Beowulf

I just saw the trailer for the upcoming all-CG movie called Beowulf and it is amazing. The film continues to advance a technology called Electrooculography which was first widely seen in the Polar Express. It uses very sophisticated motion capture to get the actor’s face and eye movements and as you can see the results are astounding.

User generated lingerie?

Last year we saw Doritos, Chevy and others turn to their consumers to help create their advertising and content got a variety of mediums. The UGC content trend has taken a semi-bizarre new twist as beginning next month Frederick's of Hollywood will run a six-week online promotion for users to submit designs for a corset that Frederick's will produce. Contestants can download a Frederick's created corset template, then either print it out to design by hand or use their own design software. Once uploaded, they can then post a link to their design on their blog or social networking page, or e-mail it to friends.

Buddakan NYC

I have to give a lot of credit to the Star Restaurant Group for being a company that really knows what they are doing not only when it comes to creating amazing restaurants but also for having the vision to know the experience goes beyond the food. Star owns Morimoto which is my favorite restaurant here in New York which has a cool web site that I have written about before. They also own my second favorite restaurant called Buddakan which is right around the corner from Morimoto in the Meat Packing district. I saw today that Buddakan has also launched a new site designed by 160over90 which is equally as engaging and unexpected at the site for Morimoto. The site lets you choose from one of two groups of images located on either side of the screen. the images are of the food, restaurant and asian design elements and choosing one of these will cause it move to the center of the screen where it is juxtposed with another image. It is nice break from the usual boring collection of menu that make up the focus of almost every other restaurant site and it gets people to engage with the content and immerse themselves in the look and vibe of the place.

Diesel Denim Dating

Diesel has updated their site to support their fall denim campaign called Diesel Denim Dating. The homepage is literally an animated personals section like you would find in any newspaper and you drag your mouse around to scan over the over sized page and the ads found within. About two thirds of the page is filled with small randomly placed and dynamically created text ads which are just static content. Sprinkled throughout these smaller ads are larger, color 3D ads of Diesel models wearing the new apparel. You can click on any model and read about their personality along with specs on the clothes they're wearing. Though certainly fake, you can email the models if you want to take a chance on a potential love connection. There is also a 18+ "Denim Dating" section which is a gallery where you can upload your own glamour shot and profile for viewing. I question if these shots really get posted or if this is a clever way to get your info since when I clicked into a few of them I got copy that sounded like the dynamically generated mad libs like in the small text ads from the main portion of the site. So the site is interesting with a simple interface and content that will capture your attention for a little while. It doesn't have the production issues found in Diesel Heaven but it also doesn't reach for the same ambitious level.

Simpsonize Me

This week Burger King launched a new site called Simpsonize Me to promote their marketing partnership with the new Simpson's Movie. The site lets you upload a head shot of yourself which it will analyze to create you as a Simpson's character. It is really addictive and does a good of getting pretty close to the photo. You can tweak all aspects of your character to get it just right and then email it to a friend, down it, make it into a screen saver, print it on your own gear or save it as your avatar for the Simpson's movie site. It is a lot of fun and probably the best movie site since Wedding Crashers.

IBM Many Eyes

IBM's Collaborative User Experience research group has launched an interesting new online data visualization tool called Many Eyes. Inspite of the complicated looking output, the application is pretty simple to use as you just paste data into the site from an Excel document, pick a visual display format as see your results. From there the visualization is posted for what they describe as a "new social kind of data analysis" where people can view, rate, group and blog about it. In a culture where most data visualization consists on var charts in Powerpoint, this is a very accesible way into a much more powerful and engaging visualization format. I only wish there was some way to export the results off of the site to use in a PDF, Powerpoint or printed document.

StephenGates.com 2 - Update

A few months ago I open up a public preview of the new design I am working on for my portfolio site. It received a luke warm reception and I expected that since almost all the work was done behind the scenes to write and re-do all the Actionscript from the ground up. That work is almost done so I have been moving on to getting the design and user experience up and running. The first section that is 95% finished is the Resume section. This design is based out the work I have been doing to re-design the resume into a visual and engaging layout that actually looks creative and not like a mindless Word document. For my site I re-worked the design to a vertical collapsed format, added some dynamic Actionscript based animation and a few other interactive elements. More to come as it gets finished.

