Website Design & Implementation
Confluence creates graphical website designs from scratch to rival the most expensive web design firm in town. Just because our designs cost less, doesn't mean they aren't as stunning and perfectly tailored to our clients. We just don't charge as much. We begin the way all web designs projects should begin - with a conversation. We talk about your organizational goals, culture, existing branding and overall sense of style, and the expected audiences for your site -- your design is optimized for you. Starting with the many high quality themes available can reduce the cost of a custom design substantially.
We learned early on that web design needs to be done by artists, not programmers. Our talented designers have degrees in art and design, not computer science and engineering.
In addition to creating unique designs from scratch, we can execute a "face lift" of your website. This is a relatively low cost way to take a site that is showing its age, and/or has been incrementally modified internally over time so it has lost its way, and spruce it up, make it consistent, and more pleasing to the eye. Check out the "before" and "after" examples to the right.
You won't find a "Confluence style" in our portfolio because the designs we create reflect the design preferences of our clients, not of us.
Our design process starts with the creation of a new site architecture. The organizational structure of the site reflects the priorities of each organization's constituents and visitors. We use modern techniques such as card sorting (a simple technique to guide people familiar with an organization's mission and website content in creating a category tree — and we use Post Its! How fun is that!).
Confluence can help you survey your public web audience to gather ideas of functions of interest and make sure you really know what people want from your site. We are experts in social media, providing advice and recommendations of how it can be leveraged effecctively. Our implementations are secure, attractive, and fast loading.
Unlike many design firms, we never force our clients to host a site through us. We provide recommendations on the most reliable and affordable hosting services and help you get signed up. In our world view, web hosting should be a direct relationship between a web hosting company (where this is their #1 line of business) and a web site owner. We will maintain the website, and help mediate any issues that might arise as desired.
What Our Clients Say
"I’ve just finished reading the assessment. I’m in awe. As someone who is techno-challenged, I understood everything that was written and the very clear and concise recommendations the team at Confluence is suggesting. […] This is precisely the level of service we should have been receiving all along – thankfully we finally found someone who understands nonprofits, our needs and can help us meet those needs in a cost effective way."
Portfolio
National Women's Health Network
The National Women's Health Network (NWHN) was not satisfied with the design of their Drupal-powered website, so they asked Confluence to help them perform a face-lift of the design within a tight budget. Using the freely available Jackson theme for Drupal, Confluence made a number of changes to the overall design of the theme and implemented them along with several changes to the functionality of the site. NWHN now enjoys the ability to easily manage their homepage content--particularly the slideshow--and they are now able to more effectively keep their entire site up-to-date.
Missouri Credit Union Association
For the Missouri Credit Union Association, we migrated their website to Drupal 7 and replaced their CRM (Computility) to CiviCRM to provide a better web access to manage their members and increase the efficiency of business processing. In addition we also implemented a single-sign-on for Drupal and Infosight.
MD & DC Credit Union Association
For the MD & DC Credit Union Association, we upgraded the aging CiviCRM installation, replacing the existing Expression Engine CMS with Drupal for trouble-free single-sign on, recommending, designing and implementing enhancements to increase the efficiency of business processing.
Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association, Inc.
For Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association, Inc., we created an entirely new design which was integrated into Joomla! and assisted in migrating content from the previous platform. In support of their many needs for dynamic tables, we also developed a Joomla! extension for creating attractive tables with sorting and filtering capabilities.
Population Education
For Population Education, we completely re-implemented their existing website, design and all, in Joomla!
The National Association of People with AIDS
For The National Association of People with AIDS, we completely re-implemented their existing website, design and all, in Joomla!.
La Piana Consulting
After performing a strategic technology assessment, Confluence recommended that this virtual organization move to Microsoft's Business Productivity Online Standard Suite. This offering combines Microsoft Exchange, LiveMeeting, Office Communications and SharePoint into one integrated, hosted solution. For staff that must collaborate but work across the country and travel often, SharePoint offers a centralized, easy-to-use and easy-to-access web space for files, discussions, announcements, contact information and more.
We designed and implemented a web-based display of data collected by the Lodestar Foundation to support the Collaboration Prize. This included a searchable full-text indexed MySQL database with custom PHP programming to house applicant data.
The Coordinating Center
Documented requirements and managed a software selection project to replace this nonprofit's aging case management software.
Metro TeenAIDS
For Metro TeenAIDS, we performed a security audit of their WordPress installation and server, which resulted in a custom WordPress plugin to enforce strict database access rules throughout the entire WordPress system.
