Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Robotmania

This site will be of special interest to anyone fascinated by the dreamy age of space travel and technology, and of course to collectors and fans of 50s and 60s tin toys. The amount of creativity and artistic talent that went into crafting this collection of space-themed toys and robots is truly amazing—certainly these unique pieces define a bygone era not to be repeated again. And the Flash site by Alberto Cerriteno is a perfect blend of modern, yet rustic design... and even includes a retro game of Space Invaders.

Designed by: Alberto Cerriteno

notsosimpleton

Myron Campbell is an artist and designer whose mixed media work is immersed in ideas surrounding consciousness and the subconscious, dream states and fairy tales. He uses painting, drawing, digital art, sound, collage and 2D animation to explore and create his bizarre visions. So now, enter his dreams and explore his thoughts in this fragile, patchwork site of his subconscious mind.

C'koi Ce Hold Up

Publicis Net has just released this funky animated website for SFR (part of Vodafone Group). Even if the site is in French, you should enjoy browsing through it, checking out the cool designer characters and flash animations. The site was created by Publicis Net in collaboration with Paris based creative studio Hellohikimori. And it looks like they had a lot of fun making it!

Playb3yond

It's not often when the future of a major music and entertainment company like Sony rests on the release of a single product. So when you debut two new technologies in one gaming system and sell it for a $400 loss in hopes of making billions down the road... Yup! Sounds like the perfect reason to blow even more money on an extravagant, animated web advertisement - complete with Captain Kirk voice overs! Sadly, at the end of 15 minutes, the site is ultimately an expensive, 3-D marketing brochure with lots of glitz and no interactive substance (somehow, Shatner specialties). However, it also makes us salivate for the very latest in high-definition gaming and graphics. Sony is drawing deep into its brand loyalty cachet and they are betting it all on this console's success. It shows in this high-end video production, but where's the web2.0 love?

DUBOIS meets FUGGER

DUBOIS meets FUGGER is a Belgian agency with an extremely creative website, featuring a funny little man, 31 different transitional animations and 5 little secrets hidden throughout the website. Probably one of the finer online works we've found, and certainly the best of 2007, so far. "Dubois" creates print, advertising and publicity for a number of established Belgian agencies. Enjoy this playful site, with illustrations by Eugene and Louise. Flash design by Studio Plum.

Designed by: Studio Plum

Rexona | Action City

Posted under animation & game design, promotional design.

Although we've all seen 3D immersive sites before, some of the newest breed take it to an uncommonly high level of detail. Take for example the Rexona (also know as Degree deodorant in the U.S.) "Action City" site, which takes its cue from a very popular stunt man TV commercial produced in 2006. It has 3D graphics rivaling next-generation video games, but due to the medium, contains only 1% of the actual full-environmental funtionality—which truthfully, given the medium, is quite an accomplishment. That being said, don't miss the mini-game and the many little hidden clickables. Overall, an A+ for gratuitous graphics.

Nestea Ice

Featuring funny animated clip-art, flourishes and purely mystical landscapes, the immersive Nestea Ice site comes off as a funky cross falling somewhere between Monthy Python and an animated version of the North Pole on Zoloft. Currently hosted live only on Juxt's site, this fantasy world of Nestea Ice hopefully lives on—it's a perfect case-study of a dream design for any illustration and interactive Flash animation team.

Designed by: Juxt Interactive

Doritos | Snack Strong

With a bit of nacho-on-tongue-in-cheek showmanship, Doritos beings us into their immersive virtual 3D hollywood production set, which doubles as a slighty apocalyptic-hued fantasy secret lab. Again, the detail in these animations is certainly beyond the scope of reasonable spending, but the results are really impressive. There is more than enough eye-candy to go around—down to the randomness programmed into little ant-like people on the ground... and it's only 2/5 complete as three more sections are due to be released in the near future. As a big childhood fan of original Doritos, I'm personally not sure why they need 15 new flavors, but evidently these guys have more time on their hands than you can shake a spice rack at.

