"Several times I requested Eliot help me to design a logo or web site, sometimes with or without an idea of what I would like, and he more than met my needs every time."

-R. Lastinger, Janus Information Security

It's All About the Brand.

My name is Eliot Bern. Right now you're probably wondering, "What is XXCIV? What does it mean? What does it do?" and I'm about to do my best to answer that.

I am an artist and XXCIV is my artistic signature. It is designed to stray from conventional thought and apply a more balanced approach to my initial way of thinking.  My initial thought, in 2002, was that my art would be a direct reflection of everything that has become me since I was born in ‘84. The generation in which I was born has a lot to do with the way I function. The whole process of growth and building on past experiences is very integral to human life. It is also very essential to art and design. I really didn’t like the way LXXXIV looked visually – so I changed it. Best of all, I didn’t ask anyone’s permission.

XXCIV designs things. On a public level it is responsible for producing logos, web sites, ads, brand identities, print materials, and numerous other corporate related marketing. On a personal level it makes paintings, photographs, books, drawings, illustrations, poetry, family memories, and clutter.

My goal in work, like so many others, is to do what I love and love what I do. When I’m helping people brand their business to be the best it can be, I’m there.

Domains!

Why letting someone else purchase one for you can be a nightmare.

Hello. I know we've just met, but I'd like to inform you that you are Bob and you own a bookstore. The bookstore is called Bob's Book Barn and you'd like to start a web site. While brainstorming the project you run across a supplier who offers an industry site, built with the basic tools, and it's all-inclusive. They provide the hosting, the templates, the technology, and - most importantly - the domain name.

BobsBookBarn.com now becomes the child of Mega Publishing because the cost is reasonable, much less than contracting a big firm and getting a completely custom solution and they are going to take care of everything.

Lets move forward 5 years. BBB.com start to grow. The reality of in-store shopping has started to dwindle He wants to start tracking results. Adding new features. Developing a more unified look. His problem is that Mega Publishing owns the rights to BobsBookBarn.com.

If Bob wants to make these radical changes, he has to purchase his domain name from them. You think they're going to make that painless? It's possible, just not probable.

• Purchase your own domain name. A good developer or agency will not have any problems forwarding the dns. If your fear here is managing it - get some kind of contract that says you own the domain.
• Make sure you don't let it slip away. Nothing is worse than building up traffic to a site then letting someone else sell it for a premium.