Artgig Studio and ESI Design Launch New JFK50.org Website for the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

News provided by

Feb 09, 2011, 08:35 ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Artgig Studio, a full-service interactive agency located in Westchester, NY, in association with ESI Design, Ager Meillier Films and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, announces the launch of JFK50.org, an interactive website celebrating the 50th anniversary of the presidency of John F. Kennedy, and offering inspiration to participate in the legacy of the singular leader.

As the centerpiece of the anniversary celebration, http://www.JFK50.org was created to invite young visitors to explore the legacy of JFK through the core themes of public service, science and innovation, civil rights, domestic affairs, the arts, foreign policy and diplomacy and the environment.

Matthew Kicinski, President of Artgig, says he was thrilled to be a part of this project. "In my family, Kennedy was and still is an icon for universal equality, peace and advancement. Being given this opportunity to encourage other people to learn about the Kennedy Presidency - well that is a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Artgig and ESI worked in close collaboration with the Kennedy Presidential Library. "As we celebrate 50 years since President Kennedy took office, we want to reach out to a generation that has grown up with the Internet and invite them to discover JFK's legacy on their own terms and in fresh, new ways," said Tom Putnam, Director of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. "It is our hope that by providing today's students with a way to experience the excitement of the Kennedy presidency we will ignite their imagination and inspire them to embrace the challenges of our times."

Frank Migliorelli, SVP of Design at New York-based ESI Design, was responsible for envisioning the directive and building the creative teams. "We've worked with Artgig and Ager Meillier on other projects, so we hit the ground running. Once we settled on design and functionality, production was pretty straightforward. Content, on the other hand, was a bit more challenging because we're mixing historical footage and media with fresh, current perspectives. Our writer, Dan Marwit, and the rest of the team were racing the clock to get it all written, cleared and produced for launch."

JFK50.org, launched on the anniversary of JFK's inauguration as the 35th President of the United States, will serve as the principal online destination for the worldwide celebration honoring President Kennedy, providing scholars, artists, teachers and cultural institutions around the world with a wealth of resource material on America's 35th president.

"JFK was a media-savvy guy," says Migliorelli. "He embraced all platforms of communication - you can see it in the countless televised addresses, radio speeches, photos and films - all new technology to that era. We went out of our way to include a huge amount of that media as well as what will eventually amount to hundreds of videos in the Legacy Gallery that are the thoughts and dreams of the current generation. People ranging from Matt Damon and Wynton Marsalis to Stephen Colbert and Nancy Pelosi, as well as a lot of young people - our future leaders. It's an amazing testament to our steadfast aim to effect change."

"Simultaneously," adds Kicinski, "we were committed to making it all available to every person on every type of device. On your computer you can view it in a rich Flash presentation, or default to HTML for accessibility. On mobile devices and the iPad you'll get all of the media delivered in a friendly lightweight HTML5 presentation.

"But what really excites me is the History Now section. We wanted to make history speak in a contemporary language. And so the History Now section of the site was born - transforming formerly dry, colorless information into a graphic novel-styled panorama. The timeline is peppered with major events taking place during the three years of the Kennedy presidency, like JFK's inauguration and the Bay of Pigs invasion, that unfold on the same date they occurred 50 years ago. It's our own version of a time machine. And we think it's pretty cool."

About the John F. Kennedy Library

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is one of 13 presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration and is supported, in part, by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, a non-profit organization. The Kennedy Presidential Library and the Kennedy Library Foundation seek to promote, through educational and community programs, a greater appreciation and understanding of American politics, history, and culture, the process of governing and the importance of public service.

About Artgig Studio

Artgig is a complete interactive design and development team, with over 15 years experience creating custom websites, games, and applications for a variety of clients and industries.