Aquent Challenges New England Web Designers to Get "Newd"; New England Web Design Awards To Recognize Region's Best Interactive Designers, Discover Hidden Talent.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 1, 1999--

Boston-based Aquent Partners today announced a first-of-its-kind awards program to recognize the best interactive design talent in New England. The New England Web Design (NEWD) Awards distinguishes itself from other Web awards programs in that it recognizes the cutting-edge creativity of individuals whether they work within and outside of the corporate community. The NEWD Awards are the only awards to honor individual contributions to the art and science of Web design.

"There is phenomenal work being created on the Web today and Aquent wanted to create an opportunity to publicly recognize individuals for their creativity, artistic expression and technological savvy," said John Chuang, Aquent's 34-year-old chief executive officer and co-founder. "The greatest technological innovation and creativity are coming as much from the home office as they are from the corporate cubicle. We are excited to see what undiscovered talent and unique Web sites we uncover through the NEWD awards."

Aquent is now seeking nominations from Web talent throughout New England and will present the first NEWD awards at a February 10 celebration at Avalon, a Boston nightclub. Individuals can nominate themselves or others via www.newdawards.com through December 31.

Winners will be selected by a panel of expert judges, including Catriona Lohan-Conway, creative director of iXL; David Batista, creative director of Circle.com; Hugh Flanigan, vice president and associate creative director of Strategic Interactive Group.

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

-- Best overall design -- Best portfolio/self-promotion site -- Best use of animation -- Best navigation/architecture -- Best e-zine/content site -- Best integration of multimedia in a web site -- Best student work

Aquent partnered with the Association of Internet Professionals (AIP) to develop the NEWD awards and has enlisted the support of sponsors including Adobe, Newbury Comics, Boston University Corporate Education Center, C-Bridge and Seyfarth, Shaw Fainweather & Geraldson.

Aquent Partners is a specialized talent agency providing both contract and permanent experts in the areas of Creative and Design, Production and Presentations, Web Applications and Development, and Systems Administration and Technical Support. The company launched its specialized staffing business in 1986 under the name MacTemps, adding three divisions - Portfolio and 1-800-NETWORK in 1995 and WebStaff in 1998 - to address the changing needs of technology professionals. Aquent Partners has placed more than 35,000 professionals in more than 30,000 client companies worldwide, and was recently named the official talent agency of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA).

Aquent is a $130 million dollar company dedicated to helping Independent Professionals (IPs) and the clients they work with. The company's "bricks and clicks" approach leverages both the Internet and a network of 51 offices around the globe to provide Independent Professionals access to work, professional training and the same insurance, retirement, and cash-flow benefits enjoyed by traditional, W-2 workers. Aquent's comprehensive portfolio of services for the Independent Professional can be accessed at www.aquent.com.