Hairy Maclary Gets Interactive Website

News release
11 April, 2013: Auckland, NZ

Hairy Maclary Gets Interactive Website

NV Interactive and Penguin Books NZ to create Responsive Design platform for children

(Reposting with correct attribution)

Award-winning web development company NV Interactive has won the contract to help Penguin Books take Dame Lynley Dodd’s much-loved character Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy into an interactive website ahead of his 30th birthday celebrations in July.

The platform uses a single screen approach, which is intuitive and easy for young users to navigate. The site will also be optimised to fit the screen of any device, from a computer or tablet down to a 3G phone.

The site will feature:
- Interactive games specifically designed to enthrall and engage young readers and fans of the famous characters
- A hub of Hairy Maclary resources, including templates for party invitations and decorations, activity sheets and other great material which people can print off and use to hold their own Hairy Maclary-themed birthday events
- A truly immersive experience for users of all ages
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Matt Pickering, Managing Director at NV Interactive, says the Hairy Maclary website will be a great way to entertain children:

“As designers, we know how important it is to create a safe and seamless online environment for children, so we’re working closely with Penguin to ensure this platform is age-appropriate for youngsters.

“We see this as being a place where adults and children alike can explore the brilliance of Lynley Dodd and engage with the Hairy Maclary and Friends™ characters. That’s a real responsibility, and one that we relish. It’s a privilege for our team to undertake this project, particularly as many of us are parents ourselves and are introducing our own children to Hairy Maclary and his friends.”

Matt Pickering says that the website strategy, developed in conjunction with Penguin, will attract users of all ages: “At NV Interactive, strategy and driving objectives forward is at the heart of what we do. By taking a user-oriented, strategic approach, the new website will drive awareness of the wider Hairy Maclary and Friends™ range, which includes books, apps, merchandise and audio offerings, as well as inspire the next generation of young readers.”

Lisa Fitzpatrick, Marketing Manager at Penguin Books, says, “Knowing how many families have grown up with Hairy Maclary, both in New Zealand and internationally, we wanted to mark his 30th birthday in a special way that would connect with readers and bring the characters to life.
“Working with NV Interactive to create this innovative, engaging and visually stunning digital home for Hairy Maclary provides another way for Lynley Dodd’s highly acclaimed stories and illustrations to entertain children and parents for years to come.”

- ENDS-

Background:
• Hairy Maclary celebrates his 30th birthday in July 2013
• Over 9 million copies of the Hairy Maclary books have been sold worldwide
• The appearance of the games on the platform will be changed regularly to keep users engaged
• Hairy Maclary is well-loved around the world; the Duchess of Cornwall has given Hairy Maclary a royal pat of approval
About NV Interactive:
• NV Interactive’s work includes digital branding, information architecture and user experience design as well as web and mobile development, app development and online marketing
• NV Interactive have created websites and other online environments for organisations that include BBC, Telecom, Microsoft, New Zealand Cricket, ESPN, Chelsea Sugar and Christchurch City Council (Share An Idea)

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