BLUEION

Profile

THINK HARD. WORK HARD. DELIVER MORE.
Happy clients are easy to spot. They're the ones with a smile on their face and a loyal, growing, enthusiastic following at their front door.

Blue Ion, LLC. develops high performance interactive branding, sales and service applications for clients who like to smile; clients who want a little more effort, a little more experience, a little better technology, a little more focus. And, in the end a more productive and captivating interactive encounter.

At the heart of every Blue Ion, LLC. application lays the convergence of three core disciplines - strategy, design and technology. And we back it all up with a production process that keeps projects delivering on time and budget.

We approach each website, cdrom/dvd, kiosk or application project with the same mission: to uncover creative, fresh ideas that break free from the category's conventions. We are not here to be predictable. We are here to pursue great ideas and move your audience.

Process

OUR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IS SIMPLE: TAKE THE SHORTEST ROUTE TO THE ISSUES; ARRIVE WITH LIGHTS ON, AND SLEEVES ROLLED UP.
Five steps, same ones every time, lead us surely to our goal, which is to deliver an application that is just a little better than the one you're expecting and way delightful for your web visitors.

Discover - We search to understand the issues that impact your situation, the objectives we're working to attain, and the approach opportunities we might employ.

Define - Next we develop and recommend a strategic concept that will be central to the solution; we define the scope of project, a content plan, an experiential map, project timeline, and budget.

Design - Concepts for the look and feel, as well as the technology architecture of the application are next developed and then presented for discussion and approval.

Develop - Next we build the application, piece by piece. We create, fine tune, program, and integrate the interactive experience that your audience will soon enjoy.

Deliver - Last step before going live is to test the application. Want to make sure it is everything we, together, have planned it to be. We finalize the edits and post the application to the server, and develop tracking standards and performance reporting systems. Then its get ready and hang on... here we go.

The Team

Senor Misterioso
Title: Man of Mystery
Role: Is Senor Misterioso an extremely dangerous man or just a harmless socialite in a glowing suit?
Prior Life: He has never been seen without his well-tailored linen suit and fedora.
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela

David Wood
Title: Partner, Creative Director
Role: Directs and designs the mix of graphics, images, motion, music and copy to create interactive brand experiences.
Prior Life: Tobin, Erdmann and Jacobsen, Kuester Group, Martin-Williams, Melk Media.
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Rich Yessian
Title: Partner, Technology Director
Role: Fuses strategic approach and graphic/motion design with seamless technological applications.
Prior Life: James Madison University, BBA Computer Information Systems, BBA Production Operations Management, GRC Inc., Tricor Industries, BDM, Mindglow Designs.
Hometown: Fairfax, VA

Craig Anthony
Title: Flash Director
Role: Breathe life into the exceptional designs of the creative department. Develop motion, interactive, and data driven experiences using Flash.
Prior Life: James Madison University, University of Charleston, NASA Broker/Facilitator, Reactionplus+.
Hometown: Midlothian, VA

James Plummer
Title: Interactive Producer
Role: Knowing very little about all things web (but learning quickly), James is the emotional, physical, and mental glue that holds Blue Ion together.
Prior Life: College of Charleston, BS Business Administration, Fleet Landing, Laing Middle School.
Hometown: Fairfax, VA / Charleston, SC

Nicola Walker
Title: Interactive Producer
Role: Mastering the art of interactive development. Transform energy, complexity and chaos into groundbreaking work.
Prior Life: College of Stockport, England. BTUK, Banana Republic, Protego USA, Inc.
Hometown: Manchester, England

Robert Prioleau
Title: Partner, Strategy Director
Role: Develops interactive experience plans and help make sure things get done on target, time and budget.
Prior Life: University of Texas MBA, GSD&M Advertising, Fitzgerald & Company Advertising, BellSouth Telecommunications, Rawle-Murdy.
Hometown: Houston, TX / Charleston, SC

Chris Simpson
Title: Digital Marketing Director
Role: Help clients expand their marketing to the Web and beyond via search, email, blogs, and all things digital.
Prior Life: College of Charleston, BS business administration/marketing focus. Internet Marketing Specialist, Blackbaud, Inc.
Hometown: Tampa, FL

Mike Henry
Title: Interactive Producer
Role: Inspiring awe, admiration and wonder. Provides singular client experiences and occasionally creates his own phenomenal work.
Prior Life: College of Charleston, BS Business Administration.
Hometown: Bluffton, SC

Brian Dadin
Title: Lead Application Developer, Programmer
Role: Develops web based applications to create interactive, data driven web sites.
Prior Life: College of Charleston, BS Computer Science, Baker & Associates, Inc., Trio Solutions, Inc., Medical University of South Carolina.
Hometown: Charleston, SC

Josh Campbell
Title: Art Director
Role: Designs dynamic rich interface experiences through synergy of brand and experience, pixel tweaking, and some smoke and mirrors.
Prior Life: College of Charleston, BS Corporate Communications.
Hometown: Pawleys Island, SC

Featured Projects

W Residences Atlanta
Launch: June 2009
URL: www.wresidencesatlanta.com
The ultra stylish W Atlanta Residences is the W Hotel’s only W-branded residences in Atlanta. Located in Atlanta’s posh new lifestyle center, Allen Plaza, homeowners get to enjoy the VIP lifestyle with access to a host of amenities from 24 hour concierge service, poolside drinks on the 16th floor infinity-edge pool, and access to W’s private helipad and helicopter service. The site shares the W experience and connects interested buyers with this one-of-a-kind opportunity. In addition to the new look and feel, the site also underwent a pretty heavy duty search optimization / marketing effort.

