A mobile loyalty program.
Radius
Radius needed a strong brand identity after they introduced a groundbreaking location-based marketing technology with a gamified experience for shoppers. The experience guides you to discover promotions as you shop and navigate new products. The approach increased engagement across teams.
Radius introduced groundbreaking location-based marketing technology, revolutionizing B&M (brick-and-mortar) retail media. Imagine a Pokémon GO™-like experience for shoppers, guiding them to discover promotions as they shop, navigate to new products, and even clip in-store coupons.
The product initially required a new logo. However, it needed to resonate with another app in the same family, utilizing similar color tones and fonts as part of its own brand suite to retain user recognition.
The challenge was to design a pictorial mark that is approachable, describes the product clearly, and can be easily applied to digital, print, and motion mediums in a more engaging manner than simply using a logo.
The key objective was to craft a logo that seamlessly conveyed both the concept of location and reward within a single graphic‚îa powerful design technique known for sparking innovative ideas.
Our approach began with the creation of bespoke map pins, arranged in sets of four to symbolize multiple rewards within a single radius or location. Through this arrangement, we inadvertently formed a beautiful butterfly symbol, representing rewards that are constantly in motion and surrounding the user.
This concept of 'catching butterfly rewards' not only lends itself well to app gamification but also presents an excellent opportunity for sponsorship branding.
This was applied to:
A unique pictorial logo device supported by userfriendly colors, typography and copywriting.
A concept that could lend itself easily to being animated for screens, particularly app loading screens and websites.
The solution had to work across gamification and make the user interested to actively want to find rewards for fun.
The solution had to enable cross pollination of brands and sponsors but still feel like Radius.
While we always explore multiple solutions ‚îthe butterfly proved to be the ideal choice for several reasons, including easy co-branding.
Initially, it was integrated into print materials for university campuses, but its potential soared when we presented our concept for gamifying the process of discovering rewards through a butterfly-catching augmented reality game. Motion design played a critical role in bringing this idea to life. We meticulously studied butterfly motion to create a seamless representation within the logo.
The brand was warmly received, and we remained dedicated to upholding its integrity throughout the rollout to:
Applied to numerous print communications including posters, adverts, business cards, t-shirts and stationery.
An augmented reality game concept to make the process of finding and using rewards more engaging and competitive.
Developed an easy system of co-branding the logo to retain the radius brand but be equally recognized as other brands.
Supplied digital assets along with motion for use on website, screens and mobile devices.
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Creating clarity for NS Executive vision.
A Fortune 500 transportation and logistics company
Ascendum partnered with Norfolk Southern to deliver a cohesive suite of branded materials for a high‑profile executive showcase attended by senior leadership and board members.
Norfolk Southern approached Ascendum with a request to develop a cohesive suite of branded materials for a high‑profile executive showcase. The event was attended by Norfolk Southern’s senior leadership including board members, along with Union Pacific senior leadership. The showcase spanned seven technology‑focused topic areas, each presented in a gallery‑walk format using large‑scale visual communication assets. All materials needed to be highly consistent, easy to consume at a glance, and fully aligned with Norfolk Southern’s brand standards - while clearly conveying confidence, clarity, and innovation. Deliverables included large‑format banners, looping demonstration videos, process flows, capability summaries, impact metrics, and recommendations for the overall event‑space layout.
Ascendum partnered closely with Norfolk Southern’s teams through daily working sessions, reviewing content, existing collateral, and topic-specific requirements. From this, we established a unified visual system that was clean, bold, and structured to ensure all seven topic areas felt cohesive when displayed together. Throughout the process, Ascendum managed all artwork production, liaised directly with the print vendor, and ensured all materials were prepared, approved, and delivered on time.
Developed a flexible board template covering product details, capabilities, metrics, visuals, and process flows ensuring consistency across all content.
Created a layout system that worked across multiple sizes later evolving into full-height vertical banners.
Designed eleven 72”×36” banners, each tailored to its topic area and refined through fast, iterative feedback sessions.
