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Premier Outdoor Light Design

Apex Outdoor Lighting is a premier provider of outdoor lighting services. Apex came to Eris as a new business that was looking for a website to match its ambitious goal of dominating the outdoor lighting industry in the western United Sates.

Our challenge for this project was in building a website for a brand that had yet to be established. Eris worked with Apex Outdoor Lighting to design a website and brand message that would serve as the stepping stone for its business. We honed in on the core items that would define the brand and translated those into the website. Eris segmented the website into three different service offerings: outdoor lighting design, consulting, and supply services.

Because Apex offers a variety of services, it was critical to nail down the messaging to avoid any potential confusion for the customer. Apex’s products are highly aesthetic; therefore, photos are a huge component of the website. Because each design project that Apex does is customized to the specific landscape and home, the photos showcase a great deal of diversity. The site is chocked full of premium nighttime photos provided by Eris Creative.

Details that Dazzle

Website Design

The black background of the site seemed like an obvious answer to accommodate the beautiful nighttime photography and high-end feel that Apex wanted for its site. Additionally, a user-friendly interface was essential to communicating Apex’s multiple services and products.

Photography Gallery

Capturing the effects of the lighting was one of the single most important aspects of the website. Our ability to capture exceptional nighttime lighting photography was what drew Apex to Eris initially. The nighttime or “starlight” photography that Eris provided for Apex Outdoor Lighting became the focal point of the website.

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Contact Information

A: 4017 SE Belmont St.
Portland, OR 97214

P: 503.740.0827

An Oregon native, Dustin is a serial entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio of businesses to run. His two largest roles are as president of both DC Builders, an elite design and construction firm, and DC Structures, a construction materials company. With more than a decade of leadership and management experience, Dustin lends his expertise to Eris Creative as the head of business development. Dustin lives in Portland with his wife Ilanah, son Maxton, daughter Violet, and dogs Piper and Marley.
Dustin Gruetter
Owner
Dustin Gruetter
An Oregon native, Dustin is a serial entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio of businesses to run. His two largest roles are as president of both DC Builders, an elite design and construction firm, and DC Structures, a construction materials company. With more than a decade of leadership and management experience, Dustin lends his expertise to Eris Creative as the head of business development. Dustin lives in Portland with his wife Ilanah, son Maxton, daughter Violet, and dogs Piper and Marley.
Owner
Rick began his professional career in Hollywood reading screenplays for executives like Leonardo DiCaprio and Sid Ganis. With a joint degree in business and cinematic arts from the University of Southern California, Rick moved back to his native Oregon to co-found international, multilingual internet yellow pages startup Cybo.com.

In 2013, Rick joined nationwide design and construction firm DC Builders to revolutionize its digital marketing strategy. Inspired by their success, Rick and DC President Dustin Gruetter decided to beef up their marketing team and turn it into Eris Creative, a boutique digital marketing agency. Rick lives in the St. Johns neighborhood and enjoys hiking, fishing, and adding to his ever-growing record collection.
Rick Vranish
Marketing Director
Rick Vranish
Rick began his professional career in Hollywood reading screenplays for executives like Leonardo DiCaprio and Sid Ganis. With a joint degree in business and cinematic arts from the University of Southern California, Rick moved back to his native Oregon to co-found international, multilingual internet yellow pages startup Cybo.com.

In 2013, Rick joined nationwide design and construction firm DC Builders to revolutionize its digital marketing strategy. Inspired by their success, Rick and DC President Dustin Gruetter decided to beef up their marketing team and turn it into Eris Creative, a boutique digital marketing agency. Rick lives in the St. Johns neighborhood and enjoys hiking, fishing, and adding to his ever-growing record collection.
Marketing Director
Pat is the creative force behind Eris. A graduate of the University of Oregon art school, Pat diversified his client portfolio by working in both the Pacific Northwest and Southern California markets. Pat’s expertise spans a range of mediums.

Whether it’s focusing his attention on user interface and web design, or building brands through strong logo design and print collateral, Pat is always happy to do what he loves most: design. Pat takes great pride in his work and the relationships he builds with his clients. If Pat isn’t at his desk designing, he’s most likely out in Portland enjoying live music or a good beer with friends.
Patrick McElderry
Creative Director
Patrick McElderry
Pat is the creative force behind Eris. A graduate of the University of Oregon art school, Pat diversified his client portfolio by working in both the Pacific Northwest and Southern California markets. Pat’s expertise spans a range of mediums.

Whether it’s focusing his attention on user interface and web design, or building brands through strong logo design and print collateral, Pat is always happy to do what he loves most: design. Pat takes great pride in his work and the relationships he builds with his clients. If Pat isn’t at his desk designing, he’s most likely out in Portland enjoying live music or a good beer with friends.
Creative Director
Whitney is a savvy wordsmith with roots in student journalism. While pursuing communication studies at Portland State, she served as editor-in-chief of the university newspaper. Whitney led the editorial team to 19 state awards—including the first-place award for general excellence.

A self-proclaimed herder of kittens, Whitney applies her project management skills to keep things moving efficiently and ahead of deadline. She draws creative inspiration from a diverse resume of agency and freelance experience. Whitney loves international travel and aims to spend her free time outside whenever possible. If she isn’t hiking, biking, or striving for some zen on the yoga mat, you can probably find her wherever the good food is.
Whitney Beyer
Project Manager
Whitney Beyer
Whitney is a savvy wordsmith with roots in student journalism. While pursuing communication studies at Portland State, she served as editor-in-chief of the university newspaper. Whitney led the editorial team to 19 state awards—including the first-place award for general excellence.

