What do you get when you mix a longtime Austinite ISP master/URL visionary, an award-winning UT art graduate muralist turned web master, and a group of local dedicated networkers, branding specialists, web designers, and writers? A unique site dedicated to the Austin state of mind that celebrates all things we love about our city.
But getting here was not an easy journey and all of the people involved believe this was a product of fate, dreams, and real love for Austin. From the creators of a website that was acquired and shelved for 15 years, we thank you for your patience and hope to bring you exactly what this city needs: an online community reflective of the diverse Austin culture that’s guaranteed to rock your world.
Good things come to those who wait.
The URL was purchased in 1993 by tech visionary Bob Gustwick with hopes to create an online city guide packed with information for residents and visitors alike.
Meanwhile, Sean French, now austin.com’s Executive Editor and Production Director, had won the Best Mural Award for his innovative tropical mural that transformed the inside of the legendary eatery/music venue Liberty Lunch. While Austin grew technologically, French did too, shifting interest to the world of computers by creating animated displays for live music shows and his own company, Eyecon Interactive Media.
In 2004, two years after designing the first American Airlines website, French hooked up with Gustwick to dig deep on austin.com. Great offers to buy the URL and site landed on their laps, but with a mission in mind, Gustwick and French declined the offers and steered away from a corporate agenda.
A journey almost finished, only means you’re halfway there.
As content on the site began to grow, French sought out potential local advertisers and received a call back from realtor Fred Meyers, who was immediately struck by the site’s potential. In early 2008, with the intent to gather a core of great locals to fire up the site, Meyers introduced French to his longtime friend Steve Calkins and Calkins' business partner Meg Brown to help recreate the austin.com.
Sticking a few creatives in a room is a surefire way to get something cooking — and that’s how austin.com started expanding quickly. Art Director Lisa Herbert, Designer Lee Ann McVay and Managing Editor Danté Dominick spent countless hours revamping, branding, and updating the website's look, feel, and content.
Four hardworking months later, these dedicated people had reinvented austin.com — a site that had been waiting for the right type of people and content all along. Austin.com currently averages more than four million hits and nearly 80,000 unique visitors a month.
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The austin.com mission is to preserve, protect, and enhance Austin’s special character by reflecting Austin’s creativity, diversity, and weirdness while supporting local businesses and local non-profits.
