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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Marco CiavolinoFounding Mentor for
TechBrickMarketing/Communications
& Technology Consultant*enktesis, LLC
Forest Hill, Maryland
Team Branding and WebsitesWith Support From
University of Maryland Baltimore CountySURVICE EngineeringMaryland State Senator Nancy JacobsNJ FTCiCNRG FLLSilverpop, Inc.Creative Kids at HomeLeavitt’s Freight ServiceHome Education ResourcesPace AcademyCustom DirectNehemiah CommunicationsThe Better HourBroadway AppraisalsMadonna Veterinary ClinicConsolidated PrintingEnktesis, LLCNumerous FIRST Teams
Marco Ciavolino * www.enktesis.com * 410.838.8264
Your Speaker
Marco CiavolinoGeneral marketing communicationsInvolved in many disciplines
Web Development, Copywriting, Publication design and production, Photography, Video production, Live radio, Event management, Strategic planning and business development, Graphic design, Direct mail, Phone banks, Outdoor advertising, Fulfillment and customer service, Network design and implementation, Application development, Training
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
TechBrick Robotics
Our HistoryTechBrick was formed 2004First competition in 2005Growth from 20-120 membersMonthly activities30 team participants in 2007-08
JFLL, FLL, & FTCInterest continues to growOrganized Maryland JFLL TournamentRegional seminars on starting a teamFirst high school judges for FLL
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
TechBrick Robotics
Monthly MeetingsMore that 120 children registeredBuilds interest for teamsCreative exercises
AnimationDocumentation TasksBoat buildingBridge BuildingGuest Speakers
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
TechBrick Robotics
Competition Teams: Innovative SolutionsLight Sensor: Improved by 1200% (FLL)
Using a ‘Spider Man Magnifying Glass’Sideways Stepping Bot (FLL)
Drive forward, step right and leftTorque/RPM Discoveries (FLL)
Design to specifications exerciseBall and Bar Lifting Bot (FTC)
Capture the primary objectRing Lifting Automation Device (FTC)
Pickup rings with materials handling device
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
TechBrick
State CompetitionsUMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)TCNJ (The College of New Jersey)UD (University of DE)CSM (College of Southern Maryland)
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
TechBrick Robotics
Award Winning Results
Team Spirit
AmazeAward
Innovate Awards
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
TechBrick Robotics
A Robust Website with Useful Resources: TechBrick.comTeam TipsWorksheetsProjects for group workPhotos and guidelinesGlobal traffic
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Real-World Results: TechBrick Robotics
Community Service
Local Presentations to Sponsors
Library Programs
SURVICE Engineering Corporation
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Real-World Results: TechBrick Robotics
Media and Fun
Featured in Media
Adopted Team Members
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Real-World Results: TechBrick Robotics
Focused Children: Good for America…Of the 50+ children on teams over the past five years at least half have been encouraged to pursue math, science, and engineering studies.Numerous innovations in research, design, and execution.Lessons learned in…
Project ManagementProcessesTeamworkImplementationCompetitionDesignResearch
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Numerous Resources
Over The Years We’ve Produced a Range of ResourcesWorksheetsMission PlanningFormatted documentsGamesAnd more…
Since Aug 2008 we’ve had nearly than 16,000 visitors who have aggregately downloaded close to 100,000 documents.
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Corporate ID
Three RulesCorporate ID systems workYour team should have corporate IDYou should use it aggressivelyThere are always more rules….
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: What is Corporate ID?
Corporate includes all the elements used to communicate the products, mission, vision, and services of an organization.
At a minimum CID includesNameLogo: Positions, colors, usageColorsPublications: Stationery, cards, literatureDisplay: Signs, postersWeb: Website(s)Clothing Specialties Digital: Email, formsPhone Presence
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: What is Corporate ID?
Corporate includes all the elements used to communicate the products, mission, vision, and services of an organization.
Big corporations defend their brandsYou can as well.
Should you brand your team? Let’s see…
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: What Is Corporate ID?
Let’s Start with Some Examples
Provides identity
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: What Is Corporate ID?
Let’s Start with Some Examples
Provides motivation
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: What Is Corporate ID?
Let’s Start with Some Examples
Creates loyalty
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: What Is Corporate ID?
Let’s Start with Some Examples
Generates excitement
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
A NameShould be descriptiveShould have a domain name that matches what you doIt should be easy to rememberIt should be easy to spellIt should (esp for FLL) be imagination generating.
For example…Naming a team the Lettgoes may be clever, but no one can remember how to spell it.ChrisMaggitti.com or ClassicalChris.comElizabethCiavolino.com or HarpGirl.comForestHillLegoClub.com or TechBrick.com
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
A LogoWhat makes a good logo? Here are my simple rules for success…
A logo only needs to communicate the single, key issue that is your business. A logo cannot say everything about your company. It must be legible and work at all sizes (poster, letters, business cards, or lapel pins).Unless you have billions of dollars to promote a swish, a logo should communicate immediately the name of your organization and appropriate, brief, descriptions if necessary.It must be able to be represented in one color, shades of one or two colors, or full color.It must accommodate the association of related information (URLs, phone numbers, etc.)It must be affordable to produce.It should be easily used in other applications (Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Logos
Ideally all logos should be designed in a vector-based program (Illustrator, CorelDraw)
Why? Because vector based drawing can be resized and repurposed for any type of output from screen printing to banners.
Avoid shades and graduationsWhy? They are typically hard to reproduce in screen printing and vinyl.
Choose 2-3 key colors from the Pantone Matching SystemWhy? Many computer programs let you make any colors you wish. Only PMS colors are universally known.
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Clothing and Gear: Three OptionsMake it yourself
Use a local silkscreen vendor
Use CafePress
For details on each of these see TechBrick’s Team Tips area.
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Clothing and GearMakeit fun!
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Clothing & Gear
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Clothing & Gear
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Clothing & Gear
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Literature
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Banners and DisplayBranding: Key Elements
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Your Robot
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Web Sites
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Web Sites
FIRST: You need one…Why? It’s the fax machine of the 20th century
SECOND: People expect you to have one…Why? Parents, supporters, other teams want to know what you are doing.
THIRD: They are easy to build…
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Web Sites: Register a Domain
Pick one that is your team name or similarUse a major registrar (Network Solutions or 1&1)To be safe you should own at a minimum: .com/net/org
Web Sites: Secure a Hosting Account
There are hundreds of companies. We use Network Solutions or 1&1.Costs range from $4 to $30 per month. Minimum is fine.
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Web Sites: Get Started
Use the web building tools included with your hosting package or use a stand-alone package (Dreamweaver, Xpressions Web).
Why use web-building tools? They are easy to use and produce clean sites with no special tools. They are edited on-line so multiple people can be involved.
You can increase the complexity in later years.
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Web Sites: Minimum Content
Team introduction: Who are you?Contact informationSchedulesInnovationsProgress photosDonation mechanism (use PayPal)
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Branding: Key Elements
Web Site: Social Benefits
Fulfills part of the US FIRST mission of sharing your information.
Our team has had communications from teams all over the world.
Our team has helped teams all over the world.
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TechBrick Robotics * www.TechBrick.com * Marco Ciavolino * [email protected]
Team Branding and Websites
Questions?
Corporate ID and Websites