mike beard : i know studios

The elevator doors open at reception, 24th floor of the Ernst & Young Tower, Toronto. I'm waiting for a prospective candidate to join one of the eBusiness design studios I'm installing across Canada at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. Before me I see an elevator loaded with potential consultants in three piece suits, almost all of them recent MBA graduates seeking employment. It's impossible to miss a young man in a t-shirt, shorts and yes, multiple ear rings.

I say, "You're my guy."

Culture. Culture. Culture. Pics on the right show that targeting customers includes an understanding of, and an ability to leverage different cultural identities. From the top: typical young fashion shoppers, a phalanx of upscale resort events, jewelry for the modern mom and an online home for bank executives. Click each for further info.

The following represents my endeavours as National Creative Director, Senior Manager, (DareStep) Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Canada.

CHALLENGE: Define creative, interactive and architecture roles to introduce site building capabilities to the Canadian eBusiness operation.

ACTION: Wrote descriptions for five new positions to comprise 'DareStep' multimedia studio 'pods'. Reviewed resumes and interviewed 50 designers, usability specialists, webmasters, information architects, html publishers, web developers and project managers.

RESULT: Within six months, 15 are recruited to Toronto and Vancouver, with Montreal in the wings.

CHALLENGE: Configure new internet studio model in Canada. Coordinate daily production, deployment and team building tasks while introducing a contrasting work ethic, value proposition and culture.

ACTION: Selected new media software and configured designer workstations. Implemented studio procedures. Supervised training & expenditures. Defined methodologies re: usability, interface design, content management, information architecture, navigation, graphic design and web site testing in synch with international corporate processes. Identified potential studio risk factors. Motivated the team while sourcing candidates to projects. Coordinated efforts with management, personnel, consultant & technical project owners. Wrote proposals for prospective studio projects.

RESULT: Two new studio 'pods', implemented within six months, began work for both internal and external clients. Very successful deployment rates led to more job requisitions and subsequently to renewed studio facility growth plans for both locations.