JK Design Announces New On-site Solar Electric System
Creative services agency goes ‘off the grid’ with renewable energy installation

Hillsborough, N.J., June 29, 2011 – JK Design , a leading NJ/NYC creative services agency, has announced the installation of a solar power system at their historic headquarters location. The tilting, ground-mounted array of 87 solar panels now provides 20,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy each year – enough to meet much of the agency’s electrical needs and at times provide a surplus which flows back into the public grid.

The system was designed and built by Solar Connections , which provides solar-panel technology throughout New Jersey. It is already generating enough electricity to earn up to 20 Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) annually through the state’s Clean Energy Program. The credits will provide revenue for 15 years and help to offset the costs of the installation.

“This project is a fitting way to mark 25 years in business – and renew our commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of JK Design. “We hope that this project will inspire others to seek out new ways to reduce their energy bills and support the use of sustainable energy sources.”

Planning for the 21,000-watt green energy system began in 2009. Because of the unique nature of the installation, involving a ground-mounted array rather than a more common roof-mounted system, JK Design owners Jerry and Barbara Kaulius obtained a waiver from the Hillsborough Township Zoning Board of Adjustment.

The project was completed with support from New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program, which provides financial incentives and assistance for clean, renewable energy projects in the state. To date, the program has supported more than 7,500 solar electric installations generating over 234,000 kilowatts of energy.

“JK Design has recognized that solar is the right thing to do from both a financial and environmental perspective,” said Andrew M. Cozzi, president of Solar Connections. “Jerry and Barbara wanted to maximize the amount of electricity their system would produce while minimizing the impact on their historical property. The tilting, ground-mounted array accomplishes both goals.”

JK Design has also completed the conversion of an on-site carriage house into a full-service video studio. The new facility features a live vegetative roof, which provides natural insulation and reduces stormwater runoff; water-conserving low-flow faucets and dual-flush toilet; energy-efficient heating, cooling, and lighting systems; and renewable materials such as cork flooring and recycled grass fiber wall coverings.

The current green construction projects are the latest updates to JK Design’s headquarters in the Staats House, which dates to the 1800s. A 2006 restoration integrated vintage elements of the Grecian-style mansion with modern features such as a multimedia studio and conference rooms. The agency’s satellite office is located in midtown Manhattan, NY.

About JK Design
In business for over 25 years, JK Design is a creative services agency specializing in strategy and branding, print, Web, mobile, interactive, and video projects. Recent honors include two Telly awards, a Communicator award, a MarCom Platinum award, and a Gold Hermes Creative Award. The agency provides a wide range of innovative design, advertising, and marketing services, including: Web design and development, iPad and mobile app development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging and Internet-based virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or www.jkdesign.com .

About Solar Connections
Solar Connections LLC is an independently owned and operated commercial and residential solar installer located in Somerset, New Jersey. The company’s experienced solar specialists help customers lower their energy bills – and even earn money – with photovoltaic solar energy systems. Solar Connections handles each project from start to finish and works with leading industry vendors to ensure high quality every step of the way. For more information: 732-384-9506 or www.njsolarconnections.com .

White Paper written by Darren L. Nye
VP Interactive & I.T.
www.jkdesign.com

JK Design Bespoke CMS:
http://www.jkdesign.com/services/web-design-nj/content-management-systems

PDF version of this White Paper:
http://www.jkdesign.com/content-management-system-comparison-jkdesign.pdf

June 23, 2011

OPEN SOURCE VS COMMERCIAL VS CUSTOM CMS (BESPOKE CMS)

A Summary of the Debate

Utilizing an open source Content Management System (such as Drupal, Joomla or WordPress) versus a commercial off-the-shelf CMS (such as Open Text, Microsoft SharePoint, Ektron’s CMS400.net, or EllisLab’s Expression Engine) versus a custom CMS solution tailored to your needs, is a never ending debate in Web development circles. It seems that most people are strongly in favor of only one of these options. However it largely depends on your requirements and your budget.

