Position: Full time
Salary: Depending on experience and aptitude
Location: Nottingham City Centre
Recruitment Agencies: Jog on
Closing Date: When we have found the right person - so hurry up people! 

We are growing again... and our Elite SAAS development team needs some new blood.

Alight is a multi-disciplined Creative Web Design Agency but specialise in Branding, Graphic Design, Web Design and Web Software Development.

First and foremost, we are a design agency so exceptional design and user experience is at the core of everything we deliver, but, we are also a very technically capable bunch who build everything from scratch including our own CMS and E-commerce platforms.

We take great pride in what we develop, and always go to great lengths to make sure its bug free and gives the user an elegant and easy to interact with solution.

So if working with amazing designs, building complex and challenging websites and web based applications sounds like something you can get passionate about then read on.

For Model Coding:
We primarily develop in C#, ASP.net 2.0, 3.0. 3.5 and 4.0 so this is a must, and additional languages may also be an advantage; e.g. Python / Ruby / Java.
We use JavaScript quite a lot, so Mootools / JQuery and the basic language syntax should be familiar to you.
We use Visual Studio 2008 / 2010, so experience in this IDE will be a big advantage.
Knowledge of Unit testing, ASP.net MVC (1 or 2) and web testing would be ofadvantage also.  

For Data Handling:
Knowledge of MS SQL server is essential and a working understanding of Linq to SQL or Entity framework would be an advantage.

For Interface building:
You should know CSS and HTML should be intimately known, we support IE6.
Browser testing and troubleshooting visual and layout issues should be familiar to you.

So, if you have code flowing through you and want to step up, then either call us on 0845 009 8020 or email us at jobs@WeAreAlight.com

 

 

 

Clearly the populace think we are special

Thanks for the recognition we truly deserve as being the absolute saviour of good communication, and the passage of all that is good and true on planet earth today.

As the world looks to us I am drinking a cup of coffee and preparing for a production meeting that may just change the face of the Earth.

Don't take our word for it, take it from the Swedish ambassador to the world!!!

Work with the Earth's Communicators

If you would like to be part of this project of truth prosperity to all man/woman kind and you like designing websites then you should probably come and work for us

Deliver your project to the world

If you have a project that you want to put in front of the world and make a real contribution (as well as lots of cash) then you should probably get in contact and send us your project

Live long and prosper
;)

Position: FILLED
Salary: Massively dependent on portfolio and experience!
Location: Nottingham City Centre
Recruitment Agencies: NO, None, Zero, Lets say this again shall we - recruitment agencies go away!!!
Closing Date: Position Filled. But do keep an eye out for new positions!

Even though everyone is shrinking at the moment - we are growing and so yet again are having to further expand our already exceptional team  - but literally only the best will do.

Alight is a multi disciplined Creative Digital Agency that cover many things but specialise in Branding, Graphic Design, Web Design and Web Software Development.

First and foremost we are a design agency, so exceptional design is at the core of everything we deliver, but we are also a very technically capable bunch who build everything from scratch including our own CMS and E-commerce platforms - open source is for saps!

We have a gifted team of web developers to help breathe life into the amazing designs you will be creating, be clear we are not after a techy here - you are pure design through and through with a love of the web and digital. If you know some coding that's great too and we're sure that will come in useful.

We take only the best so you will need a portfolio full of stunning and beautiful work that should shows you have an extensive knowledge of User Experience (UX) and are a GUI god this all on top of just making things look amazing.

A good knowledge of SEO would be preferable, not delivering it, but knowing what works within sites to get the best results within the search, if not - this will be trained.

We do a lot of web but we also do a lot of branding and graphic design, so if your branding jedi and print master, then that will certainly add some gold stars.

We require minimum 3 years design agency experience working on large and small brands alike.

Ok I like it, what do I do...

If you don't like fun and can't crack a joke this ain't the place for you. However, if you have design flowing through you and want to step up, then either call us on 0845 009 8020 or email us at jobs@WeAreAlight.com

Whichever way you contact us be prepared to show us your portfolio site or at the very least send us a design portfolio PDF with links to work you have done.

Be Happy!
Alight

The wonders of design blogs

The design community is a fantastically growing world to be part of, where creative directors, designers, illustrators, programmers and developers are engaged and motivated by a variety of mediums (graphics, print, digital, moving image, film, video, etc). Discovering new trends as part of our daily working hours keeps us on our toes to produce quality work. As a result, we love to share, and all creatives enjoy a debate in or outside the studio! Proud to say, I'm one of those designers who keeps a close eye on design blogs daily to see the latest creative talents, styles, design agencies, festivals, exhibitions, events, collating via bookmarks and recording in note books - never know when you’ll need a creative boost or a reel of inspirations to kick start a new design brief.  Therefore, it’s partly true to say that design recycles new ideas and concepts. It’s the nature of the game!

