Lightray announces the launch of FrettedAmericana.com, Los Angeles’ premiere high-end investment-grade vintage guitar shop. Catering to both Rock Stars and Connoisseurs, Fretted Americana is a world-wide presence in the music scene. With an extensive codes of ethics and authentication services on site, clients around the globe hail their meticulous nature and integrity.
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.
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!
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.”
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.”
###
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.”
###
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
###
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.”
###
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.
####
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.”
###
Defending Communities Impacted by Pollution | view site
Lightray announces the launch of KennedyMadonna.com. Founded in 2000 by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Kevin J. Madonna, the firm specializes in representing communities that have been impacted by pollution. Lightray who developed Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s website www.rfkjr.com in 2004 was tapped by the firm to promote their work and the hazards faced by countless communities around the country.
“Developing the Kennedy Madonna site required a different sensibility then most environmental advocacy sites we have done.” says Jessica Thompson, Lightray Creative Director. “Because of the sensitive nature of their work, the content and the imagery used needed to be restrained and carefully selected.”
Kennedy and Madonna LLP turns results in many groundbreaking cases. In 2007, Dupont was ordered to pay 196.2 million in punitive damages for deliberately dumping dangerous heavy metals on an industrial site, ending a complex trial involving property damage claims, long-term health screenings and corporate accountability. Check the site to stay up on their latest work.
###
Defending the Environment, Democracy and The American Way | view site
Lightray launches RobertFKennedyJr.com, in collaboration with the launch of Stopglobalwarming.org (also a Lightray designed site.) The new site acts to promote the causes that RFK Jr. tirelessly fights for, as well as his writing, multiple books, and affiliations. RFK Jr’s articles frequently appear in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Washington Post to name a few.
“Mr. Kennedy needed online platform for him to aggregate and promote his work and his message – in way that reached a main stream audience. says Jessica Thompson, Lightray Creative Director. It was important that the design visually synthesize and emphasize the connection between environmentalism and Democratic values.”
###
Have Your Voice Counted
Lightray launches the stopglobalwarming.org, a grassroots effort to raise awareness about the risks of global warming in the form of a virtual march on Washington. The sites goal is to gain the support of millions of supporters across the US – who can turn around and with one voice urge leaders to take action. The Stopglobalwarming campaign was spearheaded by a bi-partisan group of individuals lead by Laurie David, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Senator John McCain.
Lightray employed a number of innovative technologies in order to spread the word quickly and broadly. Subscribers or ‘marchers’ upon signing up received their own personal impact page – where they in turn could recruit new marchers. Individuals personal impact is tracked and compared to others. Marchers with the greatest reach are then featured on the Stopglobalwarming homepage. In addition to personal impact the spread from individual to individual is tracked showing how the message reaches person to person creating a visual like a family tree. Stopglobalwarming.org is one of the earliest examples using viral social networking as a key tool for grass roots organizing.
Stopglobalwarming.org supporters and partners include the NRDC, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, California Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Vice President Al Gore to name a few.
“Looking back, the SGW website when it launched was really on the cutting edge of viral technology. says Jessica Thompson Creative Director. Many of the concepts deployed strongly resemble what we now see in Facebook, and in the new era of Campaign organizing online.”
###
Lightray was awarded the contract to overhaul the LAPD website and branding in a competitive bidding process.
SITUATION: The LAPD serves approximately 3.8 million residents in an area encompassing 467 square miles and 18 communities. For the previous six years, a four officer unite had updated the website manually. It had become 10,000 sprawling pages of non-database driven information.
SOLUTIONS: Lightray’s first step was to provide the department with a new look and feel to reflect Chief Bratton’s new leadership. A visual audit, and branding analysis was conducted. The results were a new logo, streamlined materials and a face-lift for the existing site within the first eight weeks of the project.
Simultaneously, Lightray performed a critical analysis of the existing content — of what should be most prominent, what would be updated most often, and how the language of the site could be translated from “cop talk” to the general public. The online unit needed to be able to update the information easily without the need of a webmaster.
Since the LAPD serves such a large territory, there is a high risk of the public not feeling connected to the officers who serve them. The site needed to emphasize neighborhoods, instead of divisions, so that visitors would have a direct connection and interest with how crime was impacting them directly, as well as how law enforcement was specifically serving them. Lightray created a cross-relational database that would allow people to find their officers by looking up their neighborhood first.
RESULTS: The visual refresh was a tremendous success, doubling traffic within the first year.
CRIME STATISTICS
Previously, crime statistics were relayed via COMPSTAT, a spreadsheet familiar to the department but not easily interpreted by a public unfamiliar with the system. It was clear that the key to getting people engaged in safety was to make them aware of crime. It had to be easy to use and updated daily. Visits to the site quadrupled after the crime maps launch. www.lapdcrimemaps.org
COMMUNITY POLICING
Lightray worked closely with division Captains to learn that officers wanted a way to easily email their constituents. They were savvy enough to set up their own lists, but it was clear that they needed a department-wide solution that collected emails in one place and then segregated the addresses according to the Senior Lead Officers that patrolled that neighborhood.
