Calm Digital
UK > North East > Middlesbrough
Creative Web agency specialising in prodcuts and platforms for healthcare improvement, property and ecommerce.
Calm Digital is a digital agency that has developed a suite of products in 2 key industries - healthcare improvement and property / lettings management. Calm is also the forefront of consumer-facing web design and development.
Clients and Projects
Industry Sectors:
Manufacturers & Engineers, Financial & Legal, Other, Public Sector, Not for profit / Charity, Tourism & Travel, Educational, Media & Communication, Sports & Leisure
Tends to work with:
Private Companies, Public Sector, Startups, Non-profit Organisations, Corporations / Public Companies
General location of clients: London, North East, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Leeds, Darlington, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates
What We Have Achieved
Latest Review
6 September 2010
Amy Fair at Redcar Racecourse
We have used the services of Calm Digital for many years. The team are very approachable and easy going, and very patient and flexible when we
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Interview
WWDC:
Describe your company in 5 words.
Calm Digital:
”Bringing brands to life online”
WWDC:
Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
Calm Digital:
”In 10 years Calm Digital will be at the forefront of consumer-facing web-design in the North East of England. But critically, our suite of products in key markets (healthcare improvement, property lettings and maintenance) will continue to grow so that we become a service AND product based business.”
WWDC:
How was your company name chosen?
Calm Digital:
”Calm in the eye of the digital storm.”
What We Do?
- Hosting
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Development
- Branding
- Online Marketing
- Content and Copy
- Design
- Video Production
Technologies Used:
CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, mySQL, PHP, , XML, Flash, msSQL,
CMS Used:
Open Source, Own Brand, Paid (Branded) Service
Calm provides the CMS that best fits the objectives of our clients.
a) Brochure / Information sites: Calm has developed our very own custom CMS. Calm Content 3.0 is a PHP-5 based platform that allows administer to fully control every aspect of their site's content. The system uses a widget and folder system which is extremely simple to use, and WYSIWYG content editor.
b) Ecommerce: Calm recommends Magento as the very best PHP ecommerce platform. Magento offers a huge range of features for online shopping and is fully scalable as the business grows. With a worldwide network of PHP developers contributing constantly, Mangento just gets better.
c) Engagement Websites: If your purpose is to engage with customers then we recommend building your website on Wordpress. This plaform invites comments, engagement, seamlessly integrates social media and you can veiw stats in real time.
Company Overview
Languages Spoken:
English
No. of Employees: 6-20
Established: 2009
Joined WWDC: 23 February 2010
We Recommend
Accountant:
Murphy & Co Chartered Accountants
Printer:
printing.com
SEO expert:
Silverbean
Hosting company:
Rackspace
Tindles Chartered Accountants
- Branding
- Hosting
- Development
Chartered Accountants with a difference
Languages: N/A
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Private Company
Industry: Financial & Legal
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Calm Content 3.0
Online Payment System: Yes: Pay Pal
Number of people who worked on this project: 3
Technologies used: CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, mySQL, PHP, , XML
Completion date: August 2010
Jan Secker Photographic
- Branding
- Hosting
- Development
Independent photographer Jan Secker wanted a website where she could showcase her portfolio and also sell her event, wedding and fine-art photography online.
Languages: English
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Startup
Industry: Media & Communication
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Calm Content 3.0
Online Payment System: Yes: Sage Pay
Number of people who worked on this project: 3
Technologies used: CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, mySQL, PHP,
Completion date: August 2010
Success Feelosophy
- Branding
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Development
Keef Feeley, a learning consultant has developed tools to help children, adolescents and families succeed in the 21st Century.
Languages: English
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Startup
Industry: Educational
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Calm Content 3.0
Online Payment System: Yes: Paypal
Number of people who worked on this project: 3
Technologies used: CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, mySQL, PHP,
Completion date: July 2010
Rovin Energy
- Development
A company with a foot-hold in both Nigeria and here in the UK working within the Oil and Gas industry.
Languages: English
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Private Company
Industry: Other
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: PHP 5 based platform. Calm Content 3.0
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 3
Technologies used: CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, mySQL, PHP,
Completion date: July 2010
The Washroom Co
- Branding
- Content and Copy
- Hosting
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Development
A company that offers managed washroom services to offices and organisations.
Languages: N/A
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Private Company
Industry: Other
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Calm Content 3.0
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 3
Technologies used: CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, mySQL, PHP,
Completion date: June 2010
Resilient Power Solutions
- Hosting
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Development
Critical Power Infrastructure - design, supply, installation and support.