The Open Source CMS

Drupal, Joomla and WordPress are some of the most popular open source CMS solutions available. One of the misconceptions about open source is that it’s a “free lunch”. However it really is not. Although there are no license fees with an open source CMS, you still need to pay a vendor to create an interface design (aka: “theme”), install the CMS, configure it for use, implement the “theme”, and also pay for ongoing support. Alternatively when you pay a vendor for a commercial or custom CMS product, your fee typically pays for an extensive QA process, documentation, and quick and succinct support – because the vendor built the commercial or custom product, and they stand by it. When you choose an open source solution, you will be paying whoever implements it to provide those services for you, often taking much longer for support for an open source system than commercial or custom/bespoke systems.

Client Administrative Interface usability, quality of code, speed of execution and enhanced Web server requirements of open Source CMS systems is an ongoing issue. Drupal and Joomla have been developed over the years to attempt to provide every conceivable solution for every conceivable web developer’s problems and as a result many feel they are bloated, contain “spaghetti code” that is hard to understand, and are ultimately non-specific platforms that normally require enhanced Web servers and complex customizations for specific client requirements.

These open source CMS packages do have “modules” (aka: “plug-ins” or “widgets”) that can be installed to add new functionality that a client may need. However the open source module systems and documentation are typically filled with system specific jargon that means a developer has to be familiar with that open source CMS package. Developers basically have to be specialists for the CMS package in use, not simply good PHP developers. In addition, the functionality of these modules is often overlapping or competing with other modules – and they in turn add even more bloat to the original CMS, in an already unfriendly and clunky interface. You may not believe or appreciate these comments, until you actually try installing, administering, extending and then upgrading an open source CMS such as Drupal.

When it becomes apparent that a client needs something customized, because an exact Drupal or Joomla module doesn’t fit, or an exact module doesn’t quite work or has security issues, then building a custom module is required. Creating custom modules for these platforms takes considerable development time and resources, often with an inelegant solution as the end result. One of the leading Drupal developers, Ber Kessels, has interesting related opinions about the appropriate use of Drupal: (http://www.leftontheweb.com/message/Drupal_not_good_for_government_websites).

Perhaps a bigger issue with these systems, is once your custom modules are created, they will need to be continuously revised by your developers, when new versions of Drupal, Joomla or WordPress are issued. These CMS systems issue new versions of their own core CMS system quite often – normally to close security holes. And installing the new versions of Drupal, Joomla and WordPress is required, or your Web site will potentially be easy to hack. Installing a new version of these CMS systems, Drupal in particular, is complex and convoluted, and version 6 even requires disabling all existing modules prior to an upgrade. Users also complain about the complex upgrade requirements and issues with Drupal version 7: (http://drupal.org/upgrade).

The advantage of having many third party modules to choose from, when using an open source CMS, is also one of their disadvantages. Drupal and Joomla do not evaluate these modules and confirm they meet any sort of security standards. For a client concerned with security, this is a distinct disadvantage of these open source systems. In addition, obtaining support for an existing module, and also receiving an upgrade to an existing module – when a new version of Drupal or Joomla is issued – can sometimes become an impossible feat.

Licensing for an open source CMS can be an issue for certain agencies or clients. For example, Drupal and Joomla use the GPL version 2 license, which means that any custom modules created for a client, must also be licensed as GPL. This means if an agency invests time to write a module for a client, and they distribute it to the client with the GPL version 2 required, the client may then distribute it to the open source community, when in fact the agency may not have wanted this. The same is true in reverse. If a client is paying an agency to write a module, the agency can then distribute it to the open source community, when in fact the client may not have wanted this. This may or may not pose and issue for an agency or client. (http://drupal.org/licensing/faq/#q7).

All this being said, many somewhat technical people have developed very popular Web sites running on Drupal, Joomla or WordPress. However due to the shortcomings summarized above, Drupal and Joomla in particular, are not CMS systems that JK Design would recommend to our clients. However for clients that need a simple easy to use CMS, or a blog-only site, WordPress is a system that JK Design would recommend and one we use for some of our small clients. We also use WordPress for our own JK Design blog. (http://www.jkdesign.com/blog).

