I'm a designer who can build stuff too (web stuff with HTML and CSS – not shelves). I don't have a blog but I podcast my views; make infographics and experiment with my many ideas.
In recent years I've primarily worked at the BBC, where I've gained expert UX skills. I am currently freelancing and soon to begin work with an exciting new start-up.
Fanroom is a self-initiated website, created to fill the gap for a reliable site listing all pubs showing sport in the UK. It collects reviews of the venues from sports fans.
The logo is designed to represent the power of working collaboratively to create the site, recalling fans singing together. This image is used throughout the branding in the scoring of each venue - as users are effectively giving it a mark for atmosphere.
The website design is built around simplicity and getting the essential content across to the user as quickly as possible as it’s primary function is to inform. For example the homepage is built around one dropdown menu:
On the venue pages the maps and clear address details are at the top as these are of primary importance:
Hither and Yon is the portfolio website of photographer Simon Clarke. He required a simple logo to accompany his site, which is split into two sections showing war photography and photos from other travels. Thus a typographic solution representing the tougher nature of the former and the ligher nature of the latter.
The website is a gallery showcasing his photography and little else. As the aim of any of these sites should be to be intuitive and not detract from the work, all decoration was removed. Navigation between the two sections is done through the logo, helping to re-enforce the Hither and Yon concept (see above).
This job was predominantly about a radical overhaul of the Ramble’s website but in conjunction with this the logo needed updating, going for a simpler, bolder marque with a custom typeface that would work at small sizes for Twitter avatars etc.
The Football Ramble had a very successful and popular podcast but without a website to match. They were also branching out into original content so the key was to produce a site that looked like a professional news source, was highly usable and easy-to-read.
The launch proved a massive success with the web traffic quadrupling in the first month. User numbers have continued to rise and The Ramble have retained Matt as the webmaster as updates and new features have continued to be added. Including a big redesign in summer 2011.
Designing the hall of fame section featured the big task of displaying an audio archive in an exciting way. For this I created a virtual sticker album, playing on a visual language familiar to all football fans.
Rachel wanted an identity for her business that showed how it was becoming an increasingly professional affair but still retained a hand-made touch, reflecting the fact all the food she serves is home-made. This look is inspired by 50s advertising and includes vector versions of hand-drawn icons.
With several sections to her website and business, different sub-brands were required that followed the house style and built on the full repertoire of icons.
Designing the website was a case of making sure each of the distinct parts of the business had variety. A simple global navigation ties it all together and the same grid and block colour palette is used across all the pages.
Part of the brief was to create an icon set that could be used throughout the website, on menus and in packaging. These were hand-drawn from Rachel’s cooking implements and then traced in Illustrator.
The first question people ask me when they want a website designed is "how much does it cost?" a.k.a. "how cheap are you?" And I never used to like answering that question straight-off because it's like asking a builder "how much is it for a new kitchen?" without telling him how big the room is; what fittings you want; whether you want a new floor as well and where to put the water feature (odd requests and all that). I'd rather learn more and give people a more accurate and correct answer. But it doesn't stop people asking.
So in the spirit of the customer always being right (well, sometimes) I figured I had better come up with something. The chart below is that and it gives you 'ballpark figures' (or 'approximations' or a 'rough guess') as to how much I charge to design and build websites. It's meant as a first step to give you an idea so at least we're on the same page when we get talking. I will still give you a proper, accurate fee proposal – that you can sign off and everything.

Here's a bigger version of the above graphic.
If you're a small business it might seem a bit more expensive than you've seen advertised on flashy sites but that's because I hand-build everything to your requirements with no templates; make sure it's SEO optimised and pay attention to all the details so it's pixel perfect. If you're a big company I might seem a bit cheap that's because I'm one man in a room (and I can always add a zero if it makes you feel better).
But what do those example combinations above mean, you cry. Well, a real-life site I've built that shows what the first example looks like would be Acuitas. Whilst something that looks more like the second example would be The Football Ramble. More questions? Contact me.
As reliable and consistent as they come but just how often has Javier turned out for Inter in Serie A?
Famed for his temper and card-collecting, how did Keane’s indiscipline relate to United’s success?
