Upstatement officially opened its doors in 2008 but was born during late nights at the Syracuse University student newspaper. That's where founders Mike, Jared, and Tito met before graduating to the newsrooms of The New York Times and Boston Globe. But they don't come from a typical agency background, and Upstatement doesn't look like your typical studio.

Their team is filled with curious, versatile designers and engineers who all do a little bit of everything: Designers develop. Engineers sketch. Everyone contributes to creative concepts (because the best work comes from diverse teams). That's why nothing they do is cookie cutter. It's much more about daring to dream big, looking for fresh challenges, and push themselves.

Here in 2020, the company provides design leadership for a diverse client list: publishers, products, non-profits, and the world's most remarkable brands. All unified by strong stories and the desire to make a positive impact.

Tito Bottitta joins me on Tech Talks Daily to talk about how Upstatement is connecting with doctors on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic to build the COVID Protocols product. Tito shares how they are helping the team of over 50 Brigham and Women's Hospital physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and nurses from multiple different divisions, organize the vast amounts of incoming info, and decide next how best to share it.

From a technology perspective, I learn how Upstatement is building something useful around obstacles like hospital firewalls, etc. We also discuss what it's like designing quality work under extreme pressure (time & safety). The latest iteration, viewable at covidprotocols.org, came together thanks to Dr. Lee and Boston-based digital design and engineering studio, Upstatement.

Through the partnership, Upstatement rapidly worked to find user base value in the tool while keeping it as a Google Doc by rebuilding potential caching problems that sending tens of thousands of people into a file at once could pose - making them a major key player in the project's success. The tool also had to be something useful built around obstacles like hospital firewalls, etc.

Tito shares their inspirational work across three projects that are leveraging technology to create a unique approach to making a difference against the global pandemic.

1. COVID Protocols - Captures emergent medical conventions that help doctors make life-saving decisions on the front lines. In association with Brigham & Women's Hospital. Read more about it on Medium.
2. COVID Safe Paths - A privacy-first contact tracing app that could help us flatten the curve and return to normal. In association with MIT, Path Check Inc., and others. Read more about it on Medium.
3. Project Z - Think of it as Yelp for COVID safety. Find the local businesses that are doing the most to keep you safe. When you have to go out, do it with confidence. In association with a group of silicon valley founders & V.C.s.