Website: The Go! Team
Activity: Rock band
Address: www.thegoteam.co.uk
Purpose: Provide news, music clips, tour dates and band
information
The Go! Team returns this week with "Proof of Youth", a follow-up to their
infectious and critically acclaimed debut album "Thunder Lightning Strike". The
6-member Brighton-based band picks up where they left off, mixing frenetic
guitars and electronica with youth entertainment artifacts from the late
1970's. The fast-paced songs feature TV car-chase music, Double Dutch vocals
and early rap to create a thrilling sound.
Their website itself looks like a vestige from the 70's. It's a cut-and-paste
layout of adolescent graffiti -- the kind you might find on one of those blue
canvas 3-ring binders that were invaded by pen scribbles and stickers by the
end of the school year. The graphic style suits The Go! Team's lo-fi old-school
sound perfectly.
Add these stand-out tracks to your playlist:
"Ladyflash" -- from Thunder Lightning Strike
"Bottle Rocket" -- from Thunder Lighting Strike
"Grip Like a Vice" -- from Proof of Youth
"My World" -- from Proof of Youth
Friday 14 September 2007
The Go! Team
By Steven on Friday 14 September 2007, 18:14
Tuesday 4 September 2007
Microsoft Surface
By Steven on Tuesday 4 September 2007, 13:50
Website: Microsoft Surface
Activity: Software development
Address: www.surface.com
Purpose: Introduce "surface computing" onto the market
For the past few years, Microsoft has been watching its smaller rivals create
truly innovative software that has been changing the way we live and interact
with one another. Think of how social networking websites, YouTube, news
aggregators, Google Maps, Wikipedia, Flickr and the iPod have enhanced our
daily lives. Meanwhile, it seems that the most life-changing Microsoft
development has been new instant messenger emoticons.
But, Microsoft is back in the business of bold innovation with a product called
Surface. The concept is to bring the computing experience from the isolated
desk to social spaces like the living room and entertainment venues. It comes
in the form of a coffee table with a touch-sensitive screen on top, allowing
small groups to gather and interact with digital content. No mouse or keyboard
are required because the object-oriented interface responds to natural gestures
and touch. Data can be grabbed and moved with ease. Groups can engage in tasks
like browsing through photos and creating music playlists to mapping out
itineraries and planning vacations. It's truly collaborative in that many hands
can be recognized on the screen.
Microsoft sees "surface computing" transforming the way we live. They envision
the technology eventually being integrated into all kinds of household places
such as the countertop, wall and refrigerator door. By the end of 2007, it will
be available in select hotels, retail establishments, restaurants, and later on
in schools and businesses.
A polished mini-site has been launched to introduce the technology with three
well-produced videos that showcase its vast applications. Surface's defining
feature -- its touch-based navigation system -- is the inspiration for the
branding. The product logo recalls a finger-drawn doodle and the background is
a glowing indigo trail of a hand swipe. Simple and stunning.
Whether Microsoft plans to reveal the source code and allow other operating
systems onto the platform remains to be seen. It certainly has the potential to
spark an entire software industry. It will be interesting to see if Microsoft
will shun its monopolizing tendencies.
Thursday 30 August 2007
Russo-Baltique
By Steven on Thursday 30 August 2007, 16:22
Website: Russo-Baltique
Activity: Luxury Automobiles
Address: www.russobaltique.ru
Purpose: Resurrect a long-lost automobile marque
The unexpected star of the prestigious 2006 Concours d'Elegance automobile
exposition at Villa d'Este was a daring luxury coupe by Russo-Baltique -- a
curious and previously unknown Russian automaker. The "Impression", an
attention-grabbing supercar with a high-performance motor, rear-hinged doors
and Zambrano wood detailing has an eye-popping sticker price of $1.9 million.
It was unveiled with this over-the-top press release:
It is the honor of Russo-Baltique Company of Russia to present to the honorable public a coupe called Impression –- the first model of the Russo-Baltique brand after a long intermission. On the eve of its 100th anniversary, the Russian antique car brand –- the supplier of His Highness the Emperor’s Court –- is returning to the market of luxury and high-powered cars with this model.
This sent automobile journalists scrambling to find out more about this mysterious car maker. What they came up with was a fascinating history dating back to a time of Czars, imperial splendor, and simmering revolution.
Russo-Baltique was the first Russian producer of cars beginning in 1907. Within a matter of just a few years, the car maker had achieved racing success throughout Europe, eventually winning the Monte Carlo Rally in 1912. Very impressed, Czar Nicholas II bought two tourers and designated the company an official royal supplier. Russo-Baltique quickly became the ultimate symbol of luxury, performance, and elite style.