A self-proclaimed herder of kittens, Whitney applies her project management skills to keep things moving efficiently and ahead of deadline. She draws creative inspiration from a diverse resume of agency and freelance experience. Whitney loves international travel and aims to spend her free time outside whenever possible. If she isn’t hiking, biking, or striving for some zen on the yoga mat, you can probably find her wherever the good food is.
Project Manager
Justin is an extremely talented photographer with more than 15 years of photography and video production experience. His eye for imagery was developed and refined while working on projects within the ski and snowboard industry. Justin has taken photos of a lot of cool things, but his favorite subject to shoot is always his family.

A football fan who roots for both the Oakland Raiders and the Oregon Ducks, Justin likes to spend his free time camping or foraging for wild mushrooms.
Justin Wiegand
Photo/Video
Justin Wiegand
Justin is an extremely talented photographer with more than 15 years of photography and video production experience. His eye for imagery was developed and refined while working on projects within the ski and snowboard industry. Justin has taken photos of a lot of cool things, but his favorite subject to shoot is always his family.

A football fan who roots for both the Oakland Raiders and the Oregon Ducks, Justin likes to spend his free time camping or foraging for wild mushrooms.
Photo/Video
Born and raised in Portland, Rikki is the Eris go-to for client satisfaction. Rikki graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism and public relations, and is particularly enthusiastic about social media strategy and execution. Rikki began her career in social media management at a Portland tech startup in 2015. Since joining the Eris team, she’s come to inhabit client management and business development roles.

Outside of work, Rikki enjoys going to concerts, rooting for the Oregon Ducks football team, and trying new restaurants. She is familiar with every sushi restaurant within a two-mile radius of both the Eris office and her house.
Rikki Ford
Account Coordinator
Rikki Ford
Born and raised in Portland, Rikki is the Eris go-to for client satisfaction. Rikki graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism and public relations, and is particularly enthusiastic about social media strategy and execution. Rikki began her career in social media management at a Portland tech startup in 2015. Since joining the Eris team, she’s come to inhabit client management and business development roles.

Outside of work, Rikki enjoys going to concerts, rooting for the Oregon Ducks football team, and trying new restaurants. She is familiar with every sushi restaurant within a two-mile radius of both the Eris office and her house.
Account Coordinator
Spencer is a diversely talented content producer whose expertise spans a variety of mediums. Born and raised in Portland, Spencer draws inspiration from the unique people and places of the rose city to tell compelling stories for clients. Since Graduating from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication in 2014, Spencer has continued to leverage curiosity and creative interests to follow his dream of producing influential projects for interesting people.
Spencer Knowles
Marketing Coordinator
Spencer Knowles
Spencer is a diversely talented content producer whose expertise spans a variety of mediums. Born and raised in Portland, Spencer draws inspiration from the unique people and places of the rose city to tell compelling stories for clients. Since Graduating from the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication in 2014, Spencer has continued to leverage curiosity and creative interests to follow his dream of producing influential projects for interesting people.
Marketing Coordinator
Anna’s interest in the creative field began by understanding the need for good design and seeking out how to be a part of the solution. After receiving her undergraduate degree in marketing and graphic design from the University of North Georgia, she moved to Oregon to fine-tune her skills.

With professional experience spanning both marketing and design, Anna has employed her skills to build a restaurant brand, strengthen the digital user experience for market research apps, and create collateral for startup businesses. On the weekends, Anna is looking for the best cup of coffee, a new hike to discover, and creative ways to help people build their personal brands.
Anna Harkness
Designer
Anna Harkness
Anna’s interest in the creative field began by understanding the need for good design and seeking out how to be a part of the solution. After receiving her undergraduate degree in marketing and graphic design from the University of North Georgia, she moved to Oregon to fine-tune her skills.

With professional experience spanning both marketing and design, Anna has employed her skills to build a restaurant brand, strengthen the digital user experience for market research apps, and create collateral for startup businesses. On the weekends, Anna is looking for the best cup of coffee, a new hike to discover, and creative ways to help people build their personal brands.
Designer
Jill is a versatile designer who graduated from the Art Institute of Portland with a degree in web and graphic design and a minor in photography. Inspired by the Bauhaus design movement and macro photography, Jill’s skills are evident in her diverse portfolio of freelance projects. Her favorite project was a book for the San Francisco Giants that benefitted the ALS Foundation.

A Bay Area native, Jill has lived in Oregon since 2010. Her favorite activities are all outdoors, and include rock climbing, camping, and kayaking. She appreciates all shapes and sizes of French fries and wishes to travel as often as she possibly can.
Jill Sockolov
Junior Graphic Designer
Jill Sockolov
Jill is a versatile designer who graduated from the Art Institute of Portland with a degree in web and graphic design and a minor in photography. Inspired by the Bauhaus design movement and macro photography, Jill’s skills are evident in her diverse portfolio of freelance projects. Her favorite project was a book for the San Francisco Giants that benefitted the ALS Foundation.

A Bay Area native, Jill has lived in Oregon since 2010. Her favorite activities are all outdoors, and include rock climbing, camping, and kayaking. She appreciates all shapes and sizes of French fries and wishes to travel as often as she possibly can.
Junior Graphic Designer