Services and Software Tools

• Outstanding visual design services
• Development of a custom digital archive system
• A content management solution, built with OpenPad Enterprise
• Bundled web hosting and maintenance

Outstanding visual design ? ?Congratulations - you've pleased Bob.?
Designing for a towering figure in the visual/performing arts required us to create a site with an aesthetics continuity perfectly tuned to the visual sensibility of Robert Wilson's artistic signature.

We believe successful design supports the needs of both end-users and the organization, in terms of usability, visuals, and organization of content. Our approach was to create a site that played down its own visuals, serving as a canvas for the striking photography of Wilson's performances.

Through the use of a well-organized navigational system, promotional teasers, and cross-linking we crafted a site that makes it easy to locate information. This strategy generated praise from site users, and we were overjoyed at the feedback we received from our client (and toughest critic): ?Congratulations ? you've pleased Bob.?

Developing the Digital Archive ? bringing structure to unique data
Determining how best to represent information as unique and dynamic as Robert Wilson's performances was a challenging task. We worked closely with Byrd Hoffman's archivists and curators to fully understand the relationships between the components of Wilson's extensive repertoire of work.

We created a data structure that was flexible enough to accommodate the range of media and the depth of content, yet that provided the categorization and relationships to allow the site's audience to move easily through the information. Site visitors may surf through performances by performer, venue, photographer, music, and even via related artifacts.

At Media Farm, we recognize that every archive is unique, and we know that not all archive data will fit into a cookie-cutter system for classifying our clients' materials. Creating a successful digital archive requires a deep understanding of the material, sensitivity to the relationships embedded within the information, and a commitment to creating a solution that works for both the organization and its end-users.

Content Management solutions with OpenPad ? greater control, greater flexibility
Building on our innovative OpenPad Enterprise platform, we leveraged our expertise developing custom content management systems to create a total content management solution for Byrd Hoffman - giving them complete control over their site content and the ability to work faster and more efficiently.

Using OpenPad Enterprise, Byrd Hoffman's staff has granular control over every detail of the Robert Wilson Archive. Not only are they able to add and change content, but they can also precisely control page layout, design, and formatting: critical capabilities for a high-profile visual arts organization.

Byrd Hoffman's Archivists, Program Directors, and Curators are able to add new site sections, create and send custom-designed email newsletters, design unique landing pages, and upload images, Flash, video and audio files. And they can do all of this without requiring the assistance of any technical staff.

Moreover, through OpenPad's ability to integrate with external data systems, Byrd Hoffman has the same level of control over their structured Archive data. Byrd Hoffman's archival staff is able to manage every aspect of their digital archive: they can add new productions and artifacts, create relationships across the data objects, and publish it all to the Web easily and quickly.

The result: Lower Total Cost of Ownership, greater productivity, and no need for technical staff, training, or support.

Bundled Hosting and Maintenance ? simplifying ownership, lowering total cost
Creating, deploying, and maintaining an enterprise website is still a complicated task. In addition to design and content development, one must also consider site hosting, ongoing maintenance of the server hardware and software, and administering applications for content management and outbound email campaigns.

Moreover, dealing with multiple vendors can result in functional and economic inefficiencies, as activities and costs are duplicated across the vendors.

Media Farm's bundled hosting and maintenance solution greatly simplifies Web site deployment, delivering real economic value for our clients. We provided Byrd Hoffman with a package of website hosting services, server hardware and software maintenance, and our OpenPad Enterprise CMS, all for a single competitive monthly fee.

By letting us take care of the technology, Byrd Hoffman was able to stay focused on their mission: building out the Robert Wilson Digital Archive, making it universally accessible to the world.

Benefits

• High-end, professional visual design, commensurate with brand and mission
• Custom digital archive solution supports unique data structure and user needs
• OpenPad Web Content Management System provides total control over site content, presentation, and data
• Bundled Hosting and Maintenance plan simplifies operations and lowers total cost of ownership

Technology

• Linux
• Apache Web Server
• PHP
• MySQL Database Server
• XHTML, JavaScript
• XML
• VBScript/Microsoft Exchange Integration
• HelpDesk Integration

Services

• Website design and architecture
• Digital archive implementation
• OpenPad Content Management System
• Bundled Web hosting, software services, and maintenance
• Project management
• Content strategy
• System Integration

View Site

http://www.robertwilson.com