Lightray’s application requests that the user type in their address and zip code. With this information, we were able to cross-reference their location with the corresponding patrol unit. In the process, we built a simple step-by-step administrative newsletter tool that allows officers in every division to easily create and re-use templates, process crime alerts, work with existing divisional CAD units, and blast emails to the residents of their patrol area that sign up for the information.
Furthermore, the application can streamline efforts to deal with potential terrorist threats by allowing officers to communicate easily with groups of potential targets or key locations such as malls, hospitals or federal buildings.
CONVERGENCE
To maximize the success and effectiveness of this technology solution for the LAPD, we added an important user option. At the moment a user is typing in an address to check out crime in his or her area, they may opt to receive an epolicing newsletter.
We look forward to sharing this wealth of knowledge and the tools we have created with other law-enforcement agencies.
Launch Site:
LOS ANGELES – Today the Los Angeles Police Department announced its new features on it’s website, including the introduction of satellite imagery in its popular CrimeMaps feature.
CrimeMaps allows users to view updated crime activity anywhere in the city. It is a part of a suite of applications created by ePolicing™, a partnership of Los Angeles firms Lightray Productions and Psomas. ePolicing™ specializes in web applications for Police Departments across the nation.
“CrimeMaps is consistently one of the most popular features on our website. said LAPD Chief William Bratton. “These latest upgrades are part of an ongoing effort to keep our site ahead of the curve in using technology to be transparent and communicate with the public.”
“Providing crime maps satellite imagery with recognizable landmarks take the maps out of the abstract and something relate citizens to.” said Kimberly Brooks, founder of Lightray and ePolicing™.
Users are also no longer required to input or know a specific address to view the maps. Users can simply drag and zoom into the area of the city they’re interested in to get more information. This marks ePolicing’s integration with the widely-used Google Software which will be available to all the departments ePolicing services. “These new ePolicing features represent continuing advancement of the ePolicing product suite providing better value and capabilities to our customers.” adds Craig Gooch, Vice President of Psomas.
This is an exciting upgrade for CrimeMaps, which was heralded by the LA Times, CNN, and MSNBC as the first of its kind in technology integration and ease of use when it launched in 2006.
Another new feature is LAPDTV.org, an expansion of the site’s capacity to offer videos. In addition to messages from the Chief, the LAPD will offer “Inside the LAPD,” a weekly television series carried and broadcast by LA Cityview 35, the official cable television channel for the City of Los Angeles. LAPDTV.org will also offer a section called “Solve a Crime,” where surveillance videos of crimes caught on tape can be viewed, allowing the public an opportunity to provide information that could lead to a suspect’s capture and arrest. “By employing Google’s video player, LAPDTV.org provides the videos on a system that many users are already familiar with and more universally accessible.” Added Brooks.
Lightray Creates Warner Music Group Artist Website Library. Designs Used for Artists of Different Genres in the US and Abroad.
Lightray was tapped by Warner Music Group (WMG) to develop creative concepts for artist websites based on musical genre. The resulting designs showed multiple concepts for each genre using different artists. Lightray worked with WMG to establish the key components needed for an artist website such as music player, email collection, artist bio, and tour information. The resulting designs were then customized to promote hundreds of artists internationally and in mulitple languages.
“The WMG artist project was dream job in that we could be totally creative and imaginative. says Jessica Thompson Lightray Creative Director. We explored everything from Hip Hop to Latin Rock, to Alternative, and Christian Rock, all the while considering iconography, history, and audience demographic. It was truly a blast.”
Below are some samples from the project.
Lightray designs and builds comprehensive technology solutions for one of the largest music companies in the world with over seventy eight labels in sixty countries, culminating a new design for the IPO of the business.
The project involved several large scale company wide projects which extended across the Warner Music Group both nationally and internationally.
WMG Global Site Creation:
Lightray collaborated with Warner Music staff to create a broadly used administrative tool that would allow employees at 78 labels in 68 countries to easily build websites and music players for their Artists. The project included the planning, design, and user interface for the admin tool as well as templates that could be customized for artists and translated into 5 languages.
WMG Corporate Website & Intranet:
Warner Music Group commissioned Lightray to design 3 co-branded sites that would reflect their broad roaster of ground breaking artists, creative excellence, and corporate vision. Lightray launched 3 consecutive sites: WMG.com, WarnerMusic.com, and company wide Intranet for staff to stay up to date on the latest news internally.
WMG Genre Templates:
Lightray designed templates for use in all different musical genres including: Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, Alternative, Jazz, Classical, and World Music. The templates were designed to capture the aesthetic of each genre while also providing flexibility for Artists to have their own look and feel while fitting into an effective framework.
Warner Music Group Goes Public:
Warner Music Group under new leadership commissioned Lightray to redesign their corporate website in time for their IPO. Lightray worked closely with key management at WMG to create a look and feel that would present the company to new audience of future investors. The new site was a streamlined presentation of the Groups breadth, history, and diversity in the music business.
