Austin Digital Solutions

Austin Digital Solutions is a young consulting group based in Austin that works with companies to process and understand customer feedback using data analysis and insights discovery. I worked with ADS to build minimal branding that would appeal to their corporate clientele, projecting a controlled, contemporary personality.

Process

Chief among my inspiration was ADS's success in neatly organizing an avalanche of data. I looked for a way to make the logo a bit more conceptual as a nod to their reputation for unlocking all that is hidden within data. I also wanted to draw attention to their roots: a small group of big thinkers that began in Austin.

I began by building some concepts:

The triangle shape was an early favorite, since its shapes form the "A" and "D" of Austin Digital Solutions. 

The three triangles also nod to the three initial employees of ADS. We folded this into the business card concept by assigning a single color to the back of each business card. Together, the three cards form the ADS triangle. 

Building Navigation

The Problem

In August of 2016, I moved into a new apartment community in Austin. Unlike my previous home, navigating this building was nearly impossible without guidance. With 6 entrances, 4 possible parking locations and 8 acres of hallway, there were too many opportunities to get lost. I planned to have a housewarming party, but didn't want to waste time leaving the party each time a friend arrived. The solution? Build a web app with turn-by-turn directions.

A Personal Hackathon

I scanned a building map and traced my steps to find the simplest routes from each door. Since there are 6 possible flows, I connected all of them to the same final 3 steps, eliminating repetition in the interface. I photographed doors, exits and walking paths, and began illustrating.

I added buttons for Google Maps, calling my cell phone, and even an "I can't find a parking spot" button, guiding every visitor through the path of least resistance. So, did it work? I'll let my friends speak for themselves: