Happy Holidays!

3 NEW Web Sites ...

. . . for your viewing pleasure.



1. Azul Hospitality / An HTML design inter-weaved with Flash.

Azul is a hospitality management group specializing in restaurants, resorts and golf courses. They are located in San Diego, CA.

View the Site:
www.azulhg.com










2. Catered Creations / A purely Flash Design used in conjunction with ASP form mail and PDF menus.

Catered Creations is a catering and event planning business owned by a very talented, Judith Williams. Judith finds her niche in creating ethnic chic cuisine. Catered Creations is located in Miami, FLA.

View the Site:
www.cateredcreations.biz






#3. My Paper Store / HTML-based design featuring a javascript gallery. This web site will serve as a placeholder for a much larger e-commerce site that will sell invitations, announcements and stationery. (*and also offer live personalization).

Wendy Bloom is the owner of My Paper Store and currently operates a store called Announce It. She recently came to me wanting to take her business online. Stay tuned for more. Wendy is located in Detroit, Michigan.

View the Site:
www.mypaperstore.com

PS: I designed the logo too!

An Official SNEAK PEEK at the NEW Rovinsky.com

Yes, I know, it has been a long time since my last blog. For all of you loyal "Fans" out there, I do apologize. The life of a graphic designer / mother / wife / woman / etc. is sometimes demanding yet always rewarding. I have been busy working on my new web site, which will launch mid-month. I'm really excited to bring you a simple, clean, user-friendly yet incredibly sophisticated NEW Rovinsky.com. I am so excited, in fact, I thought I would provide you with a tiny sneak peek of what you can expect to see with my new design.



Now that you have seen a little tidbit of what is to come, I also want to share with you some details about the new work you see in the sneak peek movie above. I'm really excited about the work I've been doing. I'm learning new things and really branching out to a higher scale of design and marketing. I'm also very proud to say that I'm building some fantastic professional relationships along the way. I think that is really the best part of my business - being able to build relationships with people all over the world and really thread my marketing ideas with their business.

FIRST UP ....

Azure

(Building Development Web Site)

Over a year ago now, through craigslist.org, this fabulous advertising and design firm from NYC found me. Engine No. 9 is the company I work with and I'm very proud to unveil two new web sites that we've finished recently. Both marketing tools for new building developments in NYC, the first of which is www.azureny.com.

This web site is built in flash using .asp framework. The site is built for a screen resolution of 1024 x 768. However if you are viewing on a smaller screen, the site will scale to your viewing area. The web site features an on-load menu animation as well as page-by-page image animation. Currently, we are building administrative functions so the client can update pricing for units themselves through simple point-and-click technology. Go ahead, sneak a peek!

Adagio
(Building Development Web Site)

The second site I've designed and built with Engine No. 9 is for the new building development, Adagio. This site is also built using flash and features the scale-able coding I mentioned with Azure (above). This web site features drop down menus that are defined within the .asp framework. We also feature a transparent flash background to allow for our patterned background in html. Check it out: www.adagio60.com.

Cleveland Eye Clinic
(Direct Mail / Quarterly Newsletter)

This next company is the Cleveland Eye Clinic. This client came to me via referral almost two years ago. Since then, we've built a web site (see the link above), created ads, designed trade show booths, postcards, brochures, etc. I'm proud to be a part of their marketing and promotion. The latest project we just completed is a quarterly newsletter. CEC came to me wanting to create a template for a quarterly newsletter mailing. The above image is our final result. Please click here to view the entire Newsletter (PDF).

Stress Eraser
(DVD Insert / Instructional Video)

Lastly is a DVD insert I created in collaboration with a marketing firm in San Francisco for a new product called the Stress Eraser. I worked with Point Marketing on a regular, yet freelance basis during my 2 years living in SF. I was happy to hear from them last year, now living in Chicago. The piece is not exactly a newly completed project but I'm very proud of the design. And since creating this piece, I've noticed this product in magazines and in the media. Thus, making it noteworthy in presentation today.

That wraps up my blogging duties for the day! But rest assured, there will be more soon! But for that to happen, I must get to work! HAPPY TUESDAY!

Bloggin'

Good Afternoon! It's August here in Chicago and we've had so much rain! Yesterday's storms left visions of city trash cans flying through the air in my head. It was crazy. So it goes ... life in the Midwest.

I'm not feeling particularly blog-like today but considering I have no web site, I thought I better update the general public on what I've been doing lately! ***Also, as a side note, my web site will be complete by mid-September. So please keep checking back!