Doritos | Snack Strong [error creating link to file, found in indivividualArchive.webdesign.tmpl]

Oral Fix | The Chocolate Factory

A highly creative fantasy mixture between a unique mint companies' real factory and a sophisticated virtual playground. Oral Fixation's immersive 3D world offers more explorable pieces than most sites of the genre. We liked how you can re-skin the atmosphere and time of day, which is normally based on the actual conditions at the real company; located in an old chocolate factory in New Jersey. But besides the high-end graphics and addition of skins, Oral Fix is a company interested in true involvement, which consists of (for one example) giving 10% of profits to the Free Tibet Movement*. Perhaps the only 'draw-back' is there is too much to explore—at this point, we haven't found half the stuff they claim is hidden in the site. Which only means we'll have to come back and get our fix at another time of day.

the truth

the truth is a subversive anti-smoking campaign that raises anti-smoking awareness through staged marketing activities – which are then broadcast globally and spread infectiously. What you may not know about this campaign is that it is indirectly funded by big tobacco firms themselves, who settled huge tobacco suits in the late 90's and were forced to pay the 46 suing U.S. States – who set up the The American Legacy Foundation in 1999, which in turn funds 'truth'. Therefore the campaigns you see are the product of the industry's fangs biting its own tail—the same campaigns that use creative marketing installations to spread calamitous truths about the harms of smoking. It's a very interesting paradox... and very well-funded... which means it's very well designed. So spread it!

Get the Glass!

As, one of the first (and only) web games we've played more than once, this "advertainment" for the Got Milk? campaign is far-and-away the best produced and realized game sites we've seen since... well, since ever! From the artistry of the characters, to the 3D realization of the island, to the graphic elements, typography... this virtual recreation of a simple board-game comes together like a cold glass of milk and chocolate chip cookies. And of course, this award winning site (Cannes Lion 2006) site was produced by a Swedish firm... who else? Much to love about this design. Now, "can I please get the glass?".

Designed by: North Kingdom

Simpsonize Me

Can't really say too much about how beautiful this site is... Upload a photo. Adjust some options. And Simpsonize yourself! Great tie-in with Burger King's brand message of "have it your way". Developed by German agency Cortona. Brilliant!

Designed by: Cortona

Monday, October 1, 2007

David Carson Design

"David Carson continues to be one of the world's most distinctive typographic voices--
much imitated, but never matched," - Ellen Lupton. Well, we'd have to say that about sums it up in a nutshell. The typographic wizard himself has a site where you can explore a lifetime of showcase studies and keep tabs on the man. Most recently at this re-write, we are eagerly following the release of his latest graphic design book, titled Trek.

Clients: Microsoft, Giorgio Armani, GIBBES Museum of Art

Paul Snowden

Paul Snowden is our kind of designer... A true designer for the new millenium. So, forget what you know and enter a world where design is based around simple shapes, complex ideas and good solutions. Be sure to check out the various projects - there are bold type solutions and a theme of strong graphic attitude that runs through his work. And that's what's cool to us.

hi-res!

The sites of hi-res! are truly multisensory explorations, immersing you somewhere between experimental web art and a fantastic dream. The rich worlds they create encourage both personal interaction and unique interpretation. This firm's site and portfolio are constantly in a state of innovation. This brings us big grins and makes our hearts go boom-boom-boom.

Clients: Requiem For A Dream, Donnie Darko

Futurefarmers

Futurefarmers is cultivating your consciousness with a bevy of animated critters, wry humor, and a brand that has propelled founder Amy Franceschini to designer stardom. It has also captured such clients as Adobe, The New York Times, Swatch, and a creative cache of hip San Francisco galleries. The web site sports an impressive corporate portfolio and an array of visual stimuli, "for-fun" projects, and web dramas. The latter range from "Deface the President" to a Kosovo Elf shoot 'em up game. The firm's fascinating book,

Harvest, is available for purchase, too. These folks never sleep... and we want some o' what they use!