JK Design has evaluated many other open source CMS systems including Typo3, TypoLight, ImpressCMS, TikiWiki, CMSMadeSimple, and others. However none of them had more advantages than disadvantages, when compared to a Commercial or Custom CMS.

Commercial CMS Systems

Commercial CMS systems often overcome some of the disadvantages of open source CMS systems. One of the primary strengths of a commercial vendor, is there is always someone you can call when you need help.

Another distinct advantage of a commercial CMS system is that the vendor has control over the entire environment and most modules that are created for it. This often creates a more user friendly and secure end product. In addition, commercial CMS systems normally have new releases of their core CMS to add functionality, and a viable upgrade path for their clients.

Since commercial CMS systems are not open source – the community at large does not have access to the Source Code. As such, possible hacker exploits are much less likely. Granted, simply because a commercial vendor isn’t publicizing their source code, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t extensively test their code and ensure security; many of them do, because they have the funds available to invest in this process. And when there is a security exploit, a commercial vendor will likely resolve and issue and issue fixes quickly. There are usually fewer core CMS security updates from commercial vendors than open source vendors – and as such, updating modules to accommodate a new core CMS version for security updates, happens less frequently.

Some commercial CMS systems are “cleanly coded” and well-documented, with an extensible architecture. This means that a third party developer can read and follow the source code, understand the Application Programming Interface (API) and create custom enhancements to the CMS, without extensive issues.

There are also some commercial CMS systems that are good tools usually for specific purposes. Microsoft SharePoint is a great example. It was designed to quickly create an internal Intranet, especially for clients who are “Microsoft Shops” – using all Microsoft tools. However SharePoint is not appropriate for implementing public Internet sites, as the tools are geared toward Intranets, and customizing SharePoint for Internet applications can be a very expensive and inflexible process. In addition, expensive license fees for SharePoint, is another disadvantage.

Other commercial CMS systems are hugely complex and priced extremely high. An example of a very high-end vendor would be Open Text, who formerly marketed “RedDot CMS” and who also purchased Vignette. They now market a new Web Content Management system as part of their Web Solutions group. Licensing alone for a typical Open Text project begins at approximately $125,000.

Lower cost alternative commercial CMS systems exist, which contain some of the qualities of higher end CMS systems. One such system is Expression Engine 2. This CMS was built on an open source PHP Web Application Framework called CodeIgniter ®. The use of CodeIgniter ® as the Application Framework, leads to a more stable product and one with additional community support and better third party modules.

Custom/Bespoke CMS Systems and Application Frameworks

Using an open source or commercial CMS may be quick and easy for some technically inclined people, but when you need to build something unique, using an open source CMS can become a time consuming and expensive mission, for the reasons summarized above. If a custom or “bespoke” CMS is built, it can be created unique for that client and the end solution will likely be leaner, sleeker, faster and often easier to use. But creating a custom CMS can also be a costly and time consuming project.

JK Design doesn’t advocate developing completely custom CMS systems from scratch. JK Design has created our own custom CMS framework built on a very popular PHP Framework, www.codeigniter.com. And the core CMS includes pre-coded modules that perform the most common content management and Web site functional needs.

JK Design’s Custom (aka: “Bespoke”) CMS

JK Design’s focus is to provide a user-friendly Content Administration Interface – and a good core with an extensible CMS Framework, that includes the most common CMS and Web site functions appropriate for most Web site projects.

JK Design’s Bespoke Content Management System is a custom CMS Framework that is built on top of the open source CodeIgniter ® V2 PHP Framework. It was designed to run on the LAMP platform (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) but is portable to other platforms. It also utilizes a Model-View-Controller  (MVC) pattern and thus front-end interface design is separated from back-end business logic and content/data; this makes future redesigns and adding new functionality simpler. As a Framework, the CMS can be easily enhanced by any talented PHP developer. Further CMS technical documentation can be found on our Website at http://www.jkdesign.com/jkdesign-cms-technical-summary.pdf.

