Nitto Tire Named 'Best in Class' by 2011 Interactive Media Awards

CYPRESS, Calif., March 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nitto Tire, a leading producer of high performance tires, today announced that it is the winner of two awards in the 'Automobile' category of the prestigious 2011 Interactive Media Awards™ (IMA). Nitto was awarded 'Best in Class' for its Nitto Tire Mobile Launch and Nitto Tire Website Relaunch projects, developed by its digital Agency of Record, Cie Studios.

The Interactive Media Awards recognizes the highest standards of excellence in website design and development and honor individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievement. Created by the Interactive Media Council, Inc., a nonprofit organization of leading web designers, developers, programmers, advertisers and other web-related professionals, the competition is designed to elevate the standards of excellence on the Internet and offer winners a boost in marketing and exposure.

The Best in Class award is the highest honor bestowed by the Interactive Media Awards. It represents the very best in planning, execution and overall professionalism. In order to win this award level, submitted sites must successfully pass through the program's comprehensive judging process and achieve top marks in each judging criteria - an accomplishment only a fraction of sites in the IMA competition earn each year.

"To be named 'Best in Class' not once, but twice by the IMA, is a tremendous achievement for Nitto," said Stephen Leu, Marketing, Digital Strategist at Nitto. "These awards are a testament to the talented teams behind our creative projects. We are honored to be recognized by the IMA as it validates Nitto's innovation in the space."

Cie Studios, developer of custom social, mobile and web applications, was a major creative force that helped develop and produce the award-winning Nitto Tire Mobile Launch and the Nitto Tire Website Relaunch projects. In addition to Nitto, Cie Studios has also provided leading-edge interactive services for companies such as Pioneer Mobile and Home Electronics, Meguiar's, SEMA and Toyota/Scion. For more information about Cie Studios, visit www.CieStudios.com.

"Partnering with such a forward-thinking company as Nitto is a great honor for us," said Edward Yu, president of Cie Studios. "We are proud to collaborate with a client that allows us to do great work and we are excited to be recognized by winning two IMAs."

More than 90 entries were submitted in the 'Automobile' category for the 2011 Awards. IMA judges utilize a points-based scoring system that allows each entry to receive a maximum of 500 points. Projects are scored using five specific criteria, with a score from 0-100 awarded for each criterion, up to a maximum of 500. Websites receiving an overall score between 460 and 479 receive IMA's Outstanding Achievement award. Websites receiving an overall score between 480 and 500 receive IMA's Best in Class award. By adhering to the specific guidelines and criteria of this system, IMA judges are able to maintain the highest degree of fairness, accuracy and integrity; competently and effectively evaluate entries; and, deliver clear results.

For more information about the Interactive Media Awards, or to view a full list of winners, visit:  www.interactivemediaawards.com.

About Nitto Tire
Nitto Tire (www.nittotire.com) develops performance tires for all uses, including racing, off-road and street. Using state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities in both Japan and the United States – Nitto provides innovative and high-quality performance tires for the most demanding automotive enthusiasts. For more information about Nitto or its products, visit the company's web site or contact the company directly. Nitto is a registered trademark of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc., located at 5665 Plaza Drive, Ste. 250, Cypress, Calif., 90630.

About Cie Studios
Cie Studios, a business of Cie Digital Labs, is a developer of interactive applications for business, combining compelling user experiences and interactive technologies to improve business efficiency and create business opportunities. The company began in 1998 as an interactive services firm providing innovative digital marketing campaigns for companies like Nitto Tire U.S.A., Pioneer Mobile and Home Electronics, Chrysler, SEMA and Toyota/Scion. Today, Cie Studios has evolved into a developer of leading-edge interactive applications, applying 13 years of experience in interactive services to create business applications that incorporate social and gaming principles to increase usability and engagement.  Other Cie Digital Labs businesses are Cie Games, creator of Car Town, the popular Facebook game for car and racing enthusiasts; and PostRelease, an online content marketing platform.

Media Contacts:
Irving Der / Carol Lee
Rogers & Cowan
310-854-8194 / 310-854-8168
[email protected]
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SOURCE Nitto Tire