Hello. We are A3 Creative Solutions.
Thomson-Okanagan's premier digital design agency.
A3 Creative Solutions is an award winning Digital Design Agency filled with a talented team of graphic & web designers, developers and strategists headquartered in Kamloops, BC. We specialize in designing and developing graphic & web design solutions for our clients that enhance their brand presence.
We are a Growth-Driven,Design First Agency
Our growth-driven designs are based on an ever-evolving process. We don't just launch a project for you and walk away, we strategize, execute and work to continually improve your brand. This comes from data-driven insights, lead generation, and more.
Design first. While we do offer some simple template sites for startups, our primary focus is on custom designs. Our creative, digital toolbox is ever evolving and we are always learning new techniques and styles to further enhance your brand, and your experience in working with us.
Why work with us?
We don’t just build websites or design print campaigns, and walk away. We partner with companies to develop continually evolving sales entities that dynamically adapt to your business's shifting needs and constantly work to grow the rate, frequency, and quality of conversions. Whether you come on board for one, high-touch service or require a complete digital or traditional marketing solution, we have the processes in place to propel your business forward in a modern landscape.
Our 6 Core Values
Be creative
Think beyond the box, have the courage and vision to enhance creativity. Be trend setters. Embrace and drive creative change.
Set the bar higher
Act with excellence, transparency & integrity. Take pride in doing the best job possible. Do more with less. Deliver the WOW factor.
Winning solutions
Create solutions where the team wins, the client wins and the community wins.
Community
We are an empowering and supportive agency that builds a positive team, culture, family spirit and collaborative network.
Laugh at yourself
We demonstrate a sense of humor and develop an enjoyable workplace environment for exceptional creativity, outstanding client service and thriving team members.
Solid partnerships
We continually seek to develop strong partnerships which enhances our network and our company growth goals. We believe in clear and open communication. We always treat others as we would like to be treated.
Our Process. It starts with a conversation
Design-first approach
The core of all of our solutions is approached from a design-first methodology. We believe first impressions are everything. Our customers are in constant stimulus and if we aren't able to engage them with a visually stunning, innovative and smart, yet simple experience, they will move on to the next big thing.
Our processes always starts with a conversation. You talk and we listen. We ask questions. We poke, prod, and inquire. Each and every project we tackle is unique and requires a creative solution. Our methods and process are always evolving to suit the needs of our clients, but in each case, our process remains the same. Below is a sample of our web design & development process. Please click on the accordions below to view our processes for our individual services:
-
Branding & brand strategy process
Branding connects a company, it's community, clients and industry. In the modern landscape that is digitally-led, strategies that bring human interactions to technology have never been more important. No two brands are the same. Our approach is built on a unique strategy to get results and a qualified return for our clients. Our team of industry-specialist make it happen.
Discovery
This is the most important part of our process. We want to get to know you. We want to get to know your brand and it's emotion. Our team will schedule a meeting with you either at your office or ours, and we'll begin the discovery process by asking you questions. All of our initial discovery sessions are complimentary and allow us to properly quote or estimate your Branding project.
Strategy
After the initial discovery session(s) are finalized (and we may need more than one discovery session), we will come together as a team to first understand your brand (new or existing) through research, second to partner with your team to position and plan your brand goals, identity, emotion & ambition, and third to create a strategy that makes it happen.
Creative
Branding is a creative process that turns a name; your name into a personality & emotion, and a static idea into a living thing. Our work stands out and builds category leaders because we focus on what’s happening in culture.
Content
We create original content that’s worthy of your brand, engaging audiences with creative assets, writing, and other categories from our digital design agency.
Development
Our development process is a crucial part of our overall creativity, contributing to your brand and platforms with meaningful and resounding creativity. Our development process brings all of the research, collaboration, and teamwork into a final product. This includes assets and supporting items.
Evolve
Adaption is key to building your brand that continues to lead in your specific industry category. Our team creates your branding & identity for longevity, and we are here for you every step of the way. Your brand is ever evolving, as you, your company and industry evolve we have the team and the tools to help keep your brand at the forefront.
