National Maritime Museum website wins award

The National Maritime Museum was presented with a Visionary Design Award on the 5th December 2002- a nationwide scheme that recognises and celebrates the very best website design for visually impaired people and promotes the importance of creating web content for all.

The site, developed by Box UK, the Internet Development and Consultancy company, was relaunched in October 2002. Driven by Box UK's XML Content Management System, it provides on-line access to over 7000 items relating to seafaring, navigation, astronomy and time measurement.

Box UK created a clear layout, using text alternatives for non-text elements and a dynamically generated low graphics version of the site are used to help achieve high standards of accessibility for all.

Aileen O'Riordan, Online Projects Manager of the National Maritime Museum said: 'We always knew we had a great site. Box UK have done some amazing work on it. And we're delighted it's been recognised.'

Roy Clare, Director of the National Maritime Museum said: 'The National Maritime Museum holds the largest and most important collections of maritime-related objects in the world and it is extremely important to the Museum that everyone is given the opportunity to access these resources in order to understand more about the sea, ships, time and the stars. Our website plays a vital role in this process, and we are absolutely delighted that it has been honoured with this award.'

The Museum's site, at www.nmm.ac.uk, was nominated by a panel of independent researchers on behalf of the National Library for the Blind (NLB) and was one of six award winners. Awards also went to The British Museum Compass, whichbook.net, Local Heritage Initiative, dial UK, and Guardian Unlimited.

At the award ceremony at the Lowry Centre, Salford, Helen Brazier, Chief Executive of the National Library for the Blind, praised the Museum site for its clear layout, interesting content and 'low graphics version'.

About Box UK

Box UK was established in 1998 to provide internet development, design and consultancy services to a broad range of clients. Since its inception it has moved into creating dynamic, database-driven applications using the latest cutting-edge technologies.

Clients include the National Maritime Museum, DfES, BECTa, Chubb, Corus Rail, UB40, Royal Observatory Greenwich, the Basic Skills Agency, the Port Cities Consortium, McCann Erickson and Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

The company is known for its expertise in all areas of application development, including the implementation of high-level Content Management Systems.