The Agency
The Agency is an interdisciplinary communications agency housed within the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University. I was part of a team that received a $15,000 Innovation Grant to start and run the Agency with students from Advertising, Graphic + Interactive Design, and Public Relations programs.
In my role as a Creative Director (alongside my Public Relations counterpart), I lead 3-4 teams of 4-5 interdisciplinary students working for a range of paid clients, including Peanuts International, LEGO, The Discovery Museum, 3DuxDesign, IRIS (International Refugee and Immigration Services), Sikorsky Aircraft, and Neuronic Works.
A few examples include:
For Sikorsky Aircraft, we created a prototype for internal communications. I directed students on gathering user research through surveys, interviews, and a site visit. With the user information, I guided the students through creating personas, user journeys, wireframes, and a high-fidelity InVision prototype to present to the client. I also helped facilitate feedback throughout development.
For LEGO, I worked with students to recruit and coordinate user testing of new app content. Since we worked with child testers, I worked with LEGO to prepare the students for non-biased in-person testing. I helped facilitate proper NDA and parent waiver paperwork and scripting of the testing itself. It was also essential to design a safe and welcoming space for children by providing snacks, LEGO coloring sheets, and a LEGO building station for participants waiting their turn. After four sessions of 15-20 user tests, I worked with the students to analyze, tabulate, and formally report the study’s findings to the client. LEGO used the user studies for determining what type of content would continue to be pursued and further developed for LEGO’s apps.
I worked with students to research and design a 20th Anniversary website for the Quinnipiac School of Communications. This included interviewing faculty, staff, and alumni and integrating their accounts into a site that could speak to all members of the 20-year history. I worked with students to plan, wireframe, and design an interface that ultimately won a 2020 Bronze Mercury Award from PRSA CT.
For the Discovery Museum, we helped them look at their audience to increase membership and donations through a “ReDiscover Discovery” anniversary campaign. I directed students on survey development and facilitated on-site surveying of weekend visitors. This data, coupled with competitor analysis and collateral redesign, was provided to the client upon completion.
Awards
2020 Bronze Mercury Award
Greater Connecticut Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA CT)
Final screens of the prototype for Sikorsky Aircraft's internal communications app. The app celebrates the company's proud roots with Igor Sikorsky, while also helping maintain a sense of community through merging with a larger corporation.
One piece of collateral that was redesigned for Discovery Museum was the full program guide.
The final website for the Quinnipiac School of Communication's 20th anniversary includes photos, interviews, videos, and more.