Blue Mouse Monkey
HomeCASE STUDY: Spirit Mountain Community Fund
Challenges
SMCF is the philanthropic arm of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, and is one of Oregon’s largest funders of non-profits. Their old website confused grant applicants and Fund staff struggled with poorly constructed applications. Additionally, the Tribe’s distinctive spirit, achievements, and leadership role in social change in Oregon were obscured. To top it off, staff members had only minimal control over the content.
Solutions
Blue Mouse Monkey tackled these problems with a complete reorganization and rewriting of content, total visual redesign, and a new easy-to-use CMS (Content Management System.) SMCF no longer needs to pay a middleman to correct, amend or update the content of their own website. New information architecture design includes a visual chart of the grant application process. This at-a-glance perspective allows users to see all the steps involved and applicants can easily estimate the time and resources their organization will be expending.
In creating a new look-and-feel, it was important to honor the Tribe’s heritage, while avoiding tired visual stereotypes associated with Native American communities. Julia created a design that highlighted a key component of the Grand Ronde Tribe, basket making, along with a fresh, contemporary color palette.
Results
- The Spirit Mountain Community Fund website delivers crucial and comprehensive information to their grantees.
- New information saves valuable staff time by answering basic questions.
- Grantees now have a convenient reference in the SMCF website that provides grant writing resources beyond SMCF.
- The SMCF website brings positive attention to their grantees, giving these hard working organizations another opportunity to be seen by the community at large.
- The visual design honors basket weaving as a unique cultural element of the Grand Ronde Tribe.
- New content educates visitors about the Grand Ronde Tribe’s leadership role in Oregon.
“We expected the planning phase to be difficult, but we were pleasantly surprised at how well Blue Mouse Monkey generated possibilities, options, and suggestions, while clearly explaining constraints and trade-offs so we could make the best decisionsfor our new website. We love that our new content management system allows us to update the site's content from our own computers and mobile devices. Our new site clearly communicates the application process to potential grant applicants and is the perfect compliment to our in-person grant writing trainings.”
– Shelley Hanson, Director
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
Visit thecommunityfund.com »
Detail: 'How to Apply' diagram
CASE STUDY: Scott Sparling, author of Wire to Wire
Challenges
Scott Sparling is a Portland writer and author of the forthcoming novel Wire to Wire (Tin House, June 2011). Scott came to Blue Mouse Monkey for an exceptional and innovative design solution to showcase his edgy novel. Many author websites are lackluster affairs, and Scott didn't want his to end up like that. It was crucial that the site design parallel the train-hopping, sex-and-drugs atmosphere of his book, making a visit to the website an experience of the flavor of Wire to Wire.
Solutions
We combined large-scale imagery with interactive quotes, image galleries, song lists, and other content that pulls you into the world of the book. Each page of the website has its own background image theme, chosen not as a literal illustration of the story, but to carry an aspect of the story's ambience. A blog that feeds into the site's home page lets Scott keep content fresh. Other requisite author site features include press and events, and social media links.
Results
This author website transcends the genre, and while it's too early to say if its superior quality will affect sales (Available June 2011), already Wire to Wire has been showcased as Publishers Weekly Pick of the Week. Having a really together website for your really together book can only help reinforce the perception of its excellence.
“Blue Mouse Monkey intuitively understood what my site needed to accomplish. I wanted to engage readers in the story and the environment of my novel using visual elements and design. They created a site that works on every level. The look and feel is unique and dramatic. It fits the book perfectly, it's easy for visitors to use, and easy for me to update. The feedback has been wonderful -- I've received consistently positive comments. There are lots of books published every year; the site they created has definitely helped set my book apart. I chose Blue Mouse Monkey believing the creative and artistic work would be excellent, and they totally delivered. I was equally impressed at how efficient the process was -- everything happened exactly on time and on budget. They're a pleasure to work with.”
– Scott Sparling, author of Wire to Wire
Visit scottsparling.net »
Scott Sparling website detail
CASE STUDY: Tobacco Free Coalition of Oregon
Challenges
TOFCO is revitalizing the tobacco-free movement in Oregon through a grassroots advocacy and outreach to communities most impacted by the harmful effects of tobacco use. TOFCO needed a website that acted like a virtual staff member to provide relevant information to community advocates and decision makers, build the tobacco-free movement support base, increase organizational efficiency and elevate TOFCO’s presence in the community at large.
Solutions
Sound information architecture and an engaging design makes the website a powerful ally to the TOFCO team. An easy-to-use content management system (CMS) allows the most current news and information to be available to TOFCO’s audiences.
A clean, refreshing and thoughtful design reiterates the TOFCO mission and allows visitors to support the tobacco-free movement in a variety of ways, including different donation levels, subscription to the TOFCO newsletter and volunteer opportunities. Social media integration puts the TOFCO message in many places through an efficient process, making time for the executive director to focus on top priorities.
Results
- TOFCO is positioned as the emerging leader in Oregon for anti-tobacco news and information.
- Staff can refer interested parties to their website with confidence.
- TOFCO becomes a valuable resource to local communities.
