Design Company Advice Needed

[UH-Matt]

Hi guys,

We have always done our web development inhouse and are very pleased with our current image and site.

Looking into the near future we will be going for a new design and will probably look to offer the contract externally.

I was wondering who you guys would recommend for a fairly high budget site design along the lines of pixelbrick/ceonex. These guys are currently in the running but there must be a lot of others with similar standards?

Not looking for anyone to promote there own service or make me private offers, just looking for advice/recommendations/links to give us a jump start in looking around.

Thanks people!

[royisher]

I would recomend Ravio, they just finished the project on our site...

I decided to take for the next Project CEONEX hopefully...

Ravio are great, they did for RSM great design, but the problem with Ravio is communication... remember my thread in WHT ? you said you wouldn't want to work with me?? ;)

there were couple of days I just lost them without notice or anything, no reply in the customer area nor emails, but everything is great now :)

Regards,

[UH-Matt]

Your site is nice, but we are looking for something a little better (dont take that the wrong way!) we have a fairly large budget and want something special.

If we were going to go for a ravio type design it would be kept inhouse like our current site.

[royisher]

Ok, so go with CEONEX, they will do for you the project! my plans is to take them for my next project, already discussed with one of the partners in they're office...

[UH-Matt]

Thanks for your help royisher but your not understanding the question. I know about Ceonex and they are currently top of the list, im asking for peoples recommendations of other companies of the same level.

Thanks

[Protollix]

Just curious,
what are the typical rates for Ravio and Ceonex, respectively?

[royisher]

oh ok, sorry I couldn't help :(

[royisher]

CEONEX = 20,000$ +
Ravio = $550 +

[UH-Matt]

Ceonex starts at around $5k for a basic site design and moves up if you need consultation and a brand to be created by them (20k+).

I think Ravio is/should be a lot less.

There must be more places like Ceonex :-/

[Fazel]

It really depends on which 'brand' you approach.

If you get in touch with Ceonex, they naturally try to upsell to you their 40K+ solutions, whereas PixelBrick is aimed at low budget entry market with the price level being 5-6K. Ceonex/PixelBrick really are value for money IMO, they market to you based on your growth potential. If you look at other design shops a 40K solution is just entry level, forget the business consultancy side of things, they'll just offer you 'effects', which personally you could get a freelancer to do for $500+ at Yaxay.

As for other recommendations, have you tried WebProSys?

Member name on WHT is DesignNYC
Site: www.webprosys.net
AIM: DesignNYC

They've designed the FDCServers.net layout, the only one I can remember off the top of my head. Oh I think they also did work on genaldi.com

Perhaps you might want to try www.2methods.com ?

[DarktidesNET]

I do not know many besides ceonex/pixelbrick/ravio but the guy 'LiNuX' @ WHT does some nice designs....

I personally like the way unitedhosting.co.uk looks already. Easily to navigate, simple, and appealing. I see no need for change, but that's just me. :)

[UH-Matt]

The change isnt planned for a while yet. We too like our current design, im just thinking ahead because some of the new areas of business we may be venturing into wont fit into the current design.

[Fazel]

Good point Bryan, I was going to mention that. If you look at modernbill.com and hostnexus, most people criticise the navigational aspects of these two ceonex sites in particular. They look great, but for all the hype about a Ceonex site launch, they do have some serious flaws, especially if you're a 56K viewer. You should do a search on the HostNexus forums for 'Ceonex' to bring up the thread regarding feedback on the new sites. Most clients hated the new design (load time + navigation) and one person went as far as saying the 'stiff' corporate look would have turned him off from purchasing the hosting from HostNexus.

Since your UK based, you also might want to take into consideration that most people here don't have "broadband" access ;)

[UH-Matt]

True True.

Maybe UH Version 2 will have to be another inhouse effort afterall. Or just a rethink of the existing site.

[hostpath.com]

My question is: Why would CEONEX be at the top of your list?

[Binx]

Try http://www.infocreek.com/ They are very reasonably priced for quality design and work with you every step of the way. Their support and turn around time is awesome! Good luck!

[hostpath.com]

Don't get caught up in oohing and aahing over design companies that make "pretty sites". Ask your potential design company how they intend to create a site that will SELL MORE PRODUCT -- not how they plan to make it look fancy. If they start off by talking about graphics and Flash and animation and whatnot, you may want to find another company.