Those Latin Americans love a flamboyant goalkeeper - we take a look at how Chilavert and pals fare in the top 10 goalscoring goalkeepers of all time…
A visualisation of why Eric Cantona is a Manchester United legend - more goals, appearances and titles there than any of his other clubs. Mon dieu!
There’s been a lot of talk about what Arsenal need to get back to trophy-winning ways. If only they could call upon this man…
Following what would have been Bobby Moore’s 70th birthday, here’s an infographic comparing his England record with a certain Mr Beckham. Caps aren’t everything…
To put into context Pro Vercelli’s achievements in Italian football, here’s a chart of the all time Serie A title winners. They come above some big names…
When it comes to the classic footballing taunt of “show us your medals”, few can match Maldini, 25 years playing at the highest level and 1000 appearances for club and country.
That man Gullit could play all over the park. But did his position on the pitch correlate with the league position of his teams? It’s tenuous but we might be on to something…
In the week Ryan celebrates 20 years at Manchester United, we look at how he’s outlasted the rest of his teammates.
It's the end of 2011 but rather than look back on things we're taking it forward to 2012 and having some stabs in the dark at what's going to be big next year along with a couple of special guests. These things include future payments, tiny printers, online TV with Zeebox and Diaspora, there's also reviews of Supercut, new Spotify, Pinterest and we run down the latest in the redesigns at Google and the BBC. Not enough? Find loads more content at webgun.net
Hello! On this podcast with the best and worst of the web there's Spot-a-like, Subtle Patterns, Matt's new project Fanroom, Sky doing TV online and Chris' new fave game High Noon. Other things that get looked at include auto-renewing web hosting, a terrorism-related app and the return of What Are Facebook Up To Now? It's (almost) an hour of fun! All our reviews and casts are at webgun.net
This edition of the podcast that tells you where to spend your time online looks at Soundboards, Desert Island Discs, Abeano (however you say it) and Wunderlist alongside a new tube map, an exclusive drinking club and humble-bragging. Plus we have an interview with Aussie James who tells us about how his one-joke site went massive. There's even time for a chat about Google Plus. All our reviews and casts are at webgun.net
On this episode we're embracing our new format and telling you about the stuff we love and hate. These are Songkick, Font Squirrel, Mid Morning Matters, one-joke-sites, the Scottish National Standard Bearer, infographics, press conferences and a cathedral website. But what do they think of them? You'll just have to listen won't you? And the website's had a redesign so you'll want to check out webgun.net
WebGun is back! After nearly a year, Matt and Chris get a second series! They're here to tell you about the best and worst of the web they've come across in the last few weeks. This time out they're talking about Grain and Gram, Google Docs, webshow Immersion, new animated GIFs, Charlie Sheen, Nice Websites, Tumblr and Chris' new pet hate: smugnoble videos. Of course there's loads more at webgun.net
Episode 19 is Chris and Matt's chance to take a proper look at the Apple iPad and decide if it really is going to change the way we consume the web. Guest Joe shows off some of his favourite apps, from games to magazines before we put the pad to the test against the iPhone and a laptop to see which you really need. The Real LOL continues the theme by seeing an iPad get blended. Find out more at webgun.net
This 18th episode of our podcast sees us review the online freeview service TV Catchup as well as Get Some, a dustep blog offering some free tuuuunes and Fly 53's new look clothing site. Our feature piece is on the different tools for reading web content without a ton of ads. Cheeky. And when it comes to laughter, we've got it with the Teeside Tintin series of vids (rated 18, appropriately). Check us out at webgun.net
In Episode 17 we welcome DJ and Football Rambler Pete Donaldson onto the show and proceed to talk about the music discovery site mflow. We also take a look at the FIFA World Cup site and a virtual sticker album (comparing it to the real ones) before going mad at the sight of the NEET Recordings website. Pete provides a feature with some retro viral action and old computer games chat and our site that makes you really LOL is some rubbish lookalikes provided by Fake Faces. There's more at webgun.net
Episode 16 is where we turn our attentions to a comprehensive look at all the features of the ace Mixcloud; repurpose celeb-obsessed photo site Zimbio; admire the clothes on offer at Flatspot and warn you about WebGun fakes out there. We also have great fun ripping into Danny Dyer's terrible website. See loads more at webgun.net
