Berklee College of Music

PROJECT

Mobilizing International Student Recruitment

OBJECTIVES
Berklee College of Music was looking to beef up its international recruitment by leveraging its great multimedia assets, pushing social media, embracing mobile, and tracking prospective students more effectively. The Admissions Office realized that the traditional print packet (viewbook, catalog, etc) was costly to print and mail, difficult to track effectiveness, and limited their ability to connect directly with the student.

OUTCOMES
Berklee looked to Caramel, our cloud-based mobile recruitment system, to reach out to its international target, showcase its unique student experience in a mobile platform, and save money (and trees) on print collateral.

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Head Start: National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

PROJECT
Markers of Progress Self Assessment Booklet and Web Application

OBJECTIVES
The National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (NCPFCE) had developed a self-assessment guide designed to allow US-based Head Start program staff to determine their current stage of engagement with parents, families and communities. NCPFCE tasked S+S with creating a web-based application version of the tool as well as a printed version.

OUTCOMES
S+S worked with NCPFCE to develop a proper strategy and information architecture for transforming the original print-oriented concept into an interactive digital tool. To deploy the solution in both digital and print, we developed a set of outcome driven activities that were applicable to both media–for example, group collaboration–and worked closely with Head Start's IT and Application Support groups to launch the Digital Markers of Progress.

Pensacola State College

PROJECT
Strategic Roadmap for a New Website

OBJECTIVES
Pensacola Stage College, newly rebranded from its former identity as Pensacola Junior College, decided to redesign its web presence to help reinforce the college's new brand, and impact overall communication, recruitment, marketing, business processes, and most importantly, the student experience. The college looked to S+S to help it develop a strategic roadmap to aid its Marketing and IT team who were tasked with designing and deploying the final solution.

OUTCOMES
S+S worked closely with Marketing and Communications team to better understand the wants, needs, and challenges of PSC's students across the student lifecycle, especially those who felt underserved by past marketing and communication initiatives. We met with over 150 staff and faculty including the president and senior leadership; we interviewed students in group and 1-to-1 settings; toured all three campuses; and conducted a stem-to-stern analysis of the current web experience including an audit of current technical infrastructure to develop a "best practices," user-centered design approach.

Johns Hopkins University - Engineering For Professionals

PROJECT
Website Redesign

OBJECTIVES
Johns Hopkins University's Engineering for Professionals (EP) was looking to redesign its entire web experience and leverage its new marketing campaign "Expertise Applied" which focused on real-world application of theory and faculty experience. EP wanted to implement a content management system where they could easily manage and curate content including programs and courses.

OUTCOMES
S+S and EP teamed up to develop a strategy that focused on its messaging and value proposition putting the "prestige" back in their brand as Johns Hopkins University. We developed a catalog management system within the Drupal CMS to replace the current system, giving EP the ability to easily manage their catalog and distribute content flexibly for academic and marketing needs.

We helped shape a better, more logical narrative for understanding the various degree, programs, courses, and overall curriculum as part designing a new information architecture helping students understand all their academic options quickly for prospective and current students.

Boston University - College of Communication

PROJECT
Caramel Mobile Recruitment System

OBJECTIVES
Boston University's Graduate School of Communication (COM) was looking for a more cutting edge channel to engage prospective students. COM knows connecting with prospective students earlier in the recruitment cycle leads to better, more qualified applicants.

OUTCOMES
Caramel, our mobile recruitment system, appealed immediately to COM giving it a new channel to reach future students. They felt that Caramel is "straightforward, simple to use, and would excite prospects."

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide Campus

PROJECT
Mobile App (iOS and Android)

OBJECTIVES
Embry-Riddle's Worldwide Campus wanted to develop a mobile app experience to reach out to new students, current students, faculty and staff. The project was driven by Marketing who wanted to get ahead of the curve and bring an iOS-based mobile app to its students.

OUTCOMES
S+S worked closely with Worldwide Marketing team and frontline staff who dealt with students directly to better understand students needs and behavior for a mobile platform. We initially launched with an iOS version followed shortly by Android. Dubbed "Worldwide Mobile", the core design idea was to "inform, inspire and connect" all 150 campuses, students, and staff.

In 2010, University Professional Continuing Education Association awarded the app "Best in Show" at its annual conference.

The Harvard Common Press

PROJECT
Website Redesign and Visual Identity System

OBJECTIVES
The Harvard Common Press (HCP) of Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the nation’s leading publishers of high-quality cookbooks and parenting books. HCP wanted to modernize its outreach to key constituents and looked to a redesigned web experience to accomplish this.

OUTCOMES
S+S worked closely with the HCP staff to develop a strategy for its diverse user community, including the general public, press & media, book distributors, and retail stores. We conducted interviews with staff and walked the internal team through a design process including information architecture, user interface design, interaction design and content structure and implemented an ExpressionEngine content management system.

BetterLesson

PROJECT
User Experience Strategy + Design

OBJECTIVES
BetterLesson ("BL"), a start-up founded by a group of teachers from Atlanta and Boston public schools to connect educators and help them create, organize, and share their curricula, had developed a robust backend and looked to create a compelling user experience on the front end.

OUTCOMES
S+S teamed up with BL's founder and chief technologist to design and develop a new user experience, business strategy, information architecture, user interface & interaction design. We also helped develop email marketing templates and print and presentation collateral.