Beaver Design
UK > South East > Ware
Graphic Design, Web Design and Web Development
Established in 1978, we have provided local and national clients with our Graphic Design, Web Design and Web Development services.
We have strong relationships with our clients, being able to offer an experienced and personal service.
Clients and Projects
Industry Sectors:
Recruitment, Health & Beauty, Professional Services, Building & Construction
Tends to work with:
SMEs, Private Companies, Startups
General location of clients: Hertfordshire and the UK
What We Have Achieved
Beaver Design has not been reviewed yet.
Awards
Federation of Small Businesses
Best E-Business (runner-up) (24/06/09)
Interview
WWDC:
Describe your company in 5 words.
Beaver Design:
”Established, Original, Quality, Friendly, Professional”
WWDC:
Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
Beaver Design:
”We've grown steadily since 1978, so in another 10 years we'll still be here. Probably a bit bigger and better, but hopefully with the same standard of quality, friendliness and professionalism.”
WWDC:
How was your company name chosen?
Beaver Design:
”One of the founders had a book of designs (mostly font types) which featured beavers. He liked the name and connotations of "busy beavers", so Beaver Design was born!”
What We Do?
Technologies Used:
CSS, Flash, (X)HTML, JavaScript, PHP
CMS Used:
Open Source, Own Brand
We have in-house developers who use a variety of technologies to create customised CMS systems for our clients.
Company Overview
Languages Spoken:
English
No. of Employees: 6-20
Established: 1978
Joined WWDC: 7 January 2009
Yours4Floors
- Design
- Hosting
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Development
North London based flooring company
Languages: English
Project type: E-commerce
Organisation category: Startup
Industry: Building & Construction
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Beaver Design developed a custom CMS for Yours4Floors to manage this e-commerce site; allowing them to add, amend and remove products.
Online Payment System: Online payments are automatically linked in to PayPal
Number of people who worked on this project: 3
Technologies used: Flash, (X)HTML, JavaScript, PHP
Completion date: January 2010
Tudor Facilities Management
- Branding
- Design
- Hosting
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Development
TFM is a Facilities Management company that delivers an integrated range of advisory and management services. The company was formed in 1999 with its founder members very conscious of the fact that outsourcing would enable business to concentrate on their core business, thereby achieving cost efficiency.
Languages: English
Project type: Basic (Static)
Organisation category: Startup
Industry: Professional Services
Content managed (CMS): No
CMS Description: N/A
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 2
Technologies used: Flash, (X)HTML, JavaScript, PHP
Completion date: July 2009
Foila
- Design
- Hosting
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Video Production
- Development
Foila design innovative products for the Hair Industry that improve the working environment and make life in the salon much easier.
Languages: English
Project type: E-commerce
Organisation category: Private Company
Industry: Health & Beauty
Content managed (CMS): No
CMS Description: Bespoke system
Online Payment System: Bespoke system
Number of people who worked on this project: 2
Technologies used: CSS, Flash, (X)HTML, JavaScript, PHP
Completion date: July 2009
Lefa Print
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
LEFA’s diverse and expanding range of services includes bespoke products, as well as corporate brochures, annual reports, sales literature, POS material, direct mail and stationery. They also offer a print management system, PrintCentral, which allows our clients to manage all aspects of their print online.
Languages: English
Project type: Basic (Static)
Organisation category: Private Company
Industry: Professional Services
Content managed (CMS): No
CMS Description: N/A
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 1
Technologies used: Flash, (X)HTML, JavaScript, PHP
Completion date: May 2009
Heat Recruitment
- Design
- Hosting
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Development
Heat Recruitment is an online recruitment website, specialised in the Accountancy, Legal and General Insurance sectors.
Languages: English
Project type: Content Managed
Organisation category: SME
Industry: Recruitment
Content managed (CMS): Yes
CMS Description: Bespoke system
Online Payment System: N/A
Number of people who worked on this project: 3
Technologies used: CSS, Flash, (X)HTML, JavaScript, PHP
Completion date: April 2008
Reviews
Noone has reviewed this company yet.
Andy
Designer
"When I finished my college course in art, design and photography, I wanted to get working for a proper design agency. I love working for Beaver, as I get to work on a range of interesting and challenging projects. But I'm still waiting to find a use for playing the ukulele (which I'm not too bad at)."
Who/what would be your ideal client/commission be?
I'd quite like to design the album cover for a mainstream artist.
What effect do you like your work to have?
Ideally you would like to inspire other people; everybody's a stepping stone to new ideas.
What are you rubbish at, but keep doing anyway?
Table tennis, I've never won a game yet i always agree to play.
Chris
Web Developer
"I’m Chris and I’m a web developer. I’ve been developing the internet for our clients since the 90s and I've seen the web grow from geek’s toy, to household name. The most exciting thing about working with the web is that it’s so fast paced. If you don’t keep up with the latest technologies your skills can become obselete over night."
