Author: Chris Talbert

The Designsensory team is putting our economic development experience to work creating a 12-county campaign to bring attention and, ultimately, jobs to economically distressed areas throughout Tennessee. Working with long-time client Tennessee Department of Economic Development (TNECD), we will create a website, video and marketing playbook for each county.

From late February through mid-March, two Designsensory teams, each with a strategist, photographer and content team member, toured the 12 economically distressed counties that have received grants from TNECD. In each area, we met with government and business leaders, educators and tourism officials, and visited successful businesses. We learned each county’s unique strengths, from natural beauty to workforce skills and educational programs.

We’ve researched economic assets, weaknesses and potential growth industries in each county and conducted audits of current marketing materials. We’ll use that information in developing the custom economic development website, video and playbook for each county to use in promoting its region to companies looking for a place to grow or relocate businesses.

Over the next several months, we will continue to work with county leaders and state ECD officials to write and produce scripts and develop website content and marketing plans for each county. With new tools for showcasing their best selves, these counties will have a more level playing field in the competition for new business.

It’s no secret that Designsensory has a deep appreciation for students and enjoys engaging with young talent. Our interactions with students throughout the year include speaking at events and to classes, reviewing portfolios and giving critiques, hosting student tours, and more.

To support student attendance for the 2016 KAMA Marketing Conference, held this year at King University, Designsensory made a donation to offset registration cost for students. As a result, KAMA had a terrific turnout of students participating in the conference and mingling with the marketing community. 

As part of the conference activities, Designsensory hosted University of Tennessee American Marketing Association, when an inquisitive, enthusiastic group toured our digs and then learned about agency life and some of our process through conversations with Mary Blair, account manager; Brandon Rochelle, executive technical director and principal; Hunter Foster, PR and social media specialist; Brayan Zavala, graphic designer; Matt Montgomery, senior designer; Susan Napier-Sewell, content developer and editor; and Samuel Bendriem, graphic design intern. Fresh from the tour, students and DSers joined other KAMA members and marketing professionals at Double Dogs for a Meet the Marketers dinner.

The students thanked DS for the agency tour with a note and with an in-person delivery of dozens of fresh donut from Makers! Thank you UT AMA students for the donuts, and thank you for visiting us!

Matt Honkonen, Account Manager
Just like any good account manager juggles a lot of tasks, I like to read several genres all at once. Currently, I’m reading mashable.com and fastcodesign.com for my tech fix, knoxmercury.com for my local arts and happenings, and giantbomb.com for the 10-year-old gamer in my heart! I also recently finished Nick Offerman’s Paddle Your Own Canoe and found it both hilarious and motivating. Nothing like a fresh take on crafting a life that is uniquely yours.

Stephan Zerambo, Web Developer, eCommerce Specialist
At work, I’ve been researching about Magento strategy. This ebook speaks to the strategic curation of products in a flooded retail world to increase order values and sales. When I’m not working, you can find me in the garden. And, since gardening season is quickly approaching, I’m reading about the best composting methods for fertilizing our new garden. I’ve actually found web developing and gardening to be related. Here’s a great quote I read recently from John C. Enny, vice president of marketing at MTS Software Solutions:

“Like organic gardening, achieving business growth goals requires defining strategy, implementation, and execution. In gardening (and not unlike business), you decide what you want to plant and determine what you need to do to for it grow. Like a new business venture, you must plant a seed, nurture it, cultivate it, and eventually harvest it.”

Justin Gibson, Project Manager
I just finished reading Simon Sinek’s Start With Why. He says companies, leaders and individuals inspire others when they focus on expressing why they do something rather than what and how. As an example, he talks about how Apple computers are not the cheapest nor do they have the best specifications. However, a large group of the population buys them religiously because they resonate with the company’s message. Sinek says, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”

Erin Slattery, UX Architect
Lately, I’ve been reading Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics in order to better understand all the robust features of Google Analytics and to be more strategic with and track the goals and objectives of our websites. Some of the things I’ve most enjoyed learning about are segmenting audiences, setting up conversion goals and integrating external campaigns. With each of these tools, I can focus on key performance indicators, which allows us to think more strategically about our goals and how we’re going to track our results.

Ian Fitz, Technical Director
I’ve been scouring the internet for any and all kinds of articles and personal accounts about following agile methodologies in an agency workplace, especially kanban. Every workplace has its own unique requirements and culture that need to be accounted for, so I’ve been researching how to ease our pain points as much as possible. Read Atlassian’s inspiring guide to agile here.

Susan Sewell, Content Developer, Editor
Recently I read The Road to Character. Author David Brooks contrasts a life lived for a career with one lived for a vocation. Passion and humility make good partners in the creative world. I see coworkers at DS as a blend of both—able to pour themselves into a cause along with the ability to hear and be adaptive to that cause. With every client and project, we ask, What are we called to do? It’s inspiring to work where passions burn bright. And, where service is a common practice.

We’re fortunate to have many dedicated and talented employees. Among them, Senior Art Director Lindsay Miller recently celebrated 10 years of contributing beautiful designs, branding insights and interactive support at Designsensory.

Lindsay graduated from the University of Tennessee, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. Before joining Designsensory, she worked at other small agencies in the Knoxville area. As one of the first designers at the company, she’s had her hand in nearly every project at DS.

Along with her loyalty, Lindsay’s talent and professionalism have been indispensable to our team’s success. She’s experienced success, too, at Designsensory and tells us some of her proudest professional moments have been spent working on the Tennessee’s tourism website redesign, the Medal of Honor Convention, Patricia Nash Designs and the Wilson, Arkansas campaign.

It’s clear Lindsay is an outstanding designer, a patient mentor and a great friend. And who can say it better than her fellow employees?

“Your patience and talent are unmatched. We are so fortunate to have you leading our team.”

“Always professional and top-notch when it comes to design and direction. But, you’re equally special as a friend.”

“You’re an A++ art director. Thanks for always making sure my type is kerned well and my color palettes pop over the last 4.5 years!”

“You add the classy, the classic and the ever-positive, always helpful, critical eye. You’ve brought incredible beauty, masterfully juggled myriad details and pleased so many clients (and coworkers) with your savvy approach and spot-on designs.”

When TVA Knoxville Employees Credit Union (KTVAECU) decided on a brand refresh to reach more of the community, the Credit Union called on Designsensory. Our branding competencies and experience working with other financial entities made us a natural fit for the rebrand.

Executive Creative Director Joseph Nother says this about the partnership:

“Designsensory is thrilled to be working with TVA Employees Credit Union. Our team is very impressed with TVA ECU’s legacy of optimism and community empowerment. The Credit Union has been powering the dreams of East Tennesseans for 80 years, and we are delighted to help express these values in renewed fashion. Together, we will renew its brand identity and marketing communications.”

We are taking a detailed, system-level approach to rethinking TVA ECU’s branding and marketing communications. Our work will touch on all facets of its brand system, from ephemera and print materials to outdoor and interior environmental messaging. We will also be reviewing the Credit Union’s media strategy to help grow its direct and indirect lending.