When I first decided to tackle web as a design medium, I didn't want to do it half assed.  I wanted to see what the best web designers came up with, and study their craftsmanship, and mold a version of their skills in my own style.  When I came across this article from Pixar; it was the first time I've found my career objectives verbalized by another designer.  I wear these design lessons like badges of honor.  I hope you agree.  Check it out

http://spyrestudios.com/5-critical-design-lessons-from-pixar/

Is email obsolete? It seems like such a funny thing to think of. At our office, it is the single most important communication method we have. Personally, my email is riddled with junk and newsletters that I sign up for, nothing of real consequence is corresponded via email.

Facebook is suggesting that we rethink this first form of electronic communications. In an announcement Monday, we all heard Mark Zuckerberg tote that Facebook will be a hub for all digital communications, potentially eliminating email altogether. This could be a reaction to the growing younger population, who find that text, IM and tweets is the preferred mode of communication. Their hope is that with their new platform, they will help to eliminate the spam that peppers everyone's inbox and instead sort messages via social interactions. Interesting concept... So we would sort of get away from how we currently filter our communications, hopefully for the better.

Facebook - always trying to improve the digital experience. Targeting their main users ( kids, really )  and trying to appeal to the older generation. Even the Queen has a Facebook page.

Location based social networking sites have really turned some heads in the last couple of months. Their popularly has grown and with them, the functionality of mapping locations in general. I saw this site last week featured on the Globe and Mail website and it looked at geolocating in a whole new way. The Wilderness Downtown  is a collaboration between Google and Chris Milk, who created the interactive film that takes you back to when you were a kid.

Using HTML5 instead of Flash also showcases the cool animations and functions of this 'newish' technology. The site invites you to submit the location of the house you grew up in and then it takes you on an auditory  and visual journey back there.  Don't get too nostalgic, ok I sniffed a little when I saw my old house.

Way to think outside of the box... or block...

P.S. remember to view this in Chrome.

We would like to welcome Simon Coyle aboard! He will be crafting pixel magic as an Interactive Designer. His superhero bio is below:

Long thought to be simply an urban myth, Simon ‘Eyes in the night’ Coyle is a mythical beast from Northern region of Arese. Commonly reported to be as the body of a man with large fleshy wings, a face like an owl and eyes that glow an eerie blue in the night. Often blamed for mutilated livestock and missing persons when in truth he keeps the darker supernatural forces that cause these tragedies, The Forest Shadowmen, at bay. Caught by local hunters in 3121 he was caged and sold to Boccarand Research Center in Ran City. As the boat containing the beast docked on a cold autumn’s eve. Simon broke free of his restraints and took flight into the night. Finding a home among the high rooftops of the city, it wasn’t long before he attracted the attention of the Cosmic Tiger Squad and when they found his intentions were benevolent he was drafted as an official member of the Cosmic Tiger Squad.

This is just a quick note to say I’m really excited about Dreamweaver’s new functionality to help call up dynamic files. I’ve been working with Wordpress for over 3 years and I’m quite familiar with it’s file structure. However, recently I started playing with Magento and not knowing the structure as well, the process of modifying specific functionality becomes a lot more involved. Additionally, one of our developers uses Django which I’m currently a novice at, so the new functionality in Dreamweaver will speed up the design process big time when working with Django scripts. This video on Adobe TV shows how just a simple feature like finding all the dynamically called files can save a lot time when learning or working on other people’s code.

As a long time user of Adobe products, their product cycle seems to go like this: One version of great innovation creating lots of holes in performance, functionality and stability, and then the next version plugs those holes and we’re all happy again and can’t wait for the next version. Well we’re at that point now. Today Adobe officially launches CS5. While all of us creative technology geeks are in the mode of “gimme gimme” from “lust to have” features missing from programs like Adobe’s creative suites; viral videos like the “Content Awareness” filter put us back in our place. I for one thought the video was complete BS. But it looks like this feature will make its way into CS5 in some form or another.

After reading the complete feature list, I for one cannot wait to try out every program in the suite. Flash Catalyst looks like it will finally bridge the gap between interface designers and ActionScript coding (unfortunately not coders). Flash also finally gets a pro level text engine. (0,0 anyone?) Dreamweaver finally gets an advanced user friendly css development engine, and Photoshop seems like it will change the way we compose, arrange, and magically alter pixels. It almost seems unreal what kind of math is going on in the background to make something like the Content awareness filter function.

Read the complete feature list of CS5 here…

As a company, we have seen the first clear shift for us in 2010. Social media outlets like Facebook are increasingly being used as the primary vehicle to drive promotions and contests within the business-to-consumer channel. Just last month we completed 2 projects on Facebook where the point of entry for the contest was exclusively within the Facebook framework. These contests being for the JUNO Awards and Dentyne Canada.