Hook USA
Launch: December 2008
URL: www.hookusa.com
The strategic/creative juggernaut known as Hook waited 3 long years before launching a "real" website. But the wait was worth it. Thanks to a collaborative effort between the Hook and Blue Ion teams the site blends story, design, discovery and attitude into an energizing presentation of ideas and work. Check out their great portfolio and team, and dig deep as some of the good stuff is found in the nooks and crannies.

Mary Norton
Launch: September 2008
URL: www.marynorton.com
Mary Norton is an internationally recognized name for fine Italian made handbags and shoes. After a dream of weaving flowers into handbags, she became inspired to recreate those bags… and they became an immediate hit. Mary’s handbags and shoes now have a huge celebrity following, have appeared on numerous red carpets (most recently the 2008 Emmys) and have been featured in Vogue, Oprah, Vanity Fair and Elle to name a few. We developed an e-commerce site to offer her fabulous shoes and handbags and to allow you to delve into the world of Mary. Be sure to check out the store and the fancy zoom feature, explore and play in the dream tree and spin the celebrity wheel.

Folbot
Launch: April 2008
URL: www.folbot.com
Folbot has been making folding kayaks since 1933. If you're not hip to the folding kayak scene, just think of it like a collapsible tent. The great thing about these boats is they break down to fit inside a bag - perfect for keeping in the trunk of your car for impromptu paddle sessions or as checked baggage when you travel. They go together in around 15 minutes and people regularly take the larger models out on weeks-long excursions. Poke around the site - we tried out a bunch of new technology on this one, and we're really pleased with how it came out.

Nest Realty Group
Launch: February 2009
URL: www.nestrealtygroup.com
Nest Realty approached us with a simple idea: the old real estate brokerage model is broken, and they represent a new breed of broker. From that idea, combined with some of the latest research on what works and what doesn't with real estate Web sites/interactive efforts, we worked closely to refine that idea into a brand and an interactive presence. In addition to creating the logo and branding, the site offers a myriad of ways to search for homes in the Charlottesville and Central Virginia area. With area guides, over 100 neighborhood profiles, video, images, custom blog, and detailed information on area schools and lifestyle options, Nest Realty Group's interactive presence has set the stage for a successful business and brand launch.

Shave-O-Matic
Launch: June 2008
URL: beard.blueion.com
The hot/humid days of June were upon us, and Blue Ion partner Rich Yessian's beard was getting more and more uncomfortable by the day. Rather than take the easy, or expected route out of his misery, he decided to try something different…and democratic. We set up an online, facial hair sculpturing collaboration project called Shave-O-Matic, where visitors could submit designs for different phases of his beard shave effort. Each week he reviewed the community suggestions (visitors could use two different virtual blades to carve up design ideas on Rich's face, and then post them to a community gallery) and picked a winner. In a little less than a month he was clean-shaven, thanks in part to the 100+ shave submissions.

Gil Shuler Graphic Design
Launch: April 2008
URL: www.gilshulergraphicdesign.com
For the past 8 years we've been collaborating with our colleagues and friends at Gil Shuler Graphic Design on their website, and this portfolio-based site is the 3rd generation. This time around we were looking to create a simple, yet energetic way to show off the diverse body of design work they've done. The work samples continue to build as you navigation through core categories of posters, letterhead, packaging, brochures, logos and miscellaneous items.

Bundoran Farm
Launch: December 2007
URL: www.bundoranfarm.com
Located fifteen minutes from Charlottesville, Virginia, Bundoran Farm is a preservation development where over 90 percent of the 2,300 acres are protected landscape. This distinctive model of Preservation Development in which farming operations are part of the inherited environment establishes a series of layers that connect residents to nature, to the farm, and to each other.

GetInspired Charleston
Launch: April 2007
URL: www.getinspiredcharleston.com
GetInspired Charleston was built to support the local, grassroots offshoot of Charleston Inspired, a collaborative marketing initiative to attract new businesses and talent to the region. We had a blast working with several partners in the area to bring this to life. Users have the option to post inspiring stories about the area, download region-specific logos, buy some inspired gear, and check out inspired events in the area. There's even an inspired blog where the team can post more detailed notes on inspired happenings and musings. Technical highlights include the ability to bookmark and link to individual sections or even individual stories (no small feat in Flash), on-the-fly image cropping, and dynamic (XML-driven) content for all sections of the site. Updates in Flash have never been easier!

Huff + Gooden Architects
Launch: June 2006
URL: www.huffgooden.com
Huff Gooden Architects is an architecture and urban design and planning practice dedicated to the design and exploration of architecture and its relationships to culture and knowledge. Established in Charleston, SC in 1997 as an outgrowth of its parent company, the firm has won numerous design awards for its innovative work and has been published nationally and internationally. The Huff Gooden and Blue Ion teams collaborated to develop a website that demonstrates how their work is ultimately about the experience of architecture to move one intellectually, spatially and spiritually.

Drayton Hall
Launch: March 2007
URL: www.draytonhall.org
This National Trust for Historic Preservation site is one of the nation's architectural/archeological treasures - the oldest surving example of Georgian Palladian architecture in the US and one of the only pre-Revolutionary houses that remain in close to original condition today. Aside from house and ground tours, Drayton runs educational programs, historical preservation efforts, membership activities and more. The Drayton and Blue Ion team leveraged everything from historical documents to cutting-edge preservation science to provide users with the full experience. Our thanks go out to those at Drayton Hall who are the stewards of this important and magical place.