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    Web design, graphic design, SEO, SEM and creative brand strategy thoughts to help you gain market share authored by the Metropolis Creative team and industry leaders.

    Brookline Arts Center Captures the Crown at Boston’s 4th Annual Extreme Website Makeover Contest

    May 4th, 2012

    Extreme Website Makeover Winner Brookline Arts Center

    Boston, Mass. – May 4, 2012 – And the winner is . . .Brookline Arts Center! Metropolis Creative, a branding and marketing agency with a focus on front-end user interface design, today announced the winner of its Extreme Website Makeover contest was the Brookline Arts Center. The big “Reveal” event was held last week at the Charlesmark Hotel, where many gathered in anticipation to hear who won the coveted new website.

    Metropolis had more than 50 worthy entries this year, but ultimately could only choose one. A panel of judges that included Scott Kirsner of the Boston Globe, Yoon Lee, Bob Collins, Mark O’Toole and Bruce Temkin, poured through the submissions to select five finalists and one winner, based on three criteria: innovation, value and voting.

    The “Before”

    Brookline Arts Center Website Before

    Brookline Arts Center (BAC) inspires and challenges artists at all levels, offering community arts programs for all ages, but their website wouldn’t necessarily tell you that. The site lacks effective branding both visually and with its messaging. The content doesn’t appear to be organized by audience or importance and there is no clear Call to Action other than to “learn more.” The Mission Statement is the most prominently featured content, which is of least importance to most site visitors.

    The “After”

    Brookline Arts Center Website After

    The post-makeover site design features a brightly colored, cohesively branded home page that brings focus to BAC’s most important offerings. The Metropolis team created a new look for the brand, starting with the logo. The new logo incorporates the BAC building, an old firehouse, since it is unique and community-focused. The team also designed a “featured” area on the homepage that rotates so BAC can highlight different programs and calls to action. Metropolis also made recommendations to improve the SEO of the site, optimized it for mobile content and helped design a cohesive look for its social media hooks, including Facebook and Twitter.

    “This experience keeps getting better year after year,” said Michael Flint, founder and CEO of Metropolis Creative. “We have seen our own brand grow immensely from the contest, with folks in D.C. and Atlanta inquiring about how to launch similar contests in their cities. Brookline Arts Center went above and beyond in their quest to win − printing up business cards with our ‘Makeover’ logo on them, and a QR code back to our website so people could vote for them!”

    “We are beyond ecstatic about winning the Extreme Website Makeover,” said Sean Fitzgerald, Brookline Arts Center. “For a small nonprofit, winning this contest is monumental. We feel like our online presence should reflect who we are − a vibrant community of artists. Our current website is old, difficult to navigate and a headache to update. With a new website, we can offer our students online registration and perhaps most importantly, a place to showcase their work.”

    Contact:

    Liza Colburn
    Crescendo Collaborative Comm.
    liza@crescendocc.com / +1.781.562.0111

    Beneficial Insurance Launches Website Redesign

    April 11th, 2012

    Beneficial Insurance Group is a leading provider of top-rated insurance products from top national providers. What sets Beneficial apart from other companies is their innovative Charitable Giving Program.

    Beneficial Insurance Website Design

    Recently, Metropolis Creative created a website for Beneficial Insurance, making its main focus the Charitable Giving Program rather than insurance policies. The website’s main call to action wants the user to Read More about the innovative philanthropic program. It also outlines the different types of policies offered by Beneficial. The homepage is broken up into boxes in order to clearly layout the different areas of the company for the user. Facebook and other social media integration will assist in spreading the word of the program as well. The site will be used to help the company find new customers as well as teach more people about its Charitable Giving Program.

    Beneficial’s Charitable Giving Program will donate 20% of the base commission revenue from every policy they write to a national or local non-profit as recommended by the policy holder. 

    American Public Television’s Website Design Wins MarCom Gold Award

    January 3rd, 2012

    American Public Television Website DesignAmerican Public Television (APT) has won its second award for their new website redesign by Metropolis Creative. APT has been a leading distributor of high-quality, top-rated programming to America’s public television stations since 1961. Since 2004, APT has distributed approximately half of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles. APT was the winner of our First Annual Extreme Website Makeover Event!

