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

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

Less Rain

The online home of Less Rain is energized by all the rich media you could name. It's a powerhouse of design prototypes, which is especially impressive from such a small company. Less Rain has a particular ethos: "making a few design elements work more intelligently, unusually, and organically." Their portfolio is a rich compendium of web works for clients like Red Bull and Hennessy, but offline works include the world's largest victory monument for the Nike Scorpion Football Event. This firm can do anything. Anything.

Clients: RedBull, Hennessy, Nike

IconNicholson

Founded in 1987, IconNicholson (at the time, NicholsonNY) was the first big interactive agency in New York City. Today, the firm is part of the larger IconMedialab umbrella which also includes Lost Boys and Metadesign. Among their many interactive ventures, their offerings also include in-store services for the new Manhattan Prada (with Rem Koolhaas), an online store for the Museum of Modern Art, and the Rebirth Project—tracking the ongoing reconstruction at Ground Zero. A solid new media and interactive design firm.

Clients: Valspar, Master Card, AOL

Fitch

How do you sum up a company like Fitch? For over 30 years, with 20 studios in 12 countries, Fitch is a true globe-trotter with an extraordinary range of design capabilities. Their online home base is a powerhouse worth an extended visit. Projects range fom developing an Automatic Public Toilet with a self-cleaning floor (for Adshel) to an award-winning recruitment film for the British Army to the packaging design for Ben&Jerry's.

Clients: BBC, Microsoft, General Motors

Doubleyou

Oh how sweet it is! Sublime design presented in a fun and distinctive format. The introduction to this Spanish company is a playful example of the technological skills that have earned this firm the numerous awards that bounce across their intro page. The expertly planned and yet seemingly spontaneous works section holds a collection of unique web and print designs ranging from logotype to TV commercials with only one consistency – superb execution. In layman’s terms… They rock.

Clients: Nike, Eastpak, Yahoo!, Audi, Diesel, Nestlé

HUGE Inc.

HUGE has been the central planning and product definition hub for some of the largest and most complex projects online. This includes brand, technology and design for clients such as JetBlue, IKEA and AOL. Ultimately, this has led to a whole different kind of agency culture. Simply banging out seductive visual design doesn’t count as a job well done here. It's all part of a meta-process and management culture. We like the philosopy, and the results speak for themselves.

Clients: JetBlue, IKEA, AOL

Sapient

Trail-blazing through dense tumbleweeds of misinformation and a world or irrelevant marketing, Sapient is a trim, efficient machine. The company aims to “have great wisdom and discernment," and continue to nourish fine talent. Once the leader of the web design pack, this company would probably be the best source of classic corporate web sites today if the bubble hadn’t burst. They continue to aim high with large scale branding and business strategy design for high-end clients in energy & utilities, financial services, hospitality, and entertainment industries.

Clients: G4, BP, Sony, Saturn

Lost Boys Icon

LB (Lost Boys) cranks out award-winning business solutions, such as website make-overs and fully interactive retail sales enhancements, as if it were child's play. They also supply a little cutting-edge technology, in case the world-class design and usability gets tedious. These magic tricks include things like real-time inventory checks by sales associates, and then there's the dressing room touchscreens for adding products to a personalized profile... and that's just a sampling of some their abilities.

Clients: Volkswagon, Coca-Cola, Motorola

TNOP

Tnop Wangsillapakun – the man with one of the most unique names in design – has struck out to make a (new) name for himself... He has truly gone off the deep end and commited himself to focus on his bePOS|+|VE design studio, as well as do more of experimental and conceptual design work that he really enjoys. Formerly a senior designer with Carlos Segura at Segura, Inc. (Chicago), Tnop is originally from Bangkok, Thailand, and was schooled in the States at the Savannah College of Art and Design. His unique work and experimental print designs definitely put him at the forefront of today's contemporary artists and designers.

R/GA

These guys have been playing the online/website/e-commerce/digital branding game since 1992. They use words like "segmentation," "methodology," and (our favorite) "solutions," and talk about things like "work flow" and "implementation"... but what it all boils down to is that they are a very technology savvy firm. They have a winning roster of corporate websites and advertising campaigns, for clients ranging from IBM to Bed, Bath And Beyond. If you dig a little deeper into their site, you'll learn that before they got into online material, they pioneered motion graphic technology for films like Superman and Alien. Currently, their showcase work is the interactive Nike+ site for runners.

Clients: Nike, Nestle, Ian Schrager Hotels

Method

When you're doing work for the premiere graphic design/multimedia software companies, you gotta have the skills to push their software to the limits... so it's no surprise that Method has top of their class portfolio that includes a variety of big names in addition to Adobe and Macromedia. Their other clients range from the artistic (Lincoln Film Society) to the corporate (Merril Lynch), and they cover everything from website design and branding to printing and user research. One-stop shopping, right here.

Clients: Adobe, Macromedia, The Apartment

Ultra16

Ultra16 is an interactive multimedia company with offices in NYC and San Francisco. Their strategy is: "Communicate, Relate, Succeed," and underneath each of those headings one can find a specific plan... in fact, their rules are so well honed, they've painted them on the walls in their hallways. Their specialties right now are web design for the media/entertainment and fashion/beauty industries—and this work for clients in the public eye will continue to push Ultra16 into the limelight as they continue to grow.

Clients: AMC, Redken, ABC

IOWA Interactive

Contrary to initial impressions, IOWA is actually located in the heart of sea-side California, near Marina Del Rey. They specialize in identity design, DVD/CD-Roms and they seem especially proficient in creating clean, uncluttered web site designs for their clients... usually in Flash... and usually for the advertising agencies, marketing firms and audio designers who are too busy making their own magic to bother with making their own web sites... And who would bother anyway, when you have these pros on your team?

Clients: Big Foote Music, Tracktor Film

Mook

Mook is a very visually driven creative digital consultancy based in the UK. Their work revolves around digital communications, be it advertising, marketing or technology... and the results are quite powerful. Even their home site runs like a series of ads for a number of top products - from Diesel to PSP, mook has their finger on the pulse of digital media and invigorates it with new ideas from a powerful team of creative specialists.

Clients: Playstation, EMI, MTV, Diesel

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Friday, September 14, 2007

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