Has Facebook hired design firm Bolt Peters in attempt to fix reputation?

Washington -   Facebook has hired design firm Bolt Peters, even as rumors circulate that the social networking giant might have taken the initiative to fix its image and reputation, following the IPO bungle.

Bolt Peters, which has worked on more than 200 projects with clients that include Sony, HP, Electronic Arts, Volkswagen and the Washington Post, said the firm will closing up shop next month.

"We're thrilled the Bolt Peters team is joining Facebook," a Bolt spokeswoman said, confirming the deal.

"While we'll miss working with our amazing clients, we're stoked about Facebook's commitment to user experience, and the design team is a critical part of this," The Los Angeles Times quoted Nate Bolt, the company's president, as saying.

The move was seen around the Web as a step by Facebook to address its troubles generating revenue from mobile, it has disclosed in documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The news was also shared on the Facebook design team's page on the social network Thursday.

The post read: "The design team is growing again! Some of the award-winning Bolt Peters team is joining Facebook as we grow our user experience research group. For more than 10 years, Bolt Peters has worked with companies to improve the design of their sites, apps, devices, video games, and cars."