Introduced custom adhesive base graphics as a subtle nod to the D&T Security team, reinforcing their role as the foundation of Norfolk Southern’s work.
Developed an interior floor plan to support the gallery walk format, optimising flow and ensuring balanced placement of banners and screens.
The final deliverables resulted in a polished, immersive, and executive-ready showcase environment that clearly communicated Norfolk Southern’s innovation efforts across multiple technical domains. The showcase provided executives a clear, compelling view of the organisation’s technical capabilities, supported by a professional and unified design system that elevated the overall experience.
Eleven cohesive, high-impact banners established a consistent look across all topic areas.
Consistent materials enabled subject-matter experts to deliver clear, confident explanations.
A strategically designed room layout improved engagement and navigation throughout the gallery walk.
All print-ready assets were produced and delivered within the tight two-week timeline.
Daily alignment and rapid iteration strengthened collaboration between Ascendum and Norfolk Southern.
A wealth management application.
A leading US bank
With more than 30 years in business, our client is a leader of private banking and wealth management. A large concentration of their customers are in the technology, health care, and financial service industries. The approach increased engagement across teams. It brought measurable results across teams.
With more than 30 years in business, our client is a leader of private banking and wealth management. A large concentration of their customers are in the technology, health care, and financial service industries. The financial institution tasked us with developing a mobile app proof-of-concept (POC) to demonstrate how it would help bankers build more meaningful trust-based relationships with their customers. The firm already had an infrastructure in place, and were storing their data in a legacy data warehouse. The challenge was to extract relevant insights, minimize information overload for the wealth managers, and visualize helpful information for bankers on the go. Our team determined that the best approach was to:
We employed an agile team of designers and mobile specialists with expertise in building intuitive mobile projects. The team first needed to define the solution architecture. The app would include a modern UX, interactive data visualization, and information hierarchy that adhered to user needs, and supported a flexible cross-platform implementation strategy. Our first deliverable was an interactive prototype designed in less than four weeks. Next, we developed an innovation pod and timeline to ensure our team could quickly add features such as real-time insights, customer updates, and product recommendations. The app was developed to ensure the proper information and advice were delivered to the right customers. As a result, we delivered a highly-intuitive mobile platform that helped the financial institution provide richer, personalized engagements.
Ascendum's design thinking culture made this project successful. Our team had a disciplined adherence to agile product development emphasizing collaborative innovation.Working closely with the client, current technologies, and information security,we ensured the product was useful, actionable, and secure.
A cross-platform event planner.
IFAD
Project focus was on developing a mobile application for a specialized United Nations agency responsible for supporting food production in emerging and low-income countries. The goal of this initiative is to create a comprehensive platform that offers users a centralized access point for information on official meetings.
Project focus was on developing a mobile application for a specialized United Nations agency responsible for supporting food production in emerging and low-income countries. The goal of this initiative is to create a comprehensive platform that offers users a centralized access point for information on official meetings and events. By consolidating event details into a single, easily navigable app, the solution aims to streamline communication and enhance coordination efforts. The app will play a critical role in supporting the agency's broader mission of fostering agricultural development and food security across underserved regions.
Development of a native mobile application for iOS and Android platforms to provide centralized access to official meeting information and documents.
The app was to be built upon data from the existing Member States Interactive Platform (MSIP) and integrate with other tools such as webcasting.
A key feature was the ability for users to view, download, and annotate documents, both online and offline.
The app needed to support future language implementations and offer a seamless user experience, including offline caching and authentication.
The timeline for completion was two months, with an initial on-site collaboration at the agency headquarters, followed by remote work possibilities.
We took a user-centric approach, focusing on creating a clean, minimal design that would ensure a seamless and intuitive experience across both Android and iOS platforms. To enhance usability, we prioritized offline functionality, allowing users to access key content without an internet connection. Multilingual support was also built into the app's architecture to accommodate future expansions. Our team implemented secure API-driven authentication, ensuring user data and access were protected at all times. Throughout the project, we worked closely with the internal team, starting with on-site collaboration and transitioning to remote work to ensure the project remained flexible and on schedule.
