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Design, Interactive

12 Sep 11

Fairmont + iPad App

Fairmont iPad Application Designed by Hutner Descollonges

iPad App for The Fairmont Gallery Design
Interactive map created by Hutner Descollonges for The Fairmont App

We love hearing cries for iPad apps from unexpected places. Fairmont inquired about the possibility of providing guests at their Ghirardelli Square location with an iPad app to help navigate the neighborhood and more importantly, learn about the Private Residence Club. How many apps enable you to find a second home or find dinner?

The iPad app was designed as a tool that would provide hotel guests with lots of choices – from viewing videos, amenity galleries and interactive floor plans, to perusing curated content for food and wine, shopping, parks, entertainment and culture. Integration with Google Maps made it easy to access up to date information on all the destinations. If users are interested in fractional ownership, they may also choose the type of contact they prefer – make an appointment with a sales agent, ask a question, or just email information to a friend. It can all be done while lying in a plush hotel bed. Not a bad idea.

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Brand Experience, Design, Interactive

09 Sep 11

Proto Homes Technology

Proto Homes Branding project

Website design for Proto Homes by Hutner Descollonges

Control your new Proto Home from an iPhone, iPad or computer. We were intrigued by the idea when a Los Angeles builder contacted us to help with the launch of their new company, Proto Homes. With a patent pending and international interest, they had essentially shifted the building paradigm with a more efficient process that enables cost-effective modern design. New concepts include the “Proto Core” – a prefabricated centralized infrastructure that houses all utilities, in addition to serving as structural support. “Hyperspace Core” allows an open and flexible plan, rather than restrictive rooms. This enables homes to be easily reconfigured for changing family needs.

Our branding project included design of the Proto Homes corporate identity and a content-rich website. The theme of “Home as Product” is apparent throughout the website, as our approach was more akin to a retail offering than a traditional home sales website. The products were separated into two sections: “Proto-to-Go” featuring already constructed homes and “Proto-on-Demand” offering custom home design services. The website also includes unique features like a user poll, allowing viewers to vote on the location of the next Proto Home. Visit the website to cast your vote:www.ProtoHomes.com

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Brand Experience, Design

17 Jan 11

A Strategic Approach

Brand strategy for The Bridge District in Sacramento by Hutner Descollonges

Adding a strategy component can alter a project’s outcome entirely. Fulcrum Property had an ambitious plan to redevelop the waterfront in West Sacramento and create an wholly new district. The existing industrial and largely bare landscape was envisioned as a mixed-use destination for the area’s residents and visitors, with extensive residential, office and retail developments. The client came to us for the requisite marketing materials, however, it was apparent to us that the project required a full strategy component to bring structure and clarity to their vision.

The strategy phase included a Positioning Workshop, Summary Report, and Brand Tool Kit (Messaging Deck, Persona Cards and Brand Stories). Once everything was in focus, we produced a strategy book – a tangible expression of the overall The Bridge District brand vision. This strategy phase altered the course of the project in three key ways. First, the Positioning Workshop brought together all of the key stakeholders and played a critical role in aligning their thinking. Second, it created a solid roadmap for the key project messaging. Third, it provided an essential communications tool to outline for the public and the press the core project attributes, assets and overall vision.

We delivered the final strategy product as a custom hardcover printed book, encased in a linen box. Who said strategy isn’t tangible?

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Brand Experience, Design, Interactive, Web Launches

17 Jan 11

Redeveloped – Redesigned

New website design for The Piers building in San Francisco by Hutner Descollonges

The Piers sought a new website to infuse fresh energy into the waterfront redevelopment. While the old website included compelling historic facts, it conveyed none of the vibrant and urbane feel that the three superb restaurants bring to the location. Our new website threw some bold colors and photography into the mix, with a more upbeat and promotional feel. A Web 2.0 interactive environment was developed and a branded UI was designed to reflect the impressive dining and office destination this redevelopment has become.

We applied a robust content management system to enable the administrators to update the site with timely information. The website features a full WordPress-based CMS, allowing our client to self publish news and events, update leasing content and make micro-adjustments to page content.

Visit the new site and drop by the piers on your next visit to San Francisco’s waterfront. It’s located at Pier 1 1/2, 3 and 5. Yes, that’s right, Pier 1 and one half!

Visit: www.ThePiersSF.com

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Brand Experience, Design, Interactive, Web Launches

17 Jan 11

Change is Good

Website redesign for Shorenstien by Hutner Descollonges

Small changes are challenging; big changes are invigorating.

Some of our clients are quite happy with their old websites. Typically, there is one person in the organization who delicately points out that they need to revamp their website and a long debate ensues, followed by an even longer website development process. These are some of our most satisfying engagements, as the results are such a dramatic departure. This was the case with Shorenstein, and the client couldn’t be happier.

