Learning is what Hendrik-Jan Francke is all about. As a former professor of Visual Communications at the University of Delaware, he spent hours kindling the spark of comprehension in aspiring web design students.

Now, as owner and Creative Director of the successful web design studio, Bright Orange Thread, he spends his time learning about his clients’ marketing objectives and translating them into intelligently designed websites.

Designer to Professor

After a long stint at Mraz Design, Hendrik-Jan left to join the faculty at the University of Delaware in 1997. While there, he began Bright Orange Thread and taught web and graphic design to his students, covering disciplines such as information architecture, usability, interface design, and various programming languages. His graduates have gone on to work at nationally-recognized design studios and interactive agencies across the country.

Professor to Business Owner

In 2006, he left academia to focus on growing Bright Orange Thread full-time. Since then, he has steadily built a client list of diverse Delaware Valley businesses—from real estate and development firms to high-tech companies and non-profit organizations. The quality of Bright Orange Thread’s websites has led Hendrik-Jan to serve on the advisory committee for the design and interactive programs at Wilmington University and Salem Community College.

Hendrik-Jan brings a unique blend of creative energy, marketing insight, usability and technology expertise to each client engagement, striving to create the best and most productive user experience possible. Like any good teacher, he is constantly looking for new and better ways to achieve his client’s goals, and has developed proprietary products, such as the OrangeFresh content management system. He has also expanded into search-engine marketing, offering clients a full range of both organic and paid services.