JK Design’s Bespoke CMS is Cross-Platform

Unlike many CMS systems, the JK Design Bespoke CMS is cross-platform compatible and can also run on Microsoft Windows 2003+ and IIS V7. In addition, our custom CMS can utilize other databases such as Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server, though we consider these more complex database systems overkill for many projects.

JK Design’s Bespoke CMS Source Code Availability and Vendor Neutral Web Hosting

Our CMS is a Bespoke CMS built in-house at JK Design and is thus considered a proprietary system; and although it’s built on top of the open source CodeIgniter ® PHP Framework, our PHP source code is not open source. However, our clients are provided the source code, documentation, and a license to maintain or enhance it themselves (or with a different vendor), should they choose to do so. Our CMS is also not a “Software as a Service” (SaaS) system; care should be taken when using SaaS vendors – if the SaaS vendor goes out of business – your site and its contents instantly disappear. We install our CMS on a Web server controlled by the client. We can also setup content extraction and source code backup processes that are in addition to what a Web host can offer as typical backups. Thus you cannot be “held hostage” and forced to use JK Design or SaaS services, as you may be with other vendors.

JK Design’s Bespoke CMS – the best of Commercial, Open Source and Custom

JK Design’s PHP CMS Framework is the best of both a commercial off-the-shelf product, an open source framework, and a custom CMS. The advantages of JK Design’s CMS over other open source options such as Drupal or Joomla, include the fact that we stand by our product. We are always here to help. In addition, JK Design will not start your CMS from scratch. We save you money by starting with our custom CMS Framework and library of existing modules. We then customize our CMS to meet your individual needs. Using this approach reduces user complexity of the Content Administration Interface, yet still provides you a very extensible system.

Many of our client Web sites require some sort of customization which may include things such as a specific registration process, custom workflow processes, customized data collection, integration with existing database systems, user generated content submission, custom Google Maps integration, personalization options, etc. Often these specific customizations required, are discovered after we launched the initial client Web site. And making these customizations with the JK Design CMS Framework, simply requires a talented PHP developer.

Some of our smaller clients have no custom requirements other than a custom interface design. For smaller clients, we can launch their site or microsite relatively quickly, using our JK Design Bespoke CMS. Our Bespoke CMS includes modules for the most common functional requirements. And as a client’s business grows, they may request to have other modules added, or they may request specific customizations which we can code for them as extensions to our Framework.

For a demonstration of our Bespoke CMS Framework and additional technical documentation, or an evaluation of your specific custom needs, please contact us for a free evaluation.

Yesterday, marked the last week of the Ten Pin lanes bowling league. JK Design entered two teams in the league and week ten served as the championships.

In an epic battle between the top two teams, “Shred the Rack” took down the number 1 team, “The Beaners”. The match was close for the first two games, each splitting the games with a win a piece. The final game came down to the last frame when the teams were separated by 10 pins.

In the form seen all year from Shred the Rack, the team finished strong and cruised to victory. Shred the Rack, who’s team consisted of Jeremy R., Omar J. and Brian F., were helped along the way, by Chris P. and Jen A.

JK’s second team, “Team 5″, finished the year strong with an easy victory in their final match. Team 5 consisted of Jen S., Bill C., and Kevin S. They were assisted by Herbert and Bryan.

JK Design Announces Expansion of Print Division
New Jersey/New York Creative Services Agency Welcomes Lucy San Philips as Production Artist

Hillsborough, N.J., May 11, 2011 – JK Design, a leading creative services agency with offices in central New Jersey and New York City, has expanded its print division by hiring a new production artist.

Lucy San Philips is a veteran graphic artist with more than 17 years of experience. Prior to joining JK Design as a production artist on the print team, she held a variety of positions as graphic designer and art director for major marketing and advertising agencies in the New York metropolitan area. She has also worked as a freelance designer and served as president, art director, and managing partner for a design group focused on the music industry. At JK Design, she is responsible for design and production of a wide variety of marketing and promotional materials including ads, trade show graphics, annual reports, brochures, logos, and direct mail pieces. She earned a degree in art and advertising design from New York City College of Technology and is fluent in Spanish.

