Manchester digital marketing agency, Code Computerlove has scooped one of the region's best interactive designers for its 'premiership team'. A former winner of Freelancer of the Year*, Stewart Hamilton (30) has joined Code as interactive designer and is helping the agency to further its digital design capabilities and to continue to produce award winning creative work that pushes interactive boundaries. As one of the few flash specialists in the region, much of Stewart's skill is self-taught. Stewart confesses to spend hours out of work experimenting with interactive design then selling this into clients to show them what can be achieved for their brand. He started his career in graphic design and worked his way up through North West agencies including the Stuart Lawrence Group, Eyedea, Fluid IT and Elevator Digital. During his three years as a freelancer, Stewart worked on a few projects for Code prior to joining the team full time this month. Examples of his work include adding movement and perspective design aspects to Code's NUS U-Disco site ww.u-disco.co.uk and user interaction to the popular Huggies movie star viral www.huggiesclub.com/uk/moviestar Stewart said: "Interactive design is all about creating user experiences on the web. It's the fun bit! But it's also a powerful tool to help brands enhance their interface with consumer's and to encourage customer's to spend more time with the brand. Joining Code is a fantastic opportunity to put the latest technologies into practice for large blue-chip clients such as Crown, HMV and Cussons. "Technology is moving so quickly in the digital design world it's important that clients keep up. Some agencies just don't have the skill set to offer things like 3D worlds where the user is controlling the content, coupled with a strategic digital approach, but we are able to offer Code clients the complete package. "In addition to flash applications adding fun animations and movement, they can also be an important business tool and are increasingly used toresearch and more serious interaction, not just games and quizzes." Stewart's appointment marks the start of a major recruitment drive for Code. The agency is also recruiting for a Creative Director, designers, programmers and developers to join its award winning team. *Stewart won Freelancer of the Year at the 2006 Big Chip awards.