We focused on developing a clean and light app with a user-friendly interface, ensuring simplicity without sacrificing functionality.
We implemented offline caching, allowing users to access key information without an internet connection, enhancing reliability.
Though initially in English, the app was built to support future expansions for other languages like French, Spanish, and Arabic.
User authentication was handled securely through API integration, providing a consistent and safe login experience.
Our team worked closely with internal stakeholders, initially on-site, and then remotely to ensure the project stayed on track and met all requirements.
We designed and developed the app for mobile and tablet devices, available on both Android and iOS platforms. Our focus was on creating a clean and minimalistic design that ensures a light and intuitive user experience. By prioritizing great usability, we crafted an application that effectively serves governors and secretaries of member countries, enhancing their ability to access meeting information and stay connected.
Design language shown in this Case Study has been updated from the initial production design.
A baby sleep improvement app.
Lullabytes
Lullabytes was intended to enhance bedtime routines for babies by incorporating soothing music, a sleep diary, and a nightlight feature. The app would help parents establish consistent routines while tracking their baby's sleep patterns. It transformed user expectations and simplified daily tasks.
Lullabytes was intended to enhance bedtime routines for babies by incorporating soothing music, a sleep diary, and a nightlight feature. The app would help parents establish consistent routines while tracking their baby's sleep patterns. With a "Restart on Cry" function, the app aimed to soothe babies back to sleep when they woke up during the night. Additionally, the sleep diary was designed to provide insights into sleep behaviors, allowing parents to adjust routines as needed and share the information with pediatricians.
Track your baby's sleep patterns while soothing lullabies play in the background. This helps create a consistent bedtime routine and provides valuable insights into sleep behavior.
Easily start tracking with a single tap and automatically create a diary entry when tracking ends. These functions make it simple to monitor sleep without interruption.
Track each sleep session with added tags and notes for better insights. Personalized recommendations based on your baby's age help guide adjustments to the bedtime routine.
Choose options like "Play Until Asleep" to loop music until your baby is settled, or "Restart on Cry" to automatically restart music when crying is detected.
Access detailed descriptions and playback options for each lullaby in the Parent Center. This feature allows parents to choose the best music for their child's bedtime routine.
We crafted a visually rich illustration style designed to engage children's sensory development, seamlessly integrating it with UI best practices in a mobile-friendly format. Collaborating closely with the client and their development team, we ensured smooth execution and delivered the project within a tight three-month timeframe.
We delivered a stunning UI design for the app within three months, earning praise from a delighted client. The app was further recognized by being featured in Apple‚ôs coveted Feature Section on the App Store.
A user access management system.
An Education Provider
The MECA System is comprised of four unique parts (Interest Indicator, Work Samples, Assessments, and Career Planner) tied together by a comprehensive management system. The work empowered smarter and faster decision-making. Workflows became smoother and noticeably more effective.
The MECA System is comprised of four unique parts (Interest Indicator, Work Samples, Assessments, and Career Planner) tied together by a comprehensive management system. The management system allows for a seamless program integration from interest testing, to assigning, benchmarking, and creating a transition IEP and a Summary of Performance. This eliminates the expensive and time-consuming activities of scoring and reporting results, and frees up the program administrator to help where needed.
We designed and developed a robust backend user management tool called MECA. This allowed Conover to sell their products into school systems, while allowing the schools to manage the individual users.
An easy to use web portal that allowed teachers and administrators to manage their Conover product offering. Along with the all the State specific reporting tools. this made an unbelievable difference in the classroom.
An app for social feedback.
Medusa
Medusa is a social networking app designed for young adults who want honest opinions from their friends.
The app enables users to ask questions to a select group of people and receive anonymous answers, fostering open and candid conversations. To refine the concept and create the best possible user experience, Ascendum collaborated with the founder through an innovation workshop.
