Spring 2016

Connecticut Data Collaborative, a company that makes public data more accessible by hosting it all in one place and providing visual, easy to understand models of the data.

It was ATION’s job to assist CTData in creating a brand strategy that would hold true to their company values while increasing brand awareness and social media following.

To continue their mission of making data more accessible we created a branding strategy allowing them to reach a larger audience by making their content more visual and engaging. This included a social media best practices guide, new social media content, an abbreviated logo, a redesigned newsletter, and a brand style guide.

Spring 2014

ATION worked with the Mansfield Downtown Partnership to create a logo for the September 21, 2014 event, the “Celebrate Mansfield Festival.” The design process took place as Storrs Center was still being built. Our team met with the Celebrate Mansfield committee and created numerous logo designs. The Celebrate Mansfield team ultimately decided on the current one because it reminded them of an app and it was reminiscent of their previous logo made up of squares. This logo is divided up in a similar manner, yet more organically.

Our logo was featured across the event in festival branding and promotional web and print materials. For more information and to view the logo live on the festival website, please see DowntownStorrsFestival.org.

Fall 2014

ATION Digital Media Agency worked in collaboration with a local investment firm called CT Innovations. The CT Innovations team paired our agency with Umbie Dental, a cloud based dental organization company. Umbie asked us to produce a video that would be showcased at dental trade shows in order to spread awareness about their products to potential clients.

There were multiple steps to this project. First and foremost, we needed to establish concept ideas. We tested multiple ideas and narrowed them down to three possibilities: live action footage, graphics, and a combination of the two. In the end, the client went with the live action version.

The second step in our process was to write the script, which was critical for relaying the brand message. Before writing the script, we created a SWOT analysis in order to better understand Umbie’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Next, we developed a brand analysis which allowed us to craft the right setting, as well as characters.

After the script was completed, we took advantage of one of the many benefits of being at a university and collaborated with the University of Connecticut’s acting department. The final video was split into 5 short segments. Each of the clips contains its own short story while still carrying an overarching theme throughout.

This format allows Umbie to play the clips back-to-back at trade shows so people walking by can catch a glimpse of what Umbie has to offer.

Fall 2014

CT Innovations introduced ATION to Isoplexis, a biotechnology startup that focuses on cancer treatment research. The task was to create a concise video for the company that presented their product’s unique benefits to researchers and pharmaceutical companies.

In our process, we followed a supplemental timeline given to us by CT Innovations. This frame of reference helped us focus on the project in stages and allowed us to jump into development with a clear, client-approved concept. Our first challenge was to ideate stylistic approaches to the video – which involved scouring the web for relevant inspiration that broadened our idea scope and opened the door for greater innovation opportunities.

The client decided on flow, a motion graphic concept that showcased shape-shifting transitions and an enticing color palette. From there, we began work on a script. We decided to go with a voiceover in order to allow the visuals to be explored in depth. In development, the spoken script aided in determining the pace of the animation. With constant communication between us and the client, we were able to avoid overuse of technical jargon and over-simplification in order to cater to the client’s syntax.

For the narrative, we juxtaposed the two leading methods of cancer treatment research and then revealed how Isoplexis had indeed found a unique method. This proved to be effective and the client approved of the storyboard, allowing us to begin work on the animated video.

The same graphics created in Adobe Illustrator for the storyboard were moved into Adobe After Effects with the caveat of individual layer separation per graphic. We built our story in five distinct scenes that fit together to create one overarching narrative. To complement the visual component we created original music to fit the client’s specifications. The client was very happy with the final product describing it as “very awesome”.

Spring 2015

Our ATION team was tasked with creating a video to be used for marketing PCC’s Cenuity Business One Stop software to state officials. Cenuity Business One Stop is a software platform that allows business owners to communicate with state and federal agencies, easing the process of running a business.

The driving factor behind many of our creative decisions was the ultimate target audience: Secretaries of State. The video’s purpose is to focus on the benefits Cenuity Business One Stop offers and how they facilitate overall business processes.

Our script was directed by two main ideas: that businesses are good, and they are difficult to start. Analyzing the specific benefits of the Business One Stop software, we created video segments highlighting the software’s features. Once we finished a preliminary draft of the script, we sent it to PCC for feedback and made changes accordingly. The finalized script was sent to our selected voiceover artist.

