Office Depot had received customer feedback that the in-store brand experience (which customers felt was very strong) wasn’t matching with the experience users had on the website. A confusing site architecture and overwhelming amount of products left online users feeling dissatisfied. Partnering with Office Depot, 4 Corners took an in-depth look into the architecture and user interface of the site and designed an entirely new offering without changing or adding any new functionality. 4 Corners orchestrated in-depth usability testing sessions, utilizing a rapid prototyping techniques to introduce new solutions while the testing sessions were taking place. Launching just in time for Holiday 2006, the site was an overwhelming success, drastically increasing Office Depot's online sales.
Today’s online world is not a one-way street anymore and brands have to redefine how they communicate with (not at) customers.
At 4 Corners we create and deploy brand experiences that engage customers, build communities and ensure a return of investment. We partner with our clients to define objectives and rethink best practices as we explore new forms, media and models. Our human-centered approach is grounded in a collaborative methodology that simultaneously considers user attraction, business needs, technical possibilities and the spirit of the brand.
About 4C
The Place
4 Corners makes a difference
About 4C The Place
More than an agency, 4 Corners is a frame of mind. It is a place that bridges physical and virtual worlds and explores all dimensions of brand experience. It is a place where multiple disciplines come together to give new ideas shape.
It is a place that makes a difference.
In an ongoing relationship with Office Depot, a NASCAR sponsor, 4 Corners has strategized, designed, and developed the website for Office Depot Racing. Creating and maintaining a website where fans can really connect with both Office Depot and Carl Edwards, the No. 99 NASCAR driver, 4 Corners leveraged social networking capabilities to provide an environment where fans can interact and showcase their own content, as well as receive up-to-date news, photos, videos, appearances, and race-related information.
Swanke Hayden Connell Architects needed an update to their website; present a modern and contemporary look and feel, while still honoring the firm’s 100-year-long history. 4 Corners undertook an extensive Discovery process and, teaming with SHCA, conceptualized a website which showcases SHCA’s best work and rich experience. 4 Corners fully designed and developed the site, including an extensive Content Management System, utilizing the most up-to-date innovative technologies to create a seamless, fast, and effective website from top to bottom.
Hallmark was faced with the challenge of taking a long-established and trusted brand and refitting it online for their newly launched magazine. Building upon the magazine’s design, as well as extensive audience research, 4 Corners designed a highly engaging website which acts not only as an online destination for articles and magazine content, but more importantly as an online destination for users . 4 Corners carefully took into consideration the primary audience and architected and designed a site that is highly appealing and interactive, and maintains the voice and “fun” factor that makes the print publication so successful.
In parallel with the redesign of their entire website, the New York Times wanted to expand its online offerings in the luxury real estate market. Developing new tools to simplify and personalize the user experience, 4 Corners designed and developed a new website section (called “Havens”) where users could access expert advice and other help centers, expert blogs, podcasts, and personal chat sessions.
In conjunction with the real estate listing and information portal, 4 Corners designed a resource for users on financing and home purchase. Designed for customization to regional newspapers, the site section gives users a valuable resource for not only searching and finding new real estate, but for researching and accessing expert information for a complete process all in one location.
Vintage New Zealand sought to solve a unique problem in the American marketplace – create a single environment where customers can not only purchase all New Zealand wines in one location, but also experience the wines as much as possible in an online setting. 4 Corners developed extensive content, include video “Virtual Tastings” and interactive maps and features, that allow users to interact as much as possible with the wines before purchase. Also utilizing social networking features, users interact with each other and share insights, opinions, their own personal “cellars,” and experiences to bring forward the concept of Social Commerce.
McGraw-Hill Construction, a $3.4 trillion global company, needed an online platform to host over a million professionals, linking users to their vast database of resources and materials. To do this, 4 Corners designed the Sweets Network for Products, aimed at connecting people, projects, and products. The network catalogs, describes, facilitates, and helps users (including ten thousand manufacturers, engineers, and architects) interact and discover a myriad of online construction products. In addition, 4 Corners created the branding and advertising collateral including, brochures, rich media banners, multi-tier direct mailers, and print advertisements.
American Express OPEN needed an innovative way of allowing users to have quick assess to their account information throughout the day. Taking this need to heart, 4 Corners designed a unique desktop dashboard solution that allows customers easy, instant, and continuous access to their most important account information and functions. The dashboard runs from an icon on the desktop, is fully customizable by the user, and launches the web Summary of Accounts interface directly.
4 Corners worked closely with the United Rentals Human Resources to completely overhaul their online and print recruitment materials. 4 Corners redesigned the HR website and introduced a much-needed human element; drawing on personal stories and interviews with current employees at a number of locations throughout North America. 4 Corners also designed and produced new print recruitment materials to coincide with the new website, including brochures, handshake cards, and banner stands for job and recruitment fairs.