We worked closely with Medusa’s team to translate their vision into a seamless digital experience. Our process began with an in-depth exploration of user needs and behavioral patterns to craft an intuitive and engaging interface. We then moved into development, ensuring the app was both scalable and interactive. Key efforts included:
Conduct load testing on the API to support future growth.
Developing a custom chat module for the question-and-answer interactions.
Creating a compelling marketing video to drive user engagement.
Designing the logo, branding, and website to establish a strong visual identity.
Medusa successfully launched on iOS and Android, delivering a unique platform for young adults to seek honest feedback in a secure and engaging environment. With a thoughtfully designed user experience and a robust technical foundation, the app positioned itself as a standout player in the social networking space. The branding and marketing assets further amplified its reach, helping Medusa connect with its target audience effectively.
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An LLM-powered search tool.
A Fortune 500 Healthcare Provider
We developed a cutting-edge personalized product search platform that leverages LLM-backed chat experiences to transform consumer review data into a powerful search tool. The approach increased engagement across teams. It transformed user expectations and simplified daily tasks.
We developed a cutting-edge personalized product search platform that leverages LLM-backed chat experiences to transform consumer review data into a powerful search tool. By vectorizing customer reviews, the platform enables more personalized and meaningful search experiences, far surpassing traditional filtering methods. Two key use cases highlight the platform's versatility: a doctor search tool and a sneaker assist tool.
Our approach centered on enhancing search functionality by integrating advanced AI techniques that interpret user queries in a more natural and contextually aware manner. This allowed us to deliver personalized recommendations based on real customer reviews.
Implemented vector indexes to enable semantic and natural language search across large, unstructured data sets, enhancing the relevance of search results.
Utilized large language models to interpret user queries, understanding nuanced requests like finding doctors who are good with young children or identifying comfortable shoes for walking.
Optimized the platform for handling the context limitations of LLM applications, including summarizing previous context and large content blocks to maintain relevance in responses.
Deployed an agent architecture that uses specialized model configurations for different tasks, ensuring the best performance for each specific query.
The personalized product search platform has redefined how users interact with customer review data, providing them with tailored recommendations that better match their needs.
Users receive more accurate and personalized recommendations based on the nuanced interpretation of their queries, whether searching for doctors or shoes.
The platform's ability to match users with products or services that closely align with their preferences has led to higher user satisfaction compared to traditional search methods.
The platform's adaptable architecture supports various use cases, from healthcare to retail, demonstrating its broad applicability across industries.
The use of vector indexes and optimized LLM processing ensures that the platform can scale to handle large data sets while maintaining fast, accurate search results.
A staff portal proof of concept.
Non-profit Organisation in the USA
Our client takes a comprehensive approach to New York City's economy. Grow innovative sectors, with a focus on equity; build neighbourhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. The design helped reduce decision fatigue.
Our client takes a comprehensive approach to New York City's economy. Grow innovative sectors, with a focus on equity; build neighbourhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. Our client needed public-facing interface for businesses to apply for funding, submit relevant documentation, and interact with the company, as well as a back-end system for the staff to manage, review, and process these applications effectively. Time was of the essence, and the client wanted a POC to check the feasibility of the project as quickly as possible.
Design two platforms that are connected but for different purposes.
Allows businesses to sign up, answerdetailed questions, upload documents,submit funding requests, and track the application status.
Allows agency staff to receive,review and process funding requests accordingly, more efficiently.
Ascendum worked hand-in-hand with the client to deliver a POC of the application in two weeks. We designed a the proof of concept and presented to our client. Collaborating closely with the client, leveraging cutting-edge technologies, and prioritizing information hierarchy, we meticulously crafted a direction that not only ensured utility and actionability, but also delivered a top-tier user experience.
Design the traditional paper application into an improved digital experience through streamlined navigation, enhanced accessibility, and user-friendly features.
We designed an interface enabling staff to seamlessly and effectively navigate through different sections of the applications during the review process.
Our emphasis was on presenting exclusively the pertinent data for NYC Staff, facilitating an efficient review of the application.