-
Logo design process
Our logo design process is a collaborative effort between our team and you, the client.
Discovery
Our team will meet with you to discuss your brand, branding preferences, visual identity and to basically get to know more about you, your business and your "vibe".
Research
After we have finished up the discovery session, and we have a general idea of what you are looking for, we begin to do some research. This includes reviewing your current industry, your competitors, and a review of similar industries.
Brainstorming & Mood Boards
Ok, we got the initial research & discovery phases completed, now the fun begins. Our team will be begin to brainstorm some mood boards. We want to make sure we are falling in line with your brand vibe, while "recommending" an overall brand mood. This part of the process also brings in some initial color swatch concepts.
Sketching & Draft Designs
With all of the above confirmed, our team will begin the process of sketching (pencil sketching or tablet sketching) some logo concepts. At which time, we will loop you in when we are getting close to developing some homerun "sketches".
Development
You now have a few sketches that you like, and we are now ready to start developing them into a digital design. Depending on your logo package, we will send you iterations of your logo in various colourways for you to review. This is the time we narrow the designs down to 1 or 2. Once you have your top 2, we encourage you to loop in your co-workers, friends, family, etc to finalize your logo choice. It is always great to get more opinions. However, the final decision is always up to you!
Delivery
Awesome, you've approved your logo. Our team will then export your logo in a variety of formats, final colourways & knockout versions, and send you a zip folder will all of the files. Depending on your logo design package, this zip file may also include your branding identity/style guide package.
-
Custom, responsive website development process
We don't believe in the cookie cutter approach to any of our solutions. We always deliver solutions that are custom engineered around our client's needs, business processes, and simplify their digital workflows.
Discovery
We always start our website UI / UX process with an initial discovery meeting. This is super important to understand your existing branding & identity and to begin your new project. Our initial consultations are always complimentary. During the initial discovery session, we'll get to know your tastes and likes, and discuss our process with you. Once all is confirmed, we'll supply an initial estimate/quote. During this time, we will also discuss your hosting options. At this time we will also set up the project schedule using our project management tool.
Digital and User Experience Strategy
We create a simple but strong strategy that details clear brand & design goals. We will investigate your industry and your competitors, and create a plan that is modern but is user-centric, forward thinking and future proof.
Creative Design
We utilize an amazing wireframing tool for lo-fidelity and hi-fidelity prototyping through to production. Our UX / UI design process is focused on the customer experience ensuring that every interaction reflects your brand and delivers greater value.
We spend a great deal of time creating your custom website design. We feel it is important to make sure before we start developing your website, that you are completely satisfied with the overall site design. At a minimum, we will design your custom Home Page in desktop / tablet / mobile view.
Development
After your website's page designs have been approved and content has been received, we will start on the development and coding of your new website. We only utilize the latest modern framework and ensure that W3C standards are met. During each stage of the development process, we will ensure that we are testing, and re-testing your websites responsive design on all major devices. Furthermore, we will integrate all modern organic SEO standards.
Search Engine Optimization
We spend a great deal of time making sure your website is Search Engine Optimized (SEO). From Schema Markup to Google Page Speed insights, we ensure your new website is fully optimized for amazing organic search. Furthermore, we create each page on your website semantically and properly organized for accessibility and www standards.
Go Live
Right before Go-Live, we will ensure all pages are proofed and tested on all devices and integrate your staging website into a production-ready environment. Our team will finalize the hosting solution integration and test all necessary workflows. Furthermore, we will integrate all post-go-live Search Engine integrations (i.e. Google Analytics, Bing, etc.)
When we partner with you, our commitment is for the long term. From UX enhancements, to design updates and bug fixes, we continue the relationship long after launch. The work is never done.
Typically all of our website plans include training for your team. We want to ensure you feel confident and know how to use your new website's administration area.
Post Site Launch Support
Your website is now live! Awesome. But...don't fall into the trap of not keeping your website updated. Your new website needs to always look new and fresh, which can be achieved by adding new content, images and more. We develop all of our websites to ensure that our clients have the tools necessary to make updates on their own. However, if you and your team don't have the time to update, we offer a variety of Customer Support Plans available.
