we offer...
Full Design Web Service
The website you always wanted...we do it all - we will help you write the text, commission the photos (or take some ourselves) talk you through what you need, and come up with your own best website. And it will work on the widest range of devices and browsers possible. Or perhaps you have an old website you're particularly fond of but it doesn't work in iphones, tablets, or anything other than a traditional computer screen? We'll overhaul the design and upgrade your website to be fully responsive. Or if you prefer, we can even duplicate your old website so it will look the same but work fully in all devices - the choice is yours. We are also a Registered Provider with NBSL and can help you apply for funding to their new funding scheme. If you are in Northumberland, North Tyneside or Newcastle council areas and meet their criteria then the North of Tyne Business Support Fund could provide up to 50% funding for projects that cost between £3,000 and £8,000 (VAT costs cannot be funded).Apps
For Android and iOS. We can provide apps that are responsive and reliable to give your organisation the best complement to a strong website. Our focus is firmly on your clients, giving users the best possible introduction to you, your product or your service. We can work to your brief, or we can work with you to come up with ideas for an app that will showcase you perfectly in this fast growing market...Hosting and Ongoing Support
For our own clients. Cheap, easy and free hosting for the first year when you buy one of our web packages (see prices). We register and set up your domain name (name of your website) and host your website on superfast servers - we take away the headaches and make sure that your website works just how you want it to 24/7. We can also provide ongoing support with office hours customer service and various options to suit your situation (and budget!) We can either update your website for you or provide it with a Content Management System in place (links you use to update it yourself).how we work...
We talk about it!
We can talk on the phone - though we quite like to meet for a cuppa while we talk in person - then we can chat through our list of questions that will give us all we need to know to come up with your website. Or we can email them to you for you to complete as a questionnaire if you prefer. We will also talk you through our packages (see 'prices') and advise you on which package is likely to work for you, or whether you need a custom quote.Pick your package...
We can do as much or as little as you like - pick a web template from one of our recommended suppliers, and we can simply turn it into your website, or we'll design from scratch based on our discussions, adding packages such as maintainance and social media management as you decide. As for price, pick a package or packages, or we can charge by the day/hour - it's up to you!We do the work!
You will get feedback throughout the process, and if you like, a prototype to check before we develop it fully. We will talk to you about and give you examples to make sure your site is accessible to as wide a range of users as possible, in line with WCAG 2.2 level AA as a minimum. We will optimise your site in line with current standards (though we can advise you and work with an optimisation specialist on your behalf if you want more guaranteed results) And within the agreed timescale your website will go live!We write code!
We write websites from scratch using code (mainly HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript and PHP) because we like to have full control over our own code. This will give you full control over your website...If something goes wrong after an edit, we can usually fix it in seconds by getting straight back into the code and adjusting something. The tech that we work with also includes various JavaScript 'frameworks' or 'libraries', mainly React & React Native and styling libraries such as Material UI, Bootstrap etc which help to ensure that your website will be fully valid and responsive and it will work as you intend it to in the widest possible range of browsers and devices (tablets, smart phones, desktop computers etc). And we offer the Content Management System that will work best for you, either a system such as cushycms that offers basic editing options which can be included in your package, up to custom wordpress style editing dashboards that we design especially for you. And throughout it all we work within Humane Technology principles meaning we consider the people using it and its impact on them, and aim to make technology comfortable, minimally-intrusive, and non-stigmatizing. We don't use infinite scrolling, click bait etc, because people don't like it and it's not good for them! We aim to look after your users so that they continue being your users.Who are we (actually it's mostly just me!)
Hopefully the most important thing is for you to see my portfolio and qualifications and know that I'm reliable, professional, qualified, a perfectionist, and I love design and coding! If you want to know anything else - see below...
My name is Carole Nissen. For many years I worked in
music and the arts but in 2015 retrained as a web
designer and developer. My qualifications including
CIW's 'Web Design Specialist' (which was a comprehensive
6 month course in Internet and Web skills with a final
exam) and CS50 - Harvard University's challenging and
comprehensive "Introduction to Computer Science" course, taken as part of the EdX platform.