“Working with Warner Music Group so intimately over the course of several years has been exciting for Lightray. Allowing us to exercise our wildly creative muscles and our technological savvy. says Kimberly Brooks, Lightray CEO. The projects were pivotal to the trajectory of the company and Lightray is proud to have been at center of it.”
####
The Original Girlfriend | view site
Lightray launches website and blog for acclaimed author Vicki Iovine and her series the Girlfriends’ Guide. Vicki has authored 5 best selling books, translated into 12 languages, as she guides her readers through pregnancy, surviving the first years of motherhood, dealing with toddles, and getting your groove back. In 2009 she began blogging weekly as a featured writer on the Huffington Post Living section. Her blogs span subject matters, from current events (which effect girlfriends) to raising teenagers (likely her next book), and they never fail to entertain.
“Vicki is the most wonderful client, she’s visionary, funny, and brilliant. says Jessica Thompson, Lightray Creative Director. We enjoys working with Vicki on an ongoing basis, and aim to help her bring her empire of Girlfriends online.”
Check out Girlfriendsguide.com for the latest blogs by Vicki Iovine.
###
Contemporary Art in the Heart of the Vibrant Culver City Art District in Los Angeles | view site
Lightray launches a new site for Taylor De Cordoba Gallery in Culver City, showcasing their artists, shows, press, and underscoring their place on the bleeding edge of the Los Angeles art scene. The new site was designed on the Wordpress platform giving gallery staff an easy and efficient way to keep it up-to-date themselves. Lightray’s focus was to create a simple sleek design that would not compete with the artwork. A clean white background was selected to present a modern and restrained look.
“When we started the project our designers studied the look, feel, and structure of many other Gallery websites.” says Jessica Thompson Lightray Creative Director. “We choose to make everything but the Taylor De Cordoba brand, and the artwork, understated, giving the site a gimmick free sophistication. From a programming side, we integrated gallery management applications into Wordpress making it excessively easy for Gallerists to publish the work of new artists. So the back-end development was cost effective, and the result is a gorgeous and easy to update website”
To learn more about Taylor De Cordoba and to get on their mailing list go to www.taylordecordoba.com.
###
Have Fun Storming the Castle! | view site
Lightray launches the long overdue Official Fan Site for The Princess Bride, a classic film loved by generations of fans. The new site features Photo Galleries, Discussion Board, Trivia, T-Shirts, Posters, Exclusive Content, and everything else you can dream up. Over the years a number of unofficial fan sites have sprung up, along with a healthy Facebook group, and active Twitter page. The new site hopes to bring all fans together to revel in the world of The Princess Bride.
“As huge fans of the film ourselves, we had to make sure that we captured the whimsical, witty, and fantastical nature of the film lore.” says Jessica Thompson Lightray Creative Director. “We choose to focus a lot of attention on the beloved characters and clever language that fans would immediately identify with.”
###
The Next Act in Brand Licensing | view site
LOS ANGELES – Lightray announces the launch of Actiiilicensing.com. Founded in 2005, Act III Licensing is one of several entertainment-based business enterprises owned by Norman Lear. Act III boasts clients that range from Sunkist Growers, to Concord Records, to Fandango as well as tapping a strong international market with their international subagents. They have a fresh smart approach to brand licensing and a team with stellar experience.
“Our primary goal was to deliver a site that reflected the Act III culture and approach.” says Jessica Thompson, Lightray Creative Director. “The solution was a smart colorful design, to the point, and elegant in it’s simplicity.”
###
Transforming the lives of Veterans since 1992 | view site
Lightray announces the launch of a new site for New Directions, a Los Angeles based non profit organization serving our city’s growing Veteran population. New Directions, whose mission and success is widely respected, needed to extend their outreach to include younger Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. Lightray was tapped to revitalize their brand, and launch their new campaign Operation Welcome Home.
“We want the new site to speak directly to young Veterans and their families. So we can offer engaging content, like video, blogs, and success stories, which really illuminates what New Directions is all about.” says Jessica Thompson, Lightray Creative Director.
The site will also act as an educational tool for Vet’s and Donors. Highlighting legislative successes both locally and nationally, and eventually with the creation of a Congressperson report card section, visitors can hold their elected leaders accountable when it comes to Veteran affairs.
Watch It On CNN
####
Protecting The Ballona Wetlands | view site
LOS ANGELES – Lightray announces the launch of ballonafriends.org have fought to preserve and restore the largest open space in Los Angeles. The Ballona Wetlands are critical habitat for native wildlife and scores of migrating birds. Its proximity to the coast and the Los Angeles airport makes preservation an ongoing effort. Lightray was selected in 2008 to help the organization revamp their website to increase visibility, act an educational tool, and improve fundraising capabilities.
“Our primary goal was to communicate how crucial the wetlands are to the LA basin and local wildlife,” says Jessica Thompson, Lightray Creative Director. “We felt it was important to use lots of imagery to show the diversity and beauty of the area, reinforcing the communities resolve to protect it.”
The Friends of Ballona Wetlands have many ambitious plans for further restoration beyond the daily task of protection from development and other local threats. There is still a lot of work to do. The site in the future will serve as a place to raise funds for this work, and keep the public informed as progress is made.
###
