of its design packages include the hosting for the first year, with it being renewed thereafter on an annual basis. As part of this, webmail can also be arranged enabling you to access your mail wherever you may be. For those wishing to set up email accounts through Outlook, Apple Mail, advice on how to do this can also be given. Each website domain will come with unlimited email addresses for use with your domain.

Updating + ongoing maintenance
After the first year, your website will be automatically renewed. The maintenance includes the renewal of your domain name, hosting, and email facility [if managed by Platform]. Should you wish Platform to update your site this can also be arranged, on an individual basis. Plaform updates many of the artist sites it has designed, with online shops and organisational sites being self managed.

Prices
Platform bases its prices on the overall size of the proposed site, and on the complexity involved. There is no price per page, per image as such but rather a price will be quoted for that will encompass the site as a whole. The ethos behind the design is to create a site that suits the work it is promoting and using whatever design skills are required to achieve this, as opposed to offering possibly unrequired add-ons. Differing rates are offered for artists, charitable arts organisations and commercial businesses. Flexible payment terms exist for artist websites whereby full payment can be made over the duration of the web project.

Arts mentoring
Rosy has much experience working within the arts, both as a practising artist, and in an organisational capacity for arts organisations. As such guidance can be offered with the developing of a small business, or artist practice. This might include the developing of work, writing of funding appications, business plans, or the planning of an effective marketing programme. Please enquire for full details.

Should you wish to enquire about a quotation please email or telephone:

studio@platformdesigns.co.uk / 0131 669 9343