Over the last decade I've undertaken a wide range of
self directed learning on Freecodecamp, Treehouse and
Udemy - widely recognised Computer Science and coding
training sites. This has given me a solid understanding
of the code and skills needed to produce websites, apps
and Graphic User Interfaces. I also have been trading as
Pixelist Design since 2015, working for a range of
clients developing and maintaining websites and apps as
well as working on my own mobile app start-up.
As someone who has worked freelance for almost my entire
working life, I have excellent time management and
organisational skills and a wide network of fellow
professionals in various disciplines who I am happy to
bring on board if your project needs it - so if it's
appropriate then you may get 'us' too...
(The short version) I have a long and complicated
history - most of it based in the Newcastle upon Tyne &
the North East! I started my working life as a puppeteer
and actor in a community theatre company and after
working freelance for some time after that I had a brief
spell working for the local council (my "I just reached
30 and need a proper job' job) before settling at
Riverside Independent Music Venue for the next 4 years,
where I worked my way up to the post of Assistant
Director. After leaving Riverside I worked freelance
again, gaining experience in other artforms and areas. I
then joined Northern Arts, as the Arts Council England
northern office was then known. I started as the 'Arts
for Everyone Co-ordinator', then was seconded to
coordinate Radio One Sound City in Newcastle - an
amazing experience! Then I became 'Special Projects
Officer' and after a few more years of freelance Arts
Consultancy covering a wide range of really interesting
work and working as a salsa dance instructor/dancer I
had some some time off with a major illness (now
recovered) and then I was ready for a change. After
retraining at the Inchbald School of Design in London as
an Architectural Interior Designer in 2006 I moved to
Spain for nearly 5 years, where I renovated property.
After that market somewhat dried up in 2010, I returned
to the uk to family commitments. As those commitments
became more manageable, I retrained again as a qualified
web designer/developer. In the last 10 years I've worked
sometimes full time, sometimes part time around family
commitments and health issues (2 bouts of Long Covid and
a spinal injury) - but nothing keeps me down for long!
Throughout my working life I have worked on music both
in my spare time and in my career - originally singing &
playing guitar in various bands, and then promoting
salsa music nights. I then moved on to DJing and dancing
salsa, promoting regular salsa nights, and holding/being
hired to run dance classes & dance exhibitions with my
dance & DJ partners while holding down a freelance
career as an Arts Manager/Consultant. After a major
accident I could no longer dance for a living - now my
interests centre more around cycling, travel (my
favourite trip so far? A 6 month sabbatical backpacking
round the world!), and remaining fluent in Spanish after
spending 4 years living in Spain. I still sing & play
guitar and I'm continuing to build my collection of
salsa and other music. I now also am a keen activist for
the Green Party and manage the local group's website and
other tech/design responsibilities. I also remain
involved in various arts initiatives in an advisory
capacity and am Chair of the Board of the Globe Gallery
- a visual art gallery based in North Shields.
Previous Work (examples)
Due to events in recent years several of my previous clients have had businesses that have unfortunately not survived, please note that some of the sites below are file copies because the businesses are not currently trading.
Websites
Graphic Design
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the image of the logo itself.
Bump to Toddler Hand Drawn Logo
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the image of the logo itself.
Bump to Toddler Flyer/Poster
Prices
These costs give you an idea of the packages available - you can choose one of these, or we can talk to you about your needs and quote you a specific cost for your site, or we can work on an hourly fee - we will talk you through all the options at your free initial consultation. And remember, for larger projects (over £3000) and if you're eligible, we can help you to apply for a grant that may cover up to 50% of the cost of your website (depending on price level)!
£250
Single page 'homepage'
From £750
Website - up to 5 pages
From £950 depending on content
Website - 6 to 12 pages
from £750
Apps
Hire Us!
Or just ask a question/say hello! If you're interested in getting us to design your website then just say that below and we'll phone or email you to discuss it or to arrange a meeting - if you prefer us to email you just leave your phone number blank. Or if you have questions about your potential website or our services, ask them here and we'll try to answer them!
Social Media
We will set up and design your facebook page, set up your twitter or instagram account, (or any other social media you want) and then hand it over to you or manage it for you - a phone chat once a week will give us all we need to post and tweet your latest news and views on your behalf - easy!