SmallBox

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the assistant director of digital and academic services at The Prindle Institute for Ethics at DePauw University. We provide programming and research support for learners at all levels relating to the field of ethics.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire SmallBox?

We engaged SmallBox to design and develop a new website for The Prindle Institute.

What were your goals for this project?

The design needed to both impress and serve a diverse audience. It also had to maintain an individual look while emulating DePauw University’s brand and style.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We search for local web design companies and found a few vendors including SmallBox. Their team listened carefully to us, offered the most creative solutions to our problems, and demonstrated a high degree of efficiency.

Describe the project in detail.

We met with SmallBox for one of their “Factory Day” sessions, which was highly efficient and gave us valuable insights into our project needs and desired direction. We then moved into the design phase. SmallBox created proposals based on our Factory Day meeting and sought our approval. After that, they started developing the site. The project manager trained me how to use the CMS, and I worked with them to create and input content.

Key site features include distinct portals to connect different audiences with appropriate programming. The CMS is easy to use in-house, and the site maintains DePauw’s branding standards while looking visually distinct.

What was the team composition?

We worked with Jenny (COO, SmallBox), Drew (Design Strategist, SmallBox) who served as our project manager, Neil (Designer, SmallBox), and a web developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The new site’s organization allows us to communicate our programming much more efficiently. Each event and program have a clear-cut spot that’s easy for users to reach. SmallBox’s work impressed every stakeholder; we couldn’t be happier with the results.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Every aspect of the collaboration—from communication to organization to the timeline—was seamless and efficient. The SmallBox team offered valuable advice every stage. Their support became especially helpful during the last few weeks of the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The project ran smoothly from our initial meeting to the site’s launch. SmallBox managed Factory Day very efficiently and took the time to listen to our needs. They set up a clear timetable and met every deadline. Their designer solved every problem we brought to him and produced a gorgeous final product. The project manager was patient and encouraging in teaching me how to use the backend CMS. The interface is highly intuitive and easy to use, which has significantly reduced my workload. Overall, they did superb work. I’m highly satisfied with the process and the final product.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I can’t think of anything. I highly recommend working with their team.