Random Culture

Tostitos: NOLAF

Great site from Tostitos, the NOLAF website (National Organization For Legislation Against Fun) is a funny site that uses full screen video to its fullest. Worth checking out. Designed by Mekanism and Element 79.

Why Sh%t Matters to Design

Great outtake from the PSFK conference in New York, featuring Allan Chochinov from Core77. While he's coming at things from an industrial design perspective, these are clearly words of wisdom that anyone working in a creative field can take heed of.

Link via Fresh Creation.

Good Design Friday: Starbucks Coffee At Home

Starbuckscoffeeathome.com is a nicely designed site to promote the purchase of Starbucks beans you can brew at home. Designed by Draft FCB and Your Majesty.

Usability In The Real World

The Maison a Bordeaux is one of the most amazing houses in the world. It was created 10 years ago by famed architect Rem Koolhaas. The house features moving walls and floors, all designed to help a man in a wheelchair become more mobile. Gizmodo has a great post about the house, and an amazing video of the interior.

This got me thinking about how undervalued usability is in the creation of websites. It's hard enough for consumers to get around many sites, let alone those with real limitations that keep them from having an even basic experience on a site.

The next time I'm creating a website, I'll be thinking about this.

Beautiful Sites: Adobe Cards

Adobe has launched a new website at: www.adobecards.com to promote Creative Suite 3. The site starts with a single card, and as you move the scrollbar to the right, advances through a beautiful animation sequence. The site was created by Goodby, Silverstein & Partners.

Friday Fun: Coke Zero Advergame

Coke Zero has launched a great advergame in Germany. It's a testament to the type of quality entertainment you can create online, leveraging a ton of video and 3D. Yes, the site's in German, but you can play the game without understanding it, and if you choose the "standard" options, you aren't required to register. Visit CokeZeroGame.de to check it out.

Link via Culture Buzz.

Shepard Fairey: Obey Obama

Shepard Fairey of "Obey" fame has created some nice posters in support of Barack Obama. According to the Creative Review Blog, the Obama campaign said Fairey wasn't on the campaign payroll, and created these posters on his own. Fairey offers the following on his site:

”I believe with great conviction that Barack Obama should be the next President. I have been paying close attention to him since the Democratic convention in 2004. I feel that he is more a statesman than a politician. He was against the war when it was an unpopular position (and Hillary was for the war at that time), Obama is for energy and environmental conservation. He is for healthcare reform. Check him out for yourself: barackobama.com. Proceeds from this print go to produce prints for a larger statewide poster campaign.”

You can buy posters or find out more by visiting ObeyGiant.com.

Link via Creative Review.

Embracing The Free Exchange of Ideas

Prior to Macworld, many websites were buzzing with links to a beautiful application for ordering at Starbucks. Turns out, it wasn't an official Apple release, but the imagination of a multimedia designer, Phil Lu. You can view an animated concept of the application here, and the folks at Influx Insights have a short interview here. If someone doesn't hire this guy and treat him like a rock star, something is wrong with the universe.

Ideas like this make me even more sad that Apple didn't embrace developer applications from the outset. As we've seen with Facebook, the value of opening platforms to developers can have an amazing impact. We're waiting...

The Never Ending Web Page: Orange UK

Orange UK has launched a new website, created by Poke London. According to Ian Tait, one of the founding partners of Poke (who also writes a great blog), it's a "never ending web page." The site can be found at: www.goodthingsshouldneverend.co.uk. It may appear at first that there's not much there, but dig around a bit, and you'll find lots of things to click on.

Arcade Fire: Interactive Music Video

I don't know what to call this other than an "interactive music video", but it's amazing. The site, built for the Arcade Fire for the song "Neon Bible", allows visitors to interact while the song is playing. But the site guides the user as well as allowing interaction, and the possibilities of what you can do change in conjunction with changes in the song. This is a must see... no word on who created the site.

Halo 3: Believe

A new site has been launched to promote Halo 3, which will be released later this month. It's a great interactive experience that focuses on a fictional "diorama" memorial created in the future to commemorate the war between humans and aliens. The site includes video and some interesting ways to navigate.

Visit Halo 3: Believe, here.

No word on who created the site, but I'm betting that some resourceful readers have the answer!

Creating Flash Advertising

A co-worker of mine, Jason Fincanon, has just published a book that I feel is worth recommending. It's entitled "Creating Flash Advertising", and definitely stands out among existing Flash books. Why? Because it's targeted at advertising folks, and specifically addresses the types of things we're interested in, like Flash ad units, microsites, using video and more. Sure, I'm biased because I work with Jason, but he's filled a niche that wasn't being addressed, which is why you should totally buy it.

