Archive for the ‘ News ’ Category

Ending the year on a great note: website relaunches done right

Friday, December 30th, 2011

By: Tribe Design

Looking back over 2011, at Tribe Design we are thankful for another busy year. As our client base has grown more diverse, web design work has been an increasingly common request. Since graphic design is slowly shifting its focus away from print and onto web we are constantly thinking of ways to improve the online experience for our clients.

More and more we keep hearing about those wanting to be able to edit their own website. The best approach was implementing WordPress as a web content management system (CMS) because it is simple but effective. It is easy to administer, expandable and widely supported and most importantly our clients find it comfortable to use.

Traditionally, WordPress is known for its superior blogging platform but recent internet trends show that more businesses are utilizing WordPress as their corporate website’s backbone. When properly set up, WordPress can be a powerful tool with many features beyond a simple blog.

Antares Energy has recently relaunched their website. We have had the pleasure to give it an updated look and feel and also improved their website functionality. Their primary concerns for the website makeover were:

  • Display downloadable documents: news releases, quarter/yearly reports, presentations
  • Easy sign up for distribution list / email marketing
  • Dynamic photo gallery showing job sites
  • Real-time stock feed integration with share price

 

“Antares Energy wanted to transform its serviceable but antiquated existing website in to a modern, fully functioning showplace where stakeholders could learn more about the company and its projects.  Tribe Design delivered on our wishes in an efficient, professional manner that is becoming increasingly rare to find.   Tribe was able to take our initial ideas and greatly improve upon them.  When we launched the new website, the feedback was immediate and unanimously positive.  Our experience working with Tribe Design has been an unqualified success.”

-          Matt Gentry, COO, Antares Energy Company

If part of your marketing plans for the new year includes revamping or designing your corporate website, contact us to see how we can improve your brand building by design.

Old website

New website

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Does your logo design reach an international audience? (Ours does.)

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

by: Tribe Design

We are very pleased to announce that Tribe Design recently had four logos published in the “International Design Yearbook 2011”. The book is published every year in China by Madison Series, one of the largest and most influential companies dedicated to showcasing international advertising and design. We share this honor with the clients who allowed us the creative freedom to produce this award-winning work. We look forward to submitting new work to the publication and keeping our name in the international community!

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The Big Move

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

As some of you may have noticed, we have recently switched our hosting infrastructure over to Softlayer Technologies.

When a hosting company decides to move their entire infrastructure to another host, it’s a big deal. Not only are we moving our servers, but we are moving all of our clients websites. For instance, if @tribedesign goes down, they are losing money,Or if Julie cannot RSVP to your wedding, you might not order enough food for the wedding party, and ultimately, Xokin loses some of our valued people.

We decided to partner with SoftLayer Technologies as they have been known for their solid service, as they have been around since 2005. Our services are now being offered in their Dallas, TX facility, which is still centrally located in the United States. With this change, we now have the ability to locate additional servers in Seattle and Washington D.C. SoftLayer has one of the fastest networks. When we initiated testing on a SoftLayer server, we noticed that the website performance had increased seeing our own website loading 40% faster.

By making moves such as this, we are continually trying to making the hosting experience for our customers better each and every day. We are very happy to be a part of the SoftLayer family, and so should you! If you have any questions regarding the move, or any feedback at all, you can always reach us at management@xokin.com

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Turning a Negative into a Positive – Why Negative Space is Important

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

by: Tribe Design

What is negative space?

In the Japanese language, the term “Ma”  is used to describe a “gap” or “the space between two parts.” It is an awareness of form and non-form. This essentially, is describing what artists and designers call “negative space.”


 
When designers speak of negative space, we are generally referring to the “white space” or empty space around a subject within a frame of artwork. The term is also used by musicians to indicate silence within a piece. This basic and often overlooked element of design gives the eye a “place to rest,” increasing the appeal and impact of a composition.

To designers, photographers and other creatives, negative space is most often an essential part of a the composition they are seeking to create. Unfortunately, sometimes negative space feels like a luxury not always enjoyed in an ad, magazine spread or page of a website.