Adidas Y-3

I came across a really interesting site today for Adidas and designer Yohji Yamamoto. The main interface is very simple and unique as you see a video of a model with one of the outfits from the collection. You can spin the model and two mirrors about 45 degrees or click on one of the mirrors and adjust it individually. It is a nice design since it lets you see all of the outfit and does it in a unique and compelling way. the mirrors also serve as navigation because if you turn the mirror all the way you actually see the next model with a new outfit. The load time in steep but it is an interesting step in a better direction for online clothing sales.

Papervision3D goes Public Beta

Thanks to Anthony the Flash Monster for the heads up that Papervision3D went into public beta about a week ago. You can get the source code here.

R.I.P. AdCritic

AdCritic.com as you knew it went away since they merged with Creativity magazine and the two launched their new site this morning. I like the layout and hope that the online content stays as good quality and fresh as it has in the past.

Mercedes C-Class UK

So after reviewing Audi Rhythm of the Lines site it seems the movement towards non-traditional car sites continues with the new UK Mercedes C-Class microsite. The main nav is six color circles of light that represent qualities of the C-Class and clicking on the various options reveals content that is equal parts color spectrum experiments, geometric configurations, mini-gaming and ambient-techno music. These section are surprisingly engaging for their simplicity but this engaging flow is broken at the end by copy that explains the meaning behind each word and how it relates to the car. This is one of those place where you either wish they would have given the consumers more credit being able to understand the simple relationships between the words and the product or had subtly infused the design with elements of the car to not have to have that copy. So in the end the site makes strides into new territory for the brand but you have to question if the design will resonate with their core audience and if it can move the needle on sales.

Ultimate iPhone anti-theft device

This is completely unrelated to web design but it's just funny. Now all you new iPhone owners can deter thieves by showing them that all you've got is a Zune and who the hell would want to steal that?

HBO Voyeur

BBDO has create a very ambitious site for HBO called Voyeur. The site is basically a building-size "peep show" that lets you see into the drama and comedy of the lives of residents in each apartment simultaneously. I talked with some of the guys at BBDO and found out that each individual apartment film is a single-take performance and they did it to heighten the realism and conceit of "window peeping". The events are compressed and choreographed so that that in four uninterrupted minutes we witness a birth, a death, the end of a marriage, the spark of a love affair, the disintegration of a
fashionable social clique, the growing up of young men & women, the discovery of a grisly murder and the defense of a gay love nest. You can also customize the music and choose different genres which creates different moods, tones and ultimately different experiences.

Probably the most interesting thing is that the site is also going to be extended through content created for HBO On Demand and HBO Mobile. I think this use of multiple channel is really smart since most of the people who would be engaged by this site have fragmented medium consumption. Studies have shown this pattern for several years but this campaign does a really good job of finally taking advantage of it.

It is an interesting an ambitious site but all of this video content does come at a cost with a long load time that could be an obstacle to a lot of people. But if you make it past the load time the content will sucks you and make it a worth while experience.

AUDI - Rhythm of Lines

Audi has launched a new campaign for the launch of the new Audi A5 called The Rhythm of the Lines from Audi UK. Part of the integrated campaign is RhythmOfLines.co.uk which mimics the line based visual style of the beautiful and minimal commercials while adding some really nice interactivity that lets you create your own line art. You use your keyboard to control the color and direction of the lines and at certain points in the experience you will see subtle outlines and shapes of the new A5. It is a brave and commendable move by the agency and the client that the design is so purely experiental with a beautiful minimal design that even foregoes any obvious branding like the Audi logo. Because of this the subtle promotion of the car it is almost more impactful than filling the page with photos and specs because it creates such a strong brand impression.

Web sites - bringing your clients business sins to life

The other day one of my partners in crime at work said something that I think is one of the most insightful things about Web site design that I have heard in a long time and I wanted to share it. He simply said 'Web sites are the place where all the business sins come to life'. It is a deceptively simple statement that doesn't sound like much at first but it hides a lot of truth and depth. At the core is the concept that the Web forces all your clients different divisions, initiatives, products programs and beliefs into one well organized consumer facing location. This proximity is something that doesn't happen in the office or retail environments due to size and complexity of most major companies so the Web site is the first place where these intersections happen. All the breaks in brand, philosophy and strategy become really apparent really quickly. I had never thought about this before that conversation but it is a huge challenge for us to be able to find a way to overcome this problem which isn't of our creation. I think everyone feels it when they are doing a large design project but can't put your finger on it. What do you think?

Apple's Advertising = Ripoff?

