As part of the School/University category, the recently overhauled RMCAD website features clean-cut design, interactive elements, and social integration. We created the website from the ground up, keeping faculty, students, alumni, and prospects in mind for an enhanced user experience.

Thanks to those on the PRPL team who had a hand in this successful project, and of course, to our exceptional client. We’d like to congratulate the other nominees, and most especially the official Webby Award winners! To us, it’s a shortlist of inspiration.

Name: Michael Parler
Hometown: Pittsburgh or Nashville, depending on what skeletons in my closet you’re asking. My car is covered in Steelers logos and I wear cowboy boots if that confuses things further.
Nickname(s): “Parler.” People around here don’t realize I have a first name, including our clients.
Playlist: Does that mean the 60+ Compact Disks inside my Cherokee? The rotation includes Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots. I think time stopped moving around 1995. Has anyone invented more music since then?

What do you do here?

Chief of Strategy is a unique role with both internal objectives and client-facing objectives.

To earn a paycheck, I provide strategic consultation and planning for our clients and PRPL’s business objectives. This includes defining and implementing new processes, Project & Program management, staffing and recruiting, keeping our team busy and fed. Keeping projects on track and on point.

I start my day at 8:00 am and work until 8:00 pm and don’t stop until I go home feeling fulfilled.

I also typically lose in Ping Pong and kick everyone’s ass in Mortal Kombat II.

What was the inspiration for your playlist … well, list of CDs in your car?

I don’t hate many things. On the short list of “Things I Hate” is the 80s. The whole era. The only thing good from the 80s are Beetlejuice and 1989 Batman, starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Music from the early 90s killed the 80s, so it has a special place in my heart.

What’s your favorite Internet meme?

Facebook. That trend is hilarious.

Conan or Jay?

Who? I only watch BrandX with Russell Brand, on FX.

Is Elvis really dead?

What? Was he alive?

What’s the last book you read?

The Corner Office: Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons from CEOs on How to Lead and Succeed. Yeah… I’m not sure why the title is that long. I no longer have a corner office with our new office space, but it’s still full of damn good advice.

Name the PRPL deer.

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Caligula, II.

What are your hidden talents?

It’s not a secret. I’m a Texas Hold’em junky. Although I think I confused your question about “talent” for “depravity.”

If I gave you a polar bear, where would you put it?

This is a PG13 interview and I’m offended by this question.

What would you do if you could get back the time you spent on this interview?

The 20 other things I need to do before lunchtime.

Any last words?

Yes.

Thanks, Parler. Until next time!

We’re stoked to add these new accents and centerpieces to our blossoming office space, and the contrast of concrete versus wooden textures feels just right. Thanks for sticking by as we continue to reveal bits and pieces of the finished product. With this added authentic finesse, we are sure it won’t disappoint.

Since we are all jealous, of course, the two jetsetters will be keeping us updated on their adventures and findings, with the help of social media aggregator, Tint, and our handy #prplsxsw hashtag. We’re so proud to have representation at the forward-thinking conference this year, and we look forward to living and learning vicariously through them!

Diving into the challenge with a mission to completely build and launch the site in 60 hours, our tenacious team worked around the clock to turn out big results. “It wasn’t just about crushing code,” said Bobby Jones, our founder and CEO. “Watching the sunrise outside our 20^th floor windows and ping-ponging into the night – those are memories we will have for the rest of our lives. It was a weekend spent doing what we love.”

Director of Technology Jim Powell explains that the site is not yet 100 percent, and like any true hackathon, glitches are to be expected. Still, our developers are seasoned damage control artists, handling bumps like pros. “Now that the foundation has been laid, we will continue to add bells and whistles as we go, so this is just the beginning,” he said with the usual twinkle in his eye.

We’d like to thank you all for the shared support throughout the entire weekend, and for the positive feedback thus far. Most importantly, we could not have accomplished this without the heart and talent of the PRPL team, who are now currently in a coma.

Bobby expresses his utmost excitement and gratitude, considering the site launch “nothing short of a success.”

Keep checking back throughout the next couple of weeks as we roll out new features and improve upon this product of which we are already so proud.

Much like the skilled dentist who isn’t rocking the most sparkly smile himself, it is hard to make time for our own to-dos when we’re so committed to making client projects shine.

So, in true PRPL fashion, we’re taking this challenge and turning it into an opportunity. The solution? The first ever PRPL Hackathon: a 60-hour-long coding marathon with one goal — to launch an entirely rebranded Purple, Rock, Scissors site in the course of one weekend. The family bonding time is just an added bonus.

We’ll be starting from scratch on Friday after work and coding non-stop until the mission is complete (shooting for Sunday evening). With all of the talented people we have at PRPL working on one project together, we feel we can accomplish just about anything… and then some.

Follow along as we attempt the seemingly impossible. We’ll be live Tweeting/Facebooking/Instagraming/Vineing/you-name-it-ing throughout the process. Anything is possible with a strong team and a little caffeine.

Featuring a panel of three Orlando-based digital media experts, including our very own Chief Strategy Officer, Michael Parler, the event explored the myriad ways technology impacts our lives from various perspectives. Other panelists included John Payne, President of Monster Media; Mark Unger, Partner/Director of Interactive at Push; and Ted Murphy, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Izea.

Thanks to the sponsorship of Macbeth Photography and Black Leaf Signs, the night was a tremendous success. We were thrilled with the many bits of wisdom shared, as well as the turnout, having exceeded 100 guests! Capacity is just one of the many benefits of our expansive new office space.

PRPL is proud to support our local young professionals in their mission to learn and improve upon the industry and to build a brighter future. Enjoy these photos from the event taken by Macbeth Photography!

Both in the digital advertising category, these awards were given for two consumer websites: Camacho Cigars (Gold) and Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (Silver). We are particularly proud of these projects, clients, and especially our crew, who truly devoted heart and soul to this work. From overall web design and copywriting to nitty-gritty development, each page reflects a little piece of PRPL.

We’d like to congratulate all of the other 2013 Orlando ADDY winners, and look forward to another year of honorable output.

What was the most shocking aspect of your first week in the office?

“Brice was all ready to give me my own ‘hands on’ projects on day one—awesome!” – Heather

Ultimately, what’s your ideal job description (here or anywhere)?

“One that involves using my creativity and working with a team. I’ve always enjoyed using social media and I’d love to work in the digital world.” – Gabbie

What challenges have you faced so far?

“Learning quick tricks on excel and schedules. I tend to take the long route to accomplish tasks. However, the more I learn, the faster I’ll get.” – Francesca

What are you most looking forward to learning over the course of your internship?

“I’m looking forward to learning about digital marketing and experiencing how Purple contributes to their clients’ successes. I’d love to get a chance to learn from each department and understand how their roles work together.” – Gabbie

Tell us about what your team has you working on.

“I am currently working on organizing the trafficking and budget allocation schedules. I am comparing various schedules to make sure hours are identical and allocated correctly.” – Francesca

Has anyone asked you to get them coffee?

“Yeah, right.” – Heather

Thanks, ladies. We aim to provide the best real-world education possible, and if we’re lucky, to train a few pro ping-pongers along the way.

If you’re interested in a summer internship at PRPL, please submit an application through our Careers page! We’re always looking for fresh talent.