Clients: Adobe, New York Times, Swatch

Agency.com

Agency is a techno-Cinderella sort of story; it began in a humble back room in New York in 1995, and now has a solid and still growing blue-chip client base. Their web site touts the firm's broad-based conceptual approach, which means you'll get all the buzzwords, from "user-centric approaches" to "templating, workflow and deployment." But besides the talk, Agency really outdoes itself each year, having gone public and back to private again, surviving the bursting bubble, and yet they still gain recognition after 10 years in the interactive biz... Undeniably, Agency.com has the goods and the act to prove it.

Clients: Reuters, British Airways, T-Mobile

Imagination Group

Ladies and Gentleman, Digitalthread is pleased to present, The Big Boys. With offices peppered over Europe, Asia and North America, strategic location is merely a hint at the skills this communication catch-all holds. Indulge us for a moment, you're a corporation looking for some design firepower and we're a wise-guy reviewer. You want brand experience events and environments? Check. New media presentations for financial roadshows? Check. Perhaps, film, websites, live performance or even interior design? Check, check, check, check. You get the point? The projects are as impressive as the client list - but we have the sneaky suspicion they don't do missing dog flyers. (Snobs.)

DED Associates

DED Associates is an international design agency. Its output is diverse, crossing print, film, websites and other visual media and featuring commissions from clients in business, publishing and the arts, as well as self-initiated projects. Founded by Jon and Nik Daughtry in 1991, DED pursues its own, ultra-contemporary path in design. Quirky graphics and typo-manipulation are product du jour – well done and expressively crisp – like the best lemonade you’ve ever had, served in a dirty glass.

Clients: EMI, Nissan, MTV

Fork Unstable Media

These guys are just plain cool – they have the product and they aren’t afraid to make a song & dance of it – literally. Websites, video, audio (their favorite media/pastime), a dash of print and a liberal sprinkling of branding over all. It’s also worth mentioning that the products are styled to suit the individual clients. Stick a Fork in it – it’s done.

Clients: Nivea, Adidias, Vodafone

firstborn

Firstborn does really lovely, effective work that isn't limited to websites—they reach all the way to the relatively antique advertising method known as printing brochures. You know, the kind of thing that uses paper? Check out their website for more info on who they are, what they do, why you'd want to work with them, etc. You'll join an impressive, eclectic bunch: Bacardi, Calvin Klein, Madonna, Columbia University. Sounds like a great party.

Clients: Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Bacardi

the barbarian group

Okay, you have to admit that Burger King's Subservient Chicken website is a riot. You know the one—the psuedo live video feed of a guy in a chicken suit who will do anything you want? It's hilarious and brilliant (and got over one billion hits), which is why we are excited to learn that barbarian group was the firm behind it. Their entire modus operandi, while exceedingly professional, is to create unique and surprising online advertising. Visit their website. You'll find links to a host of large projects, and not just games... but Flash specialty marketing, hotsites, and online advertising... but also a whole slew of cool online games. Marketing made fun.

Clients: Volkswagen, HP, Saturn

Createthe

Createthe (imagine a space between the syllables) has an open-ended name, suggesting that they can create...well, whatever you want. Their web and graphic design work has been used extensively by the fashion industry, which is a notoriously tough customer. Createthe also creates proprietary software so the client can run and update the final product themselves. Sometimes we visit these sites and wonder "why didn't WE think of that?" Oh, right. We're not smart enough. Fortunately, Createthe is.

Clients: Bottega Veneta, Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Print Ad of the Week

Bazooka Bubble Gum

Credits

Ad Agency : Duval Guillaume, Brussels
Art Director : Christian Loos
Copywriter : Raoul Maris
Photographer : Marcel Veelo

Friday, September 14, 2007

Magnani Caruso Dutton

Although you'll find almost no information about this company on their website, this top-of-the-froth design firm is probably one of the most successful interactive design firms around today. Working across a wide spectrum of clients, the company is known for its smart, clear thinking and precise design execution. If you really want the scoop, and you're on their insider list, they put together a entire graphic design book of their work almost every year - an impressive portfolio for a company that really flies under the radar.

