AVATAR Computing

AVATAR maintains a very thorough discovery process. Depending upon the scope needed, here's a list of basic questions that should always be defined before approaching an web based project:

1) Does the site need redesigning?
2) What are the brand guidelines?
3) What kind of marketing initiatives are you involved in now?
4) Tag line?
5) Who are your competitors? What do they do right/wrong?
6) Is the visual hierarchy salvageable?
7) What are your marketing challenges?
8) Do you have a mission statement? Are their corporate goals we should consider when redesigning the site?
9) Define your product/service for me.
10) Who is your target audience?
11) What does your current website do well?
12) Do you have any color preferences for your future site?
13) Do you have a proposed sitemap?
14) Will you be blogging?
15) Locations?
16) What does it do poorly?
17) Is there anything on your current site that must absolutely stay?
18) Does the server support what you want use in redesign?
19) Does the client want to keep the existing CMS?
20) Is there so much legacy data that moving is the site will be tedious?
21) What is the existing code base?
22) Does the user interface need modifying?
23) Do you have access to source files?
24) Will you be providing content/pictures?
25) What’s your time-frame?
26) Are you expecting SEO? (More work/more money, long time committement).
27) What’s your project budget?

AVATAR Maintains 3 Distinct Steps to the Creative Process:

1st Step - Discovery
Brands cannot be built in a vacuum. Front facing websitesThat is why AVATAR Computing believes collaboration, discussion and discovery are key to every brand development strategy. What are other similar brands doing already? What works for them, what doesn’t? What is the market demanding. Who’s your audience. What are the objectives, future plans . . . the list goes on. AVATAR Computing takes a methodical, well thought out approach to taking the first steps in any project. The key to any successful marketing strategy is a shared vision among all stakeholders. As the mission unfolds, AVATAR Computing’s creative and forwarding thinking team will challenge the traditional norm with other approaches and considerations. Interviews, meetings, clarification, objectives, transparency, and eventual complete alignment are all instrumental pieces tying the discovery stage together. It's also critical to make no assumptions on the audience. Assumptions can destroy brands. AVATAR maintains extensive experience in gathering thoughts, feedback, and the various objectives existing among numerous constituents.
AVATAR Computing suggests introducing audience feedback/suggestions during these following stages:

AVATAR Computing believes in scrutinizing the market for similar solutions that are notably successful - so much can be learned from what is already working and what is not. This will also enable all stakeholders to develop a baseline practice - avoiding having to start from scratch or run the risk of missing a message or tactic already proven to work. And because AVATAR Computing offers such a unique blend of technology and creativity, our team is well positioned to suggest how we make the solution better. AVATAR Computing will ask the customer's team involved in the website redesign to identify a minimum of three competitor sites that they feel accomplish similar objectives that they are pursuing.

2nd Step - Develop the Brand Strategy

Once AVATAR Computing completes the discovery process and a unified vision is shared among all stakeholders, a brand strategy is drafted. It is during this phase that AVATAR Computing will begin documenting the shared vision, the information gathered during the discovery process, and the objectives the brand needs to meet. AVATAR’s objective is to illustrate its knowledge of the project while also incorporating a conceptual direction, begin design suggestions, naming and slogan / messaging suggestions, in addition to color schemes. The marketing plan is viewed as a live document and is a collaborative effort, at a minimum AVATAR Computing expects it to maintain the following fundamental elements:
● Marketing Roadmap (Description Below)
● Executive Summary
● Situation Analysis
● Marketing Strategy
● Suggested Tactical Programs
● Objectives / Goals
● Implementation / Resource

3rd Step - Implementation
The resource is set, the tools are in place, and the vision is understood. Now it time for AVATAR Computing to begin implementation. This is where AVATAR Computing shines. Our culture revolves around process and accountability. That said, the creativity process does not end. The vision becomes tangible so client collaboration and approval are key to ensure we are in step with the vision.

