DATA Scholarship Foundation
A New Approach to Community Building
WHAT WE DID
DATA stands for “Develop a Trade After..” Whether it’s military service, incarceration, primary schooling, or any other life event, the team of leaders at DATA Scholarship Foundation are committed to finding pathways to purpose for individuals across Chicago. By harnessing their brand identity and creating a website to match it, Fortress is helping connect more people to this cause.
THE CHALLENGE
Who is the person DATA wants to help? What are their struggles? And most importantly, how can we help DATA position themselves to positively impact them?
THE SOLUTION
Fortress helped DATA answer those questions via our comprehensive five-step Brandstorm process, followed by designing a killer logo, flawless and functional website, and a professional talking-head style video.
BRANDSTORM
The Brandstorm is an original branding exercise that uncovers your brand’s identity, differentiators, and core philosophy while keeping your customer at the center of it all. In the case of DATA Foundation, since they are a newer organization, the Brandstorm was critical in determining the direction of not only the website and the brand, but the entire organization’s goals and top-down strategy.
LOGO & IDENTITY
Our design team took the tenets of DATA’s mission: education, compassion, and hard work, and created a logo that epitomizes all three. The hand symbol that is central to the brand is bold yet charming, rugged yet refined. We are thrilled to see this new brand take shape in the world and are excited to see the stories of the lives it touches.
BEFORE
DATA Foundation’s old website lacked spark. Image and content placement were disjointed, and functionalities were not chosen with the best UI in mind. We collaborated across departments to address these issues and build a custom site fit for DATA’s audience.
AFTER
Using a strong and sleek design and accessible and practical language, the new DATA Scholarship Foundation website communicates key information about their mission, their partners, as well as how to get involved or donate. Driven by the newly-discovered brand identity, the fresh site is ready to accompany DATA on their mission of changing lives for the better.
How Long Has Fortress Offered Web Development in Chicago?
Fortress has been in business for over twelve years and web development has been a staple service since day one. We are based in Chicago but work with clients from all over the map.
How Do I Know if my Organization Needs a Brandstorm?
We often perform an exercise of asking the same question of “who is ‘x’ company?” or “what does your company do?” to multiple people within the same organization, and we’ve done it for ourselves too. If the results you get are varied and inconsistent, that is a strong sign that your internal team is not aligned, and could use some strategy implementation.
Does Fortress Build E-Commerce Websites?
Yes, Fortress has experience building e-commerce websites using Shopify, Printful, and other platforms.
Does Fortress Make Custom Websites or Use Pre-Set Templates?
Each web project we take on is custom; tailored to the specific needs of the client. We determine those steps in tandem via a kickoff meeting, followed by milestone checkpoints throughout the process.
Can you help with website migration or redesign of an existing website?
We have a team of professionals who specialize in website development and design. Whether you’re looking to migrate your website to a new platform or give it a fresh, modern look, we have the expertise and the tools to assist you. Our focus is on delivering a website that aligns with your brand identity, engages your visitors, and supports your overall marketing objectives.