About
Web design in Leigh-on-Sea, and a long way beyond.
I'm Andy Luckman. I design, build, host and look after every website, logo, graphic design and animation project that leaves this studio. Video is a service too, but I call on a close friend for that. Based in Leigh-on-Sea now, but before that from a laptop on a beach a long way further east.
Bang! Graphics started a long way from Essex
My mother died in 2007. After the funeral I didn't feel I had said goodbye properly. I used some of what she left me to go and see something of the world, beautiful places shared with her, as far as I was concerned she was with me.
I didn't want travel to end, so I moved to Thailand, trained as a divemaster and spent a couple of years working in the sea off a small island called Koh Tao. That is, until I noticed I had done the same thing I once did with radio presenting, and turned a hobby into a job I no longer enjoyed. The pay could have been better too.
At the same time somebody back home was teaching me HTML and CSS online. I had already dabbled in graphic design, so we split the work: they dealt with the clients, mostly in the UK, and I designed the website layouts and the printed pieces. Word of mouth did the rest on the island. Designing began to out-earn diving. After having enough of 6am until 8pm days in the diving industry, I went full time in web and graphics.
Graphic and web design since 2008, and the clients who stayed
By 2013 I was on my own, with a base of clients in Thailand and more picked up in Indonesia, Australia and the United States along the way. Some of them are still here. Choppers Sports Bar on Koh Tao has had every poster, menu, sign and website from my desk since 2011 - straight through a change of continent for me (and three laptops over that time).
I am completely self-taught. In the early days I learned as I went and I said so: clients saw the finished work and decided whether they wanted it, and what I charged reflected that I was learning too. That principle has not changed, only the rate - fair pay for the time, the effort and the knowledge that goes into a job. Teaching myself is also why I have never been welded to one way of working. This industry moves quickly, and I have had to move with it since 2008.
Plenty of the businesses I work with are within a few miles from where I live, and if you are one of them the first conversation can happen over a coffee. The rest are not nearby at all, and it has never once been a problem.
Web design, branding and design projects, and what they delivered
Some of it is a website. A good deal of it is not - and the parts I am proudest of are usually the ones nobody sees.
Several shops, over the years: the build, the search work that brings divers in, and the booking systems that make the process smooth. It is the industry I came from, and it was a great basis to put together their online presence.
Website maintenance and UI/UX changes, print and online marketing, including their Facebook and Google advertising. They went on to record one of the most profitable years they had ever had during the most difficult time our generation has known.
Websites, booking systems, interactive product selectors from forms, explainer animations for social media, YouTube and in person. A good deal of that work is making a serious subject accessible, something people will actually sit through.
PowerPoint presentations for estate planning talks, with movement and humour in them, built to keep an audience engaged rather than reading ahead. Wills, trusts and lasting powers of attorney are a serious subject and an easy one to make dull. Between the presentations and the talented presenters who worked with them, those events made hundreds of thousands of pounds.
A booking process that ran by hand - payment taken, order logged, voucher made up with the customer's details, voucher emailed - rebuilt as one automatic sequence, with the sale posted to the accounts on the way through so the figures were current rather than a month behind. It took weeks. It took a job off an administrator's desk entirely.
A text therapy platform for counsellors in private practice - the kind of service only the large providers used to offer. End-to-end encrypted, messages deleted automatically for GDPR, and no account for the client to create. It is built for people who find talking hard, and for a generation that would rather type.
kuradash.com ›
What a web design quote should tell you
At Bang! Graphics, work is explained in plain words before any of it happens - which route we are taking and why, what is included, what is not, and what it will cost. You may have noticed there is more written on this website about how the work actually gets done than most studios bother with. That is on purpose.
The same goes for the answers you will not enjoy. If a site can be repaired for less than it can be rebuilt, I will tell you. If what you are asking for will not do the job you want it to do, I will tell you that too. And if I am not the right person for it, I would rather say so at the start than take the money and let you find out later. Honesty is key and it's why I still work with the same clients many years on.
Web design can be compared to being a car mechanic, I don't want the client to not understand what has been done and just be handed a bill.
Andy LuckmanBang! Graphics
How a website project actually runs
The unglamorous part, written down, because it is the part that decides whether a project is a pleasure or a chore.
The scope is agreed in writing before anything starts, with half the fee up front. If something is waiting on me you will hear it from me first, and if it is waiting on you, you will hear that too.
That is most sites, counted from when I have your words and pictures. I will also be straight about the usual reason a project runs late, and it is almost never the build - it is content coming back.
When something calls for a skill I do not have, or a deadline needs more than one pair of hands, I bring in people I have worked alongside for years. You still deal with me.
A sound-treated room for recording, real phones and tablets to test on rather than a resized browser window, and every site through Ahrefs, Google PageSpeed and Search Console before it goes live.
Messages land with the person who built the site, so you are never explaining your own project to somebody who has just opened the file for the first time.
You own the domain, the content and the site itself. None of it is locked to me, and if you ever need to move, everything the next person needs goes with you.
You do not have to take my word for any of it - every review below is a public Google review.
Web design and branding reviews
Read all reviews ›
Abi HoweGoogle reviewWe got Andy at Bang! Graphics to create our wedding invites and they are amazing. We weren't very good at giving him ideas - he asked us a set of questions to get an idea of what we wanted, but we weren't completely sure ourselves, so we were quite vague.
Andy didn't have a lot to go on apart from a colour and a couple of images from Google that I liked, yet he managed to create a base for us to go from, which was lovely. Our theme was emerald green and the invites were perfect - not over the top. Andy also helped us out a lot with the wording too. We didn't actually change that much from his first draft as he pretty much nailed it first time!
Andy was incredibly patient and great to work with. We would definitely recommend him to anyone needing help designing something.
Read in full ›
Gareth HallsworthClearFirst Pest Control SolutionsGoogle reviewI can't recommend Andy and Bang! Graphics highly enough. He has helped me with several aspects of my business since start up, including designing my logo and letterhead, as well as creating and managing my website and web hosting.
What I particularly appreciate is how easy he is to deal with. Andy takes the time to understand what I'm looking for, is always happy to make changes or offer advice, and nothing ever feels like too much trouble. The finished work has always been professional and exactly what I was hoping for.
It's also great having someone I can rely on for everything from my branding and logo design through to my website and hosting, rather than having to deal with different people for each job.
If you're looking for someone friendly, reliable and genuinely good at what they do, I'd definitely recommend Andy.
Read in full ›
Annalisa HerveChaseway Lane BotanicalsGoogle reviewAndy has been looking after my website for many years, following a recommendation from a colleague of mine, it's the best thing I've done! His devotion to website management is second to none; attention to detail being one of his many qualities.
Whenever he runs his regular security updates, he always tests my website then contacts me to let me know what he's done. When he gently suggested that my old aging website could do with a freshen up, he walked me through the entire process with the patience of a saint. He redesigned it within my budget and has made my new website look amazing. Andy very quickly recognised that I am a bit of a Luddite when it comes to anything computer related and has very kindly been to my house to streamline my emails on my laptop and phone. Whenever I've yelled for help, he's responded within the hour - often fixing the problem at the same time. Looking back through my emails to him, it seems all of my "sent" emails have the words "thank you so much". Do what I did - get Andy to sort your website out, you won't regret it.
Read in full ›
Dave VagrantGoogle reviewIt's great working with Bang! Great communication, great work and always the utmost professionalism.
Ella JenningsGoogle reviewI worked with Andy on a new website build a year or so ago. Not only is he really knowledgeable and good at what he does, he's actually a great person to work with - he made the whole process super easy, communicated well, and put up with all our last-minute changes. Highly recommended!
