• 5th Jun

    The new EU cookie law and how it might affect you

    A new EU cookies law came into affect in the UK on 26th May - this quick run down explains what cookies are, how your websites might be effected and what, if anything, you can do.

    What's a cookie?

    It's a small text file that a website stores on your computer. They contain bits of encrypted (hopefully) information, such as the date you last visited, products you've recently viewed or preferences you've set on the website itself.

    Many websites, especially e-commerce ones, would not work without them.

    What's the law?

    In simple terms, that websites using cookies should only do so at the request of the visitor.

    There are exceptions within the new law for the use of "necessary" cookies, such as those needed to add a product into a shopping basket.

    Will it affect your website?

    Generally we only use what would be considered "necessary" cookies on the websites we build, however the law does not exclude the use of analytic software.

    Almost every website we've ever built has Google Analytics installed on it.

    What should you do?

    Assuming you are using Google Analytics.

    If you're really concerned you have two options:

    • We can remove Google Analytics from the website altogether ‐ but you'll have no information on your visitors.
    • We can update your website so it asks each user if they don't mind Google Analytics setting a cookie ‐ but you will annoy your visitors and you'll only have 50% (or 30% or 70%) of the information on your visitors.

    If you're mildly concerned then you could add a Privacy Policy (or update it) to include the fact your website uses Google Analytics. This doesn't officially cover you though.

    If you're not concerned at all, carry on as you were.

    What will we be doing on our website?

    This is our opinion only. We're not solicitors. If you're unsure seek legal advise.

    Personally, we'll be continuing to use Google Analytics, at least until the majority of government and publicly funded websites either remove Google Analytics or ask for their users permission.

    Here's a few websites we've found still using Google Analytics:

    In reality, browsers will need to change their default settings if this was ever to happen.

    More information

  • 8th Jul

    York Dragon Boat Race

    Dragon boat racing smurfs

    Smurfs in a dragonboat (Photo © Bill Tyne)

    On Sunday 11th July Jon Irvine will be racing, along with fellow Make York members, in the eighth York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge.

    The racing takes place over a 250 metre stretch of the river Ouse. As well as the racing there are stalls, BBQs and other activites.

    For more details see the York Rotary Dragon Boat Challenge website

    The sponsorship money raised by the Make York team will be split between St Leonards Hospice and Our Celebration.

    If you're in York - be sure to get down and see the action!

    If you'd like to sponsor us - you can do so at Just Giving.

  • 10th Mar

    Shambles - Britain's most picturesque street!

    The Shambles

    Shambles, York

    We're pleased to have our offices on Britain's most picturesque street, as voted for in the recent Google Street View awards.

    Shambles Photos

    Further reading:

  • 7th Oct

    5 Star Approved Supplier

    We are chuffed to announce we've achieved "Approved Supplier" status for the Yorkshire and Humber Supplier Register. Our rating is currently 5 stars.

    Our approved status means we're able to offer our services to clients who receive funding from Business Link.

  • 4th Jun

    The scope of e-commerce in the UK today

    Some interesting statistics from Nominet's (the UK domain registry) Annual Report, demonstrating how well established online selling has become in the UK:

    • 68.6% of the UK population (41.8 million) use the internet.
    • 55% of UK adults have purchased something online.
    • 17p in every £1 was spent online in the first half of 2008.

  • 7th May

    Exhibition of Rolling Stone covers artwork in York

    Our very own Lee Jeffs, aka Grafiklee will be exhibiting in The Living Room, York from 7th May until 17th June.

    Grafiklee's Rolling Stone covers exhibition

    Come on down this evening from 6pm for a free glass of wine!

    Location of The Living Room, York

  • 24th Nov

    Temporary VAT reduction

    Today, the Chancellor announced a temporary reduction in VAT to 15 per cent.

    The standard rate of VAT will be reduced from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent, from 1 December 2008 until 31 December 2009.

    This temporary reduction is likely to effect thousands of online shopping websites, many of whom may have had VAT values hard coded into the e-commerce systems.

    Over the next week we'll be looking at the websites created by us and contacting our clients with regards to this change.

    If you have an online shopping website, but no website development company to deal with this reduction, please contact us.

  • 9th Sep

    Another new face at Designition

    We are pleased to announce another new member of staff at Designition.

    Jonic joined us on the 1st September. He'd previously been doing various freelancing around the city and dreaming of having a proper job.

    Before anyone asked, his real name is Jonic - he changed it some years ago.

    If you'd like to meet Jonic in person feel free to drop by our office for a chat.

  • 31st Jul

    Client website wins national award

    Focus Online Management, one of our oldest clients, has won a national award for their online bingo portal WhichBingo UK which was designed by their in-house team and developed by Designition Ltd.

    The website is managed using a template driven content management system, developed specifically for purpose, giving them complete control on website design and content. This system is also used on their international bingo portals: WhichBingo USA and QueBingo. Here's their press release with more details:

    Leeds-based Focus Online Management have scooped a national award ahead of a Dragon’s Den-funded website. The company’s website WhichBingo UK has been named the Online Bingo Portal of the Year at the Bullet Business Online Bingo Awards 2008.

    The awards were held as part of the third annual Online Bingo Summit at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London. Nominees were selected by a panel of industry leaders and votes were cast by over 250 attendees of the event.

    WhichBingo UK beat Dragon’s Den-funded Bingo Alerts and other contenders to claim the title. After collecting the award for best bingo portal, WhichBingo founder Phil Fraser said:

    We are thrilled and honoured to win this prestigious award. The award recognises and rewards all of the hard work and effort that the whole team put into creating a site that bingo players enjoy. It’s good that an independent company can beat off the challenge of larger, well-funded, London-based competitors.

    WhichBingo UK was launched in September 2004 and is the UK's largest directory of online bingo sites. The site also features game reviews, offers, news, competitions and player comments. Focus Online Management’s operations consist of a range of Online Bingo portals and Online Bingo game sites for the UK, US and Spain.

    Related links

  • 24th Jul

    A new face at Designition

    We are pleased to announce a new member of staff at Designition.

    Lee joined us in July from Mode Design where he worked on a number of projects in collaboration with us including Millers Yard and Minster Windows.

    If you'd like to meet him in person feel free to drop by our office for a chat.