Modo Design Group is a creative firm

designing dynamic, people-focused web experiences

We design and develop web sites and applications. We are user experience design experts who transform our clients mission-driven ideas into powerful products.

Modo is recognized for creating concise navigation structures for large content sites and creating custom, user-focused content management systems.

Modo’s Hiring a PHP Web Developer

developer

Are you a talented Web Developer who wants to be part of a small, highly collaborative team that does great work for nationally recognized organizations?

Modo is looking for a developer who has 5+ years experience, absolute proficiency with PHP5, Javascript, MySQL and Drupal. Experience with MVC frameworks, object-oriented design patterns, test driven development, Unix, Apache, and Git required. Email us at jobs@mododesigngroup.com to tell us why you’re the right person for the job.
We can’t wait to meet you!

Modo Is a B Corp

Certified B Corporation

We’re super charged to have joined the growing ranks of B Corporations–companies across the country that have made a demonstrated committment to doing well by doing good. B Corps use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Modo advances the missions and amplifies the impact of mission-driven and environmentally-minded organizations. If we can do anything with our talents and creativity, then it is to make a real and lasting impact on the lives of people.

That’s the change we seek.

We Design & Develop with Wind Power

wind-power

We’re always looking for ways to improve the way we do things...from the most innovative approaches in design and development to how we operate Modo. This year, we switched over to 100% wind powered energy to run our studio.

No explanation needed here...we’re just always working to keep our proverbial footprint small and tidy.

Modo Gives Back

We often reflect on ways to broaden our reach to other non-profit organizations. We’ve got a great team here at Modo, so we’ve turned to them to identify a mission-driven organization that they respect and Modo makes a donation on their behalf. See who they picked and why.

About

we are creative thinkers ...

strategists.

designers.

developers.

innovators.

Design. It’s central to what we do.

At Modo, design is equally visual and functional. A site with a great design structure not only catches your eye, but it intuitively connects you with the content you’re seeking. That’s how we create engaged, repeat users.

We believe in doing great work with great people.

We value relationships and people (clients and staff alike) above all else. And, we want to provide people with the best web product and experience.

We are well experienced in working with mission-driven organizations.

Modo’s team understands mission-driven organizations. We enjoy making an impact each day by helping advance the missions of these great organizations. Our clients include membership associations, international development organizations, educational institutions, entrepreneurs and others. And, they’re each unique and deserve a uniquely creative and highly functional product.

Work

 

The Potential of Green Building

It was a no-brainer for Modo to decide that the site to advance a DC metro (subway system) based ideological ad campaign had to be a mobile friendly one. The U.S. Green Building Council approached us with the need for a new mini-site to reinforce their potential of green building ad campaign. Modo designed the site to be easily read and digested in a mobile format, while reinforcing the key visuals of the ad campaign. The site clearly conveys the messaging of the campaign–articulating the real-life benefits of green building–all the while seamlessly directing users to more in-depth content on the main USGBC website. We value green building and creating this site was one more way Modo can play a small part in helping to share this important vision.

Realize the Potential Campaign website

Visit Live Site

IRIS–Impact Reporting and Investment Standards

IRIS is an initiative of the GIIN and the Rockefeller Foundation which creates a common language for assessing the social and environmental impact of businesses worldwide. Modo designed a vibrant site to reflect the value of IRIS data, including the design of custom infographics and an intuitive user experience for searching over four hundred IRIS standards and their inter-relation. The end result is a powerful tool for investors, fund managers, small to mid sized business leaders, and others interested in the social and environmental impact of business across the communities in which we live.

IRIS Standards website

Visit Live Site

Green Home Guide

It's simple. Just ask a pro and you'll get the free information you need to green your home. GreenHomeGuide.com is a comprehensive knowledge source that provides ideas and advice, all-the-while connecting you with green building professionals. Read a fact-packed article or post your question and get a response from a professional. Either way, you'll get the information you need to make your home energy efficient and healthy for you and your family.

GreenHomeGuide website

Visit Live Site

New Ventures

New Ventures, a division of Washington, D.C. based World Resources Institute, accelerates the growth of environmentally-minded entrepreneurs and their companies in emerging markets worldwide. The site represents a new brand identity and includes detailed information about the New Ventures portfolio companies and the New Ventures Local Centers that provide informational support to the entrepreneurs. Modo is glad to be a small part of advancing the New Ventures mission!