An AI mortgage platform.
Mortgage Vendor
The Mortgage Pre-Approval AI System automates the pre-approval process for potential home buyers, providing accurate and quick mortgage eligibility assessments. The work empowered smarter and faster decision-making. This helped unify fragmented processes and enhance clarity. This resulted in faster, error-free workflows.
The Mortgage Pre-Approval AI System automates the pre-approval process for potential home buyers, providing accurate and quick mortgage eligibility assessments. By leveraging AI, the system streamlines data collection, analysis, and approval processes, offering a seamless experience for both lenders and borrowers.
The traditional mortgage pre-approval process involves extensive manual work, leading to delays and potential inaccuracies. Ascendum's AI-driven system addresses these challenges by automating the process, from data collection to approval.
Provides immediate, seamless responses with context-aware NLP for better customer engagement.
Provides near instant credit assessments, improving decision making speed.
AI for Document Verification ensures data accuracy and integrity by checking for discrepancies.
Provides detailed risk assessments, which enhances decision-making.
Provides accurate property valuations, aligning loan amounts with market values.
Ensures human oversight at key points in AI-driven mortgage decisions.
The design approach emphasizes clarity, showcasing data with a visually sharp UI and bold typography. The AI-driven interface presents loan status in a clean and straightforward manner, ensuring users are always clear on their progress and can easily access essential information.
Significantly cut down the time and effort needed for mortgage pre-approval, making the process faster and easier for both lenders and borrowers.
Guaranteed accurate eligibility assessments, providing confidence and clarity in the mortgage pre-approval process.
Made the pre-approval process straightforward and stress-free for borrowers.
Supported a high volume of applications without degradation in performance.
Lenders like mortgage companies, banks, and credit unions partner with us to offer seamless mortgage pre-approvals for borrowers, including first-time home buyers and investors.
A footwear brand engagement app.
A global footwear company
Our client is a multinational brand and a leader in the sports casual market. They have thousands of stores globally and are partners with the largest brands in product and distribution. Their internal innovation team wanted to launch a private label that could cater to the needs of millennials.
Our client is a multinational brand and a leader in the sports casual market. They have thousands of stores globally and are partners with the largest brands in product and distribution. Their internal innovation team wanted to launch a private label that could cater to the needs of millennials. The idea was to create a limited-edition supply of niche products that matched market research and hype cycles. The traditional product development cycle took at least 18 months to bring a new line of footwear to market. The idea behind the new initiative was to drastically reduce the time needed for new product development.The client also wanted to use the new label as an ‚úideas factory‚ùto test new trends, new products and develop data models for large-scale inventory and purchase decisions.
Ascendum was chosen as the sole partner from idea to implementation. As an innovation partner, Ascendum worked with various teams to build a pipeline of ideas that could be leveraged to quickly test and implement new product concepts and brand directions. As a result, we developed a completely product brand identity including logo, color scheme, design and presence across web and mobile.The Ascendum team collaborated with the artists, brand portfolios to develop dynamic campaigns for product promotion and marketing.
Idea to implementation was deliveredin a company record time of 14 weeks. Ascendum worked with the client's internal teams to develop a multiple award-winning product recognized with a Top-Five Webby nomination, Hermes Creative Gold Award and Fast Company Innovation by Design honor.
A discount movie ticket app.
HappyOurs
HappyOurs is an entertainment ticketing platform looking to streamline how both consumers and merchants purchase movie tickets. Designed to scale, the outcome supported broader goals. Processes became more aligned with actual user needs. It brought measurable results across teams.
HappyOurs is an entertainment ticketing platform looking to streamline how both consumers and merchants purchase movie tickets. Ascendum was brought on to design and deliver two‚ dedicated iPad applications: one tailored for consumers to buy discounted tickets for specific showtimes, and another for merchants and agencies to purchase tickets in bulk for resale.