“As a freelancer with our agency, Lucy has proven to be a highly creative designer with the ability to get up to speed quickly on any project, fully understand our clients’ needs, and consistently exceed their expectations,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of JK Design. “I’m very happy to welcome her as a full-time member of our print staff, where I know she will bring her enthusiasm, energy, and unique artistic perspective to our work and help us to maintain our high level of customer service.”

JK Design’s headquarters is located in the historic Staats House in Hillsborough, NJ. The company also has an office in the Chelsea neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, just minutes from New York Penn Station.

About JK Design
In business for more than 25 years, JK Design is a creative services agency specializing in strategy and branding, print, Web, mobile, interactive, and video projects. The agency is a recent winner of two Telly Awards, a Communicator Award, and a MarCom Platinum Award. JK Design provides a wide range of innovative design, advertising, and marketing services, including: Web design and development, iPad and mobile app development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging, and Internet-based virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or www.jkdesign.com.

Scott Kerns, Jeff Rupert take on Expanded Roles in Web Development, iPad/iPhone App Development for New Jersey/New York Creative Services Agency

Mar 22, 2011 – JK Design, a leading print, Web, video, and interactive agency with offices in central New Jersey and New York City, announced two promotions within the company’s interactive department.

In his new role as senior Web programmer, Scott Kerns will build upon his many successes since joining the agency in 2008. Scott has proven himself to be a gifted programmer through his work on highly complex projects for clients including LG, Covance, Catalent, and Innophos. In addition to his advanced programming abilities and superb technical skills, Scott is also the agency’s premier tester and technical documentation writer – responsibilities that will be expanded in his new position. Scott has more than a decade of professional experience including IT administration and coding in a variety of programming languages. He earned a B.S. in biology from Penn State University.

In recognition of his rapid progress as a junior Web programmer during his first year at JK Design, Jeff Rupert has been promoted to interactive programmer. His most recent achievements include developing innovative iPad and iPhone apps for Philips Lighting and Philips-Van Heusen (PVH). A graduate of The College of New Jersey with a B.S. in computer science/interactive multimedia and a passion for Web programming, Jeff’s areas of expertise include PHP, HTML5, CSS, Javascript, Web standards, and ActionScript coding.

“Scott and Jeff have played important parts in helping JK Design to stay ahead of the curve on emerging Web, smartphone, and tablet technologies,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of JK Design. “I am very pleased to recognize their talent, skills, and significant accomplishments with these promotions, where they will continue to provide an unmatched level of service to our clients.”

JK Design has created successful websites, iPad apps, mobile websites, videos, and advertising and marketing campaigns for a diverse range of companies and organizations in the tri-state region and around the world. The agency’s headquarters is located in the historic Staats House on Amwell Road in Hillsborough, New Jersey. JK Design also has an office in midtown Manhattan, just minutes from New York Penn Station.

# # #

About JK Design
In business for 25 years, JK Design is a creative services agency specializing in strategy and branding, print, Web, mobile, interactive, and video projects. The agency provides a wide range of innovative design, advertising, and marketing services, including: Web design and development, iPad and mobile app development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging and Internet-based virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or www.jkdesign.com.

March 22, 2011 –JK Design, a print, Web and video agency with offices in central New Jersey and New York City, has announced the launch of its completely redesigned website at www. jkdesign.com. The site offers a sleek new look, user-friendly navigation, and an interactive portfolio of the agency’s impressive body of work, which includes websites, videos and print materials created for some of the world’s leading companies.

The site also provides access to unique email marketing tools to help the agency’s account managers and sales team communicate more effectively with their clients.

Visitors to www.jkdesign.com can learn about JK Design’s full range of service areas, including strategy and branding, print, Web/interactive, and video. An intuitive menu and interactive tools makes it easy to search the agency’s extensive project portfolio by industry or service area and explore a wide variety of videos, websites and print materials.

