January, 2007

For Immediate Release
Contact Michelle Tjelmeland (217) 498-1073

e-websmart of Springfield Wins Logo Contest

Springfield IL - A logo designed by the creative team at e-websmart was chosen as the winning entry in a logo contest sponsored by Pride St. Louis, Inc., a charitable organization dedicated to increasing the general public's awareness of the presence of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered individuals in the community.

The contest involved designing a logo for the organization's annual PrideFest celebration in St. Louis, an event that attracts 80,000 to 100,000 attendees from across the country. This year's event will be held June 23-24.

"We thought this logo contest would be a great opportunity to help a worthwhile and vibrant organization," said Michelle Tjelmeland, owner of e-websmart. "We also saw endless creative possibilities in which to express their important message."

The first step in the process was creating a theme for the event. Tjelmeland captured the events essence in three simple words: Celebrate. Educate. Liberate. Sharon Hewitt, e-websmart's creative director and lead graphic designer, took it from there. She used the theme as the foundation for a colorful, vibrant logo that incorporated important elements such as hearts and the St. Louis Arch. "I'm very proud of the logo because I believe it represents the exuberance of this organization and visually portrays their message," Hewitt said. "The design incorporates not only a spectrum of color but also a display of energy and motion."

John Lovin, president of Pride St. Louis, Inc., said contest judges were very moved by e-websmart's logo. "What struck us first was that the theme really sums up what we're about," Lovin said. "It's a sharp logo yet interactive at the same time. I know it will reproduce well for sponsorships and merchandise."

The organization was so please with e-websmart's logo that it asked the design firm to redesign its Web site, www.pridestl.org. "After seeing what they could do for the PrideFest logo, we thought they could give our Web site a makeover as well. We were extrememly happy with the results," Lovin said.

The new logo and Web site will be unveiled during an open house on Feb 2 at City Hall in downtown St. Louis. St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay is expected to do the unveiling.

E-websmart, a Springfield, Illinois-based marketing development company, assists clients from around the world convey their marketing messages through the use of the Internet and other media.

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