Cadburys

Perfect for children (like me), this website is like one of those cd-roms you have when you're little where you can click on anything and something happens. And for those who aren't interested in this, there's a simple list menu along the top. A website designed for children to navigate alone or with their parents, it is fun and friendly, and uses the distinct Cadbury's purple throughout. I also really like the loading bar which was bouncing around the page carried by hot air balloons (as seen in the background landscape of the site)... it really is the small details which make all the difference. 

I particularly like the gift section, where hampers and presents are available to buy and get delivered, for work or at home. Dozens of recipes to try out at home, all including Cadburys. Not a good website to visit if you're on a diet (unless you have very strong willpower) as it really does make you crave chocolate! 

If you're interested in having a look, click here.

Don't be a numptee

I came across Numptee when my boyfriend came home from work, and being an employee of Yorkshire Water, told me about the new campaign which they have launched to try and reduce sewer flooding. Whilst this isn't a very nice subject, I went to their website to check out the video of Numptee being, well, a numpty. Flushing nappies down the toilet and cooking fat down the sink are two ways which contribute to sewer flooding, and Numptee aims to educate people in a fun way to try and get them to change their ways when it comes to disposing of waste. 

Now, I know that nappies shouldn't go down the toilet, and I also know that kitchen roll shouldn't go down the toilet. I didn't however know that cooking oil shouldn't go down the sink, and therefore in my opinion, even if I wasn't the biggest numpty in the world, I have still benefited from seeing the video as I have learnt something new from this character. The tone of voice of the video is fun, with the animated character getting himself covered in waste more than once. The flippant tone of the animation makes the viewer more inclined to keep watching, as a lecture in what not to do would just turn viewers away. By making the subject more fun, this animation has made the topic more likely to be listened to, as it is friendly as opposed to patronising. The use of the character also makes the video appeal to younger ages, who are often unaware of the consequences of flushing stuff down the toilet and in the sink, and therefore it acts as an educational video as well as a fun animation. 

Oliver Jeffers

I received a postcard this morning with Oliver Jeffers' illustration on the front, and was completely drawn into it. The illustration was of a child in a rocket, reaching out to try and catch a star. I wanted to find out more about Oliver Jeffers, so I visited his website listed on the back of the postcard and was fascinated (which, as it happens, is an interesting website in terms of design). I found that the illustration on the postcard is actually part of a picture book, called 'How to catch a star', and some of the other illustrations for the book were shown on the website, as were examples from his other picture books. 

The illustrations have been produced using watercolours on paper, which is how the muted colours have been achieved. The simple illustrations are really cute, and it is interesting how little needs to be shown to detail the story that Jeffers is trying to tell. He illustrates in an almost childlike fashion, without being condescending, with a simplicity that amounts to a spherical head, two dots for eyes and a curve for a smiling mouth. Despite this, the obvious emotion of the boy in the pictures is apparent, which makes the illustrations genuinely moving. As the boy's imagination takes him on a journey to catch a star, it is charming to see the world of the child which is not affected by the restrictions of the reality.

Nick Brandt Photography

I saw a snippet of the work of Nick Brandt in the Sunday Times magazine a couple of weeks ago, and my attention was immediately captured. Having travelled to Kenya this year for a holiday and safari, his photographs struck a chord with me having seen it first hand. I found a more complete portfolio of his work on the internet, at www.nickbrandt.com, and I think his photographs are absolutely fascinating. I just wish some of my photographs could have looked like this! 

ABSOLUT

After seeing flavours of ABSOLUT vodka that I didn't know existed (whilst on holiday), I decided to check out the website to see what else I'd been missing out on. And whilst I wasn't exactly blown away by the different vodkas (I was expecting more), I was impressed with the website. In aesthetics, it is slick and neat, simple and professional. In function, it is easy to navigate and contains information on everything from gin (?!) cocktails to bartender's secrets. 

Everything you need to know about alcohol on one very good-looking website.

www.absolut.com