But Russo-Baltique's close alignment with the Czar and its proud use of the imperial heraldic seal would prove a liability. In 1917, the Bolsheviks would target the car maker, seizing their factories and shutting down car production. For the next seven decades, memories of Russo-Baltique's glory would slowly fade as the Soviet automobile industry would be epitomized by cheap Ladas and the waiting lists required to get one.
The fall of Communism in 1991 brought about a period of economic re-adjustment, but if there's any doubt about the wealth Russians are currently enjoying, consider the whiplash rate their economy has grown since 2000. A booming GDP along with the stock market's dizzying climb has contributed to a 29 percent jump in average annual income, creating a class of the very, very wealthy. Finans Magazine estimates that Russia now has 50 billionaires and 88,000 millionaires. The growing spending power of this elite and often extravagant class has led to a ravenous demand for all sorts of luxury products and services -- notably luxury automobiles. In fact, cars in the most expensive class, such as Bentley, Maserati, and Ferrari, continue to sell well beyond expectations.
Amid the consumer frenzy, a group of Russian investors stumbled upon the long-lost Russo-Baltique history and recognized the perfect opportunity the brand presented. Along with its market potential, Russo-Baltique's prestigious past could be the inspiration for a thoroughly contemporary automotive innovator. In 2003, they succeeded in securing control of the trademark and began designing a modern cutting-edge concept, embodying the traditional Russo-Baltique values of performance, refinement and exclusivity.
The website and visual communication play a crucial part in the brand's resurrection. The focus is clearly on highlighting the company's heritage and linking it to the current venture. The splash intro page does this explicitly with side-by-side photos of the 1909 Russo-Baltique Type K and the 2006 Impression. The theme is reinforced with graphic elements such as vintage patterns and Art Nouveau flourishes, popular during Russo-Baltique's heyday. The historical imperial seal reappears, fittingly worn with time. The website's main feature is a photographic timeline of the company's history, again unifying the past and present eras. The design choices not only honor the past, but position Russo-Baltique for a promising second act.
Monday 30 July 2007
L'Affaire Twingo
By Steven on Monday 30 July 2007, 10:45
Website: L'Affaire Twingo
Activity: Automobiles
Address: www.laffairetwingo.com
Purpose: Introduce the new Renault Twingo
Last month, French car maker Renault unveiled the first major redesign of its
Twingo model since it was introduced onto the market in 1993. One of the
best-selling cars in France, the frog-like Twingo is basically a low-priced
hatchback with great gas mileage. Like the VW Beetle and Mini Cooper, it has a
cute personality with a smart design and expressive headlights. When it was
first launched, it was all the craze.
But that was almost 15 years ago and a facelift has been due for some time. The
redesign brings the Twingo in line with the other new Renault models which are
characterized by an angular physique -- sometimes surprisingly severe. Success
has varied. For example, the mid-sized Megane does well, while the Vel Satis
posts consistently disappointing sales and the Avantime was actually
discontinued only a few months after its launch due to anemic sales. While the
new Twingo sports the signature hard angles, they've been significantly toned
and rounded compared to the jagged shapes of the other Renault models which
resemble a fleet of awkwardly cut diamonds on wheels. Early reviews have been
harsh.
The mini-site dedicated to the launch is, however, worth a look. It's a
tongue-in-cheek caper theme presenting users with the task of figuring out who
stole protagonist Laetitia's Twingo. Interspersed among videos of the trendy
young Parisian culprits are photos, 3-D models and technical specs of the
re-styled car. The real fun is the short intro animation in a suspenseful Pink
Panther theme. A great “whodunit” soundtrack accompanies the clever opening
sequence.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the original and new Twingo models:
Tuesday 3 April 2007
Mika
By Steven on Tuesday 3 April 2007, 18:20
Website: Mika
Activity: Singer and Songwriter
Address: www.mikasounds.com
Purpose: Promote "Life In Cartoon Motion"
Like a French pastry shop, Mika's debut album is an offering of one glazed
treat after another. The Lebanese-born Londoner is obsessed with good melodies,
and with "Life In Cartoon Motion", he's on a mission to make the ultimate pop
album with a sugary sound all his own. Overflowing with catchy tunes, engaging
hooks and a unique lyrical style, you could get tooth decay just listening to
this stuff.