This trend is expected to grow. A holiday contest for Winners we developed generated over 40,000 new fans within Facebook in under a month. Promoting a contest to an existing  user-base à la Facebook, Twitter, etc provides a significant advantage over creating a fresh new microsite and investing dollars to drive traffic to it.

Fast Company posted a few interesting inforgraphics via the BBC last month that compared the top 100 sites on the Internet by traffic. Most of the results were not surprising, but the biggest shocker was how MySpace have completely fallen off the map (literally in this case).

Galactic Tiger Squad HQ was rocked today with threats of malicious hackers operating in the area of the squad’s offshore outpost, a floating arctic base built by . A hacker operating under the moniker “Lora Filops” sent a transmission in the early morning Mocking the GTS and claiming to hold the outpost for a ransom of 25,000 credits. We had to act quickly to wrestle command of the outpost from our unseen threat. It was still before dawn and we could still have the cover of night to shroud us and award us the upper hand.

When we reached the blinking metal island in the north pacific, we approached with caution. Lone Sparrow had to take the indirect route through the fresh air exchange vents as the major points of entry had been jammed from within. This hacker had clearly done her homework. The rest of the squad took points around the base where they could catch anyone trying to flee, but I pity anyone trying to flee into the cold north Atlantic ocean before daybreak.

Sparrow with her keen wits and cunning was able to circumvent most of the bases security including (but not limited to) cameras, laser traps and sentry bots. When she reached the depressurisation chamber that lead to the elevator to the deep heart of the base, she entered the code and waited.

Instead of the hissing and general uneasiness that comes with the depressurisation, there came a voice masked with a robotic reverbaration. “You are indeed clever, Sparrow. But I am moreso.” The floor caved in and The Lone Sparrow was dropped into a holding cell meant to keep would-be intruders until they were dealt with.

Sparrow gathered herself on the floor of the cell and realised where she was. The door was locked from the outside and she could hear footsteps coming from down the hall. Raidolink was futile from the cell, we had already taken that precaution. As the footsteps drew closer, Sparrow became for frantic eventually resolving herself to fight she took her stance and waited at the doorway.

The footsteps stopped and she could hear the door code being punched in manually. The door slid open but she made no move.

The hacker was the Tigers’ occasional ally Dr. Umbra laughing heartily at a jape well executed.

“Lora Filops”, Sparrow said. “An anagram for April Fools”.

Seems we’ve done a good job today. A client asked Ryan how best to motivate Lush Concepts and he jokingly suggested candy.

So today we were greeted with a delivery of all the chocolate we can(not) possibly eat. Two glass jars came in brimming with Creme eggs and Mini Eggs and most of us are now coming down from the sugar high to the horrific scene of torn tinfoil wrappings littering our desks. This shocking and head throbbing realisation of our afternoon misdeeds is accompanied by this afternoon’s soundtrack of madness:

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pYU7oG2V7uc&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pYU7oG2V7uc&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

We have recently been working on a project that involved researching pictograms. I came across this showcase, and even though it’s in German, I found it interesting to see the different treatments of pictogram styles. Some are necessary, and some, well, not that necessary and seem more comical than anything else. You’ll get what I mean when you see it. Enjoy…

http://www.drweb.de/magazin/showcase-piktogramme-schilder/

You can’t escape it, everybody’s doing it. Add me as a friend… follow me on Twitter. It’s what everyone is talking about. Social Media is all about sharing information & opinions in an uninhibited way. It’s about spreading news to potential clients and having conversations with existing ones. As the use and prevalence of social media networks grow, so do the companies who want to use this medium to reach their customers. But where do you start? And, which of the many applications or communities should you use?

Ask yourself the following questions about your company and what your goals of using social media are:

1. Do you want to create brand buzz? Or would you like to remain under the radar?
2. Do you want to be able to communicate directly with your customers?
3. Do you want to increase traffic to your website?
4. Do you need help with SEO on your site?

At Lush, we ask our clients what the level of time commitment you are able or can afford to devote towards social media marketing. For some, it’s everyday company updates for others it’s engaging clients in a dialogue about your services, it’s really what your comfortable with. CMO.com (an Adobe website aimed at Chief Marketing Officers) asked some of these questions when assessing the top 10 social media sites and if they are good for your company. To see where you stand, check out the detailed assessment of social media sites click the link below.

www.cmo.com/social-media/cmos-guide-social-media-landscape

Our friends at Web Designer Wall had a great article web design trends in 2010. Basically it seems to me that through all the 300 modal box scripts you can download, and 50 zillion “AJAX” slideshow scripts; one thing remains. Content is king. And as we look forward to 2010, we see less and less clutter, more standardized usability; acceptances of bigger desktop space; and smaller mobile spaces; more emphasis on typographic elegence; and less; dare I say it; “flash”; but in the figurative sense; and in a good way. While you’re reading this article if you put your ear to the ground you can hear rumblings of CSS3 and HTML5 trying to crack the surface. This as we finally get to say good-bye to IE6 to make way for 2010.
Enjoy: http://www.webdesignerwall.com/trends/what-to-expect-in-2010-uxui-design-simplicity/