I was cruising through Engadget today when a headline and article caught my eye. Entitled 'Apple's little problem with ripping off artists', it lays out in detail the disconcerting trend taking shape of Apple knocking off other artists' and creative companies' work in its own products and advertising. It is a very interesting and compelling case strengthened by facts like this weekend artist Louis Psihoyos filed suit against Apple for allegedly swiping his wall of videos photo after Apple backed out of negotiations to license the imagery to use in the Apple TV intro video and branding (images pictured above). Read the article for youself and see what you think.

Burger King's Pet Moustache

Burger King is at it again with a new site called Pet Moustache. The site brings to interactive life that cheap childhood toy that would let you drag magnetic shavings around like hair. It is straight forward enough and it a fun but short diversion.

Ethan Haas Was Right

An intriguing new puzzle site recently popped on the scene without much known about what it is or who is behind it. Ethan Haas Was Right is a mysterious Flash-based website that presents a series of 5 unique puzzles, some original and some rehashed versions of classic puzzle games. Between the puzzles are video segments containing clues as to the origin and meaning of it all.

Each puzzle is played with a puzzle orb that has faded hieroglyphics and looks like a set piece from Myst. When you solve all the puzzles you will be rewarded with a video of a man inside of a dark room who lets you in on who caused the "end" to come, and it'll also give you advice and clues on how to avoid these people and the solution to the new puzzles.

A few other blogs have latched onto the game and have pieced together the theory that this game is part of a marketing campaign for something called "Cloverfield" and it may (or may not be) part of a larger alternate reality game. If you want to solve the game for yourself without the hours of work check out this walkthrough that will get you through.

Jeep - Have Fun Out There

Jeep has the new tagline of 'Have fun out there' and to support this they have launched HaveFunOutThere.com. The site takes Jeep tagged content from Youtube, Flickr, Myspace or any other user gen web site and aggregates it into one place. I am not the target audience they are targeting but the experience seems really shallow since they don't do anything more than aggregate the content. I would have expected more out the site since they have such a wealth of content and they are tapping into their most passionate and loyal core. A blog widget to display your photo and link to the site, a way to share you photo with a friend, linking Jeep owners with similar experiences or photos together to create a community or any other number of ideas could have made this site work a lot harder for the brand. I am assuming that Jeep will use this as an ongoing user gen platform so it will be interesting to see if it evolves past this basic state in the future.

Brad Bird & Ratatouille are brilliant

I, like most of America, just don't go to the movies much anymore and when I do I only enjoy kids movies. It comes as no surprise that the best of those movies have been from PIXAR. When they joined forces with Brad Bird who is my favorite animation director I was beyond excited. The Incredibles is one of my favorite movies of all time and with my love of cooking I couldn't wait to see Ratatouille. For me it absolutely delivered the goods and once again proves that Brad Bird is just working on another level from every other American animation director today. It is a much more mature work than any other PIXAR film and unfortunately I think it isn't going to be a huge commercial success because kids will like the look of the characters but are going to have a hard time connecting with the material. It is also interesting to point out that this is the first PIXAR movie to make place in a real location and does a wonderful job of portraying the romance and personality of Paris. I will not spoil any of the film but if you go see the film pay special attention to Ego's review near the end of the movie because I think it is a wonderfully written and thought provoking statement on the creative process and what we do.

Muoi

I can across this site called Muoi today through one of the Asian design sites I visit regularly. Very little of the site is in English but from what I can read it supports a Korean language film. The site has a lot of things going with custom cursors and resizing windows that comes to close to being too cheesy but it seems to pull it back just in time. The interface and content of the site are created by vines that grow through the background vegetation. While none of these elements are remarkable by themselves, the sum of the parts add up to an interesting experience that is a different and more creative departure from the traditional movie site.

I wait on iPhone

It has been a hotly debated subject for me and my friends over the past few months - if we should get an iPhone when it launched this week. For me it has gone back and forth because I have always been the guy who takes it on the chin and the wallet be an early adopter. For now I settled on waiting until they at least get a version that has 20GB of storage.

We will see if that lasts because I haven't actually had my hands on one yet and I know that is going to come to an end this week because one of my best friends got one. He called me from the back of a cab that was rocketing through New York headed for the SoHo Apple store around 11pm on launch night to get one. He is a very well educated and experienced technology junky who knows his stuff so I was fascinated to see his opinion once he had a chance to live with it for a while. I expected it to get mixed reviews and I was more than little shocked when he simply said "This is the greatest piece of consumer electronics I have ever owned. It lives up to all the hype." We will see if I can hold and I will post my review once I get my hands on one.