Design for the Web
- Graphics for the Web
- Banners for the Web
- Mockup Designs for Websites
- Icons for Websites
- Graphics for Websites
Unicorn Graphics specialises in creating design mockups for customers who wish their designs to be programmed by someone else.
This means that you get something unique.
Icons, graphics and banners for websites are also a specialty - these are like mini advertisements and can make your website look different.
We also create websites for clients who wish for Unicorn Graphics to do the updating.
If you wish to update and add pages to your website yourself, then we can create a mockup home page for you in and point you in the right direction of web programmers who can provide a website with CMS - a content management system - for future updates. See our FAQS About Websites for more information.
FAQS About Websites
Graphics for Websites
We create banners - still and moving and other elements to make your website look good. We also convert documents to PDFs for downloading documents from your internet website.
Web Design
This website was created by Unicorn Graphics and is updated regularly. We create unique websites to co-ordinate with your brand or a concept to send to your own web designer to program from.
Concept Web Design
We prepare concept designs to size if you wish to take a unique design to a web developer of your choice in order to prepare web pages that can be updated by you. (A web developer is the best person to create sites that you can update your self with a CMS - content management system.)
Should I look for a web designer locally or anywhere?
The internet makes everyone close. I have worked with clients that are international as well as within Australia. The important thing is to be able to communicate - at the least by email directly.
Does a web designer design logos or should I have one before I approach them?
In a great website normally both a designer and web developer are involved. Sometimes one person is both. The designer is best at ‘designing’, whereas a web developer is a specialist in all kinds of coding, particularly if you require a very complicated website.
A logo and branding requires research, discussion, thumbnails, development and final analysis with suggested colours and fonts for consistency in the future across all applications. It is not a 30 minute process. Every client is an individual.
Unicorn Graphics creates all kinds of logos and branding - and the important thing is that they must cross all kinds of applications and media from websites, to stationery, to posters and screen media etc. See more on this page about the logo process.
Should I let the web designer make changes or can I do it myself?
Sending occasional changes to the designer to upload for you for a small fee can be more cost effective than asking for a CMS system. A CMS or Content Management System can be incorporated at quite an additional cost. This system varies - some systems are independent. Others are dependent on the hosting system.
Who provides the web hosting?
There are all kinds of web hosting. The company I use and recommend is known for very fast access hosting. I know of some others that are cheaper but the websites hosted are a lot slower to access. It depends on the person's preference and budget. And also their location. All can be arranged by the designer if you prefer. But there will be an ongoing monthly or yearly fee for hosting plus a domain renewal every two years (.com.au) or one year (.com).
Who owns the domain name?
The person who registers the domain name should put it in the client’s name. Not all do. All my clients own their domain names and are free (as long as everything is paid up) to move their domain names and web hosting of their pages to any host they wish in the future. I believe it is important that my clients have that choice.
What about shopping carts?
There are different types of shopping carts: Custom, PayPal, inbuilt (such as Shopfactory, eCart) and many others. Some web hosts also incorporate shopping carts as part of their DIY 'template' service.
An investment in a new website can be daunting, but if you wish to discuss further, please contact Unicorn Graphics.
Favicons
A favicon is a little graphic that shows with your web address. Example:
You can send us your logo (a JPG is ok) and we can make a favicon to insert on your web pages. The extension is both .gif and .ico and we send the icons and the text to insert via email.
You then insert a small amount of code in your web page and upload the graphic to your root directory and it's done.
We create banners - still and moving and other elements to make your website look good. We also convert documents to PDFs for downloading documents from your internet website.
Web Design
This website was created by Unicorn Graphics and is updated regularly. We create unique websites to co-ordinate with your brand or a concept to send to your own web designer to program from.
Concept Web Design
We prepare concept designs to size if you wish to take a unique design to a web developer of your choice in order to prepare web pages that can be updated by you. (A web developer is the best person to create sites that you can update your self with a CMS - content management system.)
Should I look for a web designer locally or anywhere?
The internet makes everyone close. I have worked with clients that are international as well as within Australia. The important thing is to be able to communicate - at the least by email directly.
Does a web designer design logos or should I have one before I approach them?
In a great website normally both a designer and web developer are involved. Sometimes one person is both. The designer is best at ‘designing’, whereas a web developer is a specialist in all kinds of coding, particularly if you require a very complicated website.
A logo and branding requires research, discussion, thumbnails, development and final analysis with suggested colours and fonts for consistency in the future across all applications. It is not a 30 minute process. Every client is an individual.
Unicorn Graphics creates all kinds of logos and branding - and the important thing is that they must cross all kinds of applications and media from websites, to stationery, to posters and screen media etc. See more on this page about the logo process.
Should I let the web designer make changes or can I do it myself?
Sending occasional changes to the designer to upload for you for a small fee can be more cost effective than asking for a CMS system. A CMS or Content Management System can be incorporated at quite an additional cost. This system varies - some systems are independent. Others are dependent on the hosting system.
Who provides the web hosting?
There are all kinds of web hosting. The company I use and recommend is known for very fast access hosting. I know of some others that are cheaper but the websites hosted are a lot slower to access. It depends on the person's preference and budget. And also their location. All can be arranged by the designer if you prefer. But there will be an ongoing monthly or yearly fee for hosting plus a domain renewal every two years (.com.au) or one year (.com).
Who owns the domain name?
The person who registers the domain name should put it in the client’s name. Not all do. All my clients own their domain names and are free (as long as everything is paid up) to move their domain names and web hosting of their pages to any host they wish in the future. I believe it is important that my clients have that choice.
What about shopping carts?
There are different types of shopping carts: Custom, PayPal, inbuilt (such as Shopfactory, eCart) and many others. Some web hosts also incorporate shopping carts as part of their DIY 'template' service.
An investment in a new website can be daunting, but if you wish to discuss further, please contact Unicorn Graphics.
Favicons
A favicon is a little graphic that shows with your web address. Example:
You can send us your logo (a JPG is ok) and we can make a favicon to insert on your web pages. The extension is both .gif and .ico and we send the icons and the text to insert via email.
You then insert a small amount of code in your web page and upload the graphic to your root directory and it's done.Software We Use
Artwork and layout is normally begun from a pencil rough sketch.
Then we go to the computer and use the Adobe Suites for graphic design.
Currently artwork is created using a combination of Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat.
Illustration is a combination of Corel Painter 11 for Mac and Photoshop CS5.
Web design is a combination of RapidWeaver and Dreamweaver CS5.
Adobe CS5 Suites
Other:
For word processing and accessing text files we use:
Screen presentations:
Then we go to the computer and use the Adobe Suites for graphic design.
Currently artwork is created using a combination of Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat.
Illustration is a combination of Corel Painter 11 for Mac and Photoshop CS5.
Web design is a combination of RapidWeaver and Dreamweaver CS5.
Adobe CS5 Suites
- Indesign v7 CS5
- Illustrator v15 CS5
- Photoshop v12 Extended CS5
- Acrobat Professional 9 CS5
- Dreamweaver 11 CS5
- Premiere Pro CS4
Other:
- Corel Painter 11 (for Mac)
- RapidWeaver (Mac only)
For word processing and accessing text files we use:
- Pages (Mac)
- Word Mac 2008
Screen presentations:
- Premiere CS4
- Keynote (Mac only)
- Powerpoint