Clients: HBO, Capital One, ATT

Terra Incognita

An interpretive design studio that produces beautiful interactive educational experiences… And they do it well – with a beautifully structured, richly ambient web presence that mirrors the award winning projects they’ve completed. Experts in storytelling and specializing in highly interactive online exhibits built from databases on up, Terra Incognita provides the destination as well as the journey—like public broadcasting 24/7.

Clients: National Geographic, Getty Museum, Library of Congress

Hello Hikimori

Hello indeed. And what a welcome! Hello Hikimori is a tight-knit French design studio focusing on "global new media design". As you might expect, this means mostly web, print and motion design, and includes everything from a luxury cosmetics site to designer t-shirts. For a two person studio, HKI pumps out some really amazing print work. But what really struck us is the inspiring Flash-based design of their portfolio. The site establishes a new paradigm for interaction by mimicking a browser, with a right scroller, yet throws in some really sexy details. It's really fun to play with, very sticky, and we predict that this type of design will be copied by many other companies in the future. Truly novel thinking and interaction that sets the bar higher for all portfolio websites to come.

Knowawall Design

Knowawall puts together content with imaginative technical aspects to create refined digital online experiences. Mostly specializing in portfolio sites for professional photographers and architects, their navigation schemes are simple and solid... And because Knowawall puts extra effort, energy and knowledge into each web site they build, you always get something unique. They often build in content management or e-commerce into their Flash sites... going the extra mile so there is always more than meets the eye... Geez. Just like little know-it-alls.

Big Spaceship

Remember the days when films just had posters and maybe a trailer or two? Big Spaceship was one of the firms to change that. These guys are behind the websites of many of the major Hollywood films you've seen recently. We love visiting websites for movies—especially when the website is better than the movie itself. (Catwoman, we're looking your way.) But that's not where the Big Spaceship stops. They've also produced cutting edge Flash sites for Nike and Coca-Cola... well, you ask; "who hasn't?" That's true... but at least they're not one-trick-Hollywood-ponys.

Clients: ABC, Google, MoMA

AKQA

AKQA is a long-running global interactive agency, which in 2005 was awarded the distinction as the first-ever Interactive Agency of the Year from Advertising Age Magazine. AKQA maintains this distinction by keeping in step with the evolving marketing plans of large companies and their never-ending quest to expand their online presence with new technologies and interactive promotional strategies. From Interactive TV advertising to the secretive design of the XBOX 360 Interface, AKQA - now one of the 7 largest advertising agencies - is truly a firm that keeps pace with their clients by developing for the future of Interactive marketing and advertising.

Clients: XBOX, Domino's Pizza, Estee Lauder

Thirst

The collaborative studio of Rick Valicenti - founder of Thirst (1981) and Thirstype (1993) - Thirst/3ST is small collective of designers, typographers, writers, illustrators and programmers with a large span of successful graphic design work. Known for their playful, curious spirit, and intelligent risk-taking, the collective of work could easily fill a few design books. In fact, their portfolio site is a simple digital reference to flipping through large print pages. Very professional images throughout the work, and play, found inside.

Clients: MoMo, College for Creative Studies

e-Types

When push comes to shove, go old school: forget the hype, and think craftsmanship. Wise words from 'old school' designers e-Types, the self-described experts of visual identity programmes. e-Types, known for its typography, have developed more than 200 different fonts for logos, typography, guidelines for visual designs, magazine and newspaper design, web design and packaging design. A bit mysterious, but very serious about their graphic design, this Danish firm takes branding to new heights of sophistication, by using old school philosophy of hard work, blood, sweat and tears. Much to explore and learn from here.

