WHO WE ARE

Who We Are

We founded Upswell to put to the test our belief that the creation of intelligent and beautiful digital media—rooted in far-seeing strategies —can truly make a difference in the world. There are better and worse ways of giving people opportunities to learn and interact—not all experiences are created equal. Hence our motto: Make it Better!

ERICA DILLON (PRINCIPAL)

A rigorous thinker and relentless doer, Erica leads creative and content strategies for all projects, including user experience design and information architecture, visual design, narrative and interactive development, technology requirements, and digital marketing. Since 1999, she has worked as a writer, editor, and researcher for digital humanities archives and academic presses like Zone Books, in addition to pursuing postgraduate work in literature and philosophy. Most recently, she produced award–winning digital media projects while at Second Story Interactive Studios—including online collections, documentary videos, and interactive tables and kiosks—for a variety of museums, foundations, and non-profit organizations. She holds a B.A. in Modern Culture and Media from Brown University, and an M.A. in English from Stanford University. She has a knack for organization, just like the murderous husband in Sleeping with the Enemy.

Linked-In: ericadillon


ARMANDO MANALO (PRINCIPAL)

Armando shapes each project's digital strategy, relying on industry research and his extensive knowledge of the social, educational, and cultural sectors. His communications approaches are informed by his experience as a print editor and translator for academic publishers and art presses, a teacher of comparative literature, a copywriter, and multimedia producer. Most recently, his work at Oregon Public Broadcasting—first in documentary production, as a writer and researcher, and now in development, as the associate director of grants—has given him keen insight into the ways media can extend the impact of social and cultural enterprises. He received his B.A. in Modern Culture and Media from Brown University, and an M.A. in Comparative Literature from U.C. Berkeley. Born in the Philippines, raised in Belgium and France, and an avid world traveler, he's naturally a fan of Monocle.

Linked-In: armandomanalo

PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATION

We always strive to find new ways to expand our capabilities and expertise. If you're a designer, developer, or content producer, and you have an online portfolio you'd like us to check out, do send us a link at info@hello-upswell.com.

WHAT WE DO

What We Do

Research, brainstorming, and testing are the cornerstones of our communications approach. What do you want to say, why do you want to say it, and to whom? In pursuit of these questions, we make digital media bend to the will of good thinking—we practice user–centered research and design, and appreciate conventions without bowing before them. We pursue simplicity, beauty, logic, and meaningful storytelling regardless of the platform or medium in which we work.

No matter how large or small the project, we develop a brief that describes the project, the goals we are setting out to achieve, why we want to pursue those goals, and how we're going to get there. We heed the concerns, direction, and information our clients deal us but interpret their objectives in the context of their industry, their mission, their audiences—with one eye peeled for user experience innovation, contemporary cultural trends, and creative awesomeness wherever we may find it in the world.

“Yes, but what do you do?”

Well, we're passionate about doing the following:

  • Strategy
  • audience and industry research
  • project design and planning
  • brand development and positioning
  • community engagement and outreach
  • Web 2.0 + social media tactics
  • User Experience
  • user research, interviews, and audience definition
  • user experience design
  • interactive and visual design
  • information architecture
  • usability testing
  • Content
  • content strategies
  • asset analysis, management, and coordination
  • writing + editorial
  • field shoots
  • video and audio editing
  • SEO best practices
  • Technology
  • online + environmental interactive development
  • open-source content management systems
  • IT systems consulting

Our expansive view of multimedia is the basis for our nimble and flexible approach to pulling together project teams, without the excessive overhead. We draw on an international network of designers, photographers, illustrators, web developers, sound designers, filmmakers, researchers, curators, and IT guys (well, one really good guy) for the projects we undertake, each according to need and best fit.