Stressdesign, a Syracuse-based design firm specializing in communications for business and education clients, recently completed a web design project for Sunshine Friends, Inc. (SFI). Development of this new site (sunshinefriends.org) involved the organization and management of the agency’s breadth of content and implementation of a secure member login for information and event registration.

Sunshine Friends provides a variety of animal assisted activities and animal assisted therapy services as well as educational programs. Approximately 100 SFI volunteers bring their pets to visit more than 600 residents at 45 facilities in Central New York including such areas such as Oswego, Auburn, Marcellus and Homer. The growth of SFI is evidence of the increasing popularity of using pets for therapeutic means.

The new Sunshine Friends website has already received an industry accolade. Stressdesign received a Gold award from the American Design Awards for the site design in the month of May. The entry by stressdesign was among 59 sites chosen from a pool of nearly 1,000 entries in May. The American Design Awards’ Monthly Design Awards are judged on three parameters: creativity, effectiveness and practicality.

Stressdesign collaborated with Laurie Ferger Associates on the programming of the Sunshine Friends site. In addition to the secure member workroom, other features include a newsroom, program listing and volunteer information.