24 Hour Website Build-a-thon

The Options for Families and Youth Website
Build-a-Thon was a Big Hit!

In early 2010, IdeaEngine set out on a mission ... to build a website in 24 hours. Our objective was to give back to our home city of Cleveland, Ohio, and help a local non-profit organization. After some initial consideration, the answer was clear. The organization would be Options for Families and Youth (OFY), a Cleveland, Ohio-based foster care and adoption agency.

Nearly seven years ago, in the spring of 2003, OFY contracted IdeaEngine to design its first website. Ironically, the original OFY site was one of IdeaEngine's first website development projects. In appreciation for OFY's trust in IdeaEngine, we wanted to pay it forward. After some preliminary discussion with OFY, we scheduled the website design build-a-thon for Thursday, May 13, 2010.

The Challenge:

Design and build a new OFY website in 24 hours

Host a fund raising event during the website design build-a-thon to raise money and awareness for OFY

Planning and Strategy

Every website needs a comprehensive and strategic plan to ensure objectives are met. IdeaEngine met with OFY representatives and held a series of strategy sessions in the months prior to the build-a-thon. During these sessions, we outlined the framework for the website structure on paper and began working on editorial content.

Pre-Build-a-Thon Deliverables:

Website Needs Analysis

Website Sitemap

Website Wireframes

Editorial Content Outline

All Editorial Copy (Written by OFY)

SEO Analysis

24-Hour Website Build-a-Thon

We began the build-a-thon with a development plan and a 24-hour agenda, that's it! All website design concepts, technologies, programming, SEO, and content integration had to be completed during the 24-hour period. To add even more fun to the day, IdeaEngine hosted a networking and cocktail party during the build-a-thon.

The presentation below is a time-lapse video of the entire event unfolding in the 24-hour window. To view all the other videos of this event, click here.

The Results

IdeaEngine donated over $40,000.00 in time and expenses. This includes the website development process and event planning

Sponsor donations (listed below) and private donations totaled just over $2000.00

The website was completed and live on the web at 4:30 a.m., Friday, May 14th – just 19 hours after we started!

Over 60 people attended the networking and cocktail party

Lineweaver Financial Group Website Launch

January 31, 2012 by Libby Hancock

One of Northeast Ohio's most respected financial advisory firms, Lineweaver, turned to SyncShow Interactive in search of a more user-friendly software for their website. The new site, launched on January 26, 2012, will make life much easier for the team at Lineweaver, and includes tools such as easy form creation, a resource module, and hassle free video uploading. Click here to view the Lineweaver Financial Group website.

RBB Systems Website Launch

January 31, 2012 by Libby Hancock

RBB Systems specializes in small batch custom electronic assemblies and electrical control panels, so it seemed only fitting that their home page display three interesting circuit boards. Launched on Thursday, January 26, 2012, the new website will showcase some of their skills, as well as make interacting with their customers easier through all the forms built into the website. The site will also assist RBB Systems with: Custom user interface design Graphic enhancements Vdeo production Search engine optimization Click here to view the RBB Systems website.

Gallagher Website Launch

January 17, 2012 by Libby Hancock

Gallagher is a nationally recognized museum planning and design firm with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Singapore. Before they discovered SyncShow Interactive, Gallagher was using an old flash-based website that was not mobile friendly, and was cumbersome to update. The new image focused site, created using SyncShow®, SyncShow Interactive's content management system, beautifully displays some of Gallagher's amazing photography. It is easily updated, scalable, and offers streamlined maintenance and upkeep. The project module drives dynamic elements on every page, so if one project is loaded from back end, it will be dynamically displayed on different areas of the site. Gallagher handled the creative side, while SyncShow Interactive managed the site functionality. SyncShow Interactive staff are experts at tailoring websites to fit the client’s needs - from start to finish, we listen to and provide solutions customized to specific goals and nee

Authors

Staff (18)Dan Carbone (11)Chris Peer (4)Libby Hancock (4)