    American Public Television’s website re-design included a whole new website architecture that revolves around two clear premises. That they have very different target audiences, and that their vast programming inventory needed to be more accessible. Audiences can self-select via colored tabs on top. And much improved search functionality is called out in bright orange boxes throughout the site.

    MarCom Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The international organization consists of several thousand creative professionals. The Association oversees awards and recognition programs, provides judges and sets standards for excellence.

    Bambi Uganda Orphans’ Website Redesign

    August 8th, 2011

    Ugandan Orphans thank the Metropolis Creative Team

    Ugandan Orphans thank the Metropolis Creative Team
    (Click image to watch animation!)


    Bambi Uganda Orphans
    is a non-profit organization responding to the challenges for the 2.3 million children orphaned as a result of the civil unrest and the AIDs epidemic.

    Bambi Uganda OrphansRecently, Metropolis Creative created a website for Bambi Uganda Orphans, utilizing a content management system that allows the charity to accept donations easily and spread the word for the important cause. The website has a clearly defined donation area that is directly integrated with an e-commerce system. It also outlines the mission of the charity and the various programs developed to carry out this mission. The use of compelling images and stories of the children’s lives and conditions only further reveal the urgent and important work that is being done through the charity and the unbelievable struggles that the children are forced to overcome. Facebook and other social media integration will assist in spreading the word of the cause as well. The site will be used to help the charity improve the lives of Uganda’s orphans, their guardians and the larger community.

    Bambi Uganda Orphans’ mission is to provide financial, technical and educational assistance to community based organizations as well as directly manage programs that improve the lives of the children.

    Temkin Ratings Website Design

    June 22nd, 2011

    Temkin Ratings Website Redesign

    The Temkin Group needed a site design for their new venture, the Temkin Ratings. The Temkin Ratings analyzes customer feedback to determine how large corporations treat their customers. The main focus of the site is to get companies to purchase data, so we showcased the results in sortable tables. The tables add interactivity and engage visitors. We’ve also incorporated a sub-navigation into the sidebar, which allows visitors to quickly jump to any of the ratings pages, where you can purchase the data. This website design uses strong, bold calls to action, to prompt visitors to download and purchase the data sets.

    Made in the Commonwealth wins the Boston Extreme Website Makeover

    April 27th, 2011

    Made in the Commonwealth's Website Makeover

    Hosted by Metropolis Creative, the Extreme Website Makeover event is about rewarding innovation and entrepreneurship. Companies in and around Boston submitted their websites hoping to be chosen for an “extreme” redesign which included a brand refresh, website homepage redesign, and co-branded designs of their social media channels. There were many innovative and worthwhile companies who entered their website, however only one came out on top.

    On Tuesday April 26th the winner was unveiled at Red Sky Lounge in the heart of Boston’s Faneuil Hall. With a packed venue and drinks flowing, the winner was announced. Made in the Commonwealth is an environmentally-friendly start-up company. It’s goals are to raise funding while building awareness of the benefits Biofuel can have here in Massachusetts. Metropolis saw them as a noble cause in need of some serious design help. Metropolis’ solution was a clean and professional site that clearly communicates their goal to make Massachusetts the first to run on biofuel. The new design effectively targets different audiences using targeted copy, compelling diagrams, and an introductory video. The redesign included a new home page with co-branded social media channels: Twitter and Facebook.

    “Metropolis Creative is helping us get our message of our ability to make a difference out to the community. We love the new site, and are so thankful for their support and kindness. ” Matt Pearlson of Made In The Commonwealth.

    Metropolis Creative is an 11-year old graphic design studio located in Boston’s South End. Metropolis creates compelling and award-winning web, print and graphic design to attract and retain target audiences. The approach begins with a discovery of your brand, message and audience. The process continues with a proposal and creative delivery solutions. Metropolis is proud to have built a portfolio of clients from over a decade of success stories. Let Metropolis help you differentiate your brand on the web and in print.

