Commonwealth Trading Partners Website
Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) had a website that needed a new look. IDEAS2IMAGE examined CTP’s target market, designed a system architecture to support the firm’s goals, and created a refreshed look and feel to help reach an expanding market base.
Project Synopsis
CTP works with public and private sector clients to deliver training and consulting for trade compliance and security-related services throughout the world. Historically, the firm has captured most of its business through government contracting vehicles. However, commercial importers facing tightening regulations presented CTP with an expanding market base. CTP worked with us to create a dual-purposed website, which would speak to both segments of the firm’s business. IDEAS2IMAGE delivered a new website architecture, refreshed design, Flash animations, and a streamlined management system.
CTP found themselves in a situation similar to that of many government contractors—they knew their website needed a refresh, but did not rely on it for business development. However, the firm’s principals were savvy enough to recognize the signs of an emerging market and knew that the website would be a primary information source for these new customers. IDEAS2IMAGE came in to help CTP articulate a website strategy that could be applied to two very different markets.
During our initial assessment, we found that both of CTP’s markets shared a high degree of overlap in the services that the firm provided. However, these services were packaged slightly differently to appeal to the disparate segments. IDEAS2IMAGE mapped out the messages that needed to be presented on the site, and came up with a plan to reach both audiences.
Rather than attempting to create dual-use pages, IDEAS2IMAGE segmented the CTP website and created a management system to direct appropriate content to both government and commercially oriented pages. We created a system to easily tag content as being associated with one section, or the other. In the government section, where the experience and networks of individual personnel play an important role in acquisition, a staff member can be assigned as an expert in a specific service area. CTP then has the option to display automatically generated links to the staff member’s bio.
Using our iterative design process, we worked with CTP’s stakeholders and principals to arrive at the interface design that would be used for the website. IDEAS2IMAGE sourced imagery for the website that supported the firm’s message for each service. We created HTML code, CSS styles, Flash animations, supporting graphics, and implemented the Expression Engine Content Management system.
Process: Learn–Solve–Deliver
IDEAS2IMAGE consistently delivers superior websites, because we place a heavy emphasis on learning about the client’s core business needs early in the project. We identify functional requirements, constructing a development plan that will result in a successful project delivery. This knowledge is captured in a detailed project planning documentation that identifies specific milestones and project expectations.
Over the course of the project, IDEAS2IMAGE performs in a consultative role to solve the communication and technical challenges of website design. We determine the proper brand presentation, visual design, and information architecture for your project. Our iterative approach to development gives us the ability to exceed our client’s expectations.
IDEAS2IMAGE employs a modular approach to development. Each discrete component (i.e. design, application module, or animation) is developed so that it can be independently modified, while continuing to function within the context of the larger project. This maximizes flexibility and allows us to deliver efficient systems that achieve the client’s objectives.