Mika is essentially a vocalist and performer in the tradition of Freddy
Mercury, Jimmy Somerville, The Bee Gees and even The Scissor Sisters. Fearless,
unapologetic with antics you either love or hate, he's the black licorice of
pop. Beyond wanting to be loved or hated, Mika focuses on creating an original
sound. He explains, "I'm always going back to great artist songwriters... These
people make amazing pop records that couldn’t be performed by anybody else and
that’s what I always wanted to do.”
The website design captures his colorful sound through the carefree style of
1960's psychedelic pop graphics. It's an animated interface of flowers,
machinery, plants and humans living together harmoniously in fruit-flavored
hues. It brings to mind Peter Max's bright escapist landscapes, Milton Glaser's
kaleidoscopic portrait of Bob Dylan or even "Yellow Submarine", the 1968
animated feature film based on the music of the Beatles.
It's delicious springtime fun!
Wednesday 14 March 2007
M Studio
By Steven on Wednesday 14 March 2007, 21:55
Website: M Studio
Activity: Web Technology Specialists
Address: www.mstudio.com
Purpose: Attract Partners
M Studio is a New York-based company that develops technology for websites,
games and applications. They consult design agencies by proposing the most
suitable back-end solutions to create powerful user experiences. Solutions
range from multimedia integration and content management systems (CMS), to
databases and more complex scripting functionalities.
Their stylish website centers on an unconventional but surprisingly intuitive
navigation system. It consists of an animated stack of horizontal planes, each
representing a page of content. Clicking on one flips it forward and displays
text or portfolio pieces. Clicking elsewhere refiles it back into the
stack. It's smooth and very satisfying!
For a company that markets itself to creative agencies as a developer of
seamless and innovative solutions, they nailed it with this engaging
website.
Thursday 8 March 2007
Jonathan Yuen
By Steven on Thursday 8 March 2007, 21:25
Website: Jonathan Yuen
Activity: Graphic Designer
Address: www.jonathanyuen.com
Purpose: Experimental Portfolio
Take a look at this personal project by Singapore-based graphic designer
Jonathan Yuen. It consists of what he calls "design narratives" -- simple but
powerful animated vignettes inspired by East Asian ink and wash painting.
Through these narratives, he poetically contemplates his role as a graphic
designer, focusing on the act of quiet and intent observation. It's well-suited
because it's the kind of activity familiar to graphic designers. With each new
project comes a process of observing, researching, and reflecting on the client
and message.
Embracing this early part of the project is invaluable to an inspired finished
product. Yuen uses frogs, birds and fish to make his point: even the most
common subjects eventually reveal their unique qualities and eccentricities.
This is where the possibilities of visual communication come to light.
It's wonderful to see someone celebrate the early stages of the design process
in such a thoughtful way.
Friday 19 January 2007
Coca-Cola Blak
By Steven on Friday 19 January 2007, 17:21
Website: Coca-Cola Blak
Activity: Beverages
Address: www.coca-colablak.fr
Purpose: Launch coffee-flavored Coke in France
Riding the Red Bull and Starbucks caffeine craze, Coca-Cola has launched its
own spiked beverage: Coca-Cola Blak. Fusing the classic soft drink with coffee
extracts, Coca-Cola believes it has invented not only a new drink, but a
completely new drinking occasion. The French ad campaign and website envisions
scenarios ideal for this new lifestyle beverage.
Though campaigns vary from country to country, all include an eye-catching
system of graphic elements nicely representing the qualities and effects of the
drink. Silhouettes of various shapes in warm mocha and russet shades are
energetically splattered across the window. Sparkling bubbles, effervescent
fizz and the soothing color palette express Blak's dark frothy texture. The
psychoactive effects -- a burst of energy and caffeine buzz -- are visualized
though plant forms springing forward and through the overall vitality of the
animation. You get the idea that this is a drink that will get the creative
juices flowing.
And the verdict on the beverage? It's actually not so bad. Though, as someone
who considers Dr. Pepper a special treat and who cried when Vanilla Coke went
to soft drink heaven last year, I might not be the best judge. Give it a try on
one of those late nights at work.
Friday 13 October 2006
CA Design
By Steven on Friday 13 October 2006, 14:33
Website: CA Design
Activity: French Graphic Design Agency
Address: www.ca-design.fr
Purpose: Present Agency and Attract Clients
Of so many websites I look through everyday, it's refreshing to see a project
as sleek and refined as this website for CA Design, a Paris-based graphic
design agency. It's actually the work of my friend and fellow graphic designer
Matthew Phillips, whose modern and clean style always really stands out. In
this site, he's opted for a simple layout with strong color combinations and
carefully thought-out typography.