    Made In the Commonwealth (MitC) will develop and utilize innovative technology and idle industrial infrastructure to be the first renewable, synthetic, ultra-low sulfur jet fuel refinery. Ultra-low-sulfur jet fuel is used in aviation and is critical in Massachusetts to create “New England grade” diesel fuels and to meet the Massachusetts renewable fuel mandate that 5% of diesel be renewable by 2013. MitC will put the state at the leading edge of renewable energy and transportation technology, while creating jobs and reducing the state’s dependence on foreign sources of fuel. MitC expects to create 250+ construction jobs over two years, more than 30+ full-time employment jobs with 70 more indirect and supporting jobs as a result of the project.

    USAF Academy Admissions Facebook Page

    April 21st, 2011

    The large grid image in the US Airforce Academy Admissions Facebook Pagebackground co-brands the Facebook page to the Academy’s website as well as adds visual interest to the page. Other elements on the tab include calls to action, which drive traffic back to the Academy’s web site by grabbing the attention of prospective students. The tab has a sliding navigation similar to the one on the Academy’s website. The innovative functionality of the tab transcends the Facebook framework and helps to elevate the impact of the overall design.

    Thought Labs provides custom software development and consulting services with a specialization in Social Network technologies.

    See their Facebook Page here!

    About Metropolis Creative

    Metropolis Creative is an 11-year old graphic design studio located in Boston’s South End. Metropolis creates compelling and award-winning web, print and graphic design to attract and retain target audiences. The approach begins with a discovery of your brand, message and audience. The process continues with a proposal and creative delivery solutions. Metropolis is proud to have built a portfolio of clients from over a decade of success stories. Let Metropolis help you differentiate your brand on the web and in print.

    Metropolis Designs Astro-Med’s Latest New Product Campaign

    April 12th, 2011

    boston website designWith the release of one of the most sophisticated and advanced data acquisition systems in the industry, Astro-Med Inc. needed a fresh new look for their campaign that didn’t stray too much from their current brand. Metropolis created an eblast to request a demo, and a matching landing page design to convert interested customers. These will also match their soon to be launched website redesign.

    Astro-Med is a leading supplier of data acquisition and recording systems. Their products are used in many different industries including aerospace, power generation, and automotive.

    Iacocca Foundation Website Redesign

    April 4th, 2011

    Website Redesign for the Iacocca Family Foundation

    The Iacocca Family Foundation was created in 1984 by Lee Iacocca. The foundation was founded in honor of his late wife Mary K. Iacocca, who died from complications of type one diabetes. The foundation funds innovative and promising diabetes research programs and projects that will lead to a cure and alleviate complications caused by the disease.

    The Iacocca Family Foundation came to Metropolis seeking a website redesign to better organize and gather information for those interested in receiving grants for research. Metropolis was able to create design elements that elegantly and intuitively represent the foundation and its promise to bring new hope to everyone living with type one diabetes.

    The homepage has a sophisticated and warm header showcasing Lee Iacocca and the message of the foundation. The homepage also presents a recent grant recipients and links to their research in an elegant slider. Descriptive timelines of the grant research history are found within the Research pages as well as a detailed history of the foundation within the Foundation pages. By clicking the Learn More button located under a call to Be the Cure, users are brought to a Grand Guidelines page to easily and intuitively direct them to prepare and apply for grants.

    See their website redesign here!

    Thought Labs Rebrands with New Logo and Website

    February 8th, 2011

    Website Design for Thought LabsThought Labs provides custom software development and consulting services with a specialization in social network technologies. Their work includes custom Facebook page design, application development, and overall social media strategies, marketing and brand management. Metropolis created a new logo for Thought Labs that symbolizes both social connections as well as personal interaction. It illustrates how ideas “spring forward” from other ideas.

    “We have worked with Metropolis on many design projects of the years. Their designs are top-notch, they are very easy to work with, and their prices are reasonable. Our company and our clients are thrilled with the results.”, John Maver, Principal and Co-founder of Thought Labs.

    The redesigned website now showcases recent work and latest news right up front. It also calls out to their three main methods; Strategy, Development, and Training. A set of custom icons were designed to help brand each method. Check out their new site: www.thoughtlabs.com