We collaborated closely with the HappyOurs team to clearly define‚ the unique needs of each user group - consumers and merchants. Our design team focused on creating intuitive, visually distinct interfaces for both apps while maintaining a consistent brand experience. Key efforts included:
Designing a consumer app that made it quick and easy to browse, select, and purchase discounted movie tickets.
Developing a merchant-facing app to simplify bulk purchases and give agencies flexibility in how they resell tickets.
Supporting the client‚ôs internal development team to ensure smooth implementation and handoff.
Both iPad apps were delivered on time, with clean, user-centered designs tailored to each audience. Ascendum's collaboration helped accelerate HappyOurs‚ go-to-market timeline, and our ongoing support ensured a seamless development process. The result: a dual-app experience that empowered both end users and merchant partners to engage with the platform effortlessly.
This Case Study shows the initial delivered design and alsothe updated design version.
Prescription price comparison tool.
An Innovative Pharmacy
The Ascendum Team diligently navigated detailed requirements, asked critical questions, and established a realistic roadmap for seamless execution. This resulted in smoother and more effective workflows. This gave teams more confidence in every interaction. It created a more predictable user journey.
Provide a post-registration welcome experience aimed at optimizing pharmacy benefits for members. The goal was to create a basket list of their medications and present the lowest cost options to ensure members get the best use of their pharmacy benefits. This includes a way for the members to customize their methods of communication and potential future interactions.
The Ascendum Team diligently navigated detailed requirements, asked critical questions, and established a realistic roadmap for seamless execution.Collaboratively working hand-in-hand with the Senior Product Director, we were able to innovate and elevate the user-centric experience even further. All the while, achieving milestones well before the due dates.
We created a seamless, user-centric design for both desktop and responsive web platforms to enhance the user experience through the medication pricing and ordering process.
We implemented robust business logic to analyze member data effectively, ensuring accurate cost comparisons across multiple pharmacies and highlighting the lowest cost option for each medication.
We conducted extensive testing to ensure functionality across multiple use cases and ensure effective member messaging.
With a deep understanding of the user's journey, we tailored the welcome experience to guide members through the process of pricing, and ordering, their medications at the best value.
Our collaboration resulted in a tailored welcome experience that helps the members maximize their benefits while driving business growth and improving user satisfaction.
We presented the lowest cost options by providing guided value-based information, which increased the value of the member's experience of their pharmacy benefits.
With transparent drug pricing, displayed in an easily consumable fashion, the experience leads to increased trust and loyalty towards the brand.
The implementation will increase adjusted script volume to the mail order pharmacy by 24K within 3 months, increase member task completion rate within 3 months.
A footwear loyalty program.
A Global Footwear Retailer
Athleisure and sports casual is a competitive market. Its not uncommon to see lines of customers for the launch of must-have sneakers and clothing. The demand for these products is so high that buyers resort to using online bots to hit the website sooner and secure as much of the product as possible.
Athleisure and sports casual is a competitive market. It's not uncommon to see lines of customers for the launch of must-have sneakers and clothing. The demand for these products is so high that buyers resort to using online bots to hit the website sooner and secure as much of the product as possible. The objective was to launch a cutting-edge solution to be used by stores in North America, Europe and Oceania.
Ascendum was selected as the product and design partner for this exciting global initiative. We worked directly with the digital and business teams to develop a scalable product roadmap for a global rollout of the solution. We also worked with various cross-functional teams including ecommerce, warehouse management, brand marketing and supply chain to build API integrations for all these systems.
The Ascendum team consisted of experts in design, backend development, mobile integrations and performance testing.We built the product in an agile fashion and in a record time and the solution was quickly deployed, first in Europe and then in the North American market.
OTT engagement strategies.
Global Fortune 500 broadcaster
Our global Fortune 500 client is a leading broadcaster, pay TV operator and India's first premium Over-the-Top Television (OTT) video-on-demand service. Our client acquired digital rights for FIFA World Cup soccer games and Indian cricket tours. The work empowered smarter and faster decision-making.