Much of the strength of the site comes from the decision to keep the content
concise and concrete. An overview of the agency, its services, and portfolio
selections are efficiently summarized within the bright page layout. You
quickly get a good feel for their design philosophy and approach.
My favorite part, though, is the subtle optical aspect. It brings to mind
1960's Op Art principles which concentrated on color contrasts and geometric
patterns to tease the viewer's eye into falsely perceiving movement, vibration
or pulsating. The bright color transitions of the site already have a hypnotic
quality about them, but it goes further than that. If you focus on the
exact center of the page during the color transitions, you'll see that the
surrounding neutral gray appears to slightly change tint. It's a fantastic
trick on peripheral vision that makes this a visually provocative
experience.
Tuesday 3 October 2006
Dave Werner
By Steven on Tuesday 3 October 2006, 19:29
Website: Dave Werner's
Portfolio
Activity: Graphic Designer
Address: www.okaydave.com
Purpose: Present Portfolio Projects
One of the most exciting personal portfolios I've seen online is by the very
talented Dave Werner. As part of a graphic design master's program at Portfolio
Center in Atlanta, he produced several in-depth conceptual projects, including
an eloquent rebranding proposal for the Kennedy Center and monumental identity
graphics for the Russian city of St. Petersburg.
Of the master's program, he explains: "The greatest value came from learning
how to take the chaotic ideas swirling around in my head and turn them into
strong, clear concepts with distinct messages." The wonderful thing about this
portfolio is that he shares these chaotic ideas by walking us through his
creative process. Using animation and video, he presents project goals,
inspiration, preliminary sketches and proposals, right down to the beautiful
finished designs. He has a knack for discovering and celebrating his subjects'
unique qualities. Sit back and enjoy his engaging narration and sheer
enthusiasm.
Can't wait to see more of his work!
Monday 25 September 2006
World Circuit
By Steven on Monday 25 September 2006, 13:25
Website: World Circuit
Records
Activity: Record Company
Address: www.worldcircuit.co.uk
Purpose: Promote World Music artists
World Circuit is a brilliant record label devoted to West African music and its
relationship to Cuban, Brazilian and even American blues music. They just
launched a redesign of their website and it's a great example of how a simple
page layout and clear navigation can be adopted without compromising
character.
They took several steps to improve the usability of the site starting with the
implementation of navigational tabs. In my opinion, tabs are always a good idea
when dealing with a large amount of content. They're intuitive and allow you to
quickly scan what a site has to offer, much like a table of contents.
Extraneous landing pages have been deleted, tightening the information
hierarchy. It's much easier to explore their musicians, browse releases and
read reviews. The best part is a dragable mini music player on album
description pages that opens directly in the site and offers fast-loading
sample clips.
The strong graphic style of the website is conveyed through prominent
photography and subtle details like textured paper and stencil-style
typographic heads suggesting the multi-layered nature of the music. Page
transitions are animated with a blurry-to-clear effect. It's an appropriate
choice because much of the music is very rich: only after many listens does it
begin to reveal its charms.
As you might have guessed, I'm a big fan. I've been listening to West African
music for a few years and it's absolutely amazing. World Circuit's releases, in
particular, are really well-produced. You just can't go wrong with any of them.
If you're interested, try Ali Farka Touré's Malian blues, Cheikh Lô's
Senegalese mbalax, Orchestra Baobab's Cuban-influenced jam sessions, or Oumou
Sangare's stunningly beautiful Wassoulou ballads. Most albums are available on
the iTunes Music Store, but consider buying the CDs for the great package
design and liner notes that are definitely worth having.
I promise: once you start listening, you'll really get hooked.
A few links:
Rough Guides Music: I'd
recommend starting with two Rough Guides compilations:
"Senegal & Gambia" and
"Mali & Guinea". They give a great overview of the diverse sounds
coming out of the region by leading musicians.
Benn
loxo du taccu: Matt Yanchyshyn's excellent African music
blog.
Sterns Music: A UK-based
World Music distributor with a massive catalog. They also post a monthly chart
of best-selling albums.
Thursday 21 September 2006
Erykah Badu
By Steven on Thursday 21 September 2006, 17:36
Website: Erykah Badu's Official
Website
Activity: R&B / Hip Hop / Jazz / Soul Singer and
Songwriter
Address: www.erykahbadu.com
Purpose: Provide news, music clips, tour information, and
artist biography
I was just about to post Erykah Badu's official website when I realized that it
had been replaced by her MySpace page!