Who do you design for (ideally)?
Anyone who is pumped about their project
What is your favourite material and/or process at the moment?
I’m really into Flash AS3 and Javascript integration right now. Creating synergy between Flash and HTML is really exciting.
If you could only eat one country’s traditional cuisine for the rest of your life, which country would you pick?
Mexican. Tacos, Fajitas, Burritos; I can’t get enough. I also make incredible Empanadas.
Dave
Graphic & Print
Dave has over 30 years of experience in graphic design and print. He says, "The same old process of understanding and answering creatively our clients' various requirements still remains."
Who/what has inspired you?
Sir Peter Blake
What's the worst word anybody could use (or has used) to describe your work?
Nice
Finish this scene: Two turtles with a bag of peanuts walk into a cinema...
...and were disappointed to find they'd forgotten their drinks and were sat behind two giraffes.
Doug
Interface Designer
The best way to describe "Doogray" is a big man with big ideas. He's a sponge for all things design always looking everywhere for something to inspire him and the only thing bigger than him is his collection of soul and jazz records!
What do you avoid in design?
Over complication and unnecessary stuff
What is your worst design memory?
"Bluesky thinking" Grrrr!
Hayley
Designer
"My background is in fashion design and I bring what I know from that into my current design work. Also, as one of the girls in the office, I like to think I'm going against the trend of web designers being mostly guys."
What do you avoid in design?
Yellow
What's the worst word anybody could use (or has used) to describe your work?
When working on fashion designs for a line of mid-season replacements. I was told my designs were too ‘Right Now’
James
Lead Designer
"I've a background in 3-Dimensional design and Video/TV production. I joined Beaver about 6 years ago as a junior web designer, since then I have moved into graphic design and digital signage as well."
Who/what has inspired you?
My tutor on my 3D design course. He always gave you a hard time and pushed you to better yourself and question the design choices you made, at the time I hated him for it but in retrospect it has made me a well rounded designer. I take inspiration from various creative media, music, art, film, architecture - by keeping your eyes open you tend to find inspiration in the most unlikely places.
What's the worst word anybody could use (or has used) to describe your work?
"It needs to be more confined, but open..."
Finish this sentence: When I grow up, I want to be...
A space cowboy
WWDC:
What's your name and position in the company?
Beaver Design:
”Robin Critchley - Marketing”
WWDC:
Describe your company in 5 words.
Beaver Design:
”Established, Original, Quality, Friendly, Professional”
WWDC:
What's your business philosophy?
Beaver Design:
”We deliver quality services which fulfill what the customer wants. We do NOT just provide what we sell, hoping that the customer wants it.”
WWDC:
Describe your office environment.
Beaver Design:
”Open plan, modern and professional”
WWDC:
Describe how your team interact and work together.
Beaver Design:
”We're a pretty friendly bunch and all get along very well. Although projects are managed by the person doing the work, we all share ideas and talk about how to best achieve things.”
WWDC:
What makes you different from other web design companies?
Beaver Design:
”We've got 30 years experience in design. And that's something genuine. We were established in 1978 and one of the founders still designs for clients today.”
WWDC:
How do you get the majority of your business?
Beaver Design:
”Word of mouth, recommendations and through talking to various people. ”
WWDC:
Describe how you manage projects from the initial client contact to completion and handover.
Beaver Design:
”We sit down and talk through the requirements with our clients, then put together a mock-up for their approval before development. A lot of two-way discussion takes place before finishing the final project.”
WWDC:
What do you think is the most crucial element of creating a good client relationship?
Beaver Design:
”Communication. Understanding our clients needs is our top priority.”
WWDC:
How do you manage demanding clients?
Beaver Design:
”More communication. By talking through the design process as well as further understanding a clients needs, most problems never arise.”
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?
Beaver Design:
”Look at their previous work (and not just their "showcase" piece). Talk to previous clients and compare sites. Take the time to understand what makes sites different.”
WWDC:
Where do you see your company in 10 years time?
Beaver Design:
”We've grown steadily since 1978, so in another 10 years we'll still be here. Probably a bit bigger and better, but hopefully with the same standard of quality, friendliness and professionalism.”
WWDC:
Where do you see the web design industry in the future?
Beaver Design:
”The web is going to become a hugely integrated part of normal life. Web design will focus more on user interaction, than on clever technology.”
WWDC:
What computers do you have use in your offices, PCs or Macs?
Beaver Design:
”Both PC and Mac”
WWDC:
How was your company name chosen?
Beaver Design:
”One of the founders had a book of designs (mostly font types) which featured beavers. He liked the name and connotations of "busy beavers", so Beaver Design was born!”
WWDC:
If you were to give your clients one tip on how to get the most from their website what would it be?
Beaver Design:
”Talk to the end-users/customers. If it's not working for them, then it's not working.”
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