Calico

Umbraco websites from a Melbourne studio

Calico is an independent agency in Melbourne, Australia, working since 2005. Its work is websites, with digital strategy advice alongside, and it specialises in the Umbraco content management system. The agency reports more than a decade of building Umbraco sites, and that some of its partnerships have run for most of a decade. It describes itself as Australian-based and as an award-winning agency.

Platinum partner status and what it means

The agency says it holds Platinum Umbraco Partner status, the highest tier of Umbraco partnership. It states that this gives direct access to the platform's headquarters for prioritised support, along with early information about new solutions and training. The agency chose the Umbraco platform for the flexibility it gives clients, and it says it has embraced open-source technology for a long time.

Strategy workshops and digital road maps

Strategy work includes consulting, stakeholder engagement and workshops that produce a clear, aligned digital road map. The agency says its experience across digital channels lets it give high-level strategic advice to organisations of all kinds, from institutions and festivals to brands.

Design and development for institutions and brands

Design work covers established brand guidelines as well as digital presences built from scratch. The agency says its design turns insight into action and creates experiences that help people reach decisions clearly and intuitively. Development work pairs Umbraco builds with Azure services, and the staff roles span development, design, project management and solution architecture.

Clients from colleges, festivals and attractions

Named project themes include a fresh website for a creative college, digital transformation at a well-known attraction, a graduating project with Victoria's largest TAFE, two decades of work with a major comedy festival, and a project with a global automotive brand that the agency describes as going the extra mile. The agency says it has worked with clients of all sizes over its 20 years.

Writing on project set-up and user needs

The agency publishes articles on setting a digital project up for success and on balancing business objectives with user needs on the web, which it presents as a balance of brand identity, message and a easy, intuitive path for visitors.