Read in full ›
Abi HoweGoogle reviewWe got Andy at Bang! Graphics to create our wedding invites and they are amazing. We weren't very good at giving him ideas - he asked us a set of questions to get an idea of what we wanted, but we weren't completely sure ourselves, so we were quite vague.
Andy didn't have a lot to go on apart from a colour and a couple of images from Google that I liked, yet he managed to create a base for us to go from, which was lovely. Our theme was emerald green and the invites were perfect - not over the top. Andy also helped us out a lot with the wording too. We didn't actually change that much from his first draft as he pretty much nailed it first time!
Andy was incredibly patient and great to work with. We would definitely recommend him to anyone needing help designing something.
Read in full ›
Gareth HallsworthClearFirst Pest Control SolutionsGoogle reviewI can't recommend Andy and Bang! Graphics highly enough. He has helped me with several aspects of my business since start up, including designing my logo and letterhead, as well as creating and managing my website and web hosting.
What I particularly appreciate is how easy he is to deal with. Andy takes the time to understand what I'm looking for, is always happy to make changes or offer advice, and nothing ever feels like too much trouble. The finished work has always been professional and exactly what I was hoping for.
It's also great having someone I can rely on for everything from my branding and logo design through to my website and hosting, rather than having to deal with different people for each job.
If you're looking for someone friendly, reliable and genuinely good at what they do, I'd definitely recommend Andy.
Read in full ›
Annalisa HerveChaseway Lane BotanicalsGoogle reviewAndy has been looking after my website for many years, following a recommendation from a colleague of mine, it's the best thing I've done! His devotion to website management is second to none; attention to detail being one of his many qualities.
Whenever he runs his regular security updates, he always tests my website then contacts me to let me know what he's done. When he gently suggested that my old aging website could do with a freshen up, he walked me through the entire process with the patience of a saint. He redesigned it within my budget and has made my new website look amazing. Andy very quickly recognised that I am a bit of a Luddite when it comes to anything computer related and has very kindly been to my house to streamline my emails on my laptop and phone. Whenever I've yelled for help, he's responded within the hour - often fixing the problem at the same time. Looking back through my emails to him, it seems all of my "sent" emails have the words "thank you so much". Do what I did - get Andy to sort your website out, you won't regret it.
Read in full ›
Dave VagrantGoogle reviewIt's great working with Bang! Great communication, great work and always the utmost professionalism.
Ella JenningsGoogle reviewI worked with Andy on a new website build a year or so ago. Not only is he really knowledgeable and good at what he does, he's actually a great person to work with - he made the whole process super easy, communicated well, and put up with all our last-minute changes. Highly recommended!
Read in full ›
I have been working with Andy for many years in a technical support capacity. He has always been incredibly helpful when I get into trouble with my computer. He has however recently helped with a new enterprise with a website, logo and general branding assistance along with hosting the whole site for me. I can not be happier and would recommend him to anyone needing such services. Thank you Andy!
Read in full ›
Jeffrey GlennChoppers Sports BarGoogle reviewWorking with Bang Graphics has been an absolute game-changer for Choppers Sports Bar. In the fast-paced hospitality and sports bar industry, having eye-catching, high-quality visual content on tight deadlines is critical - and Bang Graphics delivers every single time.
The shining light of Bang Graphics is their incredible consistency and reliability. Whether we need fast turnarounds on upcoming game-day promotional materials, customised event flyers, digital menus, or ongoing branded assets, we know we can depend on Bang Graphics to hit the mark every time. The quality never dips, communication is always seamless, and they consistently bring creative, sharp concepts to the table that align perfectly with our brand energy. Utilising Andy and Bang Graphics for the past 20 years of operation will attest to how much we value his work.
If you are looking for a graphic designer who combines top-tier creative talent with dependable, professional service, look no further than Bang Graphics - highly recommended by all of us at Choppers Sports Bar!