Languages: N/A
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Private Company
Industry: Manufacturers & Engineers
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Calm Content 3.0
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 3
Technologies used: CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, mySQL, PHP,
Completion date: March 2010
TAPS - Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
- Hosting
- Development
The aim of the Training and Action for Patient Safety (TAPS) programme is to improve safety through action learning. TAPS is aimed at qualified health professionals who have direct contact with patients. Calm Digital developed the e-learning modules that support the 20 week TAPS programme. Participants can track their progress weekly by updating case studies and blogs.
Languages: N/A
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Public Sector
Industry: Public Sector
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Python Framework Django.
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 2
Technologies used: CSS, (X)HTML, mySQL,
Completion date: February 2010
Ultimate Homes and Finance
- Branding
- Hosting
- Online Marketing
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Development
A residential property sales, letting and finance agency that operates a purely online business model. Calm Digital designed the brand and websites, www.ultimatehomesandfinance.co.uk, and www.letultimate.co.uk. They allow visitors to search property listings and calculate finance. We also developed the bespoke iTrack systems for lettings and property sales that allow landlords, tenants, vendors and buyers to track progress, payments, maintenance etc.
Languages: N/A
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Private Company
Industry: Other
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: N/A
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 4
Technologies used: CSS, Flash, (X)HTML, JavaScript, mySQL, PHP, , XML
Completion date: February 2010 (on-going)
Butterwick Hospice Care
- Hosting
- Development
The Butterwick is a charity that is very active among the business community and as such earns a high level of corporate support. Calm Digital provided www.butterwickmediacentre.com to create a way for the charity to communicate with its corporate audience, showcase the supporters themselves and keep their news, blog and twitter updates fresh and in one place.
Languages: N/A
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Non-profit Organisation
Industry: Not for profit / Charity
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: N/A
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 2
Technologies used: CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, mySQL, PHP, , XML, RSS
Completion date: January 2010
Kingfisher Media
- Branding
- Content and Copy
- Design
- Hosting
- Online Marketing
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Development
Kingfisher produce beautifully designed, hard-bound city guides that can be found in hotel rooms across the UK. Calm Digital's brief was to showcase these city guides online, to give advertisers and hotels more incentive. It has since been decided to target a consumer audience and advertising has been added to the site itself.
Languages: English
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Private Company
Industry: Tourism & Travel
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Built using our very own CMS, Calm Content, a PHP-5 based platform that allows admins to fully control every aspect of their site's content. The system uses a widget and folder system which is extremely simple to use, and a WYSIWYG content editor.
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 2
Technologies used: CSS, Flash, (X)HTML, JavaScript, msSQL, mySQL, PHP, , XML
Completion date: January 2010
The Main Project
- Branding
- Content and Copy
- Design
- Hosting
- Online Marketing
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Video Production
- Development
A charity for families who are living with Autism or Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The Main Project has recently set up three social enterprises - an online bookstore, an events and training company with online payment and booking platform, and a cafe and catering business. These ventures each have their own website, interlinked by www.main-hub.org.uk. See also; www.main-page.org.uk www.main-event.org.uk www.main-meal.org.uk
Languages: English
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Startup
Industry: Not for profit / Charity
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Built using our very own CMS, Calm Content, a PHP-5 based platform that allows admins to fully control every aspect of their site's content. The system uses a widget and folder system which is extremely simple to use, and a WYSIWYG content editing sy
Online Payment System: We integrate with most merchant banks, but would recommend Sage Pay as our preferred payment gateway.
Number of people who worked on this project: 3
Technologies used: CSS, Flash, (X)HTML, JavaScript, msSQL, mySQL, PHP, , XML
Completion date: January 2010 (on-going)
Redcar Racing
- Hosting
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Development
Redcar Racing needed a highly functional website with the primary objective of encouraging punters to book their raceday tickets online. Calm Digital worked with the existing Corporate Identity and brand colours to create a bold yet clean website with a simple navigation pointing punters straight to the area of the site that are of interest to them.
Languages: N/A
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Corporation / Public Company
Industry: Sports & Leisure
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Calm Content 3.0
Online Payment System: Sec Pay
Ticket Booking System
Supports Voucher Codes and Group Booking discounts
Number of people who worked on this project: 3
Technologies used: CSS, Flash, (X)HTML, JavaScript, mySQL, PHP, , XML
Completion date: December 2009
Visit Tees Valley
- Branding
- Development
Visit Tees Valley, the Area Tourism Partnership for the Tees Valley needed a website that reflected their strategy to promote the area as an events led destination. Calm Digital were asked to design a website that gave voice to key events across the Tees Valley as well as list a comprehensive product database from ONE Northeast's Desti.ne DMS.
