Elevation Networks
Elevation Networks is a student-led initiative to bridge the gap between employers and students from under-represented sections of society. They were able to pitch this idea to Barclays Capital and got themselves sponsorship for branding, a website and some small collaterals.
The aim of these dynamic young individuals is to bring together people who share fresh ideas, positive thinking and big ambitions. They are seeking to inspire others and to challenge and overcome barriers, making them a very successful network within universities.
Eric created the brand and based the site design on the typical busy, crowded notice board on a pillar along a busy campus corridor. We setup a Facebook group along with Blogspot and MySpace pages to help them to increase their online presence and build up their community. I organised a green screen video shoot (with Craig as cameraman) of students introducing different sections of the website and some tips from the HR director of Barclays Capital. We felt that having the video introduction to the site by Joanna, one of the groups key members, would provide an exciting, engaging first impression for visitors and put a human face on the network, inviting students and prospective sponsors to register.
Conscious that we needed to provide an interactive utility that gave EN the tools to be self sufficient, the site is poplulated through a simple content management system and registrants go into a mailing list through which members are sent updates and invited to events. Additionally, we used Unity to create a real time avatar chat facility on the site where visitors can communicate and online events can be held.
I coded the site in ActionScript 2, along with Craig, and used PHP for the registration/mailing functionality, using the open-source Pommo as a basis. Stephen did much of the html work, creating a non-flash version and templates for the registration forms.
As a result of their higher profile, they have not only managed to recruit many students but also secured themselves some deals with ‘magic circle’ law firms and an event in collaboration with IBM.