Here’s a low-budget public service announcement from the UK created by the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership.  This to me is beautiful and an award winning piece.  Its got the 2 elements I love most in an ad; a very primitive simple idea that communicates the message in an extremely emotionally clever way.  Some of the best ads IMHO have always had these two elements.  Remember the condom ad with the screaming kid in the supermarket?  Same two elements.  What are some of your favourite ads? Anyways, here’s the video:

Love it or hate it, the release of Apple’s iPad definitely did one thing – it further entrenched Apple’s position of not supporting Safari based Flash content. There have been attempts to workaround this fact, but the reality is that it doesn’t look like Flash will be supported anytime soon.

With the majority of online advertising being delivered through Flash banner ads, this could show an interesting shift as Apple devices gain more market share. Some early discussions within the community point to HTML5 banner ads as the solution. At this point, only time will tell. We might see Flash Lite finally step up and take it’s place at the table.

Ramsey “Grand Leiks” D’Silva is a Gyso, an alien race from a still undiscovered galaxy. He is also a member of the Gyso Army, a sort of galactic police force ensuring peace and order in the universe. While on a mission in our galaxy his ship ‘The Troisck’ was attacked by Gravity Pirates. Most of the crew was able to teleport safely to a nearby Gyso outpost but the teleporter was destroyed before he could escape. With no options left he took his chances in an escape pod which landed on Dr. Umbra’s space platform. When he had recovered Dr. Umbra sent him down to earth to the Cosmic Tiger headquarters where he knew the lost traveler would be safe.

Guy Crawford: “Former genetics research scientist turned vigilante, Guy “Exo” Crawford had his life changed when his reseach grant was taken away by the government. Guy was head of the “Human exoskeleton” research team. He lost his grant and his associates but not his passion for the project. Without any means of hiring test subjects Guy turned his tests on himself. The result was the incredible ability to ‘grow’ an incredibly strong exoskeleton at will protecting his entire body in an insect like shell. He joined forces with the Cosmic Tiger Squad while definding Rise City from The Great Space Beast.

Thomas Girard: “During the great cosmic wars of the 3200’s, Thomas “Dr. Umbra” Girard defected from the Cosmic Tiger Squad and begun putting his own plans in moton. Backstabbing his former allies in and leaving earth helpless he retreated to his orbital space platform and began putting his mysterious plans in motion. Although he has long since left his former team mates it’s not uncommon for him to show up unexpectedly and lend a hand.”

You will soon discover why the TRUE most interesting man alive is Dave Boyle:
Dave Boyle “Raised in the darkest jungles of Africa by a pride of Hyenas, Dave Boyle was known as “The wild boy “When discovered in the early 3100’s. Armed with the cunning and razor sharp instincts distilled in him by his Hyena brothers, Dave is a formidable opponent to anyone crazy enough to cross him and an invaluable member of the Cosmic Tiger Squad”

Adam Winick: “The supreme lord of his dimension known as “The X Zone”, Adam “Overlord Cranus” Winick fought valiantly against all foes and ruled his people with a just hand. A fight against Roboxtor left him frozen in crystal and sent to our dimension leaving the X zone to fall into chaos and ultimately perish. He Joined the Cosmic Tiger Squad to prevent the same fate to befall our dimension and protect it’s people from evil.”

Aimee Tedford: “The last in in the bloodline of ‘The house of the Pale Moon’, Aimee “Lone Sparrow” Racine is a swift and deadly warrior. Her ancestors in the Pale Moon were known as the fiercest warriors of all the great ninja clans before being forced underground when sieged simultaneously by the other major ninja clans. The Pale Moon ninjas were not wiped out but their numbers were down to a fraction of what they had been in their prime. Although they never seen publicly, the traditions and trainings of the Pale Moon were passed down through generations. As the last of her ancestry Aimee denounced the shame of hiding from the enemies of the Pale Moon and used her training to become a vigilante. Although she is a member of the Cosmic Tiger Squad, Aimee’s first and foremost mission is to exact revenge against the great ninja clans that have shamed her ancestors.”

Ryan Payne “An advanced android built eons in the future and sent back in time to save mankind from the fate that has caused the world to be ruled by the evil overlords of centuries past, Ryan “RP5000″ Payne is programmed to right history’s wrongs. Upon returning to the year 3157, he founded the group of heroes “The Cosmic Tiger Squad” and gained a significant foothold in the ongoing war on evil.”