The new Fretted Americana website is a full e commerce site, showcasing an impressive inventory of thousands of rare guitars. The site also features an extensive and popular video archive of in house produced spots of each guitar in action.

www.frettedamericana.com

Lightray launches a new website for the Fundrah, an organization that has retooled the concept of online donations into a social, fun, riveting experience with all the emotion of a live event. After taking a look at how we typically give online (via forms with our pertinent credit card information), the creators of Fundrah saw an opportunity for improvement. Donors can give to any participating cause, school, or non-profit – what makes Fundrah different, is that the generosity of the donors is rewarded with tokens they can then use to make bids in any Fundrah auction of donated items or tickets for upcoming events.

Donors are rewarded for their generosity. Non Profits & Schools are provided with an easy-to-use platform to get much needed donations. Corporate Sponsors are given the opportunity to give back and gain exposure. It’s the future of giving, and it’s never felt so good!

www.fundrah.com

Lightray announces the launch of SuzanneRheinstein.com. Having designed the site for Suzanne Rheinstein’s world renowned store, Hollyhock, we were delighted to be tapped to create her personal site to keep followers up to date on the latest of Suzanne’s ventures beyond its walls. Suzanne’s first book, At Home A Style for Today with Things from the Past, has been released to rave reviews. It’s now in its fifth printing and been named a best seller by the Wall Street Journal. As MarthaStewart.com says, it ‘smartly captures her relaxed and elegant aesthetic that utilizes interesting and eclectic pieces in fresh ways’.

“We were thrilled to be working with Suzanne again. Her design aesthetic is impeccable and it was an honor to be chosen to work closely with her again to showcase her many other amazing endeavors.”

www.suzannerheinstein.com

Lightray launches refreshed website for celebrated bronze and stainless steel sculptor Kathy Taslitz whose work has been shown at Wright auction house and at Richard Gray Gallery, as part of Art Basel Miami Beach. Her works, both sculptural and functional, tenderly expresses many themes of humanity  ‘the beginning, middle and end of out role in nature’s ongoing narrative’.

“In all artist sites displaying the work is the top priority. Kathy’s work draws much from nature, we felt a minimal, more industrial, framework for her site would juxtapose the organic elements and allow her work to jump from the page.”

www.ktaslitz.com

Lightray gives StilaCosmetics.com a design make-over, providing a fresh new look to reflect the Companies’ high reputation as the make-up artists cosmetics company. Lightray was tapped by Stila to help them overhaul StilaCosmetics.com, setting the stage for a broader evolution of the companies entire brand, and look.

“In redesigning the Stila site we made some bold moves,” says Jessica Thompson Lightray Creative Director. “We went from a predominantly black heavy palette to a white background, with airy, whimsical, and tactile elements. Loyal Stila fans will still connect with the brand they fell in love with, a bit naughty meets creative intelligence, now with a more modern spin.”

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Restoring Arts Education to Our Public Schools | view site

Lightray launches a new site for P.S. ARTS, a Los Angeles based non-profit dedicated to restoring arts education to public schools throughout Central and Southern California. P.S. ARTS brings year-long arts instruction to schools whose art programs have been cut due to budget constraints. P.S. ARTS provides independently evaluated curriculum, teachers, and a high standard of arts education to students who otherwise would go without. Not only does P.S. ARTS give children hands on technical skills, but they also stimulate imagination, and promote creative problem solving and critical thinking. “To imagine primary school without arts education is simply to bleak to overlook” says Lightray CEO Kimberly Brooks. “We wanted to give P.S. ARTS a site that could help raise awareness both about the problem, and the solution, which is support the kinds of programs P.S. ARTS provides. We also wanted reflect the imagination unleashed by children who benefit from the programs.”

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A Sly Observant New Novel By Acclaimed Author Gigi Levangie Grazer | view site

LOS ANGELES – Lightray launches Queen Takes King booksite for acclaimed author Gigi Levangie Grazer. The new book which hits the stands this June delves into the lives of a New York City power couple in the midst of a contentious divorce. While the subject is a serious one Grazer brings her trademark satire and insight for a fast and entertaining read. Grazer is the author of three other best selling books, two of which have been turned to successful shows, The Starter Wife starring Debra Messing, and Maneater premiering this June. Lightray will also be launching a comprehensive author site for Gigi this summer that showcases all her work, in print, on tv, the big screen, and more.

“Authors are quickly embracing the Internet as a essential tool for promoting their books and building fan bases. says Jessica Thompson, Lightray Creative Director. Having a presence on facebook, and twitter as means to reach out to fans has revolutionized the tedium of building an fan list. We believe all authors should have a home base, namely their own website from which they can launch a consistent branded presence on the social networking sites. It works, and it’s just the beginning.”

Watch Gigi Discuss Her Book on the CBS Morning Show

Watch CBS Videos Online

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LA’s exclusive resource for designers and discerning shoppers | view site

LOS ANGELES – Lightray launches a new site for Hollyhock, acclaimed designer Suzanne Rheinstein’s West Hollywood store. Founded over 20 years ago, Hollyhock is at center of the worldwide design community. Located adjacent to the Pacific Design Center Hollyhocks’ influence in the design community is far reaching. Each item in the store is carefully hand selected by Suzanne including unusual pieces that cannot be found anyplace else. In keeping with Hollyhock’s commitment to supporting cultural life, the store is often the venue of a lively salon, launching book parties, lectures, and other celebrations. Lightray was selected to redesign the Hollyhock site focusing specifically on showcasing the stores broad collection, making it easy for visitors to find the pieces they love.

“Working with the Hollyhock team was really inspiring, says Jessica Thompson Lightray Creative Director. We had the opportunity to work with them in developing a look that really fit the style and aesthetic of the store, syncing our vision with theirs was exciting. It’s a real pleasure to work with a client whose eye is trained to the nuances of great design.”

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Sign the Pledge | view site

Lightray launches Born Again American site for Norman Lear www.bornagainamerican.org. Born Again American celebrates a song featuring musicians from across the country rediscovering their patriotism and what it means to be American.

“The most unique part of the site to us is the Sign the Pledge feature,” says Lightray Productions founder Kimberly Brooks. “Everyone is trying to get people to sign up and give their email addresses but people have newsletter and spam fatigue and are much more reluctant to do so. By making their names appear in a different cursive styles on the Declaration of Independence, something they could print out and hang on their wall, makes signing the pledge to Born Again American far more meaningful.”

The new site will be the centerpiece for the distribution of the song and video, executive produced by Norman Lear. The experience of the video was enhanced with an animation of the most poignant lyrics. The site is also peppered with viral components such as send to a friend, Facebook connectivity, iTunes downloads, and a YouTube presence. The goal: to reach as many Americans as possible, so they can be born again.

See it on Bill Moyers Journal PBS

Normal Lear has created People for the American Way, Declare Yourself and now Born Again American.

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Norman Lear: backstory, work, words, and more | view site

Lightray launches the first official website for Norman Lear (www.normanlear.com.) Norman Lears’ body of work expands beyond his beloved Television and Film career. His prolific talent and passion has impacted the world of  business, citizen activism, education, philosophical, and social commentary. The site intent was not to show absolutely everything Norman Lear but to carefully select and organize his vast body of work to show it’s breadth.

“We worked closely with Norman Lear and his team to present his work in such a way that it served educational tool, and inspiration to young artists, entrepreneurs and citizen activists. says Kimberly Brooks, ceo of Lightray. The outcome was an elegant, timeless design that could contain the scope of Normans work with subtlety.”

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