Many times, negative space is seen by a non-artists as a “waste or space” rather than something that can make the composition of a design more dramatic, appealing and professional-looking. Allowing for negative space can focus a customer’s attention where desired. It can make a logo or headline standout and work better with other design elements.

Imagine your favorite song but without any pauses, swells or falls. It would be just noise. Comparatively, if a printed ad is jam-packed full of type and image with no room to breathe, it is also just noise blending in with the rest of the noisy ads. Adding an overwhelming amount of information does not give the client more bang for their buck.

What can make your ad or branding pieces STAND OUT? Less information, less content crammed into one space, beautiful photography, creative design concepts and good typography.

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Xokin LLC Introduces iPhone Application

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

Houston, TX: May 5, 2010 – Xokin LLC, a leading provider of Web site hosting, announced the release of the Xokin Mobile iPhone application today. Xokin Mobile was designed to provide users the capability to manage their Web site on the go. Available for free at the iPhone App Store, Xokin Mobile allows users to enhance their experience by having more control, no matter where they are.

“Our users are finding the Xokin Mobile application to be invaluable in managing their Web sites, on the go” said Tin Pham, President of Xokin LLC. “Our new iPhone application provides users with an easy to use, feature rich user experience and easy access to our high-quality Web hosting, even when they are away from their home or office.”

Features of the Xokin Mobile iPhone application include:

– Real time access to Xokin’s control panel system, allowing users to manage their Web site on the go.

– Simple navigation that makes it easy to view files and real-time statistics.

– The ability to easily add and view database, e-mail, sub-domains, FTP accounts and more.

Xokin Mobile connects via Wi-Fi or the user’s cellular network and connects securely to the Xokin servers, allowing the user access to their Xokin account no matter where they are. The application development was a collaborative effort by Xokin LLC and OKD Limited.

For more information on Xokin’s hosting services, please visit http://www.xokin.com/hosting.php

To download Xokin Mobile, please visit http://www.xokin.com/iphone

About Xokin LLC:

Xokin LLC, is a leading Web hosting company based in Houston, Texas. Xokin provides high-quality, affordable Web hosting to clients across the world, with emphasis on transparency and customer relations.

About OKD Limited:

Ollie Kett Designs, established in 2005, is run by young entrepreneur Ollie Kett. Ollie Kett Designs is based in Suffolk, UK and specializes in Web site development, software development & Web management. The firm offers services both locally and globally, working with clients throughout the UK and the rest of the world.

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Accreditation with the BBB

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Hello Xokinites. As part of our pursuit to deliver the best customer experience, we have recently submitted our application to the the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Xokin is proud to announce that we are now considered among the elite groups of businesses that are worthy of their accreditation.

For those who do not know much about the BBB, let me divulge.  There are thousands of businesses around the world, encompassing all industries.  However, not all of them have the best business practices.  The BBB was formed so consumers can evaluate a particular entity before doing business with them.  In order to attain this status, businesses must provide evidence that their company maintains the following etiquette:

Build Trust
Establish and maintain a positive track record in the marketplace.

Advertise Honestly
Adhere to established standards of advertising and selling.

Tell the Truth
Honestly represent products and services, including clear and adequate disclosures of all material terms.

Be Transparent
Openly identify the nature, location, and ownership of the business, and clearly disclose all policies, guarantees and procedures that bear on a customer’s decision to buy.

Honor Promises
Abide by all written agreements and verbal representations.

Be Responsive
Address marketplace disputes quickly, professionally, and in good faith.

Safeguard Privacy
Protect any data collected against mishandling and fraud, collect personal information only as needed, and respect the preferences of customers regarding the use of their information.

Embody Integrity
Approach all business dealings, marketplace transactions and commitments with integrity.

Our recent accreditation is representative of our desire to establish a customer centric business.  To ensure trust in our customers and the rest of the Hosting world, we pledge to follow the standards laid out by the BBB.

This is one of many efforts that exemplifies Xokin’s dedication to our customers, their businesses, hobbies, or any other interests they wish to share with the World Wide Web.

For more on BBB accreditation and standards, you can visit their website here: http://www.bbb.org/

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