Our global Fortune 500 client is a leading broadcaster, pay TV operator and India's first premium Over-the-Top Television (OTT) video-on-demand service.Our client acquired digital rights for FIFA World Cup soccer games and Indian cricket tours. The client wanted to increase installs of its OTT apps and grow monthly active users and engagement during live streams. However, they only released their OTT apps in mobile devices and did not provide users content access through multiple platforms.They needed a digital partner to develop OTT apps that would allow subscribers to watch live sports content on multiple on-demand TV channels. They also wanted to add a Freemium subscription model that combines AVOD (advertising-based video-on-demand) and SVOD (subscription-based video-on-demand).
Ascendum was charged to deliver these OTT platforms and launch in eight weeks, ahead of the FIFA World Cup games. We designed and developed the OTT apps for multiple platforms while retaining the video player, CDN, middleware, and third-party OTT infrastructures. We quickly developed server-side ad insertions monetization, recommendation engines, player analytics, and payment processing.The managed BSS services worked differently on each platform. Our teams developed uniquely for each to integrate them natively.
Idea to implementation of these multi-device/platform apps were delivered in eight weeks.Ascendum worked with the client andits partners (Akamai, Brightcove, Evergent) to deliver OTT apps on multiple platforms‚î Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and Opera TV.
During the FIFA games, the OTT apps registered a landmark viewership of 70 million.
India's cricket tours following the FIFA games had a record viewership of 50 million.
Collectively, these views accounted for a 5x increase in time spent on the OTT platforms.
Store installs recorded a massive 126 percent growth rate.
IT infrastructure management app.
Intel
We streamlined cloud service management by delivering a unified platform that automates and orchestrates virtualized resources such as compute, network, and storage. Built with scalability in mind, the solution aligned with broader strategic goals, enhancing operational efficiency.
The purpose of this application is to let user visually model a service, define its content, deploy the service, and manage the service at runtime. A service is a set of compute, network, and storage resources that provides a commodity, composed of one or more sets of virtual machines, and managed by an organization. This is in contrast to how users create, deploy, and manage services in IT today; deploying a multi-tiered application requires provisioning and configuring each virtual machine separately and then going through many independently operated and sometimes poorly designed websites to manage their virtual machines. This application will empower user to become self-sufficient and agile in deploying and managing services.
We streamlined cloud service management by delivering a unified platform for automating and orchestrating virtualized resources like compute, network, and storage. Our solution simplifies complex workflows, enabling users to deploy, configure, and manage services with greater agility and control. With a focus on scalability and ease of use, we empower businesses to efficiently manage their infrastructure, saving time and resources.
Quickly deploy services without manual configurations, ensuring speed and accuracy.
Manage all critical resources from one platform, reducing complexity and improving efficiency.
Easily scale resources up or down based on your needs, with a user-friendly interface.
Empower users to handle their own service management with minimal IT intervention.
By implementing our solution, clients experience faster service deployment, reduced operational overhead, and greater control over their IT infrastructure. Our clean and clever UI, paired with unique app icons, ensures an intuitive and visually appealing experience that enhances user productivity. Teams can now manage services independently, respond quickly to changing demands, and navigate effortlessly through the platform. As a result, businesses can allocate resources more effectively, reduce costs, and enhance overall performance, ensuring long-term scalability and success.
Design language shown in this Case Study has been updated from the initial production design.
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A satellite messaging app.
Globalstar
In 2010, Globalstar, an innovator in satellite communication technology, selected us as their digital transformation partner for an ambitious project that would redefine emergency communications. At a time when smartphone apps were still in their infancy, Globalstar envisioned transforming their SPOT Connect satellite.
In 2010, Globalstar, an innovator in satellite communication technology, selected Sourcebits (now Ascendum) as their digital transformation partner for an ambitious project that would redefine emergency communications. At a time when smartphone apps were still in their infancy, Globalstar envisioned transforming their SPOT Connect satellite messenger - a handheld emergency tracking device popular among adventurers and maritime users - into a smartphone-controlled system.