New Ventures website

Visit Live Site

Team

We are a collaborative team of designers and developers. We work hard and expect a lot from ourselves. At the same time we value humor, well-deserved ping pong breaks to rest our screen-weary eyes, and sustainable practices in how we operate the company and in how we get to work. Our home base is a renovated tobacco warehouse.

Hey, are you talented? Do you know for a fact that Modo sounds like a terrific fit for you? Email us to tell us why...and don’t be afraid to impress us with work samples and your command of design and/or web standards! jobs@mododesigngroup.com

Kristine Newswanger Managing Principal

kristine

Kristine is an accomplished communications strategist. As co-founder and managing principal, Kristine develops a whole host of communication strategies for Modo’s clients. She also leads Modo’s own business development, client relations, and operations. She has more than twelve years of experience working in government and community relations for national and state membership associations, including the National Governors’ Association. With a master’s degree in nonprofit management, policy, and planning, Kristine’s expertise in organizational and human behavior lends depth to Modo’s design-thinking approach of creating user-focused products.

Phil Newswanger Principal, Creative Director

phil

Phil is a highly-regarded and recognized designer with a strong sense of form, function and usability. As a graduate of the nationally-acclaimed Maryland Institute, College of Art, Phil’s innovative design work has been featured in Wired and Greensource Magazines and at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in Manhattan. Phil previously founded and managed Newswanger Design for twelve years before co-founding Modo Design Group. In leading Modo’s creative services, Phil skillfully integrates his expertise into all Modo client work with a dedication to providing sound consultation and the best possible product. His vision continues to result in many long-term clients.

Michelle King Designer

michelle

Michelle has a keen eye and designs for the web and for print. She is an experienced designer and holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts, in Graphic Design, from Kutztown University. Her versatile talents are put to good use on the Modo team, lending a strong visual design to all that we do.

Travis Lehman Designer

travis

Travis is a web designer with terrific front-end programming skills. He is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pennsylvania - York with a digital arts degree. Prior to coming to Modo, his experience included designing sites for numerous companies and organizations in our local area.

Mike Ridgway Developer

mike

As a valued part of our web development team, Mike is a critical thinker with keen web development skills. He holds a bachelor’s in Computer Science from Millersville University and is experienced in solving numerous programming challenges. In addition to web development, Mike is skilled in game development. He’s another terrific addition to the Modo team.

Josh Lasdin Designer

josh

Josh is a talented web designer that is always engaged in continuous learning of web standards and best practices. He excels in creative brainstorming and in bringing added ease of use to sites through great user experience design. He is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pennsylvania with a degree in digital arts.

Ben Wittenberg Developer

ben

Ben is a talented problem solver who brings his multi-dimensional talents of engineering and web development to his work here at Modo. He is an effective and efficient web developer, first formally trained in Engineering with a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University. He is also formally trained in Computer Science from the same institution. Ben is actively taking courses in pursuit of his master’s degree in Computer Science. His expertise includes programming custom applications. Ben is another terrific member of the Modo team.

Josiah Katz Designer

josiah

Josiah is a web designer with a strong understanding of user-focused design and a passion for web standards. He is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pennsylvania.

Manifesto

Random Facts You Don’t Know About Modo

  1. We brew suntea on the roof of our building.
  2. We’ve been recognized by the Webby’s twice in the last two years.
  3. We use honest-to-goodness real dishes, silverware and towels to limit waste.
  4. Some of us are good at ping pong. Some of us don’t want to talk about it.
  5. We eat out together as a team once a week (a.k.a. Fancy Lunch Friday)
  6. We relish small city living and collaborating with our big city clients.
  7. John Maeda’s ‘Laws of Simplicity’ sits proudly displayed in our library.
  8. We like biking to work, preferably in good weather.
  9. Modo's staff lounge is equipped with faux grass carpet, faux Adirondack chairs, and a real garage door.
  10. We’re on a covert mission. There’s no sign outside our place.

Great design has the power to transform culture!

As a collaborative team of skilled designers and programmers, we know that design transforms culture, organizations, and people. It creates the foundation for our work, which is manifest in dynamically visual and highly functional web experiences that connect people with content and with one another.

Design is Visual

Good design is immediately seen...it’s the visual aesthetic that grabs your eye and connects with your heart.

Design is Function

But great design goes deeper...to fulfill a common function or need and does it with an intuitive, almost imperceptible ease.

Design Unifies

Great design unifies the visual and the functional. It gives users exactly what they want, when they want it....even if they are not fully able to articulate it. Great design is anticipatory. It is intuitive. It is beautiful. And, it helps real people live their lives.

That’s what we do here at Modo.   And, that’s what we will always do at Modo!

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