In short, they quite like architecture.

Rocket worked once again with brand creatives Peter & Paul to deliver a new website that offers the Architecture Foundation a new online platform to inform and engage with their many audiences.

The AF run an exciting programme of events and projects in partnership with a diverse range of partners that include; Arts Council England and Tate Modern in London. A major requirement for the new website was to fully exploit social media to promote this programme of events.

Rckt has delivered a website that not only showcases Peter & Paul’s crisp new graphic identity, but uses video content, social media, book marking and sharing technology to deliver the AF’s content to as wide an audience as possible.

A crucial element to the project was the creation of e-newsletters, that allow the AF to communicate directly with their members, these closely follow the new visual style and pull new visitors to the content of the website, delivering a major stream of new visitors.

Home page of Architecture Foundation website

View Site here: Architecture Foundation

The HSE website holds an almost unimaginable wealth of information. Everything from cutting edge scientific papers on the management of nuclear material to videos showing care workers how to safely remove latex gloves. The website contains almost 50,000 pages of material all of which needed to be carefully and simply presented.

Here at rckt we believe in intelligent design, we consider every colour, every line, every word of our design. As a result our design process is iterative, with concepts and solutions created through an evolution in design. Our designs have a beginning, middle and end.

The evolution of the HSE homepage design

In the first iteration our focus was on adding content and beginning to organise it into logical areas on the page. This exercise quickly showed us that the main challenge was to convey the variety available on the site, without confusing people. By the next version things were beginning to feel more organised. Columns of similar content had been created and background colours were being used to group content together. By the final version a highly usable solution had been created. The home page has a hierarchy and the main areas of the site are obviously displayed. The design handles the variety of content in a clean unambiguous manner.

Simplicity increases intuition
By looking at rckt’s design approach to the header of the HSE website it’s clear to see our belief in intelligent design. Here simplicity is the key. When faced with too many options a web user will quickly get confused. Originally the HSE header contained 21 elements all competing for attention, we reduced this to 10, without compromising usability.

Subtle, but necessary design choices were also made to improve the presentation of the head. These include a new approach to the navigational tabs, a new treatment of the HSE logo and the introduction of a gradient that emphasises the tabs.

The old version of the header offers too much choice

The new cleaner version presents distinct options for the user

Based on the former location of the Electro Works, this building is quickly becoming recognized as one of the most inspiring offices spaces in Europe, gaining coverage across the globe. With a unique “Helter Skelter” installation, that can take occupants from the 3rd floor to the ground floor in 7 seconds, the offering is something very special.

With a project as prestigious as Electric Works we were looking for digital specialists that we could trust. Rckt were exactly what we needed, and more. They gave the project a suitably impressive online presence, giving Electric Works the prominence it deserves.

Toby Hyam
Electric Works

The site works not only as an introduction to the brand and space, but is an integral part of the internal systems for both occupants and management alike. From online conference booking to hiring equipment, all can be done with consummate ease. The site was an integral part of creating the buzz surrounding the build and launch.

Electric Works: Helter Skelter and external shot

www.electric-works.net

www.peterandpaul.co.uk

Sheffield City Council has recently embarked upon a major project to transform the way they use the Internet to deliver services and information. Learning of rckt’s specialist skills with intelligent design solutions the Council asked us to help them put their users at the heart of the review.

Firstly rckt had to build a logic around the process, investigating the purpose and content of the existing website, in order to learn what kind of user we needed place at the centre of the project.

Analysis of web usage feds into exploratory workshops

A review of web usage, analysis of user feedback and population research then led to the creation of web personas. These personas allow the project team to think like their users, humanising the design process.

The personas created for Sheffield City Council

In a large organisation such as ours it is often difficult to keep sight of our end-users. The tools that rckt have given us allow us to do just this. Based on logical assumptions the personas also combine clever insights and real personal information, allowing us to get into the minds of our target users.

Julie Bullen
Head of Customer Services, Sheffield City Council

Image by: timparkinson

Organic growth over ten years, up to two hundred updates every month and at least 30,000 pages. The structure of the HSE’s website has a lot of responsibility on its shoulders. Unfortunately the structure can no longer cope, resulting in a confusing, often disorientating user experience.

Rckt we’re asked to create a web structure that delivered an engaging and intuitive user experience. To tackle this seemingly daunting task rckt employed our tried and tested information architecture model.

We base all our decision making not on gut feel or intuition, but on solid facts and objective reason. The result? Exciting design backed by a watertight rationale. So where did we begin with the HSE?

The rationale behind rckt’s approach

Alongside a team from the HSE rckt embarked upon a series of structured workshops to define and manipulate the vast quantity and variety of information into a logical structure.

Site Mapping in Progress

Rckt’s iterative workshop method delivers a user-centric logic to information architecture

This process has created a completely new approach to the structure of the HSE website, categorising all information into five distinct subject areas. These top-level areas give the user an instant overview of the whole site, allowing them to make informed decisions about where to go within the site.

The five global subject areas developed for the HSE

Over recent years the University had been creating video content, but this needed bring together into one powerful online home.

Rckt know us very well, and have a intrinsic understanding of our brand and its values. They have brought this brand understanding to the fore in creating a single home for our online video content. This gives us a great platform to use for student recruitment across the world

David Stanley
The University of Sheffield

Youtube Channel

It was this in-depth market knowledge that the University of York were seeking when they asked rckt to develop a fresh visual approach to attracting students to their range of PGCE courses.

We gave rckt a simple yet challenging brief; create something a little different, that makes us stand out, and make every element feel part of a family. We were delighted with the results, as our profile at recruitment events has been raised beyond our expectations.

A. Person
University of York

Rckt’s solution was based around an extremely adaptable ‘Q & A’ concept, which could be used to promote a wide range of subjects. A light-hearted, humorous tone and visual style linked all the elements of the marketing collateral together.

Math Leaflet

Established in 1958, Jefferson Sheard Architects started out in a Sheffield office working on small regional commissions. Fast forward to 1964 and a London presence, then again through the ’70’s and an international reputation.

Present day – JSA found themselves stagnant in a progressive market. A need to move forward quickly, to instil a sense pride in the workforce and improve their standing in a competitive marketplace was paramount.

Jefferson Sheard Website

Utilising a rejuvenated new brand, designed by our friends Peter & Paul, rckt created a website that brings the JSA story full circle. Highlighting their expertise and international standing by delivering a powerful online showcase for their impressive portfolio.

www.jeffersonsheard.com

www.peterandpaul.co.uk

Rckt were given some of BBC’s hottest programme titles to explore, including The Apprentice. Our brief was the create tools and user interfaces that allowed viewers to bookmark, share and tag programmes using existing online social networks such as facebook.

The challenge the BBC gave rckt was to recreate the online experience, known as the 2ft experience, in the living room, also known as the 10ft experience. On the face of it this sounds easy. However, we needed to create tools that could be used without a mouse, without a keyword and sitting 10ft away from the TV screen.

Image of sir alun tags

Exploring how a viewer would navigate tag clouds