I've completed two new web sites lately. One is for the Zen Buddhist Temple, here in Chicago. My family and I attend the temple and I wanted to extend my services to their web presence. I'm pretty pleased with the results. We worked together to really re-create a similar web site and just re-organize the information so it was more accessible to the general public. The web site uses scale-able tables so that it extends regardless of browser size.

Check it out: www.zenbuddhisttemple.org

The second (most recently designed) web site is www.banyanpackaging.com. Darrin Dingman was a referral from Rebecca Kollaras (www.kollaras.com). I feel so privileged as to work with so many clients that are so pleased with the work I do, they recommend me to all their friends. (***thank you to all of the clients, including Rebecca). This web site was also built for scale-ability. We are using some elements of flash as well.

Stay tuned for much, much more! Thanks for reading, as always.

Identity Crisis!

More of a pun on words! I just turned 30 yesterday! And in the midst of a birthday week, I have been relocating my website to a virtual server, putting in place a plan for a new website and trying to create a space for all of my fans (*yeah right) to see my work.

So, on the side of this blog space, you will find a long list of websites that I have done within the last year. I also wanted to provide you with a selection of my recent logo designs as well. (Soon to follow will be some print samples that will include brochures, business cards, catalogs and MORE!).

My new website is scheduled to launch in September. I'll be sure to keep you posted as development progresses. Thank you for your patience and as always, for reading.

Quickie Friday Blog

It has been well over a month now since my last blog. I'm realizing that blogging is like any good relationship/friendship - it takes regular maintenance and attention. I think I'm better at the human relationships but you'd have to ask those that hang with me to be sure.

Back to blogging. I just added some new websites completed in the last month. Please take a look at them. As I was typing the list, I realized that it was quite a range of projects from weight loss to marketing to gangsta custom cars! I love the variety!

And my most exciting news at this moment is my first text book cover! I work for a wonderful organization here in Chicago called Health Administration Press. I've had the pleasure of designing several flyers, promotional materials and booklet covers. BUT this is my first real text book cover! My copy came in the mail just the other day and I've been showing it to everyone that will pay attention. (*I am easily excite-able!). And of course, if you just can't wait to go out and buy your copy - CLICK HERE!

Okay Folks, Fans and Voyeurs - that's it for today ... thus the title of "quickie". More Soon!

Photographer's Corner

I love photography of all kinds: artistic, portrait, fashion, ...you name it. And I've been so fortunate to have worked with several uniquely talented photographers. A web presence is important for anyone doing business, especially photographers. I think it is important to give each photographer their own look and style while showcasing the most important element: their work! That is the idea behind this blog; I want to showcase three incredible photographers that I work with on a regular basis.

The first of which is an amazing woman I met just this year, Rachel Hanel. I found Rachel on myspace and became instantly spellbound by her work. She not only takes amazing photos of beautiful models but she also has this artistic vision that spills over into her self portraits as well. She knows how to takes risks with her work and create an innovative and original vibe that captivates anyone that views her photos. I have had the pleasure of being photographed by Rachel (she took the photo you see on this blog and on my myspace page) as well as, most recently, helping to develop her new website. I created flash-based galleries to exhibit her work.

Admire Rachel's work here : www.rhanelphotography.com


Seattle-based photographer, April Greer and I have been working together for a couple of years now. April is a self-taught photographer that has recently found a niche with weddings. She has a truly authentic journalistic style that not only captures the moments of the day but the emotion felt as well. Every time I do a website update for April, I am enamored by the way in which every collection of photos has its own story to tell. From a graphic design perspective, April is my case study on collaboration. We have journeyed through perfecting and fine tuning her logo, website and printed collateral. The journey itself is an interesting visual compilation of her evolving talent.

Check out April's work: www.aprilgreer.com

The last, but certainly not least, exceptionally talented photographer that I'd like to feature in this piece is Juana Ryan from StellaLily Studio 1 here in Chicago. Juana is a portrait photographer whose style is unlike any other. She has a clever way of capturing each subject in a new and different light, whether she is working with a family, a business professional or a baby. Each photo creates a timeless record of the moment. I met Juana almost 3 years ago when I was searching for a distinctly different photographer to take pictures of my children. She has literally taken hundreds of photos of my family, my pregnancy, my children and more. Her photos decorate almost every wall of my house. With each shoot she brings her own authentic style and eye for preserving that moment in time.

Visit StellaLily Studio 1 online: www.stellalily.com

To conclude, I'd like to extend an offer to all photographers in need of a web site, a logo, any kind of marketing collateral ... Mention this blog and receive a 20% discount on your project.

