Rational Design Studio

Client Website Launch: STL Saturn Service.com

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:54:20 +0000

Part of a suite of vehicle-specific marketing sites being built for the Jim Butler Auto Group in St. Louis, MO.

This first site is targeted specifically to Saturn owners as Saturn has closed all of its own dealerships. Certain GM dealers have been chosen by GM to step in as “authorized service centers” to service the existing Saturn owners.

Client website launch: AptContractors.com

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:39:33 +0000

Rational Design Studio is pleased to announce the launch of www.AptContractors.com, a directory for contractors and businesses serving the Income Property Owners market.

Developed in conjunction with Apartment Management Magazine publishers, the site features over 100 business listings. The site includes the ability to add graphical ads, allow businesses to purchase “top of listing” and other promotional features.

RDS Signs Rock Group Asia Featuring John Payne

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:31:08 +0000

We’re very pleased to announce that Rational Design Studio will be managing and designing several websites for international recording artist John Payne. For 15 years John provided his distinctive vocals and songwriting to the supergroup Asia; in 2006 a reunion by the original members of Asia required John to adapt. He formed a new band called GPS with past Asia members Jay Schellan and Guthrie Govan, and together with Spock’s Beard keyboardist Ryo Okumoto scored a critically acclaimed album “Window to the Soul”.

A 2007 legal agreement with the reunited Asia enables John to write, record and tour under the name Asia Featuring John Payne. AFJP includes John on vocals and bass, guitarist Mitch Perry, drummer Jay Schellan and keyboardist Erik Norlander.

RDS will be building a new merchandise store to enable Asia to sell merchandise, cds and possibly digital music files as well. New websites for Asia Featuring John Payne will be built to promote a new album due this summer and corresponding international tour. Finally, a new website for GPS is expected later this year to promote a new album and tour from that band.

Key to the process of raising the band’s profile will be engaging fans online via Facebook and other social media.

Client website launch: Adams Motorsports Park

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:58:00 +0000

Adams Motorsports Park has been in continous operation for over 50 years. Last year RDS was commissioned to build a new website to celebrate the 50th anniversary and to show case the expanded offerings at Adams. RDS built the previous website for Adams in 2007, but a change in marketing strategy and the unprecedented success of their grassroots Drift Racing program necessitated expanded capabilities- especially to tie into social networking.

See the new site at: www.AdamsMotorSportsPark.com

Client website launched: GMSCentral.com

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:55:38 +0000

General Monitoring Solutions, Inc. is an alarm monitoring company serving alarm dealers and the security industry nationwide. Recently they realized their old website was not serving their needs. A new website was commissioned to tie in with a new marketing and sales campaign and was recently launched.

RDS provided photography services, internet marketing consultation and built a content-managed website enabling GMS to edit and revise a majority of the content directly.

See it at: www.gmscentral.com

Blog Launched for Landmark Dodge

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:08:51 +0000

Landmark Dodge Chrysler Jeep is a top 10 dealership located in Atlanta, GA. A long time RDS client (we built their current website in 2007), Landmark has struggled with the recent poor conditions in automotive sector and become more aggressive about using the internet to gain leads for new customers.

Recently RDS built a blog for the Landmark website to enable Landmark to communicate more frequently with visitors and customers, enabling fresh generation of relevant content, which enables stronger placings in search engine listings.

The design of Landmark’s home page was also tweaked and dedicated vehicle landing pages allow visitors to thoroughly research vehicles without leaving the Landmark website.

See the site at: www.LandmarkDodge.com/blog

Several Projects Coming Close to Launch

admin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:10:12 +0000

It’s been a bit quiet here on the blog, but not quiet here in the office! New projects for Apartment Magazine, General Monitoring Services, Adams Motorsports Park and Landmark Dodge Chrysler Jeep have been simmering the last few months and are all coming close to fruition. You’ll hear about them here as soon as they are cleared for launch.

PR Success for SpeedFactory

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:56:00 +0000

RDS recently co-wrote and orchestrated the release of a news release by SpeedFactory, which achieved exposure on several major mainstream automotive news websites including Car & Driver and Autoblog and numerous niche/trade websites including Allpar. RDS also photographed the SpeedFactory 440 Challenger (see gallery here).

Photoshop Disasters

admin — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:36:47 +0000

One of our favorite sites is Photoshop Disasters, a great blog that posts user-submitted examples of poor image compositing work that appears in professional areas – usually magazines and catalogs. You’d be surprised by the kinds of graphical blunders that have been approved for publication by some pretty large agencies and brands!

Check it out: http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/

Here’s a good example by Microsoft – an image generated in the US was “adapted” for the Polish marketplace. Poorly, in both taste and execution.

New website for Adams Motorsports Park in process

admin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:33:27 +0000

Recently Adams Motorsports Park asked RDS to update the design of their website to meet the needs of their growing audience. The original site was built in 2007 by RDS as Adams Motorsports Park was re-launched under new management. Fast forward 2 years and continued growth and expansion into new markets – including the hot hot world of drifting and time attach racing has brought a new audience, new sponsors and new marketing needs. Look for the new site to go live for the 50th anniversary in January.