Good Chemistry by Design

April 25th, 2008

Local Designers and Programmer forge a creative partnership to breathe life into area promotions.

When New Orleans graphic designer, Christy Soto met Klamath Falls designer, Mike Stier she jokingly remarked, "We'll make beautiful websites together." Four months and eleven clients later, the comment resonates. After reuniting with long time friend, Phillip Harbin, the three land a major account with the Klamath Housing Authority.

THE PLAYERS

Mike Stier, the former lead animator for Apple's animation department in Vancouver, WA moved back to his hometown of Klamath Falls and started Optimistik Animation in October '03. "It was too specialized," Mike admits, "to make any money in the Klamath Market." Still Mike continued to design websites and posters for Portland bands and even designed the Klamath Falls Centennial logo.

Mike first met Phillip Harbin in 1998. "We were both working for Sykes," says Mike. "Phillip worked on the Intel account as a phone rep and I worked with Apple. It was then that he really got into networking. I got into graphic design. I remember supporting people using Adobe products and thinking that that type of work would be a lot of fun. I was hooked."

After Phillip's ten-year stint at Intel as a technical engineer, Phillip started a side business specializing in information technologies and wide area networking. His business, Warped Logic, came into it's own in November of '06.

Around the same time, in New Orleans, Christy incorporated her graphic design company, XY Design. In post-Katrina New Orleans, and with her networking nature, Christy found more clients than she could realistically handle. "My basis was print media, concepts, and branding for restaurants and for creative artists. I did marketing research, conducted interviews, wrote corporate histories, even photographed food for my clients." She strove to learn web design under deadlines. "Clients would ask me to do something and I would stay up all night learning a new program."

When Christy met Mike, she was intrigued. She moved to Klamath Falls for a better life and to be closer to her grandfather, Ed. "I was worried about getting work to keep XY Design alive, even though I brought all of my New Orleans clients with me." Struggling to finish a screenplay for her ghostwriting business, Ghostwriter's Ink, Christy surrendered some of her XY Design workload to Mike. Optilux Design was born, specializing in web, print, branding, and PR. www.optiluxdesign.com

To date, Optilux Design Inc. has been fully self-supporting. "We've never had to use a cent of our own money," says Christy. "We had clients before we even had business cards."

A SEED PLANTED

One night, at Waldo's open mike, Christy and Mike ran into Phillip. Christy and Phillip went to KU together. "I always associated Christy with artistic stuff with all the art classes she took," remembers Phillip. Christy was surprised to find out that Mike and Phillip were already friends. "I always knew Mike would do something," admits Phillip. "He was one of the most responsible young dudes. When I found out he was working at Apple the same time I was working at Intel, I was glad."

Over drinks Christy, Phillip, and Mike talked about getting together for some projects. Often, Phillip's clients wanted websites with original art work. Often, Optilux Design clients needed special forms or "backend work" that required a programmer.

NATURAL GROWTH

During Optilux Design's launch of Gerry Sloan's Irish folk music website (www.wildirishgerry.com), Christy and Mike got a call from Phillip. Warped Logic IT was programming and setting up the networks for the KHA. "They wanted us to set up their website." We scheduled a meeting and had great chemistry. Later that week during a meeting with a client, Optilux Design was approached by accountant, Laura Olsen. "Are you computer people?" she said, half panicked. She had several servers and workstations and was in need of a network consultant. We needed an accountant. We referred Phillip and she hired him immediately.

Warped Logic IT and Optilux Design compliment one another. "Together, we are more diverse," says Christy Soto with a laugh. Mike could not agree more. "With Christy being from New Orleans and seeing the city rebuilt anew, she brings an eye towards change." says Mike, "It's exciting, we are constantly thinking of how to improve our client's exposure," says Christy. It is reciprocal.

And Phillip? "It's great to have an Intel trained network administrator in Klamath Falls," says Mike, "It brings a level of knowledge and service that is expected by a company of that size to the basin." There is plenty of work in this town after all. The Klamath Housing Authority site launches in late May 2008 with a launch party on the 4th of June. "Optilux Design wants to put a fresh face on every business that is interested," says Mike, "We want to keep people smiling and spending money in Klamath." In addition to KHA, Phillip is the network administrator for the Chamber of Commerce. "I take care of all of their computers," he says.

Aside from KHA, Optilux Design is currently at work on an online clothing store, Monique's Hot Wear. They are also working on a site for Langfield Painting and Drywall, and a site for a contemporary Christian rock band, "Looking East".

"I see a determination to be the best in Christy. That makes me almost compete with her," says Mike. "I think that is what makes Optilux Work as well as it does, an inner office style competition to be better than each other. That's what makes our work great. We both strive for perfection and to go above and beyond for our clients!"

Optilux Design
Christy Soto and Mike Stier
(504)957-5820, (541) 591-4295
Christy@optiluxdesign.com
mike@optiludesign.com
www.optiluxdesign.com

Warped Logic IT Consulting
Phillip Harbin
(541) 810-1843
www.warpedlogicit.com
Phillip@warpedlogicit.com