The revamped website showcases Shorenstein’s unique portfolio and is functional for multiple audiences. Investors, tenants, both current and prospective, property managers, and the public can find all they need in one robust website. Even better, we built a sitewide content management system to allow the client to update property information and leasing availabilities. The website has increased the client’s efficiency and continuity – a great reward for embracing change.

Visit: www.Shorenstein.com

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Brand Experience, Design, Interactive, Web Launches

17 Jan 11

The Excitement of a Startup

New website for Gophoto a new San Francisco startupHelping clients become profitable after six months brings smiles to everyone’s faces. When the founders of GoPhoto approached us soon after starting their company, we were thrilled. They had recently left their jobs to pursue their idea of combining the old with the new: scanning old photos and making them available to share online with family and friends. We helped launch the brand, including the front end interface and programming.

Key to the success of the website was the layering of storytelling to personalize the experience, accompanied by old photos provided by the client from their personal albums. And yes, we even added some of our own, including naked bathtub photos (as children, of course).

We created a very process-oriented website, which enabled users to easily follow key steps from upload to delivery. Charts and diagrams helped create a simple navigation path and provided a light and friendly feel for the site.

We enjoy working with startups – the shared ideas, energy and enthusiasm are all thrown into a cauldron of creativity.

Visit: www.GoPhoto.com

If you’d like to use GoPhoto’s excellent service, you can visit www.gophoto.com/photo-scanning-service.

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Brand Experience, Design, Interactive, Web Launches

29 Apr 10

TIBCO Gets Personal

TIBCO new customer section of their website with UI expereice a priority

Ultimately, technology is all about people. As a leader in middleware software infrastructure, TIBCO recognized that in spite of their success in solving highly complex customer issues, this message was not reaching potential customers. TIBCO approached us to develop a content-rich Customer sectionfor their website, in order to better communicate their intense focus on solving customers’ enterprise challenges. It was more about having a consumer-oriented focus and it was a new approach.

We shifted the discussion from technology to benefits and from software to people. The benefits-driven approach resulted in a content-rich customer section, including 109 Customer Success Stories, 70 videos and approximately 150 content pages from customers worldwide. Our approach utilized the customer’s end user to tell the TIBCO story and create an engaging user experience. And engagement is what it’s all about.

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Brand Experience, Design

29 Apr 10

Adjusting to the Market

New website for Artani condos in San Francisco

Rolling with the times, we sway with our clients when the market changes. Real estate sector booming? We help clients market luxury condominiums. Real estate sector slowing down? We help them switch the project to apartments. Once things begin to turn around, we can take the same product and alter the marketing plan to sell the property as condominiums again. Such was the case with Artani. From condominiums to apartments and back again, we worked with the client to shift the marketing thrust, while maintaining the original positioning.

Designed with the aesthetic of a boutique New York condominium, we positioned the project as the new urban ideal that has not been widely available to San Franciscans to date – luxury homes close to our cultural center. Blocks from the Opera, Symphony, Ballet, Museums. And of course, close to something near and dear to us – renowned restaurants. The paradigm for city living has shifted in San Francisco and The Artani was positioned to reflect that ideal. It’s about time.

Visit: www.theartanisf.com

 

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Brand Experience, Design, Web Launches

29 Apr 10

Future Perfect

Bay Meadows marketing materials designed by HDSFWe love sustainable projects, particularly when they are transit-oriented. It’s even better when they are mixed-use. People can live, work, dine and shop without getting into a car. Bay Meadows is that kind of project and it just makes sense. The office complex will be located next to the train station and will include an LED-lit train schedule on the side of one of the beautiful glass buildings. Brilliant.

The master developer, Wilson Meany Sullivan approached us to market the first part of the project – five Class A office buildings, care of international architects, SOM. Our positioning for the project focused on “Smart Design,” communicating the fusion of innovative design and environmental consciousness. The messaging is all about creating balance in our world. Seems pretty smart to us.

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Design, Marketing, Web Launches

29 Apr 10

Digestible Tech Talk

How do you help techies communicate? Microsoft has some of the smartest technologists on the planet. They understand the underlying technology of quite a number of very sophisticated offerings, but communicating that technology to the business world is another skill entirely. That’s where we come in. Microsoft engaged us to help market WINDOWS 7 and VIRTUALIZATION to a broad audience. It required a makeover of their information graphics, which were rather complex, but needed to be appear simplistic to the viewer in order to sell their services.

We regret that we cannot show any of our Microsoft solutions, but we can report that Microsoft was very pleased with the outcome.

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