For Immediate Release

Tasawr Interactive, the innovative Riyadh-based Branding and User Experience Design Agency has just completed the acquisition of the Riyadh and South Asia offices of tekSymmetry Interactive of Kansas City, KS USA.

The two agencies will combine to operate under the Tasawr Interactive name and according to Fahad Alanazy, the Managing Director of Tasawr Interactive things won't change very much.  The acquisition expands Tasawr's capacity to produce great work since it's adding 19 of the best Interactive Advertising and Agile Development experts to an organization that represents some of the best Branding and Interaction design Professionals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  He said, "This acquisition culminates a long standing mutual respect and admiration that each of our companies have had for one another since we began collaborating on various projects.  Tasawr is known for impeccable Branding and User Experience and Interaction Design across multiple digital mediums while tekSymmetry is in a class of its own in the country and the region as a great team of Agile Development professionals.  Their strong expertise in Web and Mobile development, Data Analytics, Search Engine Optimization, and Strategic Consulting will only propel us forward in many ways.  We literally started talking one day and had a deal ironed out within a week and that's just because we have the same goals, vision, aspirations, and modes of operation."

The terms of the acquisition have not been made public and are confidential. The two companies expect to integrate their offerings almost immediately and are already working on merging their resources and staff.

David Herring, a Partner and Creative Director at Tasawr said, "Tasawr and tekSymmetry are very familiar and comfortable with each other since we have worked together on numerous projects in the past with amazing results. Our aim in joining forces was to build upon each other's strengths to create an incredible interactive agency for our current and future clients."

Tim Abbott, the Chief Architect and cofounder of tekSymmetry, said, “Joining Tasawr was literally a no brainer.  While tekSymmetry has become a recognized name for the beauty and quality our work, we were looking for a partner that reflected our core values and everything that we believe an interactive agency should be.  Tasawr is a consummate agency and is similar to what tekSymmetry was in many ways.  We have always respected its team's passionate delivery, exceptional creativity, client focus, teamwork, and elegant design. I honestly think our two teams have always thought that a merger or acquisition was possible since its such a natural fit."

Tasawr Interactive is currently working on updating its website to reflect its expanded service offerings that are a result of the acquisition of tekSymmetry. Additionally, Tasawr Interactive expects to expand its market leading productivity solutions, bilingual hotel search and listing portal, www.moteel.com, as well as its other properties like, www.rummagepad.com, www.mogawil.com, and munasabah.com.

To find out more about Tasawr Interactive, please visit their website at www.tasawr.com or send an email to info[at]tasawr.com.

A few months ago we put out an APB for a Lead Designer. After looking through portfolio after portfolio, we found our newest team member, Anas Chinoy.

Anas, who is joining us from Bangalore, India, is a whiz when it comes to multi-media design and concepting.

We asked him a few questions to help everyone get acquainted with him and find out what goes on in the mind of our newest team member.

How did you end up working with design?

Come to think of it, I feel it was in my genes. I was just destined to be in this field. My father ran a printing press for a while and always had a passion for design, which he passed on to me. I got most of my training in aesthetics and design from him.

What are three things you can't live without?

1. Islam, 2. Food, 3. Sleep

Which sites do you visit on a daily basis?

www.aljazeera.net/english: It is an unbiased and professional news channel, which gives in-depth analysis on issues and events around the world.

www.youtube.com: This is the best video sharing website ever. You can find just about anything on youtube. It’s great infotainment.

www.smashingmagazine.com: Excellent resource on everything to do with design. Tips, tricks, tutorials, samples, and much more.

www.facebook.com: Best social networking site yet. It’s a great site to stay in touch with friends and acquaintances. I like its simplistic design and features.

www.geni.com: Family genealogy site.

What's the first thing you look for when you see a website?

Aesthetics/Creativity – People can come up with something that looks good, but if it lacks balance and creativity, then it just isn’t good enough. ‘Great Design’ is a combination of outstanding creativity and aesthetics.

What's one of the most profound statements you've ever heard?

"The world is a bridge; pass over it but build no house upon it. The world endures but an hour; spend that hour in devotion." - Fatehpur Sikri Inscription

We're looking for hands-on, passionate, talented Frontend Web Developers to join our team. Each interface we create, from web to mobile, demands superior design and usability experience. If you feel beauty is in the details, please proceed:

Overview

As a Tasawur Interactive Web Developer, your primary focus will be building and implementing high-quality user interfaces. You will work closely with a team of designers making sure the finished product is visually (and usably) perfect.

Our Web Developers are responsible for the final look and feel of our products - something we take pride in here at Tasawur. Along with the obvious characteristics, detail-oriented, passionate about problem-solving, we're looking for Web Developers who are hands-on, natural leaders who will work hard to ensure a beautiful, useable end result.

Knowledge & Qualifications

- Experience in hand-coding XHTML pages

- Extensive knowledge of CSS

- Several years of commercial development experience

- JavaScript library such as jQuery, Prototype, Dojo or similar

Preferred Experience

- A server side scripting language such as PHP, ASP, JSP, Ruby, Python (incl. OOP design patterns)

- Java, C#/.Net, C++

- Public API’s such as Flickr, Google maps or Facebook

The way you apply is just as important as the content of your application so be creative and demonstrate your knowledge of the industry. We are now accepting applications for both Intermediate and Senior levels, please send your best representation of your work and experience to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please mark your application “Web Developer Riyadh”.

Hi. My name is David Herring and I am the Creative Director at Tasawur Interactive.

I'm sitting in a hotel room in the heart of Saudi Arabia; Al-Qassim. I'm here to pitch a project to revitalize the image of a big name here in the Kingdom.

I use the word revitalize loosely because it implies some level of vitality, but the reality is that design in Saudi Arabia is about as dry as the hundreds of kilometers of desert that surround me.

I don't intend any insult, but the fact of the matter is that people here don't seem to understand the value of good design. So why is design so important?