Web site analysis - Ahoy! Design agency in Manchester

http://www.ahoycreative.co.uk/
Overview & aims
The primary focus of the home screen is to attract clients to the digital design company. It outlines the key design disciplines they employ, also displays their skills as an online company.
It looks as if the website is fairly standard layout, built in Flash, with a constant and simplistic grid layout.

I arrived at the website by a simple Google search under the terms Manchester Design Agency, so they have managed to raise quite a high profile in the Google rankings.
I like the section profiling the members of the team and their ethos as a company. The subtle use of motion in the site adds a visual interest to the look of the pages.
Branding for Ahoy is strong, and the continuity throughout is well positioned for the type of work the are courting. The logo is a type based design, with the word ahoy is a nautical term for exclamation of approaching land or something significant. This could signify awareness and insight, or the first to be informed of an approaching issue or development.

Content

The list of previous clients is impressive, with big branding work for Barburrito in Manchester one I recognised straight away.
There is a work bio for the members of the team, but the blog links next to them are not always recently updated. It looks a bit out of date, but is quite a common feature I have noticed when exploring other design agencies websites.





I love the contact page (find us) motion graphic, it's probably my favorite thing on the site. It's a shame the graphics on the homepage do not match the level of this one, which is tucked away toward the back end of the site.




Structure

The work is arranged into project thumbnails, outlining web, branding & print separately. This depth makes for an easy flow to the structure of previous clients work.

There is a constant and intuitive site map, with the main icons for navigation to the site easily accessed, and do not move or alter in size when navigating the pages.

Navigation 

There are text and image links within the structure of the site. The menus have multi-directional moving sub-menus, often with slick little moving banners revealing information or links.
This leads to an un-cluttered move visual dynamic, involving the site user to browse images before committing to reading the text information.
I cannot find any links to Facebook or Twitter on the site, also I have searched for them using my FB and Twitter but could not find any presence. Although these mediums are flooded with tweets and updates that no one reads, it is a cheap in time and money.

Visual design

The content is presented simply and concisely on the home page, with a mission statement and some motion graphics to balance the visual interest. there is an un-pretentious and informal feel the the language used, emphasising a friendly approach to client contact.
The typography has been kept san-serif and uniform typeface throughout. Possibly Impact or one of the modern Helvetica fonts.
A theme to the visual side of this website are the engaging motion graphics. They add an interactive and modern feel to the use-ability of the site.
There is consistancy in the layout, with a non rigid grid structure to some pages, and a more free use of white space on others.

Ahoy's website is easy to use, has clear direction for users and represents the business well to potential clients.