Wagner Design Associates

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Wagner Design Associates adapts to client needs by pulling from its network of collaborators. Overall, the firm views its small size as an advantage as it allows them to more closely interact with their clients.

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Filed under: Ann Arbor, MI | Jill Wagner | Kathy Roeser | Marketing | Twelve Month Goals | Wagner Design Associates

In the past few years, Wagner Design Associates has significantly progressed from a sole proprietorship to a partnership with seven employees. Founded more than 20 years ago, the firm is clearly not on a rapid growth path. Rather they view their small size as an advantage. It allows them to more closely interact with their clients.

The firm adapts to client needs by pulling from its network of collaborators. They provide additional staffing as required. They also allow the firm to stay current with technology by supplying a pool of people familiar with the latest trends. It's worth noting that Wagner Design Associates became a partnership in part by incorporating one of its longtime collaborators, Kathy Roeser.

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Wagner Design started as a print shop but realized in the late 1990's that the web would displace a large part of its print business. Kathy Roeser's arrival at Wagner design helped seal the transition from print to web.

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Filed under: Ann Arbor, MI | Finding Gaps | Jill Wagner | Kathy Roeser | Marketing | Wagner Design Associates | Web 2.0 | Web Communications

As described in our last segment on Wagner Design Associates, the firm started as a print design shop. However, by the late 1990's, it was clear that the web would play a more significant role, at least partially displacing print, so Jill Wagner began the move toward the web. Some highlights from this segment:

• Shortly after the start of the current decade, Jill approached Kathy Roeser because she felt she needed more web expertise.
• Much like Carrie Hensel at Inner Circle Media, Kathy had become a self-taught web guru with a grounding in design and she was actively engaged in teaching others.
• Kathy's design background also fit well with the culture of Wagner Design, smoothing the firm's transition from print to web.
• Wagner Design Associates now does about 50/50 print and web work.

Download iPod Video (46MB)

Jill Wagner founded Wagner Design in 1986. We begin a discussion of its transformation from print shop to integrated marketing communication firm.

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Filed under: Ann Arbor, MI | Finding Gaps | Jill Wagner | Kathy Roeser | Marketing | Wagner Design Associates

This segment kicks off our series on integrated marketing communication with Jill Wagner and Kathy Roeser of Wagner Design Associates (download 9 minute iPod compatible video, 46MB). Jill founded Wagner Design in 1986 in Ann Arbor, MI as a print firm. She initially did type lay-outs by hand and hand drew story boards. In 1989, she moved to computerize her offices, 5 years ahead of the curve. In future segments, we'll explore how she grew from a one woman shop and vastly expanded her firm's capabilities. In this segment, we cover the following topics:

• Wagner Design Associates' value proposition as a boutique creative firm.
• How Wagner Design Associates helps clients define their identity. In particular, we cover how they achieve client buy-in to the process.
• How Wagner Design Associates uses social capital to market its services.