A new Bermuda company is introducing security with artistic flair and helping the Island catch up with trends in the rest of the world.

Bermudian Ivan Outerbridge's company Eye Designz offers plastic card printing, including identification and business cards, website design and custom pre-inked stamps.

A perfectionist whose products are constantly updated to keep up with evolving technology, Mr. Outerbridge has been in business four months and has been laying the groundwork for a successful business by meeting potential clients and getting to know their needs.

In a world becoming security mad, Mr. Outerbridge says he offers the most advanced and secure identification cards on the Island, and already has several deals with more projects in the pipeline.

"Bermuda doesn't have anything in the way of proper identification cards, either on the national level or the company level," he said.

However, with Mr. Outerbridge's cards, he says: "You are provided with a higher level of security for identification cards."

For example, he said the card he is currently designing for the Police has seven different visual security features including finger prints which makes it very difficult for someone to duplicate the card.

"I feel as part of national security they (Police) should have a standard ID that looks official and cannot be altered. Bermuda has a lackadaisical attitude when it comes to security." he said.

As an example, Mr. Outerbridge said: "I'm sure many Bermudians have flashed their Bermuda drivers license overseas and it has been laughed at."

His aim is to standardise government identification cards for all departments, including Police, Fire Department, H.M. Customs, as well as non-governmental organisations. He is also working with the parliamentary registrar to create standardised voter identification cards.

He also said that he implements the security features into the design of the card so that it is very pleasing to the eye.

"I design them rather than just print them."

Mr. Outerbridge's biggest project at the moment is to create membership cards for the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

He is also working on a new system in conjunction with Data Tech that is similar to debit and credit card machines except it can be used with cards specific to a store.

Shops can then have their own cards made as a replacement for gift certificates or "loyal customer cards", similar to systems used by companies such as Sears in the US.

Pre-inked stamps are another product that Mr. Outerbridge offers and he has already created custom stamps for some of the Islands largest insurance companies.

"I can guarantee that my images will be sharper than any image in Bermuda because of the technology I use," he said.

His stamps create images with 600 dpi (dots per inch) making them very clear by using a printer that is photo sensitive to give a "clear crisp image."

Customers already include schools as they can reproduce crests very clearly, as well as some of the Island's largest insurance companies.

In the highly competitive website design arena, Mr. Outerbridge's current projects include redesigning the Bermuda Post Office and the Lori McNeil Tennis Classic sites.

While Mr. Outerbridge says that most of his business currently is stamps, the identification and business cards are picking up, and more people are becoming interested in his website design.

He says that with all three of his areas, his focus is on quality customisation.

And in what he calls his "pet project," Mr. Outerbridge is creating hi-tech emergency contact cards which will contain vital information in the case of an emergency such as the person's insurer, allergies, contact information and so on.

He is currently focusing on creating the cards for young children and said: "I feel this could be a vital tool for child safety in Bermuda. It is convenient with all the information at your finger tips."

He is currently marketing the card to parents, who can buy three, one for each parent and one for whoever is responsible for the child, such as at day care centres or schools. He says that once the child is old enough, they can carry it themselves.

Mr. Outerbridge is also exploring corporate sponsorship for the cards and says a local company has already sponsored cards for 40 children at a nursery.

"I am always trying to do something new," he says. "We (in Bermuda) have gotten used to the way things are."

On the web: www.eye-designz.com.