Get a load of these sweet babies.
T-26
Design / Ruby on Rails Development
From its launch in 2004, T26.com was one of the web's premier destinations for funky, distinctive typefaces. It was also running on an increasingly complicated rat's nest of PHP scripts, which made it virtually impossible to add new features their customers needed.
Practical rebuilt the site from the ground up in Rails, streamlined the user interface, and even contributed some cool new features, including a new Ajax-powered Typesetter and User Tags. Click here to learn more about the relaunched T-26.
Blue Box Group
Design / Ruby on Rails Development
You may have heard us raving about the servers (and service) at Seattle's Blue Box Group. So when they asked us to design and build a new Rails-powered website for them, we jumped at the opportunity.
The new site – launching May 2007 – features a clean, hi-tech design with a strong focus on typography, to ensure maximum readability as well as cool factor. All this backed by a powerful Rails CMS that gives Blue Box's webmasters total control over their words and how they're presented.
Emmestyle
Ruby on Rails / Flash Development
When New Jersey's Website Development Enterprises got the nod to develop an online community site for model/author Emme, they called on Practical to take on the heavy lifting. The powerful Rails content management engine at the heart of Emmestyle gives members a place to communicate and connect with each other through multimedia blogging, message boards, polls and more, while keeping the user experience simple and welcoming even for people new to web apps.
Chicago Property Services
Design / Friendly PHP Development
Originally launched in summer 2005, CPS's website was the first client project to use our lightweight Friendly PHP framework. Today it remains the biggest, most powerful Friendly app out there, incorporating CRM, case tracking and a powerful content management system, used every day by CPS staffers and customers to streamline operations and connect unit owners with condo boards and staff.
Tix and Maven
Design / Ruby on Rails Development
Practical was asked by Springfield-based Collective Software to develop a pair of applications aimed at streamlining their technical support operations. Maven is a knowledge base with powerful search and browsing features, making it easy for users to find the information they need. Tix (pictured) is a helpdesk application allowing users, support staff and other stakeholders to easily and securely communicate, either via a handy Ajax-powered web interface or via e-mail.
Practicalmadness
Design / Nonsense
Practical's “web chef” David Demaree launched Practicalmadness in 2000 as an online magazine devoted to, as he so eloquently puts it, “random shit.” Today it's the unofficial company blog for Practical Creative & Code, the randomness supplemented by product reviews, web nerdery and thoughts on the business. Practicalmadness's design is meant to be simple, elegant and readable, while still maintaining a playful vibe.
Practical Creative & Code is the web studio of designer/programmer David Demaree. Founded in 2005 in Chicago, U.S.A., Practical has worked or consulted on dozens of projects for a wide variety of clients around the world.
Hey, Look! A Blog!
Check out Practicalmadness, David’s blog concerning Rails, business and general nerdery.