Engaging moment

Waste & Gringo Records presented 'Floodit', which took place on Saturday 26th September 2009 at The Art Organisation in Nottingham. This screen printing and live music event came about from a lovely find on one design blog. At first, this concept seemed too good to be true. I literally had one of those passing moments, when a comment runs through your mind. It went something like 'ooooooh nice'. With an on-going passion for mixed media arts, traditional print making, quirky illustrations, characters, typography, colours, textures, paper stocks and meeting new creatives, it wasn't to be missed.

It featured work by Partchimp, Souvaris, Bad Guys, Guilty Parents, Julie West, Stu Subism, Waste, N4T4, Philth, Chris Balwin, I Dress Myself. Excellent line up of the juiciest creative talents in and around the East Midlands.

Design is an exciting passion and full of adventures

To be welcomed by a ticket seller who was munching away on a sizable plate of food was interesting to say the least. Stepping into the venue my eyes instantly lit up; the smell of fresh inks, screens lined up in a row, squeegees in full swing, a growing crowd and the start up of various rock/indie bands (rather loud and caused a slight ringing sensation in my ears the next morning – some good tunes in between though. Unfortunately, didn’t catch names as I was too busy exploring the designers’ techniques). Particularly liked how music tracks reinforced the surrounding mood, as it complemented the traditional hands-on nature of screen printing well.

Happily walking around and checking out the screen printing action, I got talking to designers and enjoyed finding out more about their styles and influences. Brilliant! From screen printing on kitchen towels, paper, T-shirts and bags, the possibilities were endless with this bunch.

It was only when I got a bit of fresh air outside, I soon found myself talking to two young graphic design graduates. The conversation flowed nicely between drinks, sharing stories, experiences of new ventures, university and keeping in design mode through the recession. As they were waiting for their screen prints to dry on the floor, my eyes kept peering over as I recognised the illustration style - it was indeed Jon Burgerman (at this point, I didn't get to make the full rounds to see all the designers - volume of people - and unaware of Burgerman's presence). 'Yeah, Jon Burgerman's here, have you seen him?' said one of the graduates. I had to ask again to be totally sure. My expression and response was priceless, so I have been told. Finally plucked up the courage to speak to Burgerman. This was one of my highlights of the night, having followed his work since university. Great, down-to-earth guy, with lots of creative flair. Open to talk to about his new projects. Also, happy to buy one of his screen prints, get a hand-drawn illustration of myself and a friendly message. The smile on my face only got bigger.

Living and breathing visual eye candy everyday

In this case as well as previous experiences, it proves that the nature and functionality of design blogs strike the right chord in creating awareness, advertising and inspiration to all beady-eyed designers. For me, such websites have opened doors, introduced mediums that motivate me to explore different projects and encourage me to move out of comfort zones.

Always keeping eyes and ears open

We at Alight are definitely looking forward to Floodit four. Having heard events one and two were such a success, I am sure we will be in for another dose of quality designers working their magic, in the next couple of months. I will keep you posted.

Kellogg's Vs Post

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago during the depression of America in the late 1920’s there were two main brands of packaged cereal, Post and Kellogg’s.

When the depression hit no one had any idea what would happen, as the concept of ready to eat packaged cereals was still a relatively new market and perhaps more of a luxury item when placed next to the more traditional cereals of the day such as oatmeal and cream of wheat.

Post went ahead and did what most companies tend to do when things get tough and predictably reigned their expenses and slashed their advertising budget.

Interestingly Kellogg’s looked ahead and doubled their advertising spend, they came up with the Snap Crackle and Pop campaign for Rice Krispies and aggressively marketed all their brands across the country, by 1933 Kellogg’s became the industry’s leader, a position they have maintained to this very day.

How to stand out

When everyone is advertising at full throttle it can be very difficult and expensive to stand out from the crowd. When everyone has reigned in their advertising, you can get a huge return on investment, and if done properly with a full service design agency it could be the safest bet you ever made.

So are you a Post or a Kellogg’s?

Are you ready to rush out, start advertising and marketing your way out of the recession, well if not, you should be. A study of advertising during the recession of 1981-1982 revealed those companies who  maintained or increased their advertising budgets grew precipitously over the next 3 years compared to those companies who had slashed budgets and enjoyed only marginal improvements. 

It is true that recessions usually make the strong stronger and the weak weaker. The weak will focus on surviving, and while money in the bank certainly helps in these leaner times, its the bold ones who can establish themselves as market leaders even leap-frogging their way to the top!

So which are you, or should I say which will you be?