Tag Archive for: Design

NIM members gather to brainstorm and solve problems that their companies may be facing.

Gain Fresh Perspectives with Design Thinking

How Design Thinking Helps

Design thinking is a creative process that uses human-centered design in generating innovative solutions to products, businesses and services. Design thinking starts with empathy to understand the end-user/client’s needs and feelings regarding the problem. It encourages radical collaboration among team members, and uses rapid prototyping, testing and iterating in order to create the best concept/design/idea: fail early and cheaply.

Gain Strategies and Tactics for:

  • Deeper insights into clients’ needs
  • Enhanced creative thinking and problem-solving
  • Better ways to conduct brainstorming sessions
  • Finding ways to pivot quickly and cheaply

Rather than a presentation on Design Thinking, we’ll be diving in to tackle a fascinating question that has a great impact on the region. With expert leadership, you’ll actually be practicing design thinking and will be transformed by this problem-solving paradigm:

  • Discover your creative strengths
  • Apply new methods for problem-solving
  • Save time, money, & resources with rapid prototyping and feedback framework

 

  • Having trouble brainstorming solutions to problems for your company?
  • Need to know how to switch things up to bring in more revenue?
  • Wondering if your design is truly desirable, if it is actually feasible, or if it is even viable?

Learn the process that companies such as Airbnb, GE and Tesla are using to solve problems and create innovative products and services.

Meet our Expert, Allison Ingalsbe de Horsey!

Allison holds a B.A. from Rutgers University and an ALM from Harvard University. She has been with St. George’s School since 1994 where she has taught all levels of French and creates experiential programs for students. In 2010 she pioneered the Global Cultural Initiatives Program (GCIP), a cultural immersion program that takes place in the context of an international internship in Paris, Madrid, and London.

As the director of Signature Programs, she continues to develop experiential programs for students that allow them to learn by engaging in the real world —  the learning that happens beyond the classroom. She oversees St. George’s new initiative, SGx, a student based, highly collaborative and innovative program that uses the design thinking process to solve real-world problems. It puts empathy at the center of its process, encourages collaboration, and creativity, and rapid prototyping and testing.

Additionally, Allison works with organizations (Martin Luther King Center, City of Newport, Curie Institute, Paris, France) and schools (Brown, Salve Regina, University of Rhode Island, Millbrook School) to create and facilitate design thinking workshops, as well as to train teachers and students in the design thinking process.

How Design Thinking Turned Around Air BnB

This is an event that you will not want to miss! Join us Tuesday, August 29th from 6-9 PM! Enjoy drinks and Newport’s spectacular sunset views!

Experience three hours of non-stop brainstorming on your design thinking techniques to improve your brand’s goals.

Missed this great talk? Learn more about video & visuals and more via the NIM media library!

Become a NIM $upporting member, if you aren’t already, for access to the vast video library of past presentations and watch from your device at your convenience.

Newport Interactive Marketing

Trade Tips at Newport Interactive Marketer’s Second Open Mic Night!

After the incredible success of NIM’s first-ever Open Mic Tips Night, we are very excited to once again host an insightful evening of networking, learning & sharing. We’ll be covering topics such as the latest in SEO, social media, project management & more. Come join us and experience the collective wisdom the NIM community has to offer & share your own bit of expertise!

What’s involved?

Just 1 quick 2-minute tips that would help other businesses/nonprofits, whether it’s SEO, design, Facebook, time-savings. No powerpoint or anything fancy. Just an opportunity to showcase your brand and your know-how.

This event is not to be missed!

Missed this great talk? Learn more about video & visuals and more via the NIM media library!

Become a NIM $upporting member, if you aren’t already, for access to the vast video library of past presentations and watch from your device at your convenience.

DonnaMac

Maximizing your Multimedia Output

Donna Mac of DMacVoice & Media shared her expert advice on how you can you bring your website alive AND help boost SEO by turning boring text into exciting audio/visual content.

At this NIM event, audiences learned how to create their own professional production with a few simple tools and techniques that will bring your market alive with exciting new content.

Audiences received advice on how to obtain a more interactive and appealing selling point through subjects like the following:

  • Importance of multimedia, such as video and podcasts
  • Responsive design and material
  • Understanding the audience
  • Authentic delivery & what to include
  • Do it yourself production overview
  • Implementing production and your final product

Meet Donna Mac

DonnaMac
Donna Mac is a pioneering female broadcaster with live, on-air experience as a news producer, editor, and radio personality. She’s led countless events as a keynote speaker and facilitator. She’s owned DMacVoice & Media since 2003, giving her clients the ability to create high-quality multimedia products that promote businesses and educate audiences. She also coaches executives on improving their presentation skills. This way, their messages are concise and compelling, whether delivered live or virtually.

Missed this great talk? Learn more about video & visuals and more via the NIM media library!

Become a NIM $upporting member for access to the vast video library of past presentations and watch at your convenience.

What A Website Should Really Cost: A Look Into NIM’s October Event

From wanting to launch a knitting site, to running a marketing firm, Marketers from all sides of business came hear just what this month’s panel had to say. Newport Interactive Marketers’ wrapped up 2012 focusing on websites. What are the must-haves? How to save money on site development? What type of expert help do you need and can you afford it?

