The Challenge
To overhaul the online presence for Calgary Economic Development (CED) in order to market Calgary's competitive advantages, pro-business climate and superior lifestyle across Canada and around the world.The Solution
Calgary is recognized as among the best places in the world in which to live and work. Media Dog sought to develop a world-class web solution that delivers an immersive user experience capturing the energy and spirit of Calgary while transforming the CED web property into a dynamic business tool.Extending the Calgary brand online
Many people know Calgary and Alberta as a great place to invest and do business. Our challenge from a communications perspective was to give this audience the facts they need to make a decision to relocate or expand their business — while showcasing Calgary as an energetic, culturally-rich, and extremely beautiful place to live and work.
The site is rich in both information and imagery and allows a diverse range of visitors to immediately understand CED and the whole Calgary experience — and become captivated by what the region has to offer. The site's design enables CED staff to add timely and targeted information within a framework that retains visual impact. By incorporating rotating header images that highlight the beauty and diversity of the Calgary region, the site balances information and statistics with warmth and feeling. To communicate a warm and welcoming aesthetic, Media Dog took the initiative to take custom photographs that complemented those provided by CED. A warm colour palette and design elements such as a curved header symbolize the energy of Calgary and the iconic chinook arches that warm the city.
Building a dynamic online business tool
Smart technology solutions form the backbone of the CED site. Built around Media Dog's proprietary content management system, Conductor CMSPro™, it allows CED staff to easily add new content to from anywhere they have access to the Internet with Conductor's online interface. The site's navigation menus, sitemap and search database are automatically updated when a new page is added to the site.
Other dynamic tools that enhance communication and create efficiency include an event manager that enables users to submit events online. A custom asset management library makes it simple for CED to distribute digital media assets such as logos, images and videos. Site users can build their own media library, and with a few mouse clicks, CED staff can approve their order. The automated system enhances access, and ultimately, helps CED work with partners to sell Calgary to the world.
The Results
Since the site's launch, it has received rave reviews from staff, partners and visitors alike. Media Dog is currently working with CED to develop an online "brochure builder" which will generate a printable Adobe Acrobat document that is generated on-the-fly and contains statistics and data of the user's choosing.
