Cape Town Tourism has just launched its new site for the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, www.capetown.travel/2010, which Flow designed and developed.
We’ve tried to make it as fun, informative and interactive as possible, using fan-focused content, and funky social networking features, which include:
* An interactive video portal where fans can upload their YouTube fan videos
* An interactive Google Map where users can explore the city’s major attractions and 2010-related events
* A Twitter feed where users can view 2010-related Twitter posts from around the world
* A slideshow of Green Point Stadium’s various stages of construction
* A 2010 blog with the inside scoop on Cape Town’s gearing up for 2010
* Frequently asked questions on topics such as stadiums, tickets and transport
* An accommodation section with the choice of nearly 1000 establishments for fans to book their accommodation for 2010
* Guides to getting around Cape Town, entertainment
hotspots and what to see and do in the Mother City
* A news feed of all 2010-related news from South African news outlets
* An email newsletter and SMS notification service, to keep fans up to date with the latest 2010 news and events relating to Cape Town
* A Member Zone where Cape Town Tourism members can download presentations and membership information
* Top 100 attractions to visit in Cape
Town while at the 2010 World Cup.
June 16th, 2009
Flow’s new staff-: L-R Sarah Gurney, Ryan Levenson and Neo Male
The Flow family has expanded once again with the employment of two graphic designers and a journalist: Neo Male, Ryan Levenson and Sarah Gurney.
Sarah studied at Rhodes University and holds an honours degree in English, with majors in English and Law. After marking thousands of first-year essays in her time as a tutor in the English Department, she has a great eye for detail.
“I am a words person – I enjoy editing and love writing,” she says. Before joining Flow, Sarah worked as a sub-editor for an online youth travel magazine called Hallo Crazy World.
She says she chose Flow because of its diverse range of clients.
Neo Male is one of Flow’s new graphic designers. After freelancing for the company in December 2008 she was presented with the opportunity to join full-time – which she did on the basis of the exciting work and friendly environment. She has a National Diploma in Graphic Design from the University of Johannesburg.
Neo has a flair for print design as well as a growing interest in web design. “I cannot think of a place I’d rather be than Flow,” she says.
Ryan Levenson, also a talented graphic designer, holds a BA in Communications Management, specialising in Creative Brand Communications, from Vega School of Branding and Design.
What Ryan likes most about Flow are the people, the environment and the exciting clients.
“Flow is personal; everyone knows everyone. It’s a company with personality!”
Flow would like to welcome these exceptional people to the team.
February 8th, 2009
Getting 2009 off to a creative start, Flow Communications has developed a website for a South African film and television production company, Left Hand Films.
This company, based in Johannesburg, prides itself on asking probing questions, taking risks and appreciating complex problems, both social and political.
In collaboration with Fort Greene Film Works, Left Hand Films has produced an eight-part documentary series, Saving Soweto, on the world’s largest hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath, in Soweto, which will be screened on Al Jazeera over the next eight weeks.
Flow graphic designer Ryan Levenson and web developers Richard Frank and Ruramai Nhapata worked together to deliver the site.
“It’s the first website we’ve built for a film production company, and it’s great to work in such a creative space,” says Richard.
“We used vertical navigation tabs, which gives the site its distinctive look.
“At the moment the site’s main aim is to advertise Saving Soweto. We decided to put the video trailer on the front page to capture people’s attention immediately and draw them into the site.”
January 9th, 2009
“I love order, enthusiasm, good design, new challenges, creativity and having fun at what I do – all of which I look forward to living out at Flow,” says Janet Berger.
Janet is Flow’s newly appointed design studio manager.
A former lecturer at some of South Africa’s top design schools including most recently Vega, The Brand Communications School, Janet has taught graphic design, design history, marketing and other related disciplines for the last 23 years.
She has an honours degree in graphic design and is a member of the International Society of Typographical Designers.
“After so many years of directing students on hypothetical projects,” says Janet, “I now want to put my skills to use on real live work and help create good communications that can make a difference. Flow’s client base should really allow for this.”
She describes herself as a passionate reader who is fascinated by people, and a movie buff who loves travelling – especially to new and exotic places.
Graphic designer Lorraine Gumede says, “I’m very pleased to work with an such an impeccable designer. Janet really has an eye for design.”
Says Ernie Joseph, another designer on the Flow team, “It’s great having Janet join the Flow team – she has a wealth of experience within the industry and I feel she brings a new dynamic to the team. We can all learn a lot from her with regard to design and the processes which should be followed, and we look foward to a long, lasting relationship with Janet. We welcome her with open arms!”
January 9th, 2009
January 1st, 2009
Cape Town Tourism is Cape Town’s official regional tourism organisation, and is responsible for destination marketing, visitor and industry services. In line with their mandate to market Cape Town, the organisation has just launched its new website, designed and developed by Flow Communications.
