A Critique of

matchstic.com

by Terry Alters

Matchstic is a web and print design company with clients ranging from garage bands to corporate America. According to their founders Craig Johnson and Blake Howard, the company was founded on both a love for good design as well as a desire to give their clients a rewarding experience.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote "Passion rebuilds the world. It makes all things alive and significant". At matchstic, they believe their success is directly connected to the level of their passion. They say "It's the reason we come to the office, the reason we stay late. It's the reason work doesn't feel like work. It's the excitement and energy we bring to every blank page".

First Impression

The first impression I had when hitting the matchstic site is, "wow, this is going to be fun". The site is constructed with the same artistry and attention to detail that this group of guys give to every assignment. The flash banner at the top of the home page illustrates with subtle motion their philosophy that in today's overcrowded market, you have to be different to get noticed. If not, you'll blend in with the rest. To really make and impact, you have to standout.

What's new and what do we do?

The home page is simple but powerful. The left hand side is easy scrolled to learn more about the latest happenings at matchstic and the middle portion will immediately take you into a portfolio of their latest and greatest projects. Their work is categorized into four areas. They are print, web, identity and apparel. And I love how they have organized their "Featured Work" and "The Goods" sections in the main area of the home page. If the featured work is web development, then choosing to see more will show you additional examples of their web accomplishments. To round out their portfolio with the remaining categories, review "The Goods" for examples of the other three categories.

Inside the Studio

Before contacting matchstic, you might be interested with whom you might be dealing. Select the Studio link in the header area and you will see pictures of the principles and designers, along with a brief but humorous biography of each individual.