We are an independent studio of designers, developers, thinkers & tinkerers who take pride in everything we do.
Take a moment to browse our work and
let us know what you think.
We would love to hear from you!
We are an independent studio of designers, developers, thinkers & tinkerers who take pride in everything we do.
Take a moment to browse our work and
let us know what you think.
We would love to hear from you!
Comcast’s AudienceXpress tapped Ascender for custom animation and website design. The client tasked us with bringing the brand to life. First, we had to help spell out programmatic in laymen’s terms. Also, we had to be sure the user experience was fun. As a result, we devised an approach to showcase their data capabilities for audience building through creative.
To do this, Ascender designed and developed an interactive audience building simulation. We integrated their existing CMS and lead generation tools. What’s more, the confetti at the end was a win!
Services:
Animation, custom website design and development and content management
Mobile marketing through an app is how College for Every Student wanted to reach its audience. CFES is a global leader at helping underserved and low-income students get to and through college. CFES’ aim is to help students be ready to enter the 21st century workforce.
Therefore, engaging high school students is a critical aspect of their strategy. To better engage with Gen Y, Ascender helped CFES guide students through a college ready quiz. We designed the quiz as an infotainment experience with 10 questions. This served as an entry point for planning next steps in the college journey. We designed it for Android and iOS.
Services:
Graphic design, mobile app design
Our client needed a custom website development for his robust database-driven start-up linking entrepreneurs with funding. The site is rich with a variety of features allowing users to search, rate, review and connect. The site integrates with marketing services Intercom, Mailchimp and HubSpot.
To start, Ascender consulted with the client on business structure to help iron out details for site mapping, UX, wireframes and design. Then, we custom built the site and implemented infrastructure for sales and marketing tools. We also helped design inbound marketing tools like landing pages, analytics and reporting, SEO, and social media strategy.
In the end, we built the custom tech stack with RubyOnRails, a MySQL database, HTML5, CSS and Javascript/jQuery. For interested technophiles, we also used the following technology: Devise, ActiveAdmin and Omniauth gems, AWS, Paperclip, the Stripe API, Ruby Geocoder and Thinking Sphinx.
Services:
Custom custom tech stack, website design and eCommerce
AdWeek needed a custom content management system to deliver its compelling, but ever-changing media offerings. We on the front-end we designed a visually stunning solution. It combines photography and graphic visuals to deliver a new, engaging digital media kit that is completely on brand. On the back-end, we customized WordPress to meet all their needs.
In our redesign, delivery of traditionally age-old content felt like a cool, new experience. The best part – the client could quickly customize and make updates through the custom, super-simple content management system and be sure it looked great on every screen because of its responsive design.
Services:
Custom content management, website design and development
Simple ideas are often complex. Benefit Kitchen sought to build a mobile healthcare app. They wanted to help people easily figure out healthcare benefit eligibility. To do that, they needed to quickly navigate through state and federal laws.
As a result, Ascender built Benefit Kitchen’s mobile healthcare platform with a screener application. The screener uses algorithms to determine potential eligibility for up to 18 federal, state, and local benefits – in just 10 minutes.
In the end, our custom code quickly computed complex data. While the simplicity of the design increased screener completion rates.
Services:
Database management, graphic design, mobile app development
Ascender and RevXP partnered with OpTic Gaming. We needed to enhance OpTic’s UX and digital presence. The client wanted premium content – videos, stats and updates – to reach a global gaming community.
To start, the project goal was simple: keep OpTic Gaming fans informed and engaged with seamless user experience and mobile design. Our challenge was to integrate multiple sources of information into a single feed.
In the end, we kept the design true to OpTic’s feel. We built the foundation in HTML and used PhoneGap to convert the application for iOS and Android. We integrated a ModX CMS with custom development.
Services:
UX, mobile design and development, content management, and support
SEO, search engine marketing and paid media is critical in capturing and retaining customers. A NYC communications firm tapped us to design and execute a strategy to drive sales for their luxury client with a high-end air purifier.
The aim: drive sales through its eCommerce site. Our multi-pronged approach improved organic search rankings as well as impression share and CPAs for paid. We crafted an strategy to focus on key competitive terms, as well as long-tail and intent driven phrases. We tested and optimized campaigns to find the right mix to drive optimal sales.
In the end, Y-o-Y paid conversions increased to 850% and conversion value grew 961% for paid campaigns.
Services:
SEO, SEM and paid media
Smart information architecture was of utmost importance in our website redesign for Ramapo College. The college has more than 100 programs, plus an enormous amount of content. The goal was for visitors to have meaningful engagement with its campus experience and culture through stories, videos and photos.
In addition, they needed to generate leads for their marketing department.
In our award-winning website redesign, we focused on content discoverability. Our second priority was ensuring it was easy to apply. Finally, we integrated multiple lead generation points in the responsive design. In the end, the custom website design, development and CMS was an absolute success.