The new site also offers a link to the agency’s blog, which provides news about the company and behind-the-scenes information about recent projects.

“Our new website reflects the kind of agency we are: dynamic, innovative, and completely focused on exceeding our clients’ expectations,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of JK Design. “We’ve made it easy for everyone to experience the excellent work we’ve done and to find the information they need quickly and easily. The new site is a great example of the high-quality projects we consistently produce for our clients – and a great way to mark our 25th year in business!”

JK Design has created successful websites, videos, mobile apps, iPad apps, and advertising and marketing campaigns for a diverse range of companies and organizations in the tri-state region and around the world. The agency’s headquarters is located in the historic Staats House on Amwell Road in Hillsborough, New Jersey. JK Design also has an office in midtown Manhattan, just minutes from New York Penn Station.

About JK Design

In business for 25 years, JK Design is a creative services agency specializing in strategy and branding, print, Web, mobile, interactive, and video projects. The agency provides a wide range of innovative design, advertising, and marketing services, including: Web design and development, iPad and mobile app development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging and Internet-based virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or www.jkdesign.com.

###

Contact:

Jerry Kaulius
Corporate Headquarters
JK Design
465 Amwell Road
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
jerry@jkdesign.com
908-428-4700
908-428-4701 (fax)

New York Office
JK Design
44 W 28th Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10001
646-794-4180
646-794-4184 (fax)

Things are pretty busy around here at JK Design (to put it mildly). Every day, our team of 40+ staffers is creating new proposals for clients; designing and creating print, Web and video projects; and putting the finishing touches on brochures, websites, videos, iPhone apps and just about every other kind of marketing tool you can think of.

Needless to say, I’m not involved in all of these projects – after all, I am only one person. That means that when I see something great that we’ve created for a client, I often have no idea exactly how we did it beginning to end.

And so I wonder… where did the original concept come from? What was the process? How long did it take? And – most importantly – how did we make it so gosh-darn cool?

These questions all came to mind when I saw one of our coolest recent projects, a video we created for Avaya to promote their innovative new communications software product. Out of all the imaginative videos we create on a regular basis, this one really stood out for me. To satisfy my curiosity about the creative process behind it, I cornered the lead designer for the project, Joe Jordan, for a “behind the scenes” look at the making of this video.

Omar Joseph (OJ): I recently saw this video you put together for Avaya, and I’m really loving it. I generally think your work is excellent, but there was something different about this video that made it stand out. Can you talk about how it came about and how you were inspired to create it?

Joe Jordan (JJ): Well, Andrea Wolkofsky (the account manager) came to me and said we had three weeks to put together something cool for Avaya’s new software, Avaya ACE. Their vision was to create a video that was easy for their customers to understand and would really grab their attention in a unique way. Because they were rolling out this new software package for the first time, it was very important that their audience immediately grasp why and how it would work for them. After thinking about it for a while, we came up with a concept where the background design of the video would mimic a traditional blackboard. This is a tool used in seminars and other learning environments, so it would be familiar to viewers and give the video an educational tone. It also would require us to keep the animations simple.

OJ: After you picked that concept, what happened next?

JJ: In my mind this video just wouldn’t work unless we brought together our resources quickly. First, we pulled in Chris Milan, our in-house copywriter. We knew that we had to create a strong script that was descriptive, yet succinct – and this was right up her alley. Once she pulled together a script and it was approved by the client, we started to produce the video. As the process continued, the client had the great idea of using two voice actors instead of a single narrator. The addition of an extra voice gave us the feel of a conversation as opposed to a lecture, and this really gave the video a better flow.

OJ: How did you come up with the look and feel of the video?

JJ: During the process of making the video I had a change of heart about the direction of the color scheme. In the end, I decided on a predominately black and white look. I think that helped to support the blackboard concept, achieve our goal of keeping the message simple and easy to understand, and make sure the content was “king.” However, I ended up adding a few touches of color to give the video a unique style.