Make Creative

Make is a freshly established design studio with 'cohesive experience' in the creation of visual solutions. Essentially a professional studio run by two natural talents, Make creates visual identities and packaging solutions across multiple medias that introduce new concepts or products to market while maintaining smart design and a fresh approach. That approach that has crafted some of the more memorable software packaging designs in recent years, and build an impressive client list. Simple and solid work that speaks for itself.

Clients: Microsoft, Pepsi Co., Macromedia

WSDIA WeShouldDoItAll

Taking their name in part from a quote by a famous science fiction writer, WSDIA (We Should Do It All) is a Brooklyn, New York-based graphic, interactive, and architecture multi-disciplinary design studio. Sticking with that simple theme of diversity, WSDIA designs, develops and mediates interactive, print, motion and architecture projects for clients in a wide array of professions - such as the arts, architecture, advertising, fashion, and media. Truly one to watch, their work has very crisp, and futuristic egde - from the typography choices to the themes and clients, each project rings out with a clean, bright and youthful appeal. Therefore, it's no surprise that WSDIA was recently named to The Art Director’s Club, 'Young Guns 5' for 2006. The future is certainly bright for this talented collective and company who are ready to take on whatever comes their way.

Cobra Creative

Cobra Creative is a boutique agency located in San Francisco, California. They have a strong understanding of many different design 'styles' - from illustration to branding, modern web design, motion, and more. Although essentilly a husband and wife design duo, Cobra reacts like a full agency in their ability to coordinate and work with both clients, agencies and technology to create complete professional solutions. We like their edgy style that neither trips into the trendy, nor the abstract - ensuring their designs stand the test of time.

Clients: Red Bull, Happy Tree Friends, Boeing

B-Reel

B-Reel is a Swedish full motion and interactive design company that puts the activity in creativity. As implied by their name, they do motion design, commercials and on-air promos, but they also have been in the business of crafting cutting-edge web experiences since 1999. Much of their work is for home-based Swedish clients, but rest assured, even if you don't know the language or the clients, it all shines with top-notch multimedia interactivity.

Clients: Peugeot, Travelers, MTV

MAP

DesignbyMap

You know you've stumbled onto something special when you sense a light breeze tickling your screen. Very sensuous, slightly feminine, and with a clearly Eastern influence, MAP (previously DesignUnion, est. 2002) is a relatively new boutique with impressive and sophisticated clients. Paul Lee is the man; he majored in Rhetoric at Berkeley (who knew that would prove so marketable?), with an MFA from Yale. A bonus: he is fluent in Korean. And more than fluent in spare and lovely design. Go see. You'll feel rinsed.

Clients: Volkswagon, Hugo Boss, Sony

Kindness and Humility

In the work and not work of Chris Erickson, we don't find a lot not to love... (pause, absorb). Yes, his work is really nice. And we totally dig the compressed minimalist Flash UI—it gives us a very easy framework from which to view a showcase of his print, identity, packaging and industrial design talents. Set into a grey background, the web and print projects really pop, yet they all still fit snugly on a laptop screen. Now, getting back to the work, it's important that you also don't sleep on the "not work" (play) which unveils a compassionate and down-to-earth side to this talented multimedia designer. Great stuff there, not here.

Publicis Net

An award-winning interactive design firm based in Paris, France, Publicis creates strong visually-driven online sites with an advertising slant. Balancing between being both edgy, yet classic at the same time, Publicis provides that refined corporate feel with a large pinch of verve that attracts big clients. Especially those who want their brands to stand out from the crowd in the online market. Outstanding portfolio from an impressive looking French web design firm.

Clients: Coca-Cola, Wonderbra, Garnier

Canary

Canary is a small studio with big agency experience. Its collective members have produced work for many Fortune 500 companies in the past and they bring that knowledge to bear in a refreshingly small studio approach. Their philosophy is simple... and exactly that... they revel in simplicity and in the love of their work. To that end, they produce very professional designs, brand expressions and digital narratives. Fantastic looking site with solid portfolio projects.