Authentic Graphic Design for Modern & Artistic Minds

I gaze out my office window to a clear blue summer sky. The air has a slight breeze while the sun warms your face. I've noticed a change amongst Chicago neighborhoods. I think it's something you find in a city with changing seasons. [I lived in San Francisco for two years and didn't get the same vibes] The city comes alive when the warm weather hits. There are people everywhere; children playing, people walking, shopping, laying in the park. It's a lovely sight that I enjoy well into October.

But I'm not exactly here to talk about the weather. My summer has also come alive with fresh, new work that seems to challenge me creatively. I'm blessed to be so busy in these summer months. It's a roll of the dice with new work this time of the year. I have a lot of amazing projects working and I'm excited to see how they transform by completion.

That's my topic today. Seems like it's taken me a while to get there. My creative process is never the same. The basic objectives remain the same: for websites and logos, I begin with creative aesthetics. I think this part of the process is especially necessary for websites. Some clients may be happy with the first two concepts and we are developing the site within a week, while other clients work me through several concepts until they are happy with the look. I shrug my shoulders at it because it's the process. My process is a collaboration between my artistic style and talent and the client's vision. The collaboration is key.

Currently, I'm working on a very interesting site for a company called Working Wonders. WW is a company that specializes in selling GREEN home products (kitchens, bathroom fixtures, rugs, window treatments). It's such an up and coming topic - where is the new GREEN going? I'm happy to be a part of it's transition from hippie to everybody. As for the site, Bethann came to me wanting a non-corporate, good feeling, easy to relate to web site. Easy enough, right? I tried to initially put a retro spin on green hoping to appeal to the new type of style I'm seeing on the street. I also tried to play with the concept of "chemical elements". She loved both concepts but she didn't feel it represented her vision. I asked her to provide me with some web sites she liked - even if they weren't related to her business. She browsed art sites, nature sites, photo sites and provided me with an idea for using my "elements" idea and combining that with her idea of the earth's elements. Take a look below -

See Concept 1 (my retro look)

See Concept 2 (the chemical elements)

See Concept 3 (Our Collaboration)

And lastly before I close this blog (I think I'm rambling), I would like to share with you a project I just finished. This client came to me for a logo, business card design and a website. Patrick Kamara owns Away From Home - which is a home management service company specializing in taking care of peoples home's while they are away. Take a look at the project collage below.

Visit www.awayfromhm.com

Stay tuned for more creative happenings at Rovinsky, Inc. If you are interested in learning more about me - please visit myspace. I post silly blogs and tons of photos of my family. If you are a myspace member, add me to your friend list because I also post promotional bulletins good for myspace users only. Here's the link: www.myspace.com/goddessshawnna

Unitl next time ...

Time Management and Fresh Starts!

Welcome Everyone! Good intentions sometimes turn to mile-long lists we have a hard time completing. My 2007 good intentions included a revised website - a well kept blog - and a new brochure mailing . . . it's now May and I'm just getting started on all 3! Most of you business owners know that indeed, our own self promotion is always last on the list. So, I'm working towards accomplishing the above list beginning with this new blog.

Many of my clients loved my old blog (www.rovinsky.com/blog.htm), but to be honest, I created it myself from scratch and it became hard to manage with everything else going on in my business. So, I broke down and opted for a blogger alternative. I feel like I can accomplish much more this way. Keep your fingers crossed.

And please take note: this blog design is a preview of my new website (to be completed by fall of 2007).

And before I get too off track, my self promotion hiatus is simply a product of being too busy. But who can complain when business is good. So, on that note, I have a lot to share with you.

I have been doing a lot of print projects lately, I'm proud to say. The first of which is a tri-fold brochure designed for NouveauDerm Med Spa in Massachusetts. We started by designing their website and then adapting some of the important information to a brochure format. Please click on the sample image to see the full brochure design (PDF format). I personally love doing multiple projects like this for one company. I like to call it "seamless design" or consistent branding. Hopefully, someone will pick up a brochure and visit the website and they will remember the company's name because their design mediums were well integrated.

Next, I have a wonderful logo just finished for a catering company in Miami, FL called Paellas Pampolona. This was a really fun project and I'm happy to report that the client was extremely happy with their new logo design. If you are interested in seeing the process and how we evolved to this final design above, please click here.

And Lastly, I have a flash introduction that I'd like to share with you. I am very proud of this intro because it was probably the largest and most complex intro I have designed thus far. This was built in Flash 8 with frame by frame animation.

click here to see the live animation

Please also check out the links on the side for websites completed this month. Much more to come and hopefully some interesting commentary as well. Be well.