Neoteric is an old word...
... that means comtemporary, new, or modern. It's also a description of our style: we do great work, with honesty and integrity. Our style is clear and jargon free. We help our clients focus on the needs of their customers, as well as clarify the business goals of their projects. We’ve provided web services to businesses and organizations in the Chicagoland area since 1999. We’re a Chicago company, with mid-western values.
Nicholas Gracilla, Principal
I'm a marathoner and half-ironman athlete on my good years
I'm a fairly accomplished cook
I've studied French, German, and currently Spanish
Nick started Neoteric Design in the late 90's: his mission is to improve online user experiences. He serves as lead developer, art director, and project strategist. He continues his professional development through seminars, conferences, and associations, and trains in new web frameworks such as Ruby on Rails. He has had a number of speaking engagements on topics regarding website redesign, usability, and effective marketing copywriting, and is actively engaged in Chicagoland business and entrepreneurial networks. Nick received his Master’s from Northwestern University’s Department of Philosophy after graduating magna cum laude from Denison University, with Batchelor’s degrees in Computer Science and Philosophy.
Edward Blake, Designer
I recently donated my hair to Locks of Love
I'm a big history buff – most notably WWII
My elementary school was "Mount Jumbo" in Montana
Edward has worked as an assistant editor in Los Angeles for a number of television networks including MTV, VH1 and ABC. Before moving to LA, he received his BA from the University of Minnesota in Studio Arts, and his BFA from the Interactive Media Design Program at Illinois Institute of Art Chicago. He is an integral part of Urban Initiatives, a Chicago non-profit outreach program for children in underserved communities.
Sonia Yoon, Designer
11 years ago, a 2 ton tree fell on my car during a tornado, diverting my west-coast migration.
I wear white shoes all year round.
Once a day, at about 80, I realize I'm counting my steps.
Sonia helps to expand Neoteric’s design reach both on the Internet and in print. Her experience ranges from work on corporate branding and promotional campaigns to limited edition artist books and exhibition catalogs. She received her MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BFA from The Rhode Island School of Design. She continues to expand her artistic practice through her pursuits in visual arts and music. Outside of Neoteric Design, she manages the Creative Audio Archive at the Experimental Sound Studio and is also a founding member of ThreeWalls, an artist residency program in Chicago.
Josh Davey, Web Developer
I can solve the Rubik's Cube in under five minutes.
I was in show choir in high school (think drama geeks, hair spray and a whole lot of jazz hands).
I love breakfast food, especially for dinner.
In addition to coding, Josh extends our client training and usability testing services. Josh received his MA in Religious Studies from the Chicago Theological Seminary and his BA in Religious Studies from Anderson University in Indiana. With all that Greek and Hebrew, one might think his coding skills were just divine inspiration! But programming and user-centered design are just some of Josh's many interests, which span from music to literature to game design and technology.
Alumni
Travis Mandrell
Travis managed many areas of user experience design at Neoteric Design, including client training and support, interface research and implementation, design markup, information architecture, and content management software implementation. He received his MS in Human-Computer Interaction from DePaul University in June of 2008. Travis performs regularly with several musical groups and teaches voice and piano at the Paul Green School of Rock Music in Highwood, Illinois.