The next step in the process was to film and animate the video. Our live-action scenes highlight the desktop and mobile applications included in the Business One Stop software. The animation portion of the video was designed to portray the features of the One Stop software while adhering to PCC’s brand identity. For instance, incorporating a blue-centric color palette and aiming for more polished animation styles.

Every aspect of the video production process, from selecting voice talent to the animation style was chosen with respect to the audience. Ultimately, we produced a quick video that effectively and elegantly summarized the benefits of PCC’s Cenuity Business One Stop software to our target.

Spring 2014

ATION collaborated with Mary Caravella from the Marketing Department of the UConn School of Business to produce a how-to video on developing a marketing persona. The process included writing a script, storyboarding and producing of a 4.75 minute video, “What Is A Persona?”, and creating a document to leave behind for the classroom.

The video has been published online and will be used as a teaching aid in DMD’s Business Strategies courses and in the School of Business’ marketing courses.

Spring 2014

Mission Statement: To educate UConn students about information security in a fun, interactive way.

Husky Hunt is an online and in-person game that educates you on information technology safety and security. This game involves answering questions online and receiving locations that will give you points and unlock more clues. Prizes include anything from gift cards to the UConn Co-Op and rewards from various businesses around the area. The best reward comes in the form of knowledge, saving you time and money in the future.

ATION was responsible for re-branding Husky Hunt in the spring of 2014. A new logo and brand look were created, as well as posters, postcards and fliers driving students to the Husky Hunt game site. A promotional animated infographic was also created that showcases the re-brand, explains the rules of the Husky Hunt game, and inspires the community to participate online.

Spring 2016

The Connecticut Children’s Alliance, (CCA) is a state-wide non-profit membership organization that supports Child Advocacy Centers and Multidisciplinary Teams across Connecticut by providing education, training, and resources. The CCA’s mission is to avail comprehensive state-wide services to all child victims and their families through collaboration, systemic change, public awareness and legislative advocacy.

CCA met up with members of ATION agency in February of 2016.  The organization needed a video that would help to educate viewers in the effectiveness of their process, as well as showing those potentially in need that these services are not only available, but highly effective.

When the ATION team got to work, we developed three distinct video types. The first proposal was called “A Day in the Life” which would be a live action video in which workers would be followed throughout the day showing how CCA functions through their eyes.  The second proposal was called “In Focus”, which incorporated both live action and animations and would incorporate interviews with team members and focus on the facility.  The third proposal was called “Flow” which would boast fully animated graphics which would transition into one another flowing from one visual to the next.  This third proposal won the clients over as it was determined that it would fit their needs the most as being a timeless form of videography as well as incorporating an appealing and innovative style.

ATION utilized our motion graphic skills to produce the video using only animation.  By using fluid transitions, the overall video was created to flow seamlessly from one scene to the next which created a cohesive and palatable presentation.  The video style focuses on real facts and CCA’s innovative process without being too emotionally negative.  This was an important feature of the video, as its message is intended to get across to the audience without making them uncomfortable, yet still delivering the message.

Fall 2013

ATION loves to be on the cutting edge of things, so when vPC approached us to work on a project, we couldn’t help but be excited. vPC is a virtual computer lab that allows UConn students and faculty to access all kinds of handy software from anywhere in the world. It was an incredibly helpful service, yet no one on campus seemed to know about it despite vPC’s best efforts to spread the word.

The ATION team had a clear goal when we took on this project: we wanted to build a less intimidating brand identity for vPC that would get more users from all schools logging into their SkyBox account. We developed a plan of action. The first item on our list was creating a new name. vPC sounded too technical and complex. We reimagined vPC as “Skybox by UConn”, gave them a new logo, and redesigned their website to match their fresh new name. Next, we created flyers, banners, and print advertisements. Through a combination of radio, television, and even public transportation, Skybox travelled across all of the UConn campuses and got people talking. To complete the package, we produced a video that showed new users all of the awesome things Skybox could do.

Oh, and we’re pleased to announce that… It worked! Usage of Skybox increased by over 50% in the first weeks after the launch, and we’re super excited to work with Skybox as it continues to grow!