Languages: N/A
Project type: Other
Organisation category: Public Sector
Industry: Tourism & Travel
Content managed (CMS): No
CMS Description: N/A
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 4
Technologies used: CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, PHP,
Completion date: November 2009
Visit Tees Valley - Face of Tees Valley Campaign
- Branding
- Hosting
- Development
Visit Tees Valley set about finding two ambassadors for the area. The ambassadors would win a competition to represent the region and taste all that it has to offer over the course of a year, in keeping with the strategy to market it as an events-led destination. Calm set about developing the competition micro-site, with rich user-generated media content and voting mechanism. The site was developed in 3 phases - call to enter, voting and the winners - who have profiles on the site which include their blogs and tweets.
Languages: English
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Public Sector
Industry: Tourism & Travel
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: N/A
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 4
Technologies used: CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, msSQL, mySQL, PHP,
Completion date: November 2009
Durham City of Culture
- Hosting
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Development
Calm were invited to design and develop a media-rich, interactive and engaging website to gather support for Durham's bid to become the first European City of Culture in 2013. The website is brought to life with images, videos, user generated content and a culture map showing famous faces and places across County Durham. There is also a comprehensive list of upcoming events across the County and the latest news from Durham's cultural and creative sector.
Languages: English
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: Public Sector
Industry: Public Sector
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Built using our very own CMS, Calm Content, a PHP-5 based platform that allows admins to fully control every aspect of their site's content. The system uses a widget and folder system which is extremely simple to use, and a WYSIWYG content editior.
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 5
Technologies used: CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, mySQL, PHP, , XML
Completion date: September 2009 (on-going)
Reviews
We have used the services of Calm Digital for many years. The team are very approachable and easy going, and very patient and flexible when we
Calm Digital comments:
The 2nd part of the review is as follows:
We have used the services of Calm Digital for many years. The team are very approachable and easy going, and very patient and flexible when we’ve been indecisive or changed our minds at last minute!
We have a website that fits our brief completely, services our needs and those of our customers. We have received positive feedback from our clients and other racecourses on the quality of the site. The team always take a great deal of time to understand our needs whilst undertaking projects, and provide superb jargon-free advice and support.
Calm Digital are an excellent company and I would (and have!) wholeheartedly recommend their services.
Calm Digital were excellent to work with and brought with them great knowledge and vision for our website. Calm Digital understood our requirements and our needs for the website and certainly delivered them. We were reassured by their constant support and found every member of the Calm Digital team approachable and easy to work with at every stage.
We would (and have) recommended Calm Digital to clients and friends alike and will continue to do so as their quality of work has been excellent.
I can honestly say that it has been a pleasure to have been involved with Calm Digital. My rrequest was not easy to understand as my role is very unusual, probably unique, but they were keen to listen and understand right from the start. Furthermore, they showed a lot of patience and intelligence in grasping what I was hoping to achieve.
The outline, planning and timetable was excellent and exceeded my greatest hopes!
They were very keen and easy to talk to throughout and I really felt it was a collaborative process, with their expertise and empathy being invaluable.
The final outcome -the branding, business cards and most importantly website- is outstanding and they have continually attempted to modify and improve the website, and still are!!
In conclusion I have been delighted with their service and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and I would strongly recommend them to anyone.
by Beverley Slater at Programme Lead, Training and Action for Patient Safety
www.nhstaps.org
Calm Digital have been a reliable and responsive partner in the development of the Training and Action for Patient Safety (TAPS) website. They have worked hard to understand our (quite complicated) requirements at every stage of the development process, and have been on hand to implement various changes that we have needed. They have built us a flexible website enabling us to customise data input for our different participating teams.
One point that deserves special mention is the goodwill and trust that Calm Digital demonstrated during a period of uncertainty when changes to the sites' ownership were being transacted.
Dear Which
Please be advised that I have used Calm for a number of years now. They have created a great website which our customers like. In addition to this they have always booked new work in on a quick basis. Calm also developed a great new and unique product based on my brief and ideas which works 100% efficient for my business and also services the needs of the customers which is great.
I would recomend Calm based on my own dealings with them. It is hard to select the correct company for work these days but rest assured Calm is the one for me and they offer great customer service and response times to any work, requests or proposals.
Ian
We had a good working relationship. All project stages clearly mapped out. Occasional misunderstanding of wants but these promptly addressed once highlighted. Delivered 2 stages of the website on time. Website very attractive with a wide range of functionality. CMS more complicated than expected to use - time consuming more than anything. Most communications were jargon - free. Overall very pleased with the final website.
Bianca Robinson
Project Director
All client and supplier liaison, project planning, project management, studio management and delivery.
Daniel Askwith
Web Developer
Daniel contributes to the research and development of digital solutions for clients, translating static designs into fully functioning websites for clients.
Danielle Bloom
Designer
Danielle oversees the design of all our web projects. A recent graduate from the University of Teesside with BA in Design
David Canty
Web / Mobile App Developer
David specialises in development for web using magento and wordpress, and iPhone / iPad apps.