“Colour was taken from the existing marketing material, using summery, fresh colours which give a sense of energy, liveliness and a sense of the cosmopolitan to the site,” says Quentin Duncan, one of the team of graphic designers who worked on the site.
The site not only looks fresh and clean, but has taken a fresh approach to user-interaction, promoting Web 2.0 concepts.
Visitors are invited to make use of the “My Itinerary” functionality that allows them to create plans and lists of attractions they would like to see.
“We’re particularly proud of the itinerary functionality, which is seamless thanks to our use of AJAX, which means you can update your itinerary without refreshing the page,” says Richard Frank who led the programming work the site. “We used a similar approach for the accommodation module.”
The emphasis across the site is on user-focused content that will lead a visitor to first dream and then achieve their perfect holiday in Cape Town. There are jam-packed magazine-style features on all sorts of things one can see and do in Cape Town, as well as a Visitors Like You area which recommends items based on a particular visitor type.
The website showcases top attractions throughout the greater Cape Town area and provides a Top 100 list of places to visit, grouped into seven categories (Culture and Heritage, Nature and Environment, Outdoor and Adventure, Shopping, Wine and Dine, and Health and Wellness). These and other attractions can be added to or removed from the itinerary, using simple + and - symbols.
The site includes an accommodation database with its own search and filters, allowing users to narrow or broaden their results as required.
“Our chosen content management system, ExpressionEngine, is proving to be very flexible and is able to scale to the requirements of large websites with ease,” adds Frank.
Users are also able to network with Cape Town Tourism on StumbleUpon, Facebook, Twitter, TripAdvisor and Digg.
December 18th, 2008
TEACH South Africa is a non-profit organisation which aims to effectively respond to the education challenges in South Africa by utilising the talents of recent and other graduates from all disciplines.
From 2009 these future leaders will work as TEACH Ambassadors, who are paid educators, in disadvantaged rural and urban schools for a minimum period of two years, teaching maths, science, technology and English.
The new TEACH South Africa website, produced and designed by Flow Communications, encourages graduates to apply to become TEACH Ambassadors. Individuals, businesses and other organisations are invited to volunteer their time and expertise to support the TEACH project.
“Next year the plan is to develop the site to provide an online community for Ambassadors across the country, a home away from home where they can share experiences, get advice from their peers and access resources such as downloadable lesson plans,” says Lisa Gordon, media developer at Flow.
November 17th, 2008
Flow Communications has once again contributed to Wits University’s quarterly alumni magazine, the Wits Review, with feature articles and columns, photographs and cartoons.
Flow CEO Tara Turkington had the privilege of interviewing Nobel Literature Laureate Nadine Gordimer for the issue’s lead article. “It was one of the most memorable interviews I have ever done,” says Turkington. “Ms Gordimer was charming and inspirational to interview, rolling literary reference after reference off her tongue without barely thinking.”
Other articles contributed by the Flow team include a piece on Wits’ Disability Unit and its effort to address all areas of accessibility at the university, advice on stress management and a look at some time-honoured student traditions from pillow fights to naked scampers.
All contributions to the booklet were proofread by Lyrr Thurston, Flow’s chief sub-editor. Lyrr’s keen eye ensured that all copy was free of error, of a high standard and adhered to the style specifications of the client.
October 15th, 2008
The Journey of Hope is a breast cancer awareness initiative by 12 breast cancer survivors who are travelling around South Africa on Harley Davidson motorbikes, spreading a message of hope and bringing breast cancer education to women in rural and urban areas.
The eight-day ride kicked off on Saturday October 11 2008.
Flow Communications has contributed the Journey of Hope’s website design, hosting and maintenance to the cause.
The website carries updates about the journey, profiles of the women in the team, news of fundraising events, information about cancer, useful links, messages of support from the public, and an online donation facility.
Flow web developer Kate Thompson, who is a key member on the Journey of Hope website, says: “This client is so inspiring. The team members have incredible courage and have already achieved so much. I love that, in our own little way, we can contribute to this very important project.”
Annelie Saker, who is one of the Journey of Hope participants, is glowing in her praise of Flow.
“What a pleasant surprise their super-fast turnaround time has been! On a daily basis we have literally bombarded them with requests to upload images, stories, press releases, photographs, logos, songs and newsclips. Within hours they deliver … I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Click here to visit the website and learn more and leave the ladies a message of support.
October 13th, 2008
Bookkeeper Beverley Strimer, fondly known as Bev, has recently joined the company on a half-day basis. She holds a National Diploma in Practical Accounting.
She started her career many years ago in merchant banking, working in the money market, and hasn’t looked back since.
“Bev has been doing our books since 2005, when we were a tiny company working out of a bedroom. It’s really great to have her here on a permanent basis – we feel safe in her hands,” says Flow Communications CEO Tara Turkington.
Says Bev: “I chose Flow because it is a nice company, the employees are always happy and it’s a lovely environment to work in. I enjoy coming here every day.”
Flow welcomes Bev into the family.
October 12th, 2008
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