The Gerontological Society of America
For The Gerontological Society of America, we created a graphical design and implemented this website from scratch. It has a seamless single sign-on between the website and the back-office membership management database (for members-only content) and also between the website and the publisher of the journals that members get online access to, as part of their membership benefits. This Joomla! CMS was extended to contain a customized calendar of events. The public can submit events they think should be on the GSA calendar, which are reviewed by GSA staff and if accepted, automatically appear on the calendar.
Enterprise Wireless Alliance
Confluence was responsible for migration of legacy membership management system to CiviCRM and is currently assisting with maintenance and support for the new Drupal website along with CiviCRM.
ACEEE
For the ACEEE, Confluence programmed a custom Drupal module using filter and menu hooks to seamlessly integrate with a separate publications database. The module provides for transparent single sign-on with a seamless end user experience.
Provided assistance in defining functional requirements for a new website implementation and strategic advice on technical approach for design and implementation.
Designed and implemented a custom contact management system (Access front-end with Microsoft SQL server backend database) with web-based user profile creation/update, event registration, publication downloads, online donations, and online abstract submission. All web functionality was implemented in ColdFusion.
IMPACT Silver Spring
In this project, we defined and documented requirements for a new database system for integrated contact, donor and project management. We also implemented an Access database to collect/track information about door-to-door activism activities.
CNFA
For CNFA, we developed a mini-site incorporated into their existing Joomla! platform. The mini-site functions as part of the organizational website without needing a separate installation of Joomla!
Bell Nursery
Bell Nursery partnered with Confluence to complete a full site redesign and development. We rearchitected their marketing website and integrated their HR intranet into a robust sales/marketing tool and company-wide utility. Bell Nursery plants and flowers are only available for sale at the Home Depot – as such, we developed a Store Locator tool that displays the user's closest Home Depot based on IP address. A current weather tool – also useful for gardeners – shares space in the masthead next to the sitewide search tool. HR documents are available behind a password login screen.
FLUOR Job Corps
For the FLUOR Job Corps, we built a custom careers site using the Joomla! platform. The site allows users to create and manage profiles, upload and manage resumes, and apply for open positions. In addition, we customized the administrative interface to meet the client's needs to stream-line applicant management and reporting.
Association of American University Presses
For the Association of American University Presses, we implemented a brand new design in Joomla! and used a combination of Joomla! extensions to empower website managers with maximum control over the website. We also integrated their existing job listings database through a combination of Joomla! modules and custom coded plugins.
Peace Action
For Peace Action, we implemented a custom design as a Drupal theme and built in numerous dynamic functionalities, including custom-tailored landing pages which retrieve feeds from other areas of the website as well as external sources. The design has also been modified to work as a Salsa web template, which allows users to switch between Drupal and Salsa pages without ever knowing the difference.
Requirements analysis and assessment for an integrated CRM.
WateReuse Association
For WateReuse Association, we upgraded the aging CiviCRM and Drupal environment to current versions, including significant new extensions and added functionality.
Council for Resource Development
Confluence designed and implemented a custom membership management system using Microsoft Access as a front-end with a hosted Microsoft SQL server backend database. The system included web-based user profile creation/update, membership enrollment/payment, a dynamic calendar, event registration, publication purchases, and many advanced reporting features. All of the web functionality was implemented in ColdFusion.
Meals on Wheels Association of America
For Meals on Wheels Association of America, we are implementing a new Professional Resource Center using Joomla! and the DocMan extension. We created the design and made functional modifications to DocMan to incorporate the Dublin Core metadata standard, nested categorization, and an incorporated document viewer, courtesy of Google.
Food Research and Action Center
For the Food Research and Action Center, we designed and implemented their new website in WordPress. This site includes a custom online tool that allows users to access and compare states using FRAC's database of demographic and nutrition program measures.
Union for Reform Judaism
For the Union for Reform Judaism, we are migrating their existing Movable Type blog to WordPress and helping them create a blogging network focused on Reform Judaism. The system includes custom WordPress plugins to enable automatic configuration of new blogs and more granual permissions to ensure that blog administrators have access to everything they need without compromising the security of the entire blog network.
Mother Martha's
The Reverend Martha Macgill has spent a lifetime working within the Episcopal diocese, both in South Africa and the United States. Her meditations, or blogs, now have a home under Mother Martha's. We worked with Martha on branding, logo design, a stationery package and the website. Users can register for workshops and retreats online as well.
Choice USA
For Choice USA, we moved their entire Joomla! website, upgraded it to the most current version, and implemented a number of functional enhancements.
Requirements analysis for documenting needs for a CRM system and assessment to integrate use of Salesforce and DIA Salsa. Provided Salesforce design and customization support.
