the challenge.
In order to position Blackbox Communications as a full-service agency with social networking prowess, they approached Dimentians to produce a strategic design and re-brand of their existing website. This revitalization would reaffirm Blackbox as the go-to expert in communications, with the ability to speak to their customer and brand values.
Prior to the company website redesign, Blackbox's former website was flash-intensive, thereby limiting accessibility toward a wider audience. As well, the existing user-interface was somewhat difficult to navigate. In addition to a much-needed streamlined design, Blackbox was also interested in a website that could easily be internally modified, such that content could be managed without having to contact an outside webmaster or developer for simple content updates. Blackbox also wanted to demonstrate their ability to strike up and inspire conversations for their clients through the use of social marketing tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and YouTube. In order to accurately display the services Blackbox offered, it was necessary to incorporate these applications into the new website with cohesion.
The process.
Breaking Down Complexity And Defining Success
Through a series of meetings in Princeton with key stakeholders in the project - from IT, management, division heads, and instructors - Dimentians was able to gather a deep understanding, question, and clarify the vision of the company as well as their workflow. We were able to ascertain the key objectives of the project and what success looked like to all involved.
A specifications document and solution proposal was developed, reviewed and signed off by the decision makers.
Continual Improvement
Throughout development we created wireframes representing functionality of different sections so the client could review and approve as we went along. As we developed each portion of the site we would review with the client to make sure we were meeting their needs.
Because the website was going to be a huge improvement to all their processes the website was completed in an accelerated timeframe, meeting the requirements of the client.
Once the project was completed, Dimentians began regular development cycles for improvement. Each development cycle for improvement was based on the changing needs of the client and consisted of developing specifications together, making wireframe mock-ups, development, testing code and rollout.
The result.
With more than 500 centers in over 60 countries, Blackbox Communications has been providing language and cultural support to millions of satisfied customers with over 125 years of experience. When Blackbox Communications came to us their scheduling system consisted of a wall of sticky notes in one of their offices. Their recently launched virtual classroom was expanding rapidly and it was growing beyond the company?s capacity to match up students with instructors and maintain an organized schedule
Furthermore, the company had a web conferencing tool that was being utilized but no website to support it. There was nowhere to deliver learning materials, no database to keep track of student progress and for generating reports. The system was manual, labor-intensive, and inaccessible outside of the office.
This scenario presented Dimentians with an opportunity to develop a complex database and scheduling system. We jumped at the opportunity.
Dimentians is composed of a team with various skills and talents. Our team has experience from backgrounds such as banking, biology, physics, fine Arts, design, multimedia, video, project management and of course web development.
Dimentians is nested within a wider collective known as Soup Inc. This extends our group of talented people to include 2D animators and illustrators.
