Archive for FINE News

Tsilli Pines interviewed on The Art of Non-Conformity


1 March 2010 | 1 comment


Though i sure wish we could come up with a different word for quit… evolve, transform or even transmogrify? Our own beloved Tsilli Pines will succeed in anything she sets her mind to. Interviewed here on The Art of Non-conformity, we can’t describe just how proud we are of her. See for yourself.

Continuum Estate Wine


3 February 2010 | Comments Off

An artistic site to match an artistic wine. Continuum Estate was founded by members of the winery royalty Mondavi family in 2005 with the goal of producing a single, elegant estate wine. With that clear focus, a brand emerges in clear, dramatic fashion as soon as you arrive on the site.

FINE designed the new winery website using the gorgeous “Light of the Vine” painting (created by Chiara Mondavi, and which also graces the Continuum labels) as inspiration.

Inspired by the name, the wine website design operates on a continuum, navigable as a continuous linear reel, in one of the more overt examples of how function and interaction can have as much brand impact as words and imagery.

View the project

A Better Place Created: SSA Landscape Architects


2 February 2010 | Comments Off

SSA Landscape Architects is in the business of landscapes that are as sustainable as they are beautiful. Their own improved online destination’s simple, Zen-gardenesque portfolio makes touring SSALA’s work like a walk in the park.

And don’t forget to stop and smell the roses on this site, including the flash portfolio,  which includes personalized portfolio tour functionality, the “What’s New” drawer on the home page, and the custom flora illustrations in the background.

View SSA Landscape Architects website

Snoqualmie Vineyards Website


2 February 2010 | Comments Off

Organic, natural, sustainable – words you might use to describe both Snoqualmie Vineyards excellent wines and their brand new FINE-designed website.

The illustration-driven style is a perfect pairing for Snoqualmie’s “au-naturel” branding, and the overall look and feel of the website is as true to this Ste. Michelle winery’s ‘varietal’ as their wines are to the terroir.

Take a look…

Six Word Novel Day Highlights


31 January 2010 | Comments Off

Creative folk abound. Some of use had busier days than anticipated, but that didn’t hold some back. Thanks to all the FINE friends who played. Here are some highlights. If i’ve missed any highlights that just must be in here… see comments area (0;

~ Josh
Senate vote for sale. Highest bidder.
In the end, it’s a start.

~ Jonathan Fields
Guilty pleasure, love watching Shark Tank

~ Scott
learned to cook, ate much better
wanted job, found job, miserable now

~ Paige
Murder in the kitchen. No coffee.

~ David
Patiently waiting, much like his ancestors

~ Mira
Wallet. Left it in El Segundo.
You cannot define me. I’m me.

~ Anonymous FINE friend
Awoke today, diamond on left hand. 

~ Pam Gazley
It was good for me too.
You are cute, kids are too.

~ Abigail Crome
World is orange. Light is misty.

~ Kenn
I’m older, sometimes confused, and Angry.
Fruitful divorce. Now i have friends.

Vegas. Wish i’d forgot my wallet.


29 January 2010 | 1 comment

Vegas. Wish i’d forgot my wallet.

On a Boat Y’all!


24 January 2010 | Comments Off

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FINE design group helps Hornblower Cruises and Events launch more than simply a website, but brand transformation. What you see on the new site is a culminating element among multiple re-branding efforts, including a new tagline, copy, advertising, and imagery approach that’s now infused throughout their marketing outreach. The cumulative effect is a new company identity for Hornblower that starts to lift them out of “bridge and tunnel” perceptions and focuses on the remarkable experience they provide. It’s not cheap to take a boat cruise, so the overall effort has been to show that the “on board experience” is truly special, while still allowing for promotional messaging aimed mostly at selling charters and putting “butts in seats” every weekend. The battle to keep image/experience at the forefront of their marketing instead of price and schedule is ongoing, but the website is a great example of that mission.

Learn more about our work with travel and hospitality industry leaders.

FINE launches Jordanwinery.com


24 January 2010 | Comments Off

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Despite its renown, Jordan Vineyard & Winery still has the feel of a family affair. Which may explain why the photo galleries, like family photo albums, play such a central role throughout the site, from the extensible rotation of imagery on the home page, to the scrolling and expanding galleries within. And there’s a goat contest, of course: the first one to find the picture of the goats, gets to look at a picture of goats.

Blackstone and FINE, a Great Pairing


20 January 2010 | Comments Off

Blackstone Winery makes America’s top selling Merlot. It’s reliably smooth and harmonious, like a good Merlot should be, and you can count on it every time. Coincidentally, that’s also how a good website should be, as you’ll see on their newly launched home.

Blackstone is all about pairing their excellent wine with excellent food, and four times a year the “Seasonal Feast” section of the website brings you amazing recipes from fabu chefs celebrating the season, of course with Blackstone vintage pairing recommendations. Dandelion Greens with Bacon and Garlic Goat Cheese Croutons and a big glass of Blackstone’s Sauvignon Blanc, anyone?

View the project

Reaching The Crest


14 January 2010 | Comments Off

The #1 wine in all of the land? Wine Spectator says Columbia Crest’s Cab is at the top of the heap. See how we use color schemes and backgrounds to help sort out the tier-driven sub-branding. Plus, flash-fu and recipes from Booby Flay.