AVATAR Computing believes client projects are a collaborative effort from the start. We are not a company that blindly creates for customers. To maximize efficiencies, we have developed a comprehensive list of prerequisites to ensure our team is equipped to move forward. This list is provided below:
• The questions defined above should be answered prior to start.
• Establish main points of contact with client and assign a point person to help facilitate interview processes with prospective site users / target audience.
• Access to current website analytics , trends, data. Review analystics with client, identify pages with most traffic and where users are headed when visiting the old site. Note: These numbers can be influenced by poor design and are put into context alongside multiple other components when assessing the site, like feedback from interviews and marketing research.
• Vet content management systems (CMS) platforms with the needs of client in mind, determine if CMS should be custom or off the shelf.
• Access to any 3rd party applications that are currently being used or required for future site.
• Clearly define scope of work with client to draft road map. Define mutually agreed upon deliverables and associated deadlines.
• Commitment on approval times so project is not delayed.
• Photos, creative files, verbiage, logos, existing branding guide.
• Three competitor sites the client currently likes and what they like about them.
• Time frame
• Budget

I am a believer in small business and their dream. Having personally built multiple successful companies and currently working as a consultant, my role with AVATAR Computing is to showcase their 15 years of success stories - working with everyone from the small restaurant owner to managing multi-million contracts with the Department of Defense. Having grown up with the owners of this company, I can personally vouch for their commitment to their clients and devotion to hard work. More so, AVATAR Computing has a fantastic culture and employs numerous veterans, myself included. It's a great company that is truly mission driven. We hope that you give us a shot.

From Matthew Foster, co-founder and CIO of AVATAR Computing:

"From early adulthood, I always dreamed of having my own business. I'm someone who thrives on entrepreneurialism. So when I realized I could blend technology, art, and innovation while owning a business, I had to make the jump. I would have never had done without the belief of some fantastic mentors and a incredibly supportive family. And now I'm lucky enough to work with my father and brother as we pursue our vision together." - Matthew Foster

We Believer in our Differentiators: Creativity. Experience. Project Management Expertise. . . and a whole lot of Tenacity. These are the true differentiators that embody AVATAR Computing’s web and software development capabilities.

Creativity – It starts at the top. Matthew Foster, CIO and founding partner of AVATAR Computing holds an art degree from Massachusetts College of Art and Design where he focused on 2D fines arts and aesthetics. His passion for creativity combined with multiple industry Information Technology Certifications is clearly present in AVATAR’s day-to-day activities and extends well beyond other talented designers. A superb communicator, Matthew is a master at articulating his leading-edge ideas with other staff IT specialist, web designers, and AVATAR clients. Furthermore, Matthew is often relied upon as a Subject Matter Expert in various areas of technology.
Experience – AVATAR Computing has been in business for over a decade and with nearly 30 employees, our areas of expertise is significant. We encourage cross team collaboration to maximize shared knowledge on every task. All of AVATAR Computing employees are briefed on mission objectives, standards, guidance, and performance outcomes. We offer leadership designed to focus our staff acutely on the target, and then empower them to get there quickly.
Connectional Intelligence - It is important to recognize that not one person knows everything there is to know about software, web design, and technology. Interests and experiences create institutional knowledge within an organization but the ability to tap into that resource can be challenging. AVATAR employs numerous social tools enabling real-time collaboration, proving to be critical when troubleshooting. Furthermore, our varied services demand that we employ personnel with vastly different backgrounds and areas of expertise. This reach-back is a major differentiator as our team tackles new challenges on a daily basis.
Project Management – AVATAR Computing’s contracts with the Department of Defense demand highly organized yet transparent project management. Our ability to coordinate with multiple departments, hold parties accountable, and drive the mission forward is a necessary attribute, not a luxury. Our contribution to the Department of Defense impacts soldiers around the world and our goal is to maximize their efficiency while minimizing their losses – we are not in a position to fail. AVATAR Computing is flexible in its capacity to manage projects in a variety of styles depending on the structure and demands of the agency we are working with.
Tenacity - AVATAR Computing brings this intangible to life for the organizations we support. There is no shoulder shrugging or palms to the air, in our response to an issue. There is no employee that will claim “it’s not my job.” We believe there is always an answer, and we have the tenacity to find it. We encourage the Division of Public Health to consider our Past Performance, and Government Customer endorsements.