Andy Milk Interactive

We recently helped design, build, and integrate a content management system (CMS) for Pearson Education’s MyLabsPlus marketing web site.

With the help of Dovetail Interactive, we made this:

http://www.mylabsplus.com

Look and work like this:

http://www.mylabsplus.net

The best part is that the site is hands-off for us from now on.  Any and all edits can be made by the client’s team directly, without any need for a programmer or someone who knows how to code HTML.

It’s a wonderful thing!

Here’s a quick screenshot:

For you programmers out there, we used a jQuery plugin called Simple Show for the home page carousel.  We made several edits to it and heavily customized the look & feel, but that’s the basic engine back there.

And yes, the content in the carousel is supplied by the CMS.

Recently we helped EDB Media, Inc. build and launch an iPhone application. It’s called “Anger Management” and you can find it in the app store.

Here are some screenshots from the app:

Here’s a little blurb about it:
“It can help improve relationships, help users regain control of their lives and learn basic anger management skills while working privately and conveniently on their phones.”

And some more info about it:
http://www.personalpowerpath.com/iphone/angermanagement/

It’s been getting some attention and just recently, Elastic Communications worked with EDB Media to get some media attention for the app. Fast Company featured the app on its web site:
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/lydia-dishman/all-your-business/stressed-scared-angry-try-ther-app-y

Interested in building an app or promoting one? Contact us.

We just launched a new design and some new features for the ToeGoz.com web site.

First off, check out the new home page design:

And then a Flash custom flip flop creator.  You pick the style, color, font, and enter some custom monogramming and the Flash movie previews it for you.  You can then add it to your cart and purchase it.

You can see for yourself here:   http://www.toegoz.com

Happy New Years everyone!  Here’s to a great 2010!

Cheers,
Andy

This past summer and fall, we helped relaunch MyMathLab.com with a full site redesign and migration to a content management system. Big thanks to Sooz Media, Dovetail Interactive, and all the fantastic folks at Pearson.

There’s a lot of fun functionality sprinkled throughout the site, both server-side and client-side.  Have a look around:

http://www.mymathlab.com

We just helped a new site launch this week.

http://www.redefineconsign.com

Some information about the site:

Redefine Consign is the elite online consignment boutique that offers affordable designer merchandise to the fashionista in each of you. Concurrently, sensible-sellers may take advantage of our consignment portal and relish profitable returns & hassle-free service.

We built the site from the ground-up, featuring a product catalog, shopping cart, integration with payment processing, and a light content management system. Get in touch if you want more details!

We’ve launched Calisto100.com!  Here’s some info about the site:

Calisto100 is a community for students to vote and connect with other members from over 2,000 colleges and universities. Rate your favorite (or least favorite) photos, and have fun meeting new students on and off campus. Become a top 100 member by collecting higher ratings and more votes. Calisto100 is for students-only and 100% FREE. Upload a photo, create your profile, and have fun.

This site has been a long time coming and there are a TON of bells and whistles.

If you’re a college student, head here and submit a photo to the site:  http://www.calisto100.com/submit

If you just want to vote on students, go here:  http://www.calisto100.com/vote

One more thing:  We’re looking for Campus Ambassadors who are dynamic self-starters with a passion for marketing, public relations, and new media! Are you in college or grad school? Have a passion for start-up culture? Apply Here: http://www.calisto100.com/info/ambassador_application

These guys have been nothing short of amazing for my clients and me and I’m passing along some company news:

http://www.prlog.org/10308400-rails-hosting-leader-blue-box-group-acquires-rails-boxcar.html

We do that now too!

In conjunction with Elastic Communications, we’re now offering a wide range of public relations, marketing, and communications services. Elastic was the driving force behind all the press received and money raised for the Rock n’ Run benefit event this past spring.

Elastic and Andy Milk Interactive are currently knee-deep in work on the relaunch of Calisto100.com. Stay tuned!

I recently made the acquaintance of a designer through a project we were both working on.  After checking out her work, I saw that her style might match up very well with a couple projects that I had coming up that needed design help.  I proposed her work to my clients, who obliged, and then proposed the work to her.  In her email response, not only did she response in the affirmative for helping on the projects, but she offered me a small programming project that she needed help on.

I didn’t intend to get any work out of our interaction, but I learned a valuable lesson through it.  Offer some work to people and they might just offer it back! Sure, it’s usually luck or good timing that creates a situation like this, but it’s also good business, a little tit-for-tat, and the kind of offer that strengthens relationships with your colleagues, clients, and subcontractors.

Found this quoted & linked on Signal vs. Noise:    http://venturebeat.com/2009/04/29/10-lessons-from-a-failed-startup/

They loved this quote:

If you review your first site version and don’t feel embarrassment, you spent too much time on it.

I’m a fan of these couple:

I would also avoid money pits like PR firms, CPM ads, billboards, and TV/radio spots.

and

What’s new for me is painfully experiencing the gap between knowing and doing. Advice is thrown liberally around the Valley, but like a surgeon who has studied but never practiced, I think it takes a lot of hands-on experience to learn intricacies and exceptions. I think advisers should more often say, “You probably won’t get what I’m saying until you screw it up.” Expertise takes time, and pithiness comes with a cost.

Thought-provoking stuff here.  In the spirit of Agile Development, these guys promote making something tangible without nailing every detail down first.  Amen!