Services:
Information architecture, custom website design and development, content management
What started as a website design project, grew into a custom graphic design project including animation that inspired Kipany’s new look and feel.
First, our creative team custom animated case studies to make Kipany’s results stand out. Next, we also added dynamic design elements to make the one-page site feel richer and deeper. Finally, the build included WordPress integration and animation from Adobe Animate.
Services:
Custom website design and development, content management, animation
HealthPass asked us to refresh their brand identity and help explain its offerings to key business decision-makers. We know choosing healthcare can be daunting. Due to this, we focused on creating an explainer video and easy to navigate user experiences for two distinct audiences.
As a result, the custom built information hub for brokers and consumers made it easy people to find exactly what they were looking for. Our strategy included custom landing pages, ModX integration, video animation and full-service maintenance and support.
Finally, we also helped design print marketing collateral that tied into the site.
Services:
Brand design, animation, website design and development and support
Andy has development expertise as deep as the birth of the World Wide Web. In his 20-plus years in the space, Andy has honed the core technical and consultative skills needed to develop award-winning digital brand experiences, custom applications, mobile apps and web platforms. He previously founded Kindred Development and got his start at Agency.com.
Mike is rooted in creative with his deep knowledge of animation, illustration and designing for both the offline and online worlds. For the last 15 years Mike has focused on creating inspiring design with close attention to quality of the craft. He previously founded Bobira Studios and helped Havas and Rapp launch their first digital shops.
Joe is a highly strategic, creative, and action-oriented leader with more than 18 years of experience developing and launching integrated marketing communication programs for some of the world’s leading brands. Joe’s previous experiences include EVP, Director of Client Services at Havas Life New York and VP, Development Director at Rapp.
Trevor brings an intense creative spark to every project. With more than 15 years of working in interactive design, user experience and information architecture, he is keenly attuned to perfecting digital experiences. Trevor previously worked at Bobira and helped clients Coldwell Banker, Comcast, Deloitte, Intel, HSBC, Novartis and Toyota.
Jennifer is an award-winning and data-savvy marketer who loves technology and the art of communication. During the last 10 years she has fine-tuned how she helps clients better tell and track their stories. Jennifer previously worked for WPP’s Data Alliance, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, AOL and MIT.
Sam is the go-to numbers person who helps Ascender run. Beyond her operations expertise, Sam is a solid sounding board for smart-decision making. She has more than 10 years of experience managing accounts and relationships. Sam previously worked at HealthPass and got her start at Gursky & Partners.
John is our resident development guru who loves learning and applying new technologies. Fifteen years ago he started working on small flash ads and in his last role he led creation of the development department from the ground up. John previously worked for Kindred Development.
Jason is a strategic interactive developer with serious UX and UI chops. For the last 12 years he’s specialized in front-end development including Flash, javaScript, angular, mobile apps and software. Before joining Ascender, he was the Engineering Lead at Paylock and Director of Interative at Rapp.
Alexei is a serious technophile with a penchant for finding solutions for tough development challenges. He is an excellent front-end developer with a love for JavaScript and expanding his skill set. Alexei previously worked at Kindred Development and got his start at BigBuzz Marketing Group.
Andrew is a powerhouse full-stack developer specialized in building and maintaining custom eCommerce platforms using C#, HTML, CSS, native JS and jQuery. Andrew spent the past 10 years supporting L’Occitane’s global online marketing operations.
Anthony has unparalleled expertise in content management, platform and front-end development. His pixel-perfect attention to detail and responsive chops are backed with his smart, proactive approach. Anthony previously worked for Kindred Development, Bobira and JPMorgan Chase.
Thu is a versatile designer and can be counted on for art direction, design and production. Her ability to pivot between designing for print and digital enables her to thoughtfully create for brands, with a focus on healthcare. She previously worked for Bobira, Havas, GSW Worldwide, Health4Brands and Bloomberg.
Visual splendor
Technical dreamscapes
Inspiring stories
Intelligent experiences
Beautiful banners
Delightful designs
Squeaky clean code
Connected clicks
Flawless functionality
Inbox goodness
Perfect pixels
Custom solutions
Compelling content
Interactive architecture
At Ascender, we focus on building partnership-driven relationships while fast tracking your smart ideas to make them a reality.
No matter the vertical – healthcare, education, non-profit, retail or real estate – we hold the skills, which are ever evolving, to turn your ideas into engaging experiences. Our background imparts understanding across the broad business world – from the intricacies of helping start-ups seed to the tape of highly matrixed organizations. Take a look at our capabilities and see how we can help.
Perhaps it’s our expertise, hard-work ethic or personalities that makes us great a great partner. Not only do we work directly with brands and organizations, but we also collaborate with agencies looking to elevate their digital design and development offering to clients.
Drop us a line. We would love to discuss how we can work together.
Interested in working with us on a project? We'd love to hear from you!
[e] [email protected]
[t] 347.857.7167
11 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
315 Main Street
2nd floor
Huntington, NY 11743