They SHOULD start off talking about how they plan a design that will enhance your visitor's desire to BUY. Instead of animation, they need to talk about organization. Instead of Flash, they need to talk about action words. Instead of graphics, they need to talk about COPY.

What does an expensive, flashy site do for you if your conversion rate remains the same?

[KualoJo]

Matt... have you looked at http://www.inverse-logic.com/ ? They are reasonably priced and designs are top notch...

[royisher]

I like what you did with the site, you changed it a bit... :)

[jbiz718]

If you really want high end work my recommendation will be www.wlion.com . This company has some major projects under the belt. Parts of Dell included.

If $$$ wasnt a issue, thats whom I would go to.

Joe

[AmericanD]

Matt : what's your opinion about having sites with flash work ? Are you looking for flash work in your design too?

[Operator]

I would throw a $500 contest at Yaxay. The forum is full of talented designers ;).

[Jorge]

Matt, I know that you find my site messy, but I saw a lot of designs of Dique7.com and I can recommend them highly.

[Jorge]

Are infocreek.com and inverse-logic.com the same people?
their portfolios is the same

[UH-Matt]

Originally posted by hostpath.com:

My question is: Why would CEONEX be at the top of your list?

Because most other design companies dont come close.

[tpetersen]

After reading this thread I decided to contact
infocreek, pixelbrick and inverse-logic for a bit of polishing on my website. I sent separate emails to each with a detailed description of the work. Two weeks later I hadn't heard anything from any of the above, I again emailed them with the same requirements. More than a month later I haven't received so much as an acknowledgement.

These companies may do great work by they get a F- in my book -- not responding to customers is poor business practice -- even if they are too busy to take on more work a quick 2 minute email stating that would suffice.

As I haven't seen any signs of life with the above companies is it possible they are out of business?

TP

[UH-Matt]

The only one of those who I have had contact would be PixelBrick but not directly. Their parent company is Ceonex and they are extremely helpful.

www.ceonex.com

[blue27]

Matt. Why change the site? It seems like a heavy investment unless you are planning on adding or changing features.
You site now is very professional and easy to navigate.

If you do insist on changing it can I have your old one?

[UH-Matt]

We are outgrowing our current site. its design is limiting the things we wish to add to it. Plus we have 2 further sites launching and all 3 will be using the same "new look". We are actually thinking 6 months down the line here, just doing initial research right now.

[proxy]

I can tell you that www.webprosys.com have done some amazing work! Working with them was a pleasure they developed a full corporate identity for me and i was ever so pleased! - Honestly in competition with ravio easy.

[UH-Matt]

Originally posted by proxy:

I can tell you that www.webprosys.com have done some amazing work! Working with them was a pleasure they developed a full corporate identity for me and i was ever so pleased! - Honestly in competition with ravio easy.

I dont rate them. It seems if you want something as good as Ceonex then Ceonex are the only guys around who can produce the goods.

UH-Matt gets the cheque book out.

[proxy]

If you have enough money to throw it away then Ceonex should be at the top of your list. If you wished to be more cost effective you would find a smaller freelance designer who could do you great work at a fraction of the cost but i couldnt say that i wouldnt prefer Ceonex over anyone else but i honestly dont have the cash to even consider them.

[Reality Hosting]

I don't think Ceonex sites are that great. The look pretty, but keep in mind the majority of internet users are still on dial-up. No one wants to wait 5 minutes for a hosting webpage to load.

What about 2advanced?

I remember seeing a very unique (and well done) company, called who's we ( www.whoswe.com ) but it seems their site is down now :(

I would never buy a pixelbrick/ceonex site even if I had money to burn. Maybe in a few years when most everyone has highspeed.

[WebInt]

We are having three sites done by them right now. One is finshed, one is close, and one just started. Theo and the gang are great to work with. But they do have some downsides. If you are considering them, PM me. Maybe I can offer some advice or at least prepare you a little.

[wha]

If you are looking for another design company.
http://www.dotmarketing.com
http://www.modernmethod.com

My problem with Ceonex is they base their whole sites(atleast what I can see) around flash and flash intros. Every hosting site that I see in their portfolio is a cookie cutter image of every other site they have done. I say be different (orginial) and go with another company or make Ceonex change their style for your site.

[Rene]

try http://www.tuneart.com
I was satisfacted with their quality/price/terms. Compare to others like Ceonex and Pixelbrick and you'll see that they do the same job with more affordable price.