The panelists answered questions from those who’ve never had a website, to those who create websites professionally. Meet the Panel:

 John Picozzi

   Senior Web Developer at Rubic Design + Interactive, John is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University and holds a bachelor’s degree in web design and e-commerce as well as an associates degree in web development. John is highly skilled across all areas of website development and design: from server-side coding, to content layout, and site architecture. He comes to Rubic Design + Interactive from the advertising and PR industry where he built and maintained web solutions for national brands like CVSCaremark, Marriott International, and Dunkin Donuts.

Matt Medeiros

  Co-founder of Slocum Studio, WordPress architect, business development, blogger at MattReport.com, and inbound marketer. Helping others on the web.

Sean Walther

  Sean Walther is a freelance web developer and has been doing what he loves for almost 15 years. Recently Sean has been specializing in WordPress deployments, but has a varied history with many types of web technologies.  Prior to his current freelance role, Sean was the CTO of a web development firm in Boston for 3 years. Sean is a graduate of Boston University, with a BA in computer science.

 David Englund

owner of Englund Studio. Founded in 2002 offering graphic design and illustration services, Englund Studio has since been the winner of both the Webmasters Award and the American Design Award for creative website design. Improving customer interaction and attraction through WEO (Web Experience Optimization) is a vital concern. Englund Studio has created custom websites, WordPress sites, mobile sites, blogs, and squeeze pages for customer lead generation. David is preparing to launch a podcast show called Marketing Differently.

 

Key takeaways from October’s Newport Interactive Marketers

  • You get what you pay for. If you’re willing to pay more, you’re going to get more. So what is more: a more custom website, to a more involved developer who can plan for where your business is headed.
  • Those with smaller budgets were able to learn about alternatives, such as website templates, which allow you to develop and update your own website, using a platforms such as WordPress. But be sure to purchase your own domain, such as NewportInteractiveMarketers.com.
  • Another cost effective way of having an online presence without breaking the budget, would be working with a designer who can put together a basic website without any extensive plug-ins or features. Lindsay Logan from WOMA design, a Newport Marketer, talked about ways that she personally helps clients with this and how it is less costly than most options.

 

Website considerations BEFORE meeting with a developer

  • Know your audience. What are they looking for in a website? Know the main draw of your audience and emphasize it in your website. Should that be the focus of your website that is easy to access on the home page.
  • Bring a list of competitor’s websites and examples of the similarities and differences you want.
  • It’s not what you want to see on the site, it’s what your viewers need to see. Do what’s best for your business & let web designers help you, after all you’re paying for their expertise!
  • Come with a theme to start out. Panelists warned against free themes, like Theme Forest due to malicious or sloppy code.

 

Where do you want to be in two years?

  • Don’t be afraid to tell the person your working with, your budget. If you have a smaller budget like $1,500 then maybe craigslist or WordPress is better for you. It’s important let them know these things and you can discuss the best options within your budget range.
  • Designers, Developers, Marketers, SEO, and content strategists are all incorporated into the FULL process of designing a website: Keep in mind that this is what you’re paying for and discuss what each will be able to do for you. Know what you’re paying for and let them know what you want from them.

 What sparked debate?

WordPress & Drupal

  • Is WordPress good? Yes. Small budget? Go for it. Test it out. Use if for a year, higher income – then spend the money. Website = Virtual salesperson.
  • WordPress does not have a great online ecommerce store, where as Drupal does.
  • WordPress plug-in options: fantastic! Includes: Contact for 7, advanced custom fields, designer clients (extra forms on pages), WD Photo Kit, Contact 17.
  • You always have the option to pay for it. Why pay for it when you can get it for free? Support! You get what you pay for.
  • Web developer should have no excuse or at least a good reason not to have a WordPress up and running for you.

Audience’s questions answered:

Is the cost is going up or down?

The prices of websites have gone down because now there are free options to creating websites and many people are able to do it themselves with these options.

Why go local in choosing a developer?

Go Local! Meet with designers face to face and get to know the person that’s helping to develop your business. Also, be able to receive training on how to use and update the website! You want to know the where about of your developer, constant contact is key, especially when you’re paying for it.

What are the price ranges that our panelists are charging their clients?

They currently start looking at projects in the $1,500 as a starter. And average prices range from 5,000 to 10,000.

What is the value that developers add to the price?

The value that developers give to the price is time. They take care of it, maintain it, and spend the most time with the website’s construction and maintenance.

What are some key components a website should have?

  • Blog OR consistently updated with content
  • News Letter
  • Email options but not a barrier to website, always keep your website accessible without effort by your viewers.
  • Search Bar & Social Media Icons
  • Should you have a feed of social media? Depends on whether or not you’re social media is a key part of your business and whether or not it is a good outlet that would be appealing to your customers.
  • Definitely Images and Video – CRITICAL. Less reading and more media.

 

And remember, a website is a virtual sales person, so take your time and make sure it’s saying exactly what you want it to say!