The challenge presented to our team was multifaceted: we needed to create a mobile application that could pair with Globalstar's existing satellite hardware while delivering an intuitive user experience. The SPOT Connect device, about the size of a smartphone, allowed users to send preset "OK" or "Help" messages and share their GPS location via Globalstar's satellite network when beyond cellular range. Our task was to replace the physical interface with a sophisticated mobile app that could handle all device functions while adding new capabilities.
Key requirements included:
This project represented a significant technological leap, as it would mark the first time satellite messaging functionality would be fully controlled through a smartphone application.
The Sourcebits (now Ascendum) team approached this challenge with a combination of innovative thinking and technical rigor. We began by completely reimagining the user experience, moving from the SPOT device's simple button interface to a full graphical smartphone interface while maintaining the reliability required for emergency communications.
Our development process focused on several critical areas:
We developed custom Bluetooth protocols to establish and maintain a stable connection between smartphones and the SPOT Connect device. This allowed users to control all device functions - from sending preset messages to initiating SOS alerts - directly through their phones. The app could display signal strength, battery status, and GPS accuracy indicators, giving users crucial information about their connection to Globalstar's satellite network.
A key innovation was implementing a message composition system that allowed users to create and save custom messages up to 40 characters long. The app would then transmit these messages via the paired SPOT Connect device when the user was beyond cellular range. We implemented a queueing system that would automatically retry failed transmissions, ensuring message delivery even in challenging conditions.
The app integrated comprehensive mapping functionality, displaying the user's current location and allowing them to set waypoints. A particularly innovative feature was the ability to share locations with contacts, effectively creating a breadcrumb trail that could be crucial in emergency situations.
Recognizing that our users might carry different devices, we developed versions for iOS, Android, and even BlackBerry (then still a significant platform). Each version was optimized for its respective operating system while maintaining consistent functionality across platforms.
We implemented rigorous power management protocols to minimize battery drain, crucial for users in remote locations. The app was designed to maintain functionality even when running in the background, ensuring continuous protection.
The SPOT Connect app launched to immediate acclaim in the outdoor and maritime communities. For the first time, users could enjoy the reliability of satellite communication with the convenience and flexibility of smartphone control. The app's success demonstrated the viability of smartphone-satellite integration, proving that everyday mobile devices could serve as lifelines in emergency situations.
Key achievements included:
The technology we developed with Globalstar caught the attention of Apple, leading to their $1.5 billion investment in Globalstar in 2022. Today, the core functionality we pioneered lives on in iPhone's Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, which has been credited with saving numerous lives in remote locations.
This project stands as a testament to Sourcebits' (now Ascendum) ability to deliver groundbreaking solutions at the intersection of hardware and software. What began as a specialized tool for adventurers has evolved into a mainstream safety feature, demonstrating our capacity for innovation with lasting impact. The SPOT Connect app not only met its immediate goals but laid the foundation for the satellite communication features we now take for granted in modern smartphones.
As an extra effort, we modernized the design and refreshed it for 2025.
Design language shown in this Case Study has been updated from the initial production design.
A jewelry streaming app.
A jewelry television company
A company specialising in jewelry television to Ascendum to take their current OTT platform offering from two platforms and increase them to six in total. This allowed their live show to reach more potential customers overall. This resulted in smoother and more effective workflows. This supported a more scalable foundation.
JTV came to Ascendum to take their current OTT platform offering from two platforms and increase them to six in total. This allowed their live show to reach more potential customers overall. Additionally with the expansion of the platforms, we refined the functionality to be specific to each native platform making for a more familiar user experience.
We rapidly accelerated JTV's business by delivering the six apps in mobile, web, and OTT platforms. This has significantly increased the reach and accessibility of JTV to their customer base. Ascendum delivered the completed project in only three months.
Transforming and accelerating the business using mobile, web and OTT/VOD platforms.
The platforms attracted a substantial user base, with 86 million users subscribing to the platform.
The business achieved significant sales success, with 7.5 million gem packages sold each year, indicating strong customer engagement and revenue generation.
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