Scranton is gearing up for one of its biggest annual events, La Festa Italiana, which brings close to 100,000 visitors to the downtown area each year to celebrate the culture and cuisine of Italy.

This year, BlackOut Design, Inc. was tasked with developing a design that captures the spirit and energy of Scranton’s Italian festival. Our designers generated a series of “looks” for La Festa organizers. Two of those were selected and will be seen on posters, shirts and promotional materials during the festival.

We at BlackOut are proud to be a part of this great community event. We’ll see you there over Labor Day weekend, August 30-September 1.

BlackOut Design, Inc., Northeastern Pennsylvania’s leading provider of integrated marketing and design solutions, has expanded its professional staff recently with the addition of two new hires: Graphic Designer Jessica Confer and New Media Editor Nathan Milner.

Confer has already proven a valuable asset to the BlackOut team producing high quality work for BlackOut partners Independent Graphics Inc. and developing postcards to promote the new exhibit at the Melberger Arts Center Gallery, Philip A. Dente’s “Line Items.”

Milner will be responsible for managing new media efforts for BlackOut and its clients. His work will dovetail with the efforts of BlackOut’s team of award-winning designers to ensure a consistent and dynamic communication of our client’s marketing message.

Confer is a student at Marywood University. Milner resides in Lake Winola, PA, with his wife, Lori, and two daughters, Hannah and Cora.

BlackOut client Hydro4GE was recently featured in the April issue of the Great Valley Technology Alliance’s newsletter “eNexus.”

The article highlights the groundbreaking work being done by Hydro4GE in the software development arena, as well as the collaborative efforts between Hydro4GE developers and local institutions of higher education like the University of Scranton and Misericordia University.

You can read the April issue of “eNexus” here.

BlackOut Design, Inc.’s Matt Artz is among the just 200 young professionals worldwide selected to participate in the third annual World Bank and Alliance Toward Harnessing Global Opportunities (ATHGO) Global Forum.

Titled “Miracles of Development: The Effects of Good Governance and Capacity Building on Economic Development,” the forum will be held July 9-11 at World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC.

At the forum, Artz will meet with forum ambassadors, including high-ranking World Bank officials, and private sector executives, who will share their expertise on the challenges associated with achieving economic growth through good governance and capacity building.

Following successful completion of all assigned projects during the forum, Artz will be entered into the ATHGO’s Alumni Network, which entitles members to receive priority consideration for fellowships, internships and the Associates Program.

It is a prestigious honor for Artz and we’re glad to have him as a member of the BlackOut team.

Here’s an interesting article regarding the quite natural reluctance of some to fully buy into the idea of Web 2.0.

Web 2.0 tools and services have yet to prove their resilience in the ever-changing tech marketplace and the full scope of their utility has yet to be explored.

At BlackOut, we utilize Web 2.0 technologies as one more component in our portfolio of services. Like any other technology we constantly evaluate its practicality, and when it suits our client’s business goals, we’ll use Web 2.0 to create a more effective campaign.

BlackOut donated its services to promote a good cause, producing an invitation postcard for the Voluntary Action Center’s Run for the Roses at The Kentucky Derby event.

Run for the Roses will be held Saturday, May 3, at 3 p.m. at the Waverly Country Club, 903 South Abington Road, Clarks Summit, PA. Patrons get to take a chance on a real horse race, while supporting the causes administered by The Voluntary Action Center. The Voluntary Action Center is a non-profit umbrella organization that provides direct and indirect services to community organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Christmas Holiday Bureau and Free Information and Referral (FIRST – 24 hour Hot Line).

Admission price of $50 includes an authentic Derby Dinner, complete with mint juleps and open bar. Wear your Derby attire. For more information, contact VAC at 347-5616.

Jack Reager, MBA, President of BlackOut Design, Inc., was recently selected to receive the Award of Excellence in Creative Arts and Management from the Marywood University Alumni Association.

Reager, a Woodbridge, N.J., native, completed his undergraduate and graduate studies at Marywood University, earning his undergraduate degree in Computer Information Systems and his MBA in Management Information Systems.

The Award of Excellence in Creative Arts and Management recognizes excellence in achievement in professional life, service to the local and national community and leadership qualities, serving as a role model for current and future students and alumni of Marywood.

Along with this most recent award, Reager is a member of the Workforce Investment Board for Lackawanna County.

Reager will be officially recognized during Marywood’s Reunion Weekend ’08 scheduled for May 16-18.

One Point, the 2006 Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year, took advantage of BlackOut Design’s services recently to generate a new website and optimize their position in the online marketplace.

Northeastern Pennsylvania’s leader in office supplies, printing and furniture with more than 100 years of experience, One Point needed a site that allowed customers and clients to shop quickly and easily through its catalog of products.

Through the BlackOut-designed site, One Point customers can keep their offices well-stocked and productive with just the click of a mouse.

Companies count on One Point to keep their offices working smoothly and One Point counts on BlackOut when bringing its reputation for exceptional quality, service and selection to the web.

BlackOut Design continued its commitment to fostering the cultural growth of the Greater Scranton area, producing a postcard to announce the latest exhibition at the Melberger Arts Center (MAC), 123 Wyoming Ave., Scranton.

The exhibit of works by Erin Miele titled “Oil & Encaustic” begins April 4 and runs through May 9. Working with the MAC Gallery, BlackOut generated full-color postcards featuring striking examples of Miele’s art.

If you’d like to view the exhibit, the MAC Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Weekend hours are available by appointment. For more information, call 570-239-2459, 570-343-2300 ext. 0 or visit www.melbergerartscenter.com.

Hemmler & Camayd Architects came to BlackOut Design looking for a website design as unique, innovative and bold as their own approach to architecture.

The nationally recognized Hemmler & Camayd, out of Scranton, Pa., needed a website that reflected the breadth of services they offer and that showcased the award-winning work they produce.

With enhanced navigation and vivid photos of Hemmler & Camayd’s architectural designs, the BlackOut-generated site creates an immersive experience for potential clients.

View the results of BlackOut’s work at www.hc-architects.com.