Austin Home Search
Stellar Communications' owner Amy Hufford led the launch of this site in 1999 while serving as Director of Internet Technology at the Austin Board of Realtors. If produced externally, this site would have been a $500,000 project.
Issue: The association sought to promote its members' property listings with its own, more feature-rich search engine as opposed to directing users to the Realtor.com search engine as it was before.
Solution: Amy created project timelines, wrote the programming RFP, designed the interface, managed multiple programmers, and designed and led a large user testing program. Amy also managed the advertising campaign for the site launch, including radio ads, print ads, billboards, and member communications. This site was named Best Online Real Estate Site by the Austin Chronicle in 2001.

Texas Environmental Excellence Awards (TEEA)
Issue: The TEEA, a program of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, needed a new site to reflect redesigned print materials. The new site also needed to meet web site accessibility guidelines as dictated by the State of Texas.
Solution: Designer Kim Brill created the design and we developed the XHTML/CSS site template. We then moved all content from the old site to the new, including database-driven ASP pages, and tested all pages for Bobby compliance (accessibility standards). We have also designed and conducted HTML email campaigns for the TEEA in partnership with Rational Marketing.

Persuasion Communication
Issue: Experienced communicator Pamela Baggett-Wallis launched her communications consulting business in 2005 and needed a way to communicate with past and future contacts about the scope of her services.
Solution: We suggested and launched a blog-based site for Pam that allows her to showcase her expertise in media relations and crisis communications on a regular basis. After launch, we trained Pam on how to update her blog and gave her information on best practices for blogging. We also created a paper system for her.

Roxan Coffman
Issue: Roxan needed a site that would attract the high-end clients she assists with buying and selling homes.
Solution: A new web site designed around the colors and style of a new logo with a number of pictures that included high-end homes. Site copy was written by Barbara Bohman specifically with those relocating to Austin in mind. The site features a home search engine as well as Roxan's featured listings, both of which are updated automatically as listings are entered into the Austin Board of Realtors' Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

Choban & Associates
Issue: Choban & Associates needed a site redesign as their original site was designed in 1996 and was beginning to appear "broken" in newer web browsers. They also wanted to update the look and feel at the same time.
Solution: We designed a new site using XHTML/CSS code that not only meets the standards of newer browsers, but also allows for the site to be viewed on a text basis in portable devices such as PDA's and cell phones. Special attention was given to using images and typography that emphasize the company's focus on central Austin properties.

Career Strategists
Issue: Marketing and communications expert Renee Trudeau launched Career Strategists in 2000 to help people who wanted to integrate "who they are with what they do."
Solution: We designed an inviting site that incorporated inspirational copy and images to help clients get a feel for the benefits of working with Career Strategists.

Bill Mange Law
Issue: Criminal defense attorney Bill Mange needed a web site that reflected his many years' experience and expertise as both a prosecutor and defense lawyer. He was also concerned about obtaining high search engine rankings.
Solution: We created a blog-based site where Bill showcases courtroom wins and posts a regular column on current issues related to criminal defense. The blog content not only positions Bill as an authority on these issues, but also helps him obtain higher search engine rankings due to regular updates. We partnered with a search engine optimization (SEO) specialist to ensure that his content on non-blog pages were attracting search engines as well. The site is built on a content management system (CMS), which we trained Bill to use for site updates.

Rational Marketing
Issue: Rational Marketing needed a site that would illustrate the strategic marketing capabilities and deep creative resources of this independent marketing firm.
Solution: We created an easy-to-navigate site using the company's existing color palette. The site includes a rotating customer testimonial section on the home page and a portfolio that showcases Rational's wide variety of creative work.

Banks Information Solutions, Inc.
Issue: An out-of-date site that did not reflect a high-level image from a business perspective.
Solution: A full site redesign and rewrite focusing on company's business value. Site was redesigned in XHTML/CSS, including drop-down navigation menus, new copy written by Rational Marketing and an enewsletter template.

Publishers Resource Group
Issue: PRG needed a site redesign to reflect the company's expansive abilities and help users find information more easily.
Solution: We created the new site design and worked with a programmer to incorporate database-driven features such as a state adoption schedule search. We also created a matching Power Point template for use by the sales staff.

Regent Park Capital
Issue: Regent Park Capital, formerly Pokorne Private Capital Group, needed a new company name that was easier to remember and spell so that customers could find the company online.
Solution: We partnered with Rational Marketing, who came up with a new name, tag line and web site copy. We designed a new logo, stationery, ads and XHTML/CSS web site. Post-launch, we partnered with Matt Cooper to help Regent Park Capital get premium search engine placement.

Saint Louis Designs, Inc.
Issue: Saint Louis Designs manufactures interior components for high-end personal aircraft. The company needed to up-level its site to showcase featured products and highlight the fact that they are the exclusive producer for some components worldwide. The company had a very basic web site with blueprints on it before working with us.
Solution: We developed a new logo for the company that reflected a more professional image and created an easy-to-navigate site that brought featured product pictures to the home page.

The Work*Shop
Issue: The Work*Shop needed a site for the launch a retail business that would encourage prospective customers to visit the multi-dimensional crafting store.
Solution: Using the color palette from a company brochure, we created a fun design in XHTML/CSS that incorporates rotating craft images on the home page to reflect the broad nature of projects that customers can enjoy at the Work*Shop. We also assisted in the customization of an online gallery of craft projects.

Volente Boat Club
Issue: The Volente Boat Club needed all the basic identity elements of a new business -- logo, stationery, brochures, web site, etc.
Solution: We created a full graphic identity for the club, including a web site with copy by Rational Marketing. The site focuses on selling the concept of club membership versus boat ownership. The Club sought to perform regular updates to the site themselves, so we trained a staff member on the use of Macromedia Contribute to facilitate this.

The Nuggle Blanket Company
Issue: The Nuggle Blanket Company needed a graphic identity as well as web site that targeted both wholesale customers and end customers.
Solution: We created a whimsical, colorful paper system and web site that features good product photos to interest customers. The paper system uses one ink color to save on printing costs, while the site shows the identity in full color. This client also uses Macromedia Contribute to update their site.

The Association for Women in Communications - Austin Professional Chapter
Issue: AWC-Austin, a 75-year-old organization, needed a new, dynamic site that would allow online registration for events and enable multiple content editors and email senders to use the site without knowing HTML.
Solution: We created a new design template that reflects both the rich history and bright future of AWC. We worked with programmers at Tocquigny Advertising and Design to launch this database-driven web site. After launch, we trained multiple users on updating the site content and database features. This project was done on a pro-bono basis.