Hight-Jackson Web Site Pleasing (Web Review)

A smidgen of Flash animation flair and a stark black background give Hight-Jackson Associates a refined Internet presence. The informational site, found online at www.hjarch.com, offers a quick load and look at one of the 10 largest architectural firms in Northwest Arkansas.

Rogers-based Hight-Jackson set out to provide clients with an Internet overview of its services and products. We say the company exceeded its goal. The site connotes stability, style and maybe most importantly in today’s dot-com world — common sense.

Designworks, a Web design and computer consulting firm in Rogers, created the site in 1999 with the intention of making it an informational vehicle. Periodic updates have kept the site’s information fresh, but a more invasive upgrade is under way.

The first portion of the makeover included adding a “job opportunities” hyperlink that lets the world know Hight-Jackson is hiring another architect. That’s a handy tool, since the site gets about 80,000 visitors per year.

Designworks said the firm asked for a minimal design that would lend focus toward Hight-Jackson’s projects rather than simply toward the site itself. That’s accomplished through the sample projects link, which profiles such Hight-Jackson work as Rogers’ $6 million, 48,000-SF municipal building and Bentonville’s $8.1 million, 57,600-SF First Baptist Church.

One technician called the site, “slick” and “well-organized.” The minimal design and simple navigation really impressed him. One drawback, however, is that he could not get the “home” button to work during the review.

Two reviewers suggested that Hight-Jackson should offer interior views of its projects in addition to the exterior shots. We all agreed that would probably stimulate more business.

One designer said that for such a nice start, the site faded into a basic Helvetica funk. He would have liked to have seen the same feeling from the intro page continued throughout the site.

Even so, we were genuinely impressed with the professional image that can be created with a simple message and design. Hight-Jackson deserves credit for making yet another job “site” a fair and functional place to visit.

A smidgen of Flash animation flair and a stark black background give Hight-Jackson Associates a refined Internet presence. The informational site, found online at www.hjarch.com, offers a quick load and look at one of the 10 largest architectural firms in Northwest Arkansas.

Rogers-based Hight-Jackson set out to provide clients with an Internet overview of its services and products. We say the company exceeded its goal. The site connotes stability, style and maybe most importantly in today’s dot-com world — common sense.

Designworks, a Web design and computer consulting firm in Rogers, created the site in 1999 with the intention of making it an informational vehicle. Periodic updates have kept the site’s information fresh, but a more invasive upgrade is under way.

The first portion of the makeover included adding a “job opportunities” hyperlink that lets the world know Hight-Jackson is hiring another architect. That’s a handy tool, since the site gets about 80,000 visitors per year.

Designworks said the firm asked for a minimal design that would lend focus toward Hight-Jackson’s projects rather than simply toward the site itself. That’s accomplished through the sample projects link, which profiles such Hight-Jackson work as Rogers’ $6 million, 48,000-SF municipal building and Bentonville’s $8.1 million, 57,600-SF First Baptist Church.

One technician called the site, “slick” and “well-organized.” The minimal design and simple navigation really impressed him. One drawback, however, is that he could not get the “home” button to work during the review.

Two reviewers suggested that Hight-Jackson should offer interior views of its projects in addition to the exterior shots. We all agreed that would probably stimulate more business.

One designer said that for such a nice start, the site faded into a basic Helvetica funk. He would have liked to have seen the same feeling from the intro page continued throughout the site.

Even so, we were genuinely impressed with the professional image that can be created with a simple message and design. Hight-Jackson deserves credit for making yet another job “site” a fair and functional place to visit.