Author Archives: brainsparkmedia

BrainSpark Media Wins Two Summit Creative Awards

Posted on May 20, 2011 | 1 Comment

DENVER, May 19, 2011 — Proving that keeping things fresh pays off, BrainSpark Media, a Denver Web design agency, won a Gold 2011 Summit Creative Award for the recent redesign of the GeoEye corporate website, www.geoeye.com, in the Government category.

GeoEye Corporate Website - Gold 2011 Summit Creative Award Winner

Additionally, BrainSpark earned a Silver Summit Creative Award in the Self-Promotion category for its own new site, www.brainsparkmedia.com. Both websites have won industry awards for earlier iterations over the past few years. To learn more, visit http://www.brainsparkmedia.com/work/accolades.aspx

BrainSpark Media Website - Silver 2011 Summit Creative Award

“We strongly believe that corporate websites and supporting marketing initiatives are living entities and can’t stand still very long,” says George Gastis, president, BrainSpark Media. “We are fortunate to work with great brands and client teams in long-term relationships. This allows us to respond to trends we observe and adapt or enhance online marketing strategies, including redesigns as in this case, as the customer’s business and technology evolve over time.”

Celebrating its 17th year, the Summit Creative Award spotlights works created by small and mid-size marketing firms around the globe. Recognized for its prestige worldwide, the SCA has become a coveted honor to its award recipients.

About The Summit International Awards (SIA) Organization
The Summit International Awards (SIA) organization was founded in 1994. The organization conducts the Summit Creative Award, the Summit Marketing Effectiveness Award and the Summit Emerging Media Award. The 2010 competition is the 16th year for the creative competition. Additional information about the Summit International Awards organization, its competitions and winning firms can be found on the Summit Awards web site at www.summitawards.com.

About BrainSpark Media
BrainSpark Media is an award-winning digital ad agency that creates intelligent, inventive brand experiences and focuses on a smart mix of digital and traditional media strategies for exceptional brands. BrainSpark Media is respected in the industry by a variety of clients including McKesson, 21c Museum Hotel, PENTAX Imaging, GeoEye, TopSchool, Hyde Park Jewelers  and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area.

BrainSpark Media Blog, http://www.BSMNeurons.com
Twitter: @BrainSparkMedia
Facebook: BrainSpark Media
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/georgegastis

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Keeping up with Netflix

Posted on November 17, 2010 | 1 Comment

Years ago when I heard about Netflix I couldn’t wait to jump on board and be rid of my malevolent relationship with Blockbuster. Since then I’ve never looked back and it seems that I wasn’t the only one. Blockbuster filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and many blamed Netflix for their demise.

Netflix continuously finds ways to redefine themselves, all the while maintaining customer satisfaction. In 2009 they opened a competition to the general public in which the winner was awarded a $1M prize for creating the best collaborative filtering algorithm to predict user ratings for films, based on previous ratings. A group of talented individuals got some nice chump change and Netflix got themselves a state-of-the-art algorithm at a bargain.  Instead of spinning their wheels internally, Netflix was smart enough to take their problem public and get some good PR.

In a recent article,  it is proposed that Hulu could be Netflix’s next victim. Hulu has been the go-to for video that was hot off the press or hard to find. Missed last night’s episode of The Office? Go to Hulu. Well it looks like Netflix has caught on to this trend and is moving fast. You can now watch episodes of Saturday Night Live via Netflix the day after they air. I have a feeling it won’t stop there.

Should Hulu be scared? Well, when was the last time you went to Blockbuster? Based on Neftlix’s history I say yes.

-Sheri Gann

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Posted in BrainSpark Media, Marketing, Web Technology

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Google Announces 2010 Phase Out of IE6 :-)

Posted on January 30, 2010 | Leave a comment

Dear Google Apps admin,

In order to continue to improve our products and deliver more sophisticated features and performance, we are harnessing some of the latest improvements in web browser technology.  This includes faster JavaScript processing and new standards like HTML5.  As a result, over the course of 2010, we will be phasing out support for Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 ​as well as other older browsers that are not supported by their own manufacturers.

We plan to begin phasing out support of these older browsers on the Google Docs suite and the Google Sites editor on March 1, 2010.  After that point, certain functionality within these applications may have higher latency and may not work correctly in these older browsers. Later in 2010, we will start to phase out support for these browsers for Google Mail and Google Calendar.

Google Apps will continue to support Internet Explorer 7.0 and above, Firefox 3.0 and above, Google Chrome 4.0 and above, and Safari 3.0 and above.

