In 2012, iK9 teamed up with Auburn University’s Research and Technology Foundation to blend the university’s state-of-the-art canine detection research program with iK9’s extensive experience in training and educating handlers. The partnership instantly put iK9 on the map as a premier, comprehensive provider of canine detection solutions for defense organizations, law enforcement, and private security throughout the country. The iK9 team approached Gravitate to build a website that not only reflects iK9’s industry dominance and the confidence it has in its training and research but also conveys the critical role canine detection plays in today’s society.
A bold direction
The Countdown
Prior to the site’s launch, the hype was building every day. To feed the publicity and provide eager supporters a sneak peek at the new direction for the brand, we created a splash page—complete with a countdown timer and a form to sign up for the newsletter. Both the client and our team were surprised at not only the amount of buzz our design preview generated but also the sheer amount of traffic this simple splash page received.
The Homepage
Often there is a tendency for clients to try to force too much information onto the homepage—effectively diminishing user focus and the impact of the messaging. This was not the case with iK9 team, as they let us run with our striking design, minimal copy, and subtle parallax scrolling. The result is a bold, evocative homepage that immediately communicates iK9’s industry authority while emphasizing the exclusive commercial partnership with Auburn University’s Vapor Wake Technology, which enhances explosive detection canine teams with additional capabilities and training to detect hand-carried and body-worn explosives.
Responsive Design
As mobile browsing continues to eclipse desktop surfing, it becomes increasingly apparent that building specific apps for the major mobile platforms is an arduous and expensive undertaking. Why not build a website once and have it work seamlessly across thousands of different screen sizes—from a smartphone to a 27” monitor? Because many of iK9’s leads are met on the road at trade shows, it was imperative to scale the site down to mobile devices without sacrificing design or functionality—allowing easy reading and navigation without the drudgery of resizing, panning, and constantly scrolling.
Canine database
“I am delighted with the work Gravitate has done on iK9’s company website. The sharp, unique design of the site has generated compliments from visitors, clients, and partners alike. The company site is already enjoying higher conversion rates, which I attribute to the gorgeous and SEO-friendly design. Gravitate’s professional and highly competent staff have made the whole process enjoyable, and we are already planning a complete redesign of one of our other sites with Gravitate in the lead. Thanks for all you guys do. ”
The Result
It was extremely rewarding to work with an emerging company that gives law enforcement and military an added edge in explosive and narcotics detection. We took advantage of the long leash (er, flexibility) iK9 provided and explored several bold design directions and functionality additions—in the end exceeding the client’s requests and propelling iK9 into industry dominance.
Our Thoughts
“Incorporating a clean unfettered design with a scalable and flexible back end was a nice challenge. It was great to be able to work so closely with the designer on this to ensure a UI that is not difficult to use or overly complex. Extremely happy with the results.”
“I came to know the i-K9 after the website project had launched. Working with the team on an ongoing basis to optimize and improve the user experience was not only rewarding for the Gravitate team but for i-K9 too. Great client.”