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Author Archives: Alison Young

Tube or False

TFL’s new ad campaign on the tube has caught my eye…

Tube or False

The seat cover is from a design which appeared on the Northern Line in the 1930’s

This got me thinking, a. Because obviously our office is based in Covent Garden and b. As a massive geek, I was naturally quite excited and thought, yes I think it’s true, or in this case ‘tube’.

It’s a way of using traditional tube advertising but making people go online to find out the answer and lots more. An interesting way of making the tube interactive!

The point of the site is to show what a rich heritage the underground has, and what a place for art and design it is as well as providing us with lots of interesting facts. At the same time it gets people online onto the TFL site so it can promote more of the initiatives it’s currently undertaking. It’s a fun little project which I hope has caught people’s eye in a bid to show what history lies below us in London and how the underground, even as the oldest in the world, is moving with the times.

You can play tube or false online now by clicking here.

We’re looking for… a PHP frontend developer!

We are looking for a PHP Frontend Developer to join our fast paced team in Covent Garden. Ideally you will have:

- Excellent skill and at least 2 years experience in using PHP.
- At least 2 years experience in using MySQL.
- At least 2 years experience in using Javascript. (This should include the use of third party JS libraries such as Prototype, Moo Tools, JQuery, etc. as well as extensive use of AJAX.)
- Experience in using CSS.
- Experience in using Smarty PHP Templates.
- Experience in installing, configuring and maintaining a LAMP environment.
- Experience in working with Content Management Systems

If you would like to apply, please email your CV and covering letter to: Alison@graphicalliance.co.uk

We’re looking for… A Senior PHP Frontend Developer!

We are looking for a senior PHP frontend developer to join the GA team! Ideally you will have:

- Excellent skill and at least 4 years experience in using PHP.
- Excellent skill and at least 4 years experience in using MySQL. (This should include a good knowledge of the SQL language to be able to build and optimise complex queries.)
- Excellent skill and at least 4 years experience in using Javascript. (This should include the use of third party JS libraries such as Prototype, Moo Tools, JQuery, etc.and also extensive use of AJAX.)
- Good skill and at least 2 years experience in using CSS.
- Experience in using Smarty PHP Templates.
- Experience in installing, configuring and maintaining a LAMP environment.
- Ability to evaluate design templates and consider feasibility of various solutions for implementing required functionality.
- Ability to innovate and prototype complex user interfaces using HTML, CSS, Javascript and PHP.
- Ability to show initiative and propose or develop alternative solutions/methods/practices.

If you think you have what it takes to join our team, please send a covering letter and CV to: Alison@graphicalliance.co.uk

Frame of Honour!

Frame of Honour

Albeit it a few years too late (4 to be exact), I have recently discovered the joys of using Twitter and ‘Tweeting’. It is such a good way of keeping abreast of what is going on around the world, to find out about all the latest events, the latest trends, and also to read amusing titbits from celebrities to Mummy bloggers. It is a great social media tool which is being utilized more and more by businesses as a platform to keep people updated on products and events. You can also just chat to fans.

Whilst I don’t really understand people who are so addicted they tweet good night to their followers and inform us when they are having a cup of tea, I do like to see what affects people, what opinions are flying round that day, how Twitter can influence your purchasing decisions, and just how quickly news in disseminated… as soon a something happens it will be on Twitter.

The phenomenon of writing a sentence of only140 characters to create something witty and interesting, or boring and factual, is still keeping people going 4 years after Twitter was launched. I wouldn’t like to speculate on how long Twitter will last, but I can say that for the time being, I for one am hooked – and now I’m off for a cup of tea!

Frame of Honour!

Frame of honour

Here at Graphic Alliance HQ, we are always trying out new things.  Through our blog, we’ve brought you our Monday Morning Munchies, because we know Monday mornings are hard, and our Friday Famous Five, so that we can deliver you the latest celebrity news. All interspersed with a spattering of online marketing know-how.  Well, drum roll please – the next addition to our blog is here, and we have named it “Frame of Honour”. In a nutshell, we will be awarding someone, or something, our “Frame of Honour” every week. This prestigious accolade can be bestowed on anyone or anything, for reasons that are subject to change. Here is this week’s Frame of Honour…

This week’s frame of honour goes to the as yet unopened Snog Shop in Covent Garden. Snog, a chain which sells frozen yogurt, are opening up a shop just round the corner from our office in early spring. I was walking past the site the other day and noticed that they were using their unopened site location to advertise a social media campaign which promotes their new store. The campaign is “Tell us about your first snog…” In the run up to the opening, snog are giving away one hundred free ‘snogs’ (yogurts not kisses, sorry) to the people with the best stories about their first snog. To do this you either Tweet them or use their Facebook page. It’s great way of engaging with their prospective customers and creating noise about their latest shop opening. It’s also eye catching and bold and has certainly got us talking in the office! Now we just need it to open so we can get our hands on some yummy frozen yogurt!

Monday Morning Munchies!

MMM211209

It’s the final MMM of the year and the Monday before Christmas, so what could be more fitting than the festive and very yummy traditional mince pie! Fun and very Christmassy- a perfect way to start the week! Now all we need is a glass of something to go with it, it is Christmas after all… Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!!

Monday Morning Munchies!

cherry bakewell

This morning, we are munching on Cherry Bakewells,  which have been chosen for their retro appeal, as well as their delicious and satisfying taste. Also, eight exceedingly good cakes for the price of six makes them the perfect credit crunch snack.

Oh, he does make exceedingly good cakes…

Graphic Alliance