Starting next week, users on these older browsers will see a message in Google Docs and the Google Sites editor explaining this change and asking them to upgrade their browser.  We will also alert you again closer to March 1 to remind you of this change.

In 2009, the Google Apps team delivered more than 100 improvements to enhance your product experience.  We are aiming to beat that in 2010 and continue to deliver the best and most innovative collaboration products for businesses.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

The Google Apps team

Email preferences: You have received this mandatory email service announcement to update you about important changes to your Google Apps product or account.

Google Inc.
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043

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Posted in BrainSpark Media, Uncategorized, Web Technology

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Props to 21c: Derby Town’s Hippest Hotel Rated #1 in the US

Posted on October 17, 2009 | 1 Comment

BSM sends big congrats to client and friends, 21c Hotel for being voted #1 in the US (#6 in the world) in Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for 2009. This is a deserving honor for a spectacular hotel which features an equally stunning contemporary art museum, 21c Museum, within the common and surrounding areas of the property and a 5-star restaurant, Proof On Main, right next door.

21cHotel.com | Louisville, KY

21cHotel.com | Louisville, KY

In 2007, BrainSpark Media designed and launched their multi-site web presence and continues our working relationship with 21c Museum Hotel to date. The award-winning websites provide a glimpse of the unique properties, yet still do only moderate justice to just how cool this place is.

Check it out if you ever find yourself passing through Louisville, KY. Well done 21c, from Denver, CO.

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Posted in BrainSpark Media, Marketing, Uncategorized, Web Technology

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Mobilization Wish List

Posted on October 6, 2009 | 4 Comments

BSM is currently working on 4 different mobile web site projects and find ourselves wondering why more web entities don’t have mobile site offerings, considering the number of users that are increasingly using mobile devices as their primary web browsing tool.  Perhaps it’s user demographics or budgetary issues, but the reality is that it can be quite feasible to deliver mobile-friendly content. Following our internal discussion on this topic, we’ve asked ourselves a question and are curious how others would answer this,  so here goes…

Of the many web sites you frequently utilize, which one do you most strongly wish was mobile-device friendly?

Responses so far range across the board and include banking sites, favorite take out dining joints, ski resorts and pediatrician offices. While the technology for mobile web sites is neither new nor overly complex on a basic level, we’ve seen a surge in client interest surrounding mobile devices as the technology rapidly evolves and our on-the-go world seems to be doing more while on-the-go.

We welcome and thank you in advance for your feedback.

PS – In an effort to drink our own Kool Aid, one of the 4 projects currently in progress is a mobile web site for BrainSparkMedia.com, coming soon to a mobile web browser near you.  Cobbler’s kids…but it’s finally underway.

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IMA Awards: BSM wins Best in Class for TopSchoolInc.com

Posted on August 28, 2009 | Leave a comment

Interactive Media Awards have been announced; BrainSpark Media wins Best in Class for TopSchoolInc.com, in the Computer Software category. (Sweeeeeet!)

TopSchoolInc.com | 2009 IMA Awards, "Best in Class" | Computer Software Category

TopSchoolInc.com | 2009 IMA Awards, "Best in Class" | Computer Software Category

The Interactive Media Awards™ recognize the highest standards of excellence in website design and development and honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievement.

Created by the Interactive Media Council, Inc. (IMC), a nonprofit organization of leading web designers, developers, programmers, advertisers and other web-related professionals, the competition is designed to elevate the standards of excellence on the Internet and offer winners a boost in marketing and exposure. IMC serves as the primary sponsor and governing body of the Interactive Media Awards™, establishes the judging system and provides the judges for the competition.

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BSM Unveils New Corporate Branding and Web Site for TopSchool

Posted on June 15, 2009 | Leave a comment

Hot off the traditional and virtual presses, BrainSpark team rolls out new image for TopSchool, Inc., the first SaaS (Software as a Service) provider of administrative technology solutions optimized for small to mid-size higher education institutions.

TopSchool, Inc.

TopSchool, Inc.

TopSchool’s corporate re-branding consisted of project strategy and management, new logo, identity and collateral marketing materials, messaging, information architecture and content redevelopment for both print and online brand components. The centerpiece of the project and final component recently completed was a full redesign of the company’s web presence that included a Content Management System (CMS) built on ASP.NET technology.

