Recently, Calvary Chapel decided that it would be prudent to redesign their homepage for www.CalvaryChapel.com. They hired Caliber Media Group, a pricey Newport based company. After a few months of work, Caliber Media Group completed the site. However, to my disappoint, I was very unpleased with the site, especially since the work of Caliber Media Group is fairly professional. I inquired with a few dozen people within Calvary Chapel and those who attend the congregation, along with handfuls of professionals as to what their thoughts where regarding the design and interface. I received many opinions, most conveying the idea that the site didn’t convey the mission and outlook of the organization and painted an unwelcoming picture. Personally, I am interested in hearing your opinions regarding the site design and usability. Make sure you don’t leave without leaving your comments below. =P
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I would have to agree… even tho its a little simpler…the new site just isn’t very welcoming and definitely shouldn’t cost a large amount of money.
it’s cheesy…boring…and blahhish.
you should remake it.
*winks*
i agree, does not catch, nor convey what calvary is about
Our company also hired Caliber Media Group – and apparently after nine months of being hustled, the owner walked away and Caliber kept the money. It is a very sore topic of discussion in our office. It was alot of hype, alot of money and alot of disappointment when the refused to finish the job.
Not a good representation of a Christian organization.
@Wumbus Worker — I am sorry to hear about that.
I am confused about how your website could have gotten to a finished product without you knowing what it was going to look like. I have worked with Caliber as well as several other design firms over the years and the process put in place allows for review and direction from the client every step along the way. Unless you gave no clear direction and did not know what you wanted from the beginning of the process, I have no idea how your site could have been so different from what you were desiring. My experience with Caliber was more than pleasant and they were able to fulfill every suggestion and request that I had. It is hard for me to believe that they could have failed in the way that you describe as I have spent the last year working alongside of them and they have exceeded every expectation that I had. My experience was worth every penny. Did you work with miles? I see elements of his style in your site – very clean and professional.
@Evan I hope I did not offend you with my post as I am sure working with Caliber Media Group is a very invigorating and fulfilling experience as you stated. However, the reason for my post and the feelings surrounding it reside in final product. When I first saw the contract, I saw the work that Caliber Media Group had done, I knew that it would be breathtaking. That Caliber Media Group would have created a work of art. However, when I saw the final product, I was very disappointed because everything from the design to user navigation and interface were, well, not of my liking. I do admit though, I did have high expectation due to the price and the company. Nevertheless, this is just my two cents of what I came away with when viewing this project.
Caliber Media Group, as far as I can see, is a great company that does great work, having designed some really amazing sites. I must say, I have taken a few methods of Caliber Media Group and integrated them into my personal work. However, I just wasn’t impressed with what they did with CalvaryChapel.com. My humble and personal opinion. =P
Thank you for the comment Evan, I do appreciate it. =D
@Sean
I do not understand what you are attempting at achieve with this post. Discredit Caliber Media Group? Fight Calvary’s battles? It is one thing to have an opinion about a website, or an opinion about a company who has done you wrong, but to be a 3rd party, who is not personally affected by something, but who is speaking 3rd hand on a subject that really isn’t any of your business, is immature, irresponsible, and unethical.
What Calvary wanted and paid for in a website is frankly non of your business, and is only between them and Caliber Media Group. If they have a problem with what they got or what they paid, it is up to them to bring it before Caliber Media Group and perhaps eventually the court system.
But for you to get on the web and smear Caliber Media Group’s name when you are not even directly affected by it and do not have all the information, is saddening to say the least. My advice to you is to not go around gossiping about people or companies online. It is neither ethical nor Christian.
If you are attempting to prop up your own company, you only make yourself and them, by association, look petty and unprofessional. No good company, who wants to have a good public image, goes about smearing their competitors. Remember Coke and Pepsi? They realized that by smearing each other, they really didn’t gain anything, and just ended up wasting money and time.
FYI I am not writing this in order to defend or praise Caliber Media Group or even comment about the website, just to address your post and how it is inappropriate for any business person let alone a Christian.
P.S as a Christian our actions must always be done, ultimately, with the thought: “how does this bring Glory and Honor to our Great God” … I do hope you understand what I am saying, and that you will only grow in your talents and gifts and bring Glory to God with your work.
@Ryan
Ryan, I wrote the post for a few reasons and under the authority of:
1) a member of the Calvary Chapel congregation;
2) an honest student whose interest in the work done on the particular site desired second opinions, just like ANY journalist would (commonsense);
3) as a designer who desired opinions on the design and interface for his PERSONAL reference
Those are just a few of the reason why I wrote this post, which was about a year ago, so my exact memory is quite fuzzy. I am not trying to fight Calvary’s battles (and as a member of Calvary you should know that it is a futile mission and none of my business or desire to be quite frank). As for discrediting Caliber Media Group, if I conveyed any bad feelings towards them, I do apologize for that. From what I know of there work with Calvary Chapel, I was not impressed. However, Calvary Chapel approved it, obviously, and that is it. If Calvary Chapel had a problem with that, they should have went to Caliber Media Group, but they didn’t. Oh well. They probably had good reasons and I am not the person who comment on them. I have stated my personal opinion on the site AND at the work that Caliber Media Group did, since I would have expected something a little better than what they provided. Nevertheless, that is what was created and approved.
As for it being my business or not, I don’t see how that matters. As a student journalist of personal opinion, I have all the right in this world to convey my opinions through my person blog till I am blue in the face and you and no one else can tell me differently. =P
As for having all the information, I actually do have all of the information and have talked directly to the people who conducted the project and inquired their opinions. So I do have all the information, but I will not be posting that because it is not my place, as you can agree with I assume.
As for propping up my own company, I see that comment of yours as a low ball since all I am doing is commenting on one of their projects which I did not like. I have seen allot of Caliber Media Group’s work and I think some of it is amazing, which is why I make the comment that my expectations for the Calvary Chapel website where fairly high because they do great work, at least from what is presented on their website. Plus, my company focuses on a different areas than Caliber Media Group and we have no intention on smearing them to get business. As you said yourself that it is futile and I am not a complete idiot… =P
Lastly, I don’t see how it is inappropriate or unchristian to write my own opinions on something. Your argument basically condemns all journalism, both negative and positive. I recommend rethinking your argument…. thus, I have no idea what you are saying =P
Thank you Ryan for the discussion. Cheers! =)
Sean,
Allow me to email you my response. It is personal in nature and there is no need for it to be posted publicly. Thanks for your response, truly I only seek to challenge you and better you as a Christian, a thinker, a blogger, and a businessman.
We all need our own thoughts challenged at times, and we are not all exempt from faulty thinking, or misguided communication.
@Ryan
I would appreciate that. Your a good guy and I appreciate your mindset. I look forward to our continued conversation. Cheers! =)
Hehe,
I’m glad you think so…but let me know after you read my email…:P j/k
Thanks for being charitable!