Executionists - We Get Web Done

Where can a college student go to get stuff he or she needs? Where can a parent of a college student go to send useful gift packages to their child? The answer is Snagola.com, a new service that specializes in gift cards and promotions with major retailers aimed at college students.

We helped them develop their website from scratch. It’s really two sites in one, each built on a highly customized WordPress framework. The two nested sites: www.snagola.com and www.giftcard.snagola.com are powered on the financial side by CashStar, a digital gifting platform specializing in gift card promotions via web, social media and e-commerce. Cashstar works with leading brands such as CVS, The Home Depot, GAP, and more. We were the first web development firm to integrate Cashstar  and “eShop” (a popular Word Press plugin) successfully into a WordPress website.

We worked with the client’s designers on the look-and-feel and then themed the WordPress template. WordPress allows the website administrators to manage their promotions and keep the site fresh. So think of Snagola for sending gift cards and discounted promotions to your favorite college students.

Recently, we launched a complete overhaul of the website for Tseng College, a satellite college within California State University Northridge (CSUN) that offers strategically designed programs for mid-career professionals.

Here at Executionists, we follow a three-phase methodology. Phase 1 is our Documentation phase in which we work with our client to distill all the requirements into documents that serve as our roadmaps going forward.

A cornerstone of this phase is our use of Axure RP, a software tool that we use to build functional prototypes, also known as “wireframes” for our larger projects.  With Axure RP, we’re able to generate interactive wireframes and UI mockups. Having these wireframes provides clear documentation for the design and development team and minimizes the back and forth. Our wireframes can easily be shared with the client allowing them to preview and test the site navigation and see placeholder content on the pages.

The project for Tseng College was extensive and complex so we created over 100 wireframes at the outset. You can view this video to see a sampling of the wireframes.

Superstar project manager and information architect Wanda Cook Shapiro played a key role in the success of this project. She created all the wireframes, worked closely with the client clarifying the project scope, and smoothly managing the project to conclusion.

We recently launched a totally redesigned site for client Primary Color, specializing in a comprehensive array of print-media products and services for enterprise-level clients. We designed their site from scratch, based on design direction from the client. We built a robust and customized WordPress-based CMS (Content Management System) to handle a multiplicity of products, services, and solutions they offer their clients, as well as several different blog streams. The home page includes dynamic flash animation that showcases some of the wide array of print solutions Primary Color provides.

The new content site we launched for the Screen Actors Guild in June 2011 has already been used by over 1,600 producers who have used the site to sign signatory contracts and conduct business over the web.  This new site is revolutionizing the way business is done in the entertainment industry. The site is featured in this cool video that demonstrates how easy we’ve made it for producers to work with SAG.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of EliasArchitecture.com!

About Client:

Alex Elias is a Los Angeles based architect who began his own practice in 2001. Alex Elias has designed several buildings from residential to commercial and institutional. Elias Architecture practices range from Pre-Design Planning of the project to Construction Administration.

Technologies Used:

• JQuery Animation
• WordPress

To learn more about Alex Elias Architecture, click here.

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