Clients: Young & Rubicam, Hurry-up Offense, James P. Othmer

Clement Mok

Where would web designers be today without Clement Mok? Certainly a little less rich for experience to draw upon. Clement Mok has a fathoms deep reference of projects spanning from his days as a former creative director at Apple, and continuing on as he founded multiple successful design-related businesses — Studio Archetype, CMCD and NetObjects. Most recently he was the Chief Creative Officer of Sapient, and the president of AIGA. Put those feathers in your cap, and combine it with hundreds of design awards and success consulting on numerous technical, design and online related businesses, and you have a one of a kind visionary and digital pioneer. Even... and especially today, we owe a hats off to you, C. Mok!

Clients: IBM, AIGA, PhotoDisc

Domani Studios

Domani is a full-service interactive agency specializing in branding, design and technology innovations for powerhouse creative agencies and high-end clients in the luxury, fashion, and travel and tourism industries. Domani has a very clean site that demonstrates their projects in a very accessible way - and we especially liked their interactive web banner ad campaigns for Mini-Cooper and VW. From marketing to branding to technology, if one could sum it up in a sentence, Domani Studios creates dope work that gets results for dope clients. But that would be slighting them... however only slightly. In essence, they are a laid back, fun firm that pumps out engaging and professional online work.

Clients: Bumble and Bumble, Princeton Tec, Gucci

In2media

In2media was Denmarks first web agency, starting in 1994, and the experience really shows... The site, which uses dynamic flash with motion graphics to show selected portfolio pieces feels like it took over ten years of experimentation to realize... It's that good! Honestly, the portfolio - which also has a mouse and keyboard friendly navigation - just feels refined and considered to such a degree that you just know their work is going to be top notch. And we were proven right, as the showcase pieces - from motion, to web and digital advertising, also display an highly tuned and professional finishing that we've come to expect from only a few select firms. Lots of nice projects for the fashion industry, and some nice little surprises await inside.

Clients: Pfizer, MTV, Ann Hagen

PS | Los Angeles | New York

PS is a new media firm with a solid swath of projects from identity design to web and print that shows their dedication to the big picture and passion for the creative details. They are dreamers of sorts, and appropriately their work hits the artistic side of the client base, with projects for architecture firms, design schools, advertising agencies, as well as e-commerce for other creatives who want to sell their products. Their philosophy speaks volumes, and the results speak for themselves.

Clients: H3, Friends of the Highline, Capelli NY

Juxt Interactive

In this version of Juxt Interactive's site, or of their many refined Flash projects, it's obvious there is a meticulous attention to detail—and, hence, design. Which is probably why, year-after-year, we list a hefty postion of their portfolio in our webdesign gallery. Whether you seek web design or Juxt's individual brand of art, you'll find high quality, awarded, fun Flash design and interactive promotions. Great stuff. Again: Great. Stuff.

Clients: Target, Fuse, DirecTV

Trevor Jackson

Trevor Jackson is a London based creative force who began a convoluted career in music and the arts by designing record sleeves. He currently works in graphic design, art direction, moving image, music writing, remixing, installations and performance arts. In the "design world", he has created many iconic and classic record cover sleeves, bus is also just as well known in the "music world" for his eclectic remixes and his record label OUTPUT, and in turn, he creates most of the artwork for the musical artists on the label. His design artwork has been shown in the Guggenheim Museum.

Clients: Mo Wax, Colette, BMW

Hello Design

Hello Design doesn't present a box overflowing with bells and whistles, but who needs them when your works is as clean and accessible as this? They do have a list of impressive clients, SONY, National Geographic, The Smithsonian, Neutrogena, and others among them, and it also has a hand in AIWA TV. Say "Hello" to great design. Pull up a seat and sit a spell.

Clients: National Geographic, Neutrogena, Smithsonian

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

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Monday, October 1, 2007

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Tuesday, September 18, 2007

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