OJ: Tell me a little about the finer details of the video. I noticed some cool things that I haven’t seen from you before. Can you give us some insight on that?

JJ: I generally spend my free time tracking new trends in animation and video and working on new concepts. The “handwriting” look that you see in the video is something new for us. I used it here because it helped add a bit of human element to the video and that was important to me. I wanted the viewers to feel a connection with the video and I think this helped achieve that.

But the piece that really pulled this video together for me was the music. I love that track! It has the perfect feel for the video. The flow is amazing. And even though that music track sounds great, it also blends with and supports the graphics and voiceover instead of dominating them. People often don’t realize how important the music is to a video, but it often makes or breaks the piece. I’m glad we were able to find this amazing instrumental track.

OJ: Thanks for the insight, Joe. The information you provided is great. Is there anything else you want to share before I let you get back to creating more incredible animations?

JJ: Yes! I want to thank the entire team that worked on the project: Andrea W., Chris M. and Lance M.

JK DESIGN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JK Design Expands Interactive Capabilities with an Internal Promotion and Two New Hires

New Jersey/New York Creative Services Agency Promotes Darren Nye to New Leadership Role, Welcomes New Web Programmer and VP of Video Production

Hillsborough, N.J., January 31, 2011 – JK Design, a leading creative services agency with offices in central New Jersey and New York City, has expanded its multimedia department by promoting the current director of interactive and IT to the position of vice president and hiring a new website development professional. The agency has also hired a veteran media and entertainment professional to lead its video division.

Since joining JK Design in 2004, Darren Nye has lead the interactive department’s expansion from four full-time employees to its current staff of 20 and an average annual increase of 30%. He brings more than 23 years of professional experience, business acumen, technical expertise and proven leadership to his new role as VP of interactive and information technology, where he will continue to build on his successes in closing many of JK Design’s larger client projects, expanding the division’s services to include the latest technologies, and managing the agency’s internal IT plans and infrastructure improvements. In addition to his many professional achievements, Darren also holds a pilot’s license and enjoys flying small planes.

Katherine Armstrong brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience in corporate media, promotions and the entertainment business to her new position as vice president of video production director. Prior to joining JK Design, Katherine’s achievements included producing, directing and production managing for a host of award-winning production companies that served clients from major networks such as ABC, Comedy Central and BET. She has also interviewed, produced and directed luminaries ranging from a former president to a long list of CEOs of such companies as Oxygen, Skype, Nickelodeon and Lifetime.

New Web programmer Thomas Planer has specialized knowledge in PHP, ASP.NET, C#, Java, Python, Ruby, Visual Basic and C++. He is also skilled in coding front-end interfaces with XHTML, CSS and Javascript. Before joining JK Design, he developed and programmed custom applications for a variety of companies, including a major New Jersey law firm. Tom earned a BS in business administration from Rider University, where he majored in computer information systems.

“This is an exciting time for JK Design,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president. “As we celebrate our 25th anniversary with two thriving offices in New Jersey and New York, we also look forward to starting the new year with our largest staff to date – and a host of new opportunities to serve our clients in ever-more creative ways. I’m extremely pleased to announce Darren’s well-deserved promotion and to welcome Katherine and Tom to the agency. I look forward to their support in expanding our services in fresh and innovative directions.”

JK Design’s headquarters is located in the historic Staats House in Hillsborough, NJ. The company also has an office in the Chelsea neighborhood of midtown Manhattan, just minutes from New York Penn Station.

About JK Design
In business for 25 years, JK Design uses the latest technology to build brand identities through print, Web, and video media. The agency is a recent winner of a Telly Award, Communicator Award, and MarCom Platinum Award. JK Design specializes in innovative design, advertising and marketing services, including: Web design and development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging and Internet-based virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or www.jkdesign.com.