Episode 15 takes aim at the subtle Youtube redesign; gives our verdict on all Vice sites from -style to -land and VBS and profiles audio tweeting/blogging site, Audioboo. Our guest Irish Dave covers his favourite free iPhone apps and there's a double real LOL of Youtube vids: American's go woo woo and London kids rap about Chicken Cottage delights. See loads more at webgun.net
Another fine episode of the web review podcast but from a different location. We do a first and review a Youtube channel, as well as a site catering for the animated gif and we look at Peter Jones' operations online. Our big feature is deciding the general election based on the parties' websites. The real LOL is a mental shrine to a minor cartoon character. Get involved at webgun.net
Episode 13 of the podcast that puts you onto the best new websites we find. Our reviews take in the differing worlds of the ace TED site; the new Mclaren F1 experience and music experience thesixtyone. Our big feature of the cast takes us from cockney cash machines to how to avoid being mugged (offer your bum). The real LOL can be best summed up as meat - mainly ships and hats. Get involved at webgun.net
Episode 12 of the podcast that shoves new websites in your ears contains a few rapid reviews and some longer chat. This time out we review Flavors, where you can make your own site; Footytube football highlights; nighttime iPhone app Sleep Cycle; emerging music site We Are Hunted; compare Mitre against Umbro and have some fun taking Chat Roulette for a spin. Contribute at webgun.net
It's a special episode 11 of the podcast that puts you onto less well-known websites. In a rapid review format we get through ten websites, including: Captain Buckioe's illustrations; wireframing with Mock Flow; Chex cereal; video journalism; almost porn with Coco's World; Abbreviations; cross-fading Youtube vids; colour scheme designer; Lomography's site and How To Be A Retronaut. Contribute at webgun.net
It's episode 10 of the podcast that gives you hints and tips for the web. This time we talk about a trivial quiz site called Sporcle; try and work out what the whole Adidas/Star Wars hook-up is all about; get joined by our special guest Tom, who also teaches us about Click to Flash. We take a look at Tag Crumbs and Foursquare before laughing at North American Wrestlers. Contribute at webgun.net
Hello there! Our first podcast of 2010 sees us review a site for finding stations to listen to in Compare My Radio; debate whether Google Chrome is any good; get distracted by thoughts of crisps with place reviewer app Rummble; review our own new site and ask where is the star of Malcolm in the Middle now and can we be his penpal? Featuring live Stylophone jingles. Contribute at webgun.net
It's our Christmas 2009 special featuring guests Dave and Nam and where we find a bunch of sites that tenuously relate to presents and the festive season: the race for Christmas no.1 with Tune Checker; Photoshop for all with Pixlr; old men's clothes at Peter Christian; and the web takes on Tiger Woods in the Real LOL. Plus tab-ophobia and cracker jokes! Contribute at webgun.net
This edition of the website review show we like to call WebGun presents a way of getting clothes without paying thanks to Covert Candy; a web fail from drinks makers Hell Energy; soccer banter in the aggregator from Football Filter; urban banter thanks to Grime Daily; and our Real LOL is the excercise device Shake Weight. Contribute at webgun.net
After two months off we're back with a new format â€" less news, more reviews. There's style from Notcot; an intro to the Jedward game; Mixcloud present a new way to listen to music; What The Hell Are Facebook Doing Now?; some awesome infographics in Design Geekout; a look at Matt's Youtube vid and Robert Popper provides the Real LOL. Contribute at webgun.net
Episode 5 of our web reviews and recommendations sees us talking about Facebook Lite; Zune HD; that Kanye West chap; the travel site Unlike; music streamers Grooveshark; and a Design Geekout. As always there's plenty of banter, stories and of course, a Real LOL! Visit and contribute to this podcast at webgun.net
Episode 4 of our look at the world of web, looks at screens in magazines, micropayments, spuds for laptops and focuses on design portfolio tool indexhibit and stat gathering site Daytum. As always there's plenty of banter, stories and of course, a Real LOL! Visit and contribute to this podcast at webgun.net
The second episode of what is fast becoming everyone's favourite light-hearted look at the world of web. This time with tweeting sportsmen and Microsoft's 'Spotify TV' in New Things; reviews of Dustin Curtis and delicious; a Design Geekout and of course, Real LOLs! Visit and contribute to this podcast at webgun.net