Web trends change almost as often as fashion. Early website designs are akin to high school yearbook photos. In the 90’s - the Web’s early, awkward years - websites were simple. If you were daring enough to create one, it likely included a basic menu structure, a few rough graphics in a clean layout, and short, but sweet content to satisfy your taste for information. Grunge wear was in and the look was big, baggy jeans, flannel shirts, and baby doll dresses. Oh the days! As I write, the memories of high school dances and AOL chats are rushing back!

Once we all realized we survived Y2K, websites really started to evolve, including an onslaught of distracting web banners; sounds like annoying beeps and elevator music; chained menus, submenus and tertiary dropdowns; and thousands of pages built for search engine optimization. Hello information overload! The early part of the 21st century also brought with it low rise jeans, fleece tracksuits, tight mini dresses, “the tough guys wear pink craze,” as well as fashion influences in Boho, HipHop, Pop culture, Hipster, and Emo. Hello melting pot!

Then, as the years rolled on, came embedded video, virtual worlds, 3D animation, interactive tools, and with these items, fashion trends like Boho De Luxe (which includes glamour and exotic details) and Modern Simplicity (which includes a cross between minimalism and whimsy decorations). Today, website design is getting back to basics, but it’s better than ever before. At our interactive marketing and advertising agency, clients want simple and sophisticated designs with an incredible WOW factor - whether it is visual, high-tech, or a combination thereof. Gone are the days of rough graphic websites, and so too are the days of websites filled with so much junk that they are a ticking time bomb of self destruction. Our clients have spoken and we have listened, routinely delivering websites that are easy to use, fun to explore, technically advanced, and unbelievably impressive. We were there in the 90’s designing companys’ first websites and we’re here today designing some of the best sites on the Web.

Believe it or not, as much as I hate to admit it, I have actually been contemplating an eBook purchase. Since the release of this new technology, I have firmly stated that I prefer the actual book in hand and to feel the pages flip between my fingers. Plus, there’s nothing like going to your own makeshift library or bookshelf and pulling down one of your old favorites for a day at the beach or park. However, it seems to have hit me what a convenience this tool is and how it actually might get me to read more. I wouldn’t say that I’m going to buy one tomorrow; rather I’m going to do my research into the best brands, pricing, accessibility to books I want to read, etc. and it will likely become something I put on my list to Santa. Yes, I still write a list - only Santa no longer has a white beard and lives in the North Pole, he sleeps beside me at night and has premature graying.

I have to say I’m surprised at myself lately for converting to new technology so soon and so easily. About two years ago I actually purchased the older model of a phone because I liked the way it looked more than the newer version with all the bells and whistles. *I never really used my phone anyways.* Now, I have a Blackberry, which keeps me connected to personal email, work email, phone calls, web browsing, online banking, Facebook, and more. I never even wanted to join Facebook, and after my friends begged my husband to set up my account, I’m on quite regularly and just found one of my best childhood friends and reconnected with family I haven’t spoken to in years.

Apparently, converting to today’s new technology is something that I went into begrudgingly, but have found that I’m now able to embrace, my way and on my own terms. The dichotomy is that I have always supported the high-tech advancements used in marketing and advertising, and in some cases, pioneered at our agency. From online video commercials and live webcasts to virtual medical simulations and complex programmed back-end systems, our interactive agency creates the tools that make businesses run more efficiently, provide greater convenience, and increase revenue. And every day, our new business development team speaks to people like me who are accustomed to an old way of doing things and converts them after presenting the seemingly endless projects in our portfolios and explaining our full-service capabilities.

If you’re ready to find out what all the hype is about, contact us at 215-355-6442.

Right now, we are in the middle of an audio recording that we are streaming live through a webcast to one of our clients who is three hours behind in California. The project is a continuation of a corporate/medical eLearning tool we developed last year, the voice over talent was chosen through our Actor’s Network, the sound-proof audio booth is in our state-of-the-art video production studios, and the man on controls is our Director of Motion Arts, filling in for one of our video artists.

On the client side, eight decision makers are tuned in and providing feedback through the live chat feature, and any script, pacing, and intonation changes are being resolved instantaneously. At our interactive advertising and marketing agency, this is one of about 30+ projects going on this very minute. This project is proof of our ability to work smart and efficiently, to juggle a diverse workload, and utilize technology to make our client’s lives a little easier. The result is a quality end product and a long-term client/vendor relationship.