Contact:
Jerry Kaulius
Corporate Headquarters
JK Design
465 Amwell Road
Hillsborough, NJ 08844
jerry@jkdesign.com
908-428-4700
908-428-4701 (fax)

New York Office
JK Design
44 W 28th Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10001
646-794-4180
646-794-4184 (fax)

Leading New Jersey Print/Web/Video Design Firm Selected by ARM & HAMMER® Manufacturer for Creative Work

Hillsborough, N.J., December 2, 2010 – JK Design, a leading print, Web and video agency with offices in central New Jersey and New York City, has been selected by Church & Dwight Co. (NYSE: CHD) as the agency of record for their Performance Products Group. Church & Dwight is the Princeton-based manufacturer of ARM & HAMMER® consumer and specialty products.

JK Design will design and execute all print, video and electronic marketing and advertising campaigns for the Performance Products Group. The agency is currently launching a new branding initiative to promote the division’s specialty products and technical services.

“JK Design was selected because they understand our marketing goals – and they have proven their ability to translate that understanding into creative, effective campaigns,” said Jeff Shore, senior business manager, Church & Dwight.

Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of JK Design, added, “Our creative team is excited about the opportunity to rebrand the Performance Products group and elevate their profile in new and innovative ways. We’ve already developed a productive collaborative relationship, and we’re looking forward to bringing our shared vision for their brand to life.”

In business for 25 years, JK Design has created successful marketing campaigns for a diverse range of world-class companies including Philips Lighting, Johnson & Johnson, Covance, JVC, Novo Nordisk, Tyco, Siemens Healthcare and LG. Their headquarters is located in the historic Staats House on Amwell Road in Hillsborough, New Jersey; the agency also maintains an office in midtown Manhattan, just minutes from New York Penn Station.

About JK Design
Celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2010, JK Design is a creative services firm specializing in using the latest technology to build brand identities through print, Web, and video media. The firm provides companies with innovative design, advertising and marketing services, including: Web design and development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging and Internet-based virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or www.jkdesign.com.

About Church & Dwight
Church & Dwight’s Performance Products Group leads the industry in providing quality products and technological innovation to a wide range of markets, from food and pharmaceuticals to chemical processing, water treatment and emerging environmental applications. For nearly 165 years, our customers have relied on the strict standards of quality and purity that are synonymous with ARM & HAMMER® brand products. For more information: 800-221-0453 or www.ahperformance.com.

New Jersey/New York Creative Services Firm Promotes Lance Miller to Expanded Web Development Role

Hillsborough, N.J., November 29, 2010 – JK Design, a leading print, video and Web design agency with offices in central New Jersey and New York City, announced that the company has promoted Web producer Lance Miller to the newly created position of senior interactive producer. In his new role, Lance will have additional leadership responsibilities and will take on a greater management role in some of the company’s most prominent accounts.

Since joining JK Design in 2007, Lance has managed some of JK Design’s largest and most complex interactive projects, including websites for Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Innophos; Covance; and JR Trading, a New Jersey-based wholesale book distributor. He was also the lead developer for a series of innovative interactive driver safety training modules created for Johnson & Johnson.

Lance has nearly 10 years of experience managing and developing Web projects, including programming in HTML, PHP and MySQL; planning website architecture; and documenting complex technical requirements. He holds a degree in computer science from The College of New Jersey.

“Lance has played a critical role in JK Design’s expanding interactive capabilities and has helped us to develop some of our most innovative website projects,” said Jerry Kaulius, founder and president of JK Design. “I am very pleased to recognize Lance’s significant accomplishments with his promotion to this new role, where he will have the opportunity to provide an even higher level of service to our clients.”

JK Design’s headquarters is located in the historic Staats House in Hillsborough, New Jersey. The company also maintains an office in midtown Manhattan near New York Penn Station.

About JK Design
Celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2010, JK Design is a creative services firm specializing in using the latest technology to build brand identities through print, Web, and video media. The firm provides companies with innovative design, advertising and marketing services, including: website design and development, branding, logos, email marketing, multimedia and video animation and production, marketing strategies, advertising, corporate collateral design and production, exhibit graphics, packaging and Internet-based virtual tradeshows. For more information: 908-428-4700 (NJ), 646-794-4180 (NYC), or www.jkdesign.com.