Though no longer online, her old site still merits a few words because it was
so lively and original. It was also the perfect complement to the free-flowing
musical style of her last album, the excellent "Worldwide Underground". The
album is more of a rough collection of ideas than a slickly produced LP of
radio-ready tracks. Badu concentrates on the creative process, whether through
experimentation with word repetition, scat singing, abrasive electric guitars
or her signature soulful sound. She's unafraid to take her time exploring
different grooves, even if it demands patience on the listener's part. It's an
inventive approach to an album and the website design really captured its
character.
Implemented in Flash, the page layout had a sketchbook feel to it with lively
doodles and words scribbled arbitrarily around the page. Drawings were mixed
with photographs in a coursely textured way. Content areas were irregular,
recalling a charcoal-drawn surface. The whole site had an unfinished and grainy
quality, perfectly embodying the improvisational style of "Worldwide
Underground". Nicely done!
The decision to replace the website with her MySpace page is probably not a bad
idea considering there are now over 100 million accounts and sharing music has
become an integral part of the MySpace experience. Users can research bands and
easily embed songs onto their profile pages. A number of bands have garnered
impressive audiences (and recording contracts) solely thanks to special band
profile pages that allow artists to maintain a dynamic community atmosphere.
Musicians can keep in close contact with their fans through blog tools, forums
and comment areas.
Take a look at a full-size screenshot of the old site below and definitely
check out the album.
Tuesday 12 September 2006
Telenor
By Steven on Tuesday 12 September 2006, 11:59
Website: Telenor
Activity: Swedish Mobile Phone Operator
Address: www.telenor.se/valkommen/
Purpose: Introduce brand to Swedish market
Telenor is a Norwegian mobile phone operator who recently expanded into Sweden
through the aquisition of Vodafone Sverige. They changed the brand to Telenor
and launched a full ad campaign including this impressive mini-site in order to
introduce themselves to the Swedish market. The design is exactly what I've
come to expect from the Scandinavians: clean polished layout, smooth responsive
animation, and a sensibility that's just a little goofy.
The ad campaign itself focuses on the rebranding and what it means for
customers. Color is used to explain: "all that was red turns blue". Literally,
red (Vodafone) is replaced by blue (Telenor). Various objects, such as a hen, a
lifesaver and a candycane, are taken out of context and painted blue. It's
corny, but a humorous way to illustrate the sometimes controvertial and heated
business of rebranding.
The site design itself is just as important in communicating Telenor's
identity. Clarity, for one, is expressed through the simple but refined page
layout. A solid black content area lies over a lusterous vertical gradient.
Content is easy to read through high contrast, distinct heading and paragraph
styles and the elegant sans-serif typeface. Another of Telenor's qualities,
responsiveness, is conveyed through animation. The excellent animated logo
whips around like it's ready for action. Page transitions are fast and
satisfying: click a link and the site jumps to attention. The content area
immediately resizes and loads the desired page.
All of these design choices leave us with the perfect image for a
telecommunications operator: clear, responsive and accessible.
The site is in Swedish, but click around anyway to see the page transitions.
Note that the tab labeled "Start" brings you back to the homepage.
Enjoy!
Thursday 10 August 2006
Webpopulation
By Steven on Thursday 10 August 2006, 13:17
Website: Webpopulation
Activity: French Graphic Design Agency
Address: www.webpopulation.com
Purpose: Attract clients
Hello web design fans! For my first post, I present "Webpopulation", a French
design agency and self-proclaimed "creators of sensations". Their website
provides the standard overview of services and portfolio selections, but
functions primarily as a showpiece and testifies to their design skills and
very zany imagination.
As far as digital photo montage goes, this is some high quality work blending
breathtaking landscapes with quirky retro revelers. Pinup girls perched in
front of snow-capped mountains invite us into the scene. Teenagers twist and
shout and a Vegas showgirl shakes her beads beside a tranquil lake. In the
background, cheerleaders form a pyramid behind a thick swath of mountain pines.
It's really a beautiful composition.
Meanwhile, industrial marvels dot the landscape. A zepplin, a propeller plane,
a fantastic 1959 Cadillac Cyclone concept car, and shiny chrome escalators are
flawlessly integrated into the scene. Subtle animated details bring these
wonders to life: a submarine radar spins, propellers swirl and smoke rises from
an old factory. Webpopuplation has, in fact, created a shrine to the boundless
and even outlandish innovation of the past, and through this website prove to
be true heirs to this fearless creative spirit.
It's pure retro madness and great fun! Check it out!