Toyrama: Great New HP Site

HP has launched a great new site, Toyrama, to promote a new machine they're targeting towards animators. The website provides some interesting tools for users to create their own homemade animation, as well as a contest for animators to submit their own stop motion films. The site was created by Arc Worldwide.

Link via Adverblog.

Not Your Average Comic

The folks at Influxinsights have a great post up about a new comic called AD - New Orleans after the Deluge, being published by Josh Neufeld and Smith magazine. There's a video about the project from the folks at Pulp Secret that's worth checking out. Watch it below:

Video and eCommerce: eBay

Advertising Age has a great article that got me very excited about the prospect of using video on ecommerce sites. It seems that eBay sellers have been trying to incorporate video into their listings, but eBay won't let them embed videos from YouTube or MySpace. So eBay is embarking on a quest to provide users with the ability to post videos in a more controlled manner. Read the full article here.

Pay attention to this one, folks. How long before a big online retailer has videos of all the merchandise? It's not that far of a stretch. Digital video is becoming cheaper, and some retailers certainly would rather demonstrate their product, rather than just show some still shots or spin a 3D model around.

An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth

Mike Tucker has launched a website worth checking out, "An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth." It's an interactive manifesto built on the words of the well-known designer Bruce Mau on subjects such as creativity, work ethic, collaboration and ideology.

Yuscano: Visually Scan YouTube

Yuscano is an interesting site that allows you to "visually" scan YouTube. Users can look through most popular or featured videos, as well as search for a specific tag, and then can specify the number of clips they want to see, as well as the length. Yuscano then creates a montage of video clips that can be shared with others via email or posted on a website.

Good Site Friday

Couldn't just post one good site this Friday... there were more than a few worth mentioning.

Universe: By Jonathan Harris for Daylife: Great site that allows you to discover current news like you're traveling through the universe.

Twittervision: Nice mashup between Google Maps and Twitter... yes, you can stare at it for a long time, and there seems to be a ton of activity in Japan.

CozmoTV: Interesting site that allows users to create "channels" that pull video from sites such as YouTube and MySpace videos. I like the aggregation angle.

UPS Whiteboard

I was talking with friends last night about a great new site from UPS, the UPS Whiteboard. It's a great example of a unique user experience combining integrated video and flash animation. The reason the user experience is unique is that it truly helps guide a user through the navigation of the site, making it simple but engaging.

Wieden + Kennedy Redesign

After several years with the same minimal, stark website, Wieden + Kennedy has launched a new redesigned site. As you can see, it's quite a drastic change. Definitely not your average agency site.

Nike: The Second Coming

Nike has launched a new site, The Second Coming, that allows users to create a "mash-up" video for their AF25 basketball shoes. While the whole "consumer generated" TV spot idea is nothing new, it's a very well-done website, and worth checking out. One of the great things they've done is allow users to post the completed mash-up on their own blogs or MySpace pages, which certainly leverages the true consumer-generated power of the campaign.

Link via Adverblog.

WSJ: Every Journey Needs A Journal

The Wall Street Journal has launched a new campaign, Every Journey Needs a Journal, to drive subscriptions. The website features the personal "stories", bios and behind-the-scene video of some notable folks who find value in the WSJ, such as Cheryl Crow, Kenneth Cole, Steven Levitt and others. They're also soliciting submissions of consumer's personal "journeys" to be included in the campaign. The site was designed and created by T3.

Link via Adverblog.

New Yorker Redesign

The New Yorker magazine has launched a great redesign of their site. The new site has a "Web 2.0" feel, with lots of clean whitespace, embedded flash video and more. Definitely worth checking out.

Cool Isn't Always Flash

Levi's is proof of that. They've launched a unique new site for Levi's Copper Jeans in Singapore. The site doesn't use flash, but rather, makes use of good old HTML and scripting. It's refreshing to see someone experimenting. At least the FWA thought so, awarding it the site of the day on February 21.

Any word on who created the site?

I Heart Infographics: Video Edition

The Reel Pop blog has a great post on video infographics. A couple of them are from music videos, but all are worth checking out. One of my favorites is a video entitled "Le Grand Content", created by Clemens Kogler and Karo Szmit. It essentially charts the decisions we make in life through a series of symbols. Not at all serious as it is poetic. Watch it below.

Link via Fimoculous.

Wrangler Europe

Wrangler has launched a good-looking new site in Europe. Check it out at eu.wrangler.com. No word on who designed the site.

