About the Planet's History
1996 to 1998
Successfully running two art departments for trade show display companies, first in Baton Rouge then in New Orleans, inspired Adrienne Folse (Founder) to do more than trade show design work. So, in 1998 Adrienne launched Design the Planet, which was originally founded as The Basement Graphic Marketing, so she could utilize her graphic design talents on a variety of creative mediums. Working from her basement apartment on Napoleon Street in New Orleans, she served clients such as local furniture stores, software companies and friends with small businesses. Adrienne focused on helping clients on a per project basis while managing their projects from the development phase through final production. This early work was usually centered on identity branding packages or re-branding tools needed to help her clients grow their businesses.
1999 to 2002
It was becoming obvious that the fledgling company would be serving professional service providers and corporations, and the nature, expectations and characteristics of these clients dictated that a name change was in order. So, Adrienne and her husband embarked on an exhaustive two day brain storming session that yielded several appropriate names. But the obvious winner needed to be broad in scope, descriptive of the company’s services, professional yet creative, unique, and have an available URL. The new name that was chosen achieved all the goals that were set, and POOF! Design the Planet became the legal name in 1999, and has been so ever since. (See the evolution of our brand from 1998-2008.) – coming soon!
In November 1999, one of Design the Planets early customers asked if we could design and build a web site. So with the help of an HTML editor, tech support and some research, we entered the arena of web site development. Still a one woman show Adrienne quickly developed an understanding of and love for web site development, which was added to the menu of services offered by the company. With this new addition, however, Design The Planet experienced a rapid increase in clients due to the fact that the New Orleans area lacked firms focused on creative web design.
As the client base continued to grow, so did the need to add specialized team members, and additional work space. So, in 2002 the decision was made to give up her homey digs for Class A office space where clients and a talented team of creative professionals would feel comfortable and productive.
View the 2002 Design the Planet Website
2003 to 2007
By hiring talented design professionals, staying ahead to technology changes, and relentlessly serving client needs, Design the Planet became one of the most progressive female owned businesses in the South. We continued to invest in and expand our hardware and software technology to give our designers every possible creative advantage. We broadened our focus on internet utilization by researching and establishing our web marketing team. Since our value proposition is to provide effective and cost efficient creative business building solutions that exceed expectations and get results, we challenged our team members to develop relationships with vendors who would educate us while providing the highest quality yet cost efficient materials for our clients. We encouraged our team to learn the latest methods and mediums and financially supported their continuous education endeavors.
In 2005, following the most destructive hurricane season in New Orleans history, we expanded our Class A work environment to include conference space, a production resource area, kitchen and snack lounge. We supported our team members and their families as they dealt with Katrina rebuilding efforts and the related physical and emotional stress. Even though some long-time team members chose to leave to pursue other opportunities during this trying period, Design The Planet continued to grow and prosper while assisting clients with vital business and marketing communications.
The efforts and investment paid off. Design The Planet received recognition and awards for its creative web design, unique branding solutions and tools, and its ability to help clients take their business to the next level of profitability. We were successful because our clients businesses were growing from our efforts.
View the 2005 Design the Planet Website
2008 and beyond
After 10 years of growing our brand and reputation, our team serves clients from a variety of industries, such as: construction, commercial and multi-family real estate, software development, offshore services, retail marketing, spa and luxury services, legal and professional services, banking, distribution warehousing, web-based retailing, non-profit, equipment manufacturing, and many more.
Our creative professionals continue to win awards and recognition for the leading-edge work they do to help client brands succeed. We continue to dwell on our clients’ success, and work relentlessly to improve their marketing effectiveness while lowering their marketing costs. We believe in the power of relationship based communication to build beneficial brand communities that help our client businesses grow. We are Design The Planet…your total brand marketing resource!