Reply to: [log in to unmask]
Free website design: Pilot Project Offer to MCG subscribers
The Pilot Project Offer from an image management company is to create a
database-driven website *for free*. This software is very easy to use, can
be fully user-managed, and has an innovative browsing capability. It is in
the beta-testing stage and the software company is *looking for a partner
in the libraries, museums, and art galleries sector*.
The software company is looking for a discrete collection or part of a
collection that could be fully rendered online. They would be responsible
for implementing software, website design, management and hosting, for
free. The partnering library, art gallery, or museum would be responsible
for scanning the digital images, creating a catalogue, keywording and meta
data, if this was not already existent.
The software company are looking for a “complete” subject of less than 500
low-resolution images – for instance the entire work of a particular artist
or a particular local collection so the finished project would be a
complete work from the point of view of both management and aesthetics.
Obviously the software company would want to continue a relationship with a
successful project partner. In that case there would be charges – to be
negotiated – for further additions to the website, hosting, management and
technical support but the company stresses that “We can be very flexible on
these matters and fit in with whatever level of budget will be appropriate
for the end-user, depending on what services they require. ”
Benefits:
1. The pilot website is *totally free for a 6-month evaluation period*.
This means that the client organisation will avoid development costs.
After the 6-month period, if the client were satisfied with the website,
then there would be costs involved, as above, depending on the number of
images on site.
2. As this is “beta-testing” the image management software the partnering
organisation would have a unique input into the design of the product. If
you buy off-the-shelf software this does not happen.
3. Much shorter timescale than starting a project from scratch. As the
software is ready, there would not be the delay and debugging from
implementing a custom-coded software design.
4. The website would be more sophisticated and scaleable, being database-
driven, than a static html site.
5. Ease of browsing and access for websurfers.
6. Ease of user-management for the partnering organisation.
Further information from digital image consultant Julian Jackson, who is a
member of the Picture Research Association and has acted as a consultant to
the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies (BAPLA) and the
Association of Photographers (AOP).
Tel: 020 7635 9720; Fax: 020 7277 8122; e-mail: [log in to unmask]
website: www.julianjackson.co.uk
|