WWDC:
What's your name and position in the company?
Calm Digital:
”Bianca Robinson, Project Director”
WWDC:
Describe your company in 5 words.
Calm Digital:
”Bringing brands to life online”
WWDC:
What's your business philosophy?
Calm Digital:
”To make beautiful websites that give users full control, are simple to use and that get results.”
WWDC:
Describe your office environment.
Calm Digital:
”Light, bright, happy, welcoming and hard-working.”
WWDC:
Describe how your team interact and work together.
Calm Digital:
”The team at Calm are all shareholders in the Company. This makes each and every person strive to perform at their best, and drive the company forward. We all trust each other to deliver for the company and our clients. We have a laugh, but we always get the job done.”
WWDC:
What makes you different from other web design companies?
Calm Digital:
”We really care - this is because the company belongs to all of us. Our reputations are on the line. We are small enough to give a really personal and friendly service to our clients, yet large enough to handle large multi-level projects.”
WWDC:
How do you get the majority of your business?
Calm Digital:
”Word of mouth, a loyal core bunch of clients, referrals, recommendations, business support organisations, networking and social media. Old fashioned door-knocking and sales aren't really our style.”
WWDC:
Describe how you manage projects from the initial client contact to completion and handover.
Calm Digital:
”We use a quality assurance system based on ISO 9001 tailored to a digital and creative agency environment. This means that we ask for client sign off at significant milestones within the project.
Projects begin with an initiation meeting which is useful for clarifying assumptions, taking the creative brief, scoping the deliverables and working out the timescales and key miilestones. From here we prepare a scoping document which must be signed off by the client before work can be booked into the studio.
We ask the client to sign off the inteface design and all site graphics. Then the website goes into developmet, and is checked by our team at alpha stage before going live on a development area for beta testing by the client. We would trian the admin team on the CMS at this stage.
Once the site has been tested thoroughly, content added and signed off, we ask for full payment before the site can go live.”
WWDC:
What do you think is the most crucial element of creating a good client relationship?
Calm Digital:
”I always try to take the time to really get to know the person leading the project. I like to understand their life outside work, and find things in common. I think that clients need to be able to trust you to interpret their vision, and if we can do what it takes to ensure we get this right, then we earn that trust.”
WWDC:
How do you manage demanding clients?
Calm Digital:
”At Calm we are honest and upfront about when work can be booked into the studio and the timescales involved. If we are able to squeeze work in as a favour we always make it clear that it could be a one off, and depends on the studio calendar. If a client's demands are over and above what was originally scoped for the project, we would raise this with the client and discuss payment for additional work.”
WWDC:
If a client was trying to decide between a shortlist of web design companies, how would you recommend they go about selecting the right one for them?
Calm Digital:
”A client should always choose the company who shows the best understanding of thier objectives and target audience. This insight will mean that the web design company can accurately plan the right kind of user experience, with the desired outcomes, tailored to the right audience. If these three things are overlooked the website will not produce results no matter how pretty it is.”
WWDC:
Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
Calm Digital:
”In 10 years Calm Digital will be at the forefront of consumer-facing web-design in the North East of England. But critically, our suite of products in key markets (healthcare improvement, property lettings and maintenance) will continue to grow so that we become a service AND product based business.”
WWDC:
Where do you see the web design industry in the future?
Calm Digital:
”Ongoing research and development is required to keep abreast of new trends. New ways of communicating and sharing information are constantly emerge. I believe hand-held devices will be the key to all online communication and media interaction even more so than they are today.”
WWDC:
What computers do you have use in your offices, PCs or Macs?
Calm Digital:
”Both PC and Mac”
WWDC:
How was your company name chosen?
Calm Digital:
”Calm in the eye of the digital storm.”
WWDC:
If you were to give your clients one tip on how to get the most from their website what would it be?
Calm Digital:
”Make sure you plan the customer journey and give clear calls to action to achieve the desired outcome: "get in touch", "add to basket" , "go to checkout" etc etc.
Make sure your content is of value and that it is worth sharing. Make sure you use keywords and keyprhases that will help enhance your search engine listing. Make sure your website is accessible and complies with Government standards for Accessibility.
Finally, be real, be touchable and don't hide behind a slick corporate persona. Give your audience an insight into who the people behind the brand really are, so that they feel they can talk to you and share information. This is the most significant shift in the way that organisations communicate with thier audience - use this opportunity to really engage and spark conversations.”
Sweet Studio Designs, Calm Digital, Sunray Media, IS Design, Ape Web, Sam Beckham Design, DS22, MS Website Designs, Hook Design Alter, PixelSoft, Website Idea, Cogensis, Media-Burst