> Visit TopSchoolInc.com

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BrainSpark Media Named as a Webby Awards Official Honoree

Posted on April 26, 2009 | 1 Comment

This award is the latest among many awards won for GeoEye.com

DENVER – BrainSpark Media, a Denver-based interactive agency, has been recognized as an Official Honoree of The 13th Annual Webby Awards for the GeoEye Web site in the Science category. BrainSpark Media has won three additional Web site awards for the GeoEye site, www.geoeye.com, including a Technology Standard of Excellence WebAward from the Web Marketing Association, a Silver W3 Award from the International Academy of the Visual Arts and a Silver Davey Award also from the International Academy of the Visual Arts.

“To be recognized by the Webby Awards is a tremendous honor for our agency; one we’re proud to share with our client, GeoEye,” says George Gastis, president, BrainSpark Media. “The project was a significant collaborative effort that included 15 + immediate project team members and spanned nearly a year in duration from start to finish. We’re all very pleased with the end-product and it is fitting that we’ve achieved this recognition given the level of effort and time invested to execute the project as planned.”

The GeoEye Web site project consisted of three primary phases: 1) strategy and visual design, 2) information architecture, copywriting and content development, and 3) site construction, application development and usability testing. The project team first conducted extensive research that included surveying dozens of internal and external GeoEye stakeholders, reviewing industry and market research and analyzing historical site traffic. The results and findings provided the strategic foundation for all project phases that followed, with the ultimate goal of designing the new site to better serve the needs of GeoEye’s target audiences: customers, employees, investors, media and the general public.

The Webby Awards is the Internet’s most respected symbol of success. The 13th Annual Webby Awards received thousands of entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries worldwide. Webby Awards are awarded in over 125 categories. The Webby Awards Official Honorees are Web sites and interactive applications that demonstrate a standard of excellence and signify an outstanding caliber of work. Out of the nearly 10,000 entries submitted to the 13th Annual Webby Awards, less than 15% are awarded the status of Official Honorees. For more information about the Webby Awards, visit www.webbyawards.com.

webby_logo_sm1

-more-

ABOUT GEOEYE
GeoEye’s products and services enable timely, accurate, and accessible location intelligence. The company is recognized as one of the geospatial industry’s most trusted imagery experts, delivering reliable service and exceptional quality imagery products and solutions to customers around the world. GeoEye has developed an advanced information technology infrastructure for collecting, receiving, processing and distributing imagery information products and processing services to the U.S. Government including the national security community as well as international governments and commercial customers. These products serve applications including defense and intelligence, precision mapping, on-line mapping, infrastructure development, planning and monitoring, and environmental assessment. The company collects tens of millions of square kilometers of imagery per year with its existing satellites and aerial assets, which includes GeoEye-1, the world’s highest resolution commercial imaging satellite. The company also provides support to academic institutions and non-governmental organizations through the GeoEye Foundation. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, GeoEye is a public company listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the symbol GEOY. It maintains a comprehensive Quality Management System (QMS) and has achieved company-wide ISO accreditation.

ABOUT BRAINSPARK MEDIA
BrainSpark Media (BrainSpark, Inc.) is a Denver-based, award-winning interactive agency dedicated to helping clients optimize their online presence for tangible results. We blend project experience, keen analysis and a versatile process to formulate the right strategy for each project. This intelligence drives tactical yet practical design, fused with technical know-how to create user experiences that build brands and boost business performance. BrainSpark Media is respected in the industry by a variety of clients including McKesson, 21c Museum Hotel, PENTAX Imaging, GeoEye and Arapahoe Basin Ski Area.

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BrainSpark Media Blog
Twitter: @BrainSparkMedia
Facebook: BrainSpark Media
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BrainSparkMedia

Media Contact:
Amie Cavarra
Cavarra Consulting
303-358-5452
amie@cavarraconsulting.com

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Posted in BrainSpark Media, Marketing, Uncategorized, Web Technology

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SFO Rated “The Worlds Top 10 Airport Web Sites” | Yahoo! News

Posted on December 30, 2008 | Leave a comment

Congratulations to SFO, The M-Line (AOR / Design) and Hatton Point / BSM (Design Production / Web Site Development) for this recent recognition by Yahoo! News.

FlySFO.com

> Read Article

> Visit FlySFO.com

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Passion and Patience – You tell ‘em Gary V!

Posted on December 13, 2008 | Leave a comment

We love this guy. While he’s clearly very “passionate”, he also walks the walk.  From the Web 2.0 Expo NY: Gary Vaynerchuk (Wine Library), Building Personal Brand Within the Social Media Landscape.


Passion & Patience – Gary Vaynerchuck

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