Read in full ›
Rani ViknarajaAma's Rustic PantryGoogle reviewAndy has been working on several aspects of our chutney business matters and his work has been exemplary! Andy's web design with a logo to our specification and appropriate choice of colors and images is awesome and has been commented on by several family members and friends.
We also have a personalized email which was set up by Andy. Although Andy doesn't usually do designs for labels, he did ours and in fact the company that printed the labels were very impressed with the design! Andy went a step further and designed our business cards and compliment slips to make a lasting impression. We will recommend Andy/Bang Graphics with absolutely no hesitation!
Read in full ›
Helen CarlessThe Society Of Fine Art Auctioneers and ValuersGoogle reviewAndy re-designed our Society's website. On time and on budget. From the beginning he was meticulous in making sure he had understood the brief.
He offered very sensible advice and was able to talk in "layman's language". He is very patient! We had to overcome some issues with the integration of two sites which meant some extra hurdles and Andy took the time to make sure he had found the correct solution. He is a perfectionist but if something is going to overrun the budget he is scrupulous about referring back before he incurs extra expense. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending him.
Read in full ›
Doozer McDoozeGoogle reviewBrilliant service, real attention to detail, and someone who actually cares. Nothing gets missed and you never feel like just another ticket. Highly recommended.
I have been working with Andy for many years in a technical support capacity. He has always been incredibly helpful when I get into trouble with my computer. He has however recently helped with a new enterprise with a website, logo and general branding assistance along with hosting the whole site for me. I can not be happier and would recommend him to anyone needing such services. Thank you Andy!
Read in full ›
Jeffrey GlennChoppers Sports BarGoogle reviewWorking with Bang Graphics has been an absolute game-changer for Choppers Sports Bar. In the fast-paced hospitality and sports bar industry, having eye-catching, high-quality visual content on tight deadlines is critical - and Bang Graphics delivers every single time.
The shining light of Bang Graphics is their incredible consistency and reliability. Whether we need fast turnarounds on upcoming game-day promotional materials, customised event flyers, digital menus, or ongoing branded assets, we know we can depend on Bang Graphics to hit the mark every time. The quality never dips, communication is always seamless, and they consistently bring creative, sharp concepts to the table that align perfectly with our brand energy. Utilising Andy and Bang Graphics for the past 20 years of operation will attest to how much we value his work.
If you are looking for a graphic designer who combines top-tier creative talent with dependable, professional service, look no further than Bang Graphics - highly recommended by all of us at Choppers Sports Bar!
Read in full ›
Rani ViknarajaAma's Rustic PantryGoogle reviewAndy has been working on several aspects of our chutney business matters and his work has been exemplary! Andy's web design with a logo to our specification and appropriate choice of colors and images is awesome and has been commented on by several family members and friends.
We also have a personalized email which was set up by Andy. Although Andy doesn't usually do designs for labels, he did ours and in fact the company that printed the labels were very impressed with the design! Andy went a step further and designed our business cards and compliment slips to make a lasting impression. We will recommend Andy/Bang Graphics with absolutely no hesitation!
Read in full ›
Helen CarlessThe Society Of Fine Art Auctioneers and ValuersGoogle reviewAndy re-designed our Society's website. On time and on budget. From the beginning he was meticulous in making sure he had understood the brief.
He offered very sensible advice and was able to talk in "layman's language". He is very patient! We had to overcome some issues with the integration of two sites which meant some extra hurdles and Andy took the time to make sure he had found the correct solution. He is a perfectionist but if something is going to overrun the budget he is scrupulous about referring back before he incurs extra expense. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending him.
Read in full ›
Doozer McDoozeGoogle reviewBrilliant service, real attention to detail, and someone who actually cares. Nothing gets missed and you never feel like just another ticket. Highly recommended.
Want to talk it through with Andy?
Thirty minutes on Google Meet with Andy - a conversation about what the business needs and what it would take.
The call is with Andy, the person
who will primarily be working on your project.
