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10.23.2006

For Immediate Release 10/23/06
For more information, contact:
Matt Hutton : 217.351.6700

SpinLight takes the spotlight. Again.

Champaign, Illinois, October 18, 2006—It's starting to look like a definite trend. Last year Spinlight Studio (spinlight.com) dominated the American Graphic Design Awards, taking home more awards than any other competing firm. And this year, they returned to the national spotlight again, garnering eight more AGD awards—including three for a product they actually invented. All in all, it's been an amazing year for the talented ad agency, located on Staley Road. And the momentum they've built shows no signs of slowing down.

After their major award coup last year, SpinLight founders Matt Hutton and Debby Winter were named "People to Watch in 2006" by Graphic Design USA, the national design trade magazine and sponsor of the prestigious national design award show. And it turns out that there was a lot go watch. In the spring of 2006, the partners launched Spinoff (spinoffstore.com), a virtual store offering the first retail product to be based on their philosophy of design. Working together with Spinlight senior designer, Chris Phillips, the team created the STICK, a unique CD/DVD storage solution that enables fashion-forward designers to keep recordable media at their desk without cluttering their workspace. The STICK's brochure, website and product packaging earned them three national design awards, a long with invaluable experience in product development.

"It was a very rewarding experience and one I'm sure we'll draw on going forward," explains Matt Hutton, SpinLight principal and design director. "There are a lot of agencies that can offer their clients advice when it comes to package design, but few can offer their experience. We can offer both. And that gives us a decisive edge."

In addition to the STICK, SpinLight took home design awards for work they completed for several local clients, including Carle Development Foundation, The Center for Advanced Study and the Information Trust Institute. Two of the company's awards also came from projects completed for non-profit companies, including a logo for Saint Thomas Moore High School and identity packaging for Mission 180—a local group that endeavors to help local at-risk youth break free from destructive lifestyles with mentoring and counseling programs.

For Debby Winter, SpinLight design director and principal, there's a special reward in helping clients who are working to make a difference for people with pressing needs. "Design is a powerful tool. You can use it to move products off the shelf, but you can also use it to move people and inspire them to make a real difference in their community. And that's when you feel like you're part of something that's really worth your while."

On Friday, October 27th, they'll be putting more than their design sense behind that belief. That's when Mission 180 will be hosting "Laugh Factor," a special fund raising event at the Refinery with "Evolution of Dance" master Judson Laipply—the inspirational comedian who's side-splitting dance medley is the most-viewed video on youtube.com. And somewhere in the audience, Hutton and Winter will both be there, to laugh, to help a worthy cause and to join their staff in celebrating one incredible year.

About SpinLight Studio

Since founding SpinLight Studio in 2000, co-founders Matt Hutton and Debby Winter have won numerous awards for design excellence, including 30 American Graphic Design Awards. Located on South Staley Round in Champaign, the company offers a full range of print, broadcast and digital marketing services for a range of local and regional clients.