“Blue Mouse Monkey set out a clear and linear process for creating the TOFCO website that helped the project run smoothly and on time. I especially appreciate the integrated social media on our new website. It has helped us increase our Twitter followers and subscribers to our newsletter. Additionally, Julia did a great job facilitating conversations between two generations with different levels of technical understanding to help the TOFCO staff and board find common goals for our new website.”
– Brett Hamilton, Executive Director
Tobacco Free Coalition of Oregon
Visit tobaccofreeoregon.org »
Detail: 'Take Action' area
CASE STUDY: PlayWrite, Inc.
Challenges
At PlayWrite, Inc., ‘youth at the edge’ collaborate with local creative professionals to craft original plays that become powerful vehicles through which their voices are heard. The old PlayWrite website didn’t communicate the good work they do, and it contained almost no evidence of the artistic output of the participants. Finally, it was difficult for site visitors to take action and it was hard for the staff to update content.
Solutions
Blue Mouse Monkey’s overhaul of the website includes a new look and feel, expanded and better organized content, and an archive of plays and songs, with image and video support.
Subtle artistic details, a new color palette and many opportunities to display photos were used to communicate the dynamic, creative nature of PlayWrite. A filterable performance page allows visitors to experience PlayWrite performances through video, text and images. Additionally, past participants can now find their work online and share it with friends and family.
Photos, scripts and performance videos can be added by staff with the user-friendly CMS (content management system). Additionally, staff can easily update the performance schedule and blog to keep the site relevant and alive.
Potential donors can now see how their contribution helps PlayWrite through a personal narrative of a PlayWrite participant and various donation levels, while giving credit to existing supporters. Also, options to subscribe to the newsletter and “Follow Us” icons (FaceBook, Twitter and Flickr) allow visitors to stay connected with PlayWrite long after they leave the site.
Results
- The site communicates the liveliness and creativity of PlayWrite and its students through photos, video and artistic details.
- Visitors can experience the work of PlayWrite students through various media on a page that is simple to filter and search.
- Fans and donors can see how their support works to aid PlayWrite, as well as stay connected to the organization through social media and regular newsletters.
- The PlayWrite staff can easily keep their site as alive and dynamic as the work they do and shine the spotlight on the real stars of PlayWrite, Inc. – the students.
“Our PlayWrite alumni love that so much about their work is easy to find and share... videos of their plays being performed, copies of the scripts they wrote, pictures of themselves, their classmates, coaches, and actors. And it's been a very useful tool when talking with prospective donors... lots of information about our organization readily available.”
– Bruce Livingston, Executive Director,
PlayWrite, Inc.
Visit playwriteinc.org »
Aesthetic detail on the PlayWrite website
CASE STUDY: Oregon Research and Transportation Education Consortium (OTREC)
Challenges
OTREC’s audiences include transportation researchers and planners, transportation and planning students, transportation agencies and industries, the media, and RITA, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s research administration. With such a wide array of audiences and a perpetually growing pool of news and information, OTREC needed a site that made it easy for users to find specific information, but also to make connections between all the information available in the OTREC site.
Solutions
To help OTREC communicate to its many audiences, Blue Mouse Monkey took on a complex reorganization of current content, addition of new content, a new look and feel, and created a new content management system.
Much care was taken in creating relationships between the many projects, initiatives and news generated by OTREC. Additionally, OTREC researchers were linked with their research projects, the university they represent and associations with related news and events.
The “Hot Topics” section highlights OTREC interests that connect transportation research to the general community. Additionally, a space for affiliated student groups was created to help these groups stay connected, learn about one another and find out about current scholarship, internship and job opportunities.
A new browser-based content management system allows OTREC staff to update the website from work, home, or while traveling.
Results
- A complex website with a high degree of cross-referenced content, yet surprisingly easy to navigate.
- A dynamic hub that informs and connects the transportation research community and the community at large.
- OTREC is now able to maximize social media and be a leader among their peers with a comprehensive website that can reach audiences beyond the academic community.
- The new CMS allows the staff to easily amend, update and add information to serve OTREC's many audiences.
Visit otrec.us »
Detail: Research Projects search filter
CASE STUDY: Pressure Point Creative
Challenges
Pressure Point Creative provides custom experiential marketing solutions to brands on a national scale. This includes temporary galleries, publicity stunts, interactive spaces, pop-up shops, and more. The client's old website did little to communicate the nature of their work, nor the extent of their expertise.
Solutions
In an industry of the ephemeral experience, we decided to give this client a unique voice by steeping the website in tactility. The site design evokes the embossed quality of letterpress printing, thus making words do double duty as content and decorative elements.
Subtle artistic details were used to express Pressure Point Creative's unique approach to their projects.
And with a new, user-friendly CMS (content management system), new projects, photos, clients, and case studies can be easily added, even while the client is traveling.
Results
- An artful yet highly functional website that effectively conveys the breadth of the client's expertise.
- The client is positioned as a knowledgeable, creative and honest production team within the promotional industry.
- The client confidence in presenting their service to customers.
- The new CMS allows the client to easily update and add information.
“...a quick note to tell you how much I love using our new website! It really represents us so beautifully and we feel so much more confident with this asset in place. Thanks again for all of your team's hard work on it!”
– Kathryn Howard, principal,
Pressure Point Creative
Attention to design detail