American Public Television (APT) has won its second award for their new website redesign by Metropolis Creative. APT has been a leading distributor of high-quality, top-rated programming to America’s public television stations since 1961. Since 2004, APT has distributed approximately half of the top 100 highest-rated public television titles. APT was the winner of our First Annual Extreme Website Makeover Event!

American Public Television’s website re-design included a whole new website architecture that revolves around two clear premises. That they have very different target audiences, and that their vast programming inventory needed to be more accessible. Audiences can self-select via colored tabs on top. And much improved search functionality is called out in bright orange boxes throughout the site.

MarCom Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The international organization consists of several thousand creative professionals. The Association oversees awards and recognition programs, provides judges and sets standards for excellence.

Bambi Uganda Orphans is a non-profit organization responding to the challenges for the 2.3 million children orphaned as a result of the civil unrest and the AIDs epidemic.

Recently, Metropolis Creative created a website for Bambi Uganda Orphans, utilizing a content management system that allows the charity to accept donations easily and spread the word for the important cause. The website has a clearly defined donation area that is directly integrated with an e-commerce system. It also outlines the mission of the charity and the various programs developed to carry out this mission. The use of compelling images and stories of the children’s lives and conditions only further reveal the urgent and important work that is being done through the charity and the unbelievable struggles that the children are forced to overcome. Facebook and other social media integration will assist in spreading the word of the cause as well. The site will be used to help the charity improve the lives of Uganda’s orphans, their guardians and the larger community.

Bambi Uganda Orphans’ mission is to provide financial, technical and educational assistance to community based organizations as well as directly manage programs that improve the lives of the children.

The Temkin Group needed a site design for their new venture, the Temkin Ratings. The Temkin Ratings analyzes customer feedback to determine how large corporations treat their customers. The main focus of the site is to get companies to purchase data, so we showcased the results in sortable tables. The tables add interactivity and engage visitors. We?ve also incorporated a sub-navigation into the sidebar, which allows visitors to quickly jump to any of the ratings pages, where you can purchase the data. This website design uses strong, bold calls to action, to prompt visitors to download and purchase the data sets.

Hosted by Metropolis Creative, the Extreme Website Makeover event is about rewarding innovation and entrepreneurship. Companies in and around Boston submitted their websites hoping to be chosen for an “extreme” redesign which included a brand refresh, website homepage redesign, and co-branded designs of their social media channels. There were many innovative and worthwhile companies who entered their website, however only one came out on top.

On Tuesday April 26th the winner was unveiled at Red Sky Lounge in the heart of Boston’s Faneuil Hall. With a packed venue and drinks flowing, the winner was announced. Made in the Commonwealth is an environmentally-friendly start-up company. It’s goals are to raise funding while building awareness of the benefits Biofuel can have here in Massachusetts. Metropolis saw them as a noble cause in need of some serious design help. Metropolis’ solution was a clean and professional site that clearly communicates their goal to make Massachusetts the first to run on biofuel. The new design effectively targets different audiences using targeted copy, compelling diagrams, and an introductory video. The redesign included a new home page with co-branded social media channels: Twitter and Facebook.

“Metropolis Creative is helping us get our message of our ability to make a difference out to the community. We love the new site, and are so thankful for their support and kindness. ” Matt Pearlson of Made In The Commonwealth.

Metropolis Creative is an 11-year old graphic design studio located in Boston’s South End. Metropolis creates compelling and award-winning web, print and graphic design to attract and retain target audiences. The approach begins with a discovery of your brand, message and audience. The process continues with a proposal and creative delivery solutions. Metropolis is proud to have built a portfolio of clients from over a decade of success stories. Let Metropolis help you differentiate your brand on the web and in print.

Made In the Commonwealth (MitC) will develop and utilize innovative technology and idle industrial infrastructure to be the first renewable, synthetic, ultra-low sulfur jet fuel refinery. Ultra-low-sulfur jet fuel is used in aviation and is critical in Massachusetts to create “New England grade” diesel fuels and to meet the Massachusetts renewable fuel mandate that 5% of diesel be renewable by 2013. MitC will put the state at the leading edge of renewable energy and transportation technology, while creating jobs and reducing the state’s dependence on foreign sources of fuel. MitC expects to create 250+ construction jobs over two years, more than 30+ full-time employment jobs with 70 more indirect and supporting jobs as a result of the project.

The large grid image in the background co-brands the Facebook page to the Academy’s website as well as adds visual interest to the page. Other elements on the tab include calls to action, which drive traffic back to the Academy’s web site by grabbing the attention of prospective students. The tab has a sliding navigation similar to the one on the Academy’s website. The innovative functionality of the tab transcends the Facebook framework and helps to elevate the impact of the overall design.

Thought Labs provides custom software development and consulting services with a specialization in Social Network technologies.

See their Facebook Page here!

About Metropolis Creative

Metropolis Creative is an 11-year old graphic design studio located in Boston’s South End. Metropolis creates compelling and award-winning web, print and graphic design to attract and retain target audiences. The approach begins with a discovery of your brand, message and audience. The process continues with a proposal and creative delivery solutions. Metropolis is proud to have built a portfolio of clients from over a decade of success stories. Let Metropolis help you differentiate your brand on the web and in print.

Thought Labs provides custom software development and consulting services with a specialization in social network technologies. Their work includes custom Facebook page design, application development, and overall social media strategies, marketing and brand management. Metropolis created a new logo for Thought Labs that symbolizes both social connections as well as personal interaction. It illustrates how ideas “spring forward” from other ideas.

“We have worked with Metropolis on many design projects of the years. Their designs are top-notch, they are very easy to work with, and their prices are reasonable. Our company and our clients are thrilled with the results.”, John Maver, Principal and Co-founder of Thought Labs.

The redesigned website now showcases recent work and latest news right up front. It also calls out to their three main methods; Strategy, Development, and Training. A set of custom icons were designed to help brand each method. Check out their new site: www.thoughtlabs.com