Amy Pepper is the Chair of the Darlington Arts Festival. On behalf of the management committee, Amy engaged Tectalic to create a new website that delivers improved levels of functionality and better reflects the nature and history of the event. Amy discusses the process of working with Tectalic and how the launch of the new website benefits the Festival.
Why did you choose Tectalic to build the Darlington Arts Festival website?
I chose Tectalic primarily because of their technical expertise. Unlike other website builders who focused solely on the aesthetic and various design components, Tectalic’s focus on functionality was exactly what we needed. Their ability to deliver and their potential to assist with future technical aspects of the project were my deciding factors.
How did your initial conversations with the Tectalic team set the tone for your project?
The initial conversations helped me figure out the big picture, which was to create a website that not only showcases the Darlington Arts Festival but also provides a seamless user experience. We also discussed some details that needed attention, such as the specific functionalities we needed and the timeline for the project. We had initially mapped out several things, and that first meeting gave us ideas for how the project might grow. This big-picture session helped me to develop a checklist of the things that we might do and the things that we might prioritise. It was helpful to have that broad-ranging conversation from the start so that we had everything we might wish for on the table. That helped me to set the priorities as we went forward.
How would you describe the collaboration process between you and Tectalic’s marketing team?
We collaborated well. It was helpful to have various people doing different tasks. It wasn’t one brief, and we needed to have everything in front of our minds at any moment. It was nice to break that down into smaller chunks and have the expertise of different people for particular areas.
Did the Tectalic team understand and effectively implement your vision and ideas for the website?
Yes. We have created a very solid and functional website. It is great knowing that that basic functionality will work and will continue to work. We’re not time-wasting on putting out fires or answering questions we don’t need to answer anymore. The questions don’t arise because everything works. That’s reassuring, and it means that we’ve got a solid leap-off point for doing bigger things because we know that we can get the basic functionality right and move forward. We’ve gained more confidence to do technical stuff because we know we have Tectalic expertise behind us.
What key features did you want for the website, and how did Tectalic deliver on those?
We needed solid information-gathering functionality for our art applications. This included forms that were easy to fill out, a secure payment platform, and notifications that informed us when a new application or donation was made. Tectalic ensured that these business functions carried on without undue effort, which was critical for us. They implemented a user-friendly form system, integrated a secure payment gateway, and set up automated notifications, all of which work seamlessly.
Tectalic designed the new festival logo and website. How do you feel these design elements reflect the spirit of the Darlington Arts Festival?
We have created a brand and website aligned with our organisation’s history and future. The exercise clarified how important our imagery is and how we can improve it in the future. We’ve taken a massive step up in that area and are really proud of the website’s look. Even the naysayers who don’t love the internet are relishing the opportunity to see how our organisation is presented.
What has been the feedback from festival participants, artists, or visitors regarding the new Festival website?
Primarily, no news is good news. We’ve had five processes where people have made applications, made donations, or whatever with various forms. We have only had one or two people who need help using the website. This number contrasts with previous years when most people had trouble. So, yes, not hearing from anyone has been great. The feedback on the website’s overall look, structure, and ease of information access have all been positive. The feedback from general community members or people who follow the organisation through the media has been very positive.
How did Tectalic manage the timeline and project milestones?
Right from the start, our goal was a very quick turnaround because we wanted a website now that we could use for this year’s Festival rather than delaying the entire project six months so that we could do the Festival in the meantime. Tectalic was very confident from the start that they could meet that deadline. They were clear about how that would be achieved, what we needed to do to achieve it, and what they would do.
I think that flexibility on both sides and Tectalic’s willingness to put in the hard yards and get it done were key. There was none of that, “Well, you guys were a bit late providing us with this bit of information, and so now our project deadline has been pushed out by 10 weeks.” That kind of excuse-making didn’t happen, which was really refreshing, and we just got it done. I think that Tectalic did a great job with project management.
What did you value in the day-to-day working with the Tectalic team?
It was very noticeable to me that Tectalic were always available when we needed them. If we had a question and called, someone would answer the phone. Then, we would get a response quickly. We were able to keep putting one foot in front of the other. There was never any sense that we had to wait or that our needs were competing with other clients. We didn’t get that sense that Tectalic’s capacity was compromised in any way. This responsiveness demonstrates that they manage their time well and meet clients’ expectations.
What aspects of working with Tectalic stand out the most for you?
That initial briefing was refreshing to me. I spoke to a few different providers. Most probably didn’t understand our project from the start, and that was reflected in the briefs that we received back with our quotes. I am trying to remember the wording that Glenn used, but we were essentially being tested to see whether Tectalic wanted to take on our project in that first conversation. I thought, “Oh yes, this is serious.”
That showed me that there was a real commitment to integrity and that if Tectalic were going to do something, they wanted to be able to do it well. Tectalic wanted to know that we knew what we were doing as well. That gave me a clear sense that we had mapped out this project; we knew where the edges were, what the possibilities were, and what the challenges were going to be ahead of time. That helped everything click into place.
Would you recommend Tectalic to other organisations looking to upgrade their website?
Tectalic is a very precise technical organisation. They have the communication skills to give good advice and to consider the sentiment of a client’s brief, both functionally and artistically. I highly recommend them. If anyone needs a website where functionality and great design are critical, I would send them to Tectalic.