4 Corners was recently engaged by phil&teds, the New...
News
Digital Strategy for phil&teds
08.12.2009
4 Corners was recently engaged by phil&teds, the New Zealand-based nursery hardware company, to develop a full digital strategy for the company, who is looking to push more into the US market. Taking a thorough audit of the current site, best practice research of what's being done, and analysis of the trends, 4 Corners developed a comprehensive set of recommendations to enhance both the phil&teds e-commerce experience, and its presence in the social media world.
News
Jewcy.com Redesign
12.10.2008
Jewcy, the website for "what matters now" in the Jewish community,...
News
Jewcy.com Redesign
12.10.2008
Jewcy, the website for "what matters now" in the Jewish community, has engaged 4 Corners to rearchitecture and redesign their website. In this engagement, we aim to make the site as relavant as possible, and to appeal to a unique audience with a wide set of needs.
Projects
American Express OPEN Direct Mail
Driving double-digit responses for online account summary.
Close Description
Projects American Express OPEN Direct Mail
American Express OPEN Direct Mail
Driving double-digit responses for online account summary.
Collaborating with American Express, 4 Corners was engaged to increase small business online registration for the Summary of Accounts web feature. 4 Corners designed and produced an interactive online presentation and accompanying interactive CD (which was delivered in a direct marking piece) using American Express customer service representatives as experts in providing information about the Summary of Accounts. Thanks to the initiative, record numbers of card members registered and learned about the benefits of available online member services.
Last month a social media analytics provider called Sysomos published...
Discussion
Some surprising Twitter Stats
07.29.2009
Last month a social media analytics provider called Sysomos published a in-depth report on Twitter usage. Here are the 10 conclusions that might help a brand to better understand the potential uses of Twitter:
72.5% of all users joining during the first five months of 2009.
85.3% of all Twitter users post less than one update/day
21% of users have never posted a Tweet
93.6% of users have less than 100 followers, while 92.4% follow less than 100 people.
5% of Twitter users account for 75% of all activity
New York has the most Twitters users, followed by Los Angeles, Toronto, San Francisco and Boston; while Detroit was the fast-growing city over the first five months of 2009
More than 50% of all updates are published using tools, mobile and Web-based, other than Twitter.com. TweetDeck is the most popular non-Twitter.com tool with 19.7% market share.
There are more women on Twitter (53%) than men (47%)
Of the people who identify themselves as marketers, 15% follow more than 2,000 people. This compares with 0.29% of overall Twitter users who follow more than 2,000 people.
Discussion
Google Chrome
09.02.2008
Finally, something for us [few] PC users [left] out there to get...
Discussion
Google Chrome
09.02.2008
Finally, something for us [few] PC users [left] out there to get excited about! The Beta version of Google Chrome has launched today, and it's only available for those of us fortunate enough to be running Vista. My initial test run of it here is looking pretty good so far - I'm loving the visual representation of your most visited websites as the default homepage. Check it out here!
Discussion
Welcome to the White House (blog)
01.21.2009
Seeing as how the Obama campaign embraced technology so much on the...
Discussion
Welcome to the White House (blog)
01.21.2009
Seeing as how the Obama campaign embraced technology so much on the trail, it only makes sense the the team would do the same for his Presidency. Enter the White House blog, along with a fresh redesign of the White House website. The redesign launched almost at the exact time as the President's swearing in - and the blog posts are already rolling in. Check out the blog here.
Discussion
Tumblr Beta is here!
08.14.2008
I'll just come out and say it. I love Tumblr. The whole concept...
Discussion
Tumblr Beta is here!
08.14.2008
I'll just come out and say it. I loveTumblr. The whole concept behind "Tumble-logging" (or quickly blogging and posting links and media as you're surfing) takes away the tediousness of having to sit down and put a lot of thought into a full entry. Of course, this is both good and bad, but for the purposes of sharing cool stuff you come across, the simplicity can't be beat.
I was a bit nervous today, however, when I saw that Tumblr is testing its new beta site. I was so concerned that the simplicity and straightforwardness of the interface would be sacrificed for "new" stuff. But I was pleasantly surprised - those Tumblr guys know what it is that makes their product great. Check it out here!
Discussion
What did you do today? ididwork.com
08.07.2008
A friend just turned me on to this delightfully simple work log,...
Discussion
What did you do today? ididwork.com
08.07.2008
A friend just turned me on to this delightfully simple work log, ididwork.com. The name pretty much says it all; log the work that you did, tag it if you like, and ididwork.com will create charts mapping your work, email your logs to your manager (if desired), and schedule work reviews. This is a handy little tool for jobs where you have to log hours on certain projects, or you may be working on site and have to report in your work to your manager. Just a great example on how simplicity wins over and a site without too many bells and whistles can be most useful.