Lastly, because of how fast technology and systems are moving on the modern web, we encourage you to refresh the look and feel of your website every 2-3 years.
-
E-commerce development process
Every e-commerce experience that we create is built on a unique strategy that details a brand and the company's future. Our team of category specialist, thinkers, and makers work to drive commerce through platforms that express & support brand culture. We understand that if your business wants to expand to sell your products online, your business hinges directly on the fluidity and functionality of your website. We focus on creating an easy to use and innovative user interface, that will attract new customers. Our e-commerce solutions allow for product management and direct connection to your current shipping solution. From the industry standard Shopify to custom solutions we will figure out the best way to take your business to new heights!
Our team utilizes two e-commerce platforms - Shopify & AlpineCMS. The goal with every e-commerce website we develop is to ensure you see an increase in sales!
Discovery
We always start our website UI / UX process with an initial discovery meeting. This is super important to understand your existing branding & identity and to begin your new project. Our initial consultations are always complimentary. During the initial discovery session, we'll get to know your tastes and likes, and discuss our process with you. Once all is confirmed, we'll supply an initial estimate / quote. During this time, we will also discuss your hosting options. At this time we will also set up the project schedule using our super handy and organized project management tool.
Digital and User Experience Strategy
We create a simple but strong strategy that details clear brand & design goals. We will investigate your industry and your competitors, and create a plan that is modern but is user-centric, forward thinking and future proof. When it comes to e-commerce, we begin with an authentic, experience-led approach to helping your brand connect with people.
Creative Design
Our e-commerce platforms are rooted in brand and digital strategies that drive e-commerce through culture and storytelling. Our focus on creating a more human ‘path to purchase’ provides an honest base for our experiences that drive results.
We utilize an amazing wire-framing tool for lo-fidelity and hi-fidelity prototyping through to production. Our UX / UI design process is focused on the customer experience ensuring that every interaction reflects your brand and delivers greater value.
The function of development isn’t simply to ‘make things work’. We design alongside development, resulting in a better user experience, which is at the forefront of our ambition in everything we create.
Development
After your website page designs have been approved and content has been received, we will start on the development and coding of your new website. We only utilize the latest modern framework and ensure that W3C standards are met. During each stage of the development process, we will ensure that we are testing, and re-testing your websites responsive design on all major devices. Furthermore, we will integrate all modern organic SEO standards.
Search Engine Optimization
We spend a great deal of time making sure your website is Search Engine Optimized (SEO). From Schema Markup to Google Page Speed insights, we ensure your new website is fully optimized for amazing organic search. Furthermore, we create each page on your website semantically and properly organized for accessibility and www standards.
Go Live
Right before Go-Live, we will ensure all pages are proofed and tested on all devices and integrate your staging website into a production-ready environment. Our team will finalize the hosting solution integration and test all necessary workflows. Furthermore, we will integrate all post-go-live Search Engine integrations (i.e. Google Analytics, Bing, etc.)
When we partner with you, we team up for the long term. From UX enhancements, to design updates and bug fixes, we continue the relationship long after launch. The work is never done.
Typically all of our website plans include training for your team. We want to ensure you feel confident and know how to use your new website's administration area.
Post Site Launch Support
Your site is now live! Awesome. But...don't fall into the trap of not keeping your website updated. Your new website needs to always look new and fresh, which can be achieved by new content, images and more. We develop all of our websites to ensure that our clients have the tools necessary to make updates on their own. However, if you and your team doesn't have the time to update, we offer a variety of Customer Support Plans available.
Lastly, because of how fast technology and systems are moving on the modern web, we encourage you to refresh the look and feel of your website every 2-3 years.
-
Digital marketing & SEO process
Before we define any approach, we need to define your brands overall goal. We then dive in and provide a full analysis of content, search engine keywords, competitor analysis, proper channels to engage in, and outline the proper plan to achieve these goals.
Integrated Marketing
Our approach to delivering digital multi-channel solutions stem from an understanding of what digital optimal channels will most deliver on your return on investment.