Converse Russia Site

This is an amazing site for Converse in Russia. Sure, you might not be able to understand what the heck is going on, but this is quite a unique site that's fun to explore. Definitely worth checking out.

Designed by the folks at Red Keds Studio in Moscow.

On Toyota's Mind

Toyota has launched an interesting new multi-lingual brand site, called "On Toyota's Mind." The site is mostly about things like innovation and the environment. Definitely worth checking out. Designed and built by  Swedish interactive design firm North Kingdom.

Friday Future: Apple in Japan

Wow... Hashem at the Brain Sells blog posted a great video of Apple's beautiful interactive 3D "pillars" from the Tokyo Ginza Store. They let visitors to the store know what's on each floor. Check out the video below.

Great Site: WDDG

The WDDG (World Domination Design Group) has just launched a great redesign of their site. The entire site is built to look like an old World War 2 documentary film. Worth checking out.

Adobe Labs: Kuler

Adobe Labs has launched a new site, Kuler, as a color palette resource for designers. Users of the site can upload their own color palettes, and other members of the site can rate the palettes.

This isn't an original idea. There are several other sites like this out there, and I'm not sure that Adobe improved on any of them. Even after seeing this new Adobe site, I still prefer the Colour Lovers site. In my mind, it's a much better execution.

Nike Golf: Juice

Nike has launched a simple, but fun website for their "Juice 312" golf balls. It includes videos "ala" Edgerton, with golf balls impacting everyday things like birthday cake, jello and cantaloupe. I only wish they had more of these videos.

"The Fountain" Experience

Warner Brothers has launched an "experience" website for Darren Aaronofsky's new movie, The Fountain. It's definitely not your average website experience, reminiscent of the Donnie Darko and Requiem for a Dream sites. Definitely worth checking out, if you have some time to surf around and figure out what to click on. No word on who created the site.

Comcast: Fear.net

On Monday, Comcast launched a great new site, Fear.net. It's a community site for fans of horror movies, featuring news, a horror movie database, game and downloads. The best part about the site, however, is that they're offering visitors the ability to view several full-length horror films directly on the website. New films are featured each month.

In addition, the site is well designed, and features some great flash. I'm impressed that this is a Comcast site, since it stands alone as a great community site serving horror movie fans. It should be noted that this is a cross-media effort, since the movies are available on the website, as well as Comcast On Demand and via mobile as well.

Link via Jupiter Analyst Todd Chanko.

Wendy's: Bureau for Better Value

Wendy's has launched a new microsite, The Bureau for Better Value, to showcase their value menu. The site includes some nice video and flash integration. As a part of this campaign, the Bureau for Better Value has also created an account on YouTube, with a number of videos they've uploaded to support the campaign. You can access all the YouTube videos here, and I've pulled out a couple of them for you to watch below.

Link via AdJab

Google Maps: Not Just for Maps

Markus Dressen puts the Google Maps API to use for something a little different... to display a collection of design books. Beautiful.

BMW X3 SAV Site

BMW has launched an interesting site for the new X3 SAV. The site's a bit unconventional, and focuses on how the "SAV" is different than an "SUV." So different, in fact, that it deserved another name.

Gucci Group: Full-Screen Video

The Gucci Group has launched a website for all of it's brands. While the site provides a gateway to the individual site for each brand, it also includes video footage from the latest "shows" that are full-screen. Definitely worth checking out.

New Demetri Martin Website

Comedian Demetri Martin has launched a new website. You may know him from his "trendspotting" segment on the Daily Show. The site has some great content, including video. Oddly enough, is sponsored by Windows Vista... go figure.

Link via Zach Klein.

Audi R8 Website

Audi has unveiled the new R8, and has released a great microsite to spread the word. It features some nice video and flash integration. Definitely worth checking out. No word on who created the site.

Link via Signal vs. Noise.

Nike Lab: Rise of the Hybrids

Nike has created a series of three pretty cool videos called "Rise of the Hybrids." The videos are available to watch on the Nike Lab site, but I've also included them below. Here's a description of the video from the site:

Rise of the Hybrids
From the chaotic aftermath of a galactic impact an order emerges unlike any other, an explosion of new forms never seen before. Suddenly, all combinations are possible; animals fuse with other animals. Plants fuse with minerals, beings and objects fuse with earlier ancestors of themselves. This is the rise of the hybrids.

Flashforward Winners

Flashforward, which is happening right now in Austin, has announced the winners of the 16th Flashforward Film Festival. You can view a complete list at the Flashforward blog.

Here are couple highlights of some great work from the winners. Some you may be familiar with, and other you may not:

Online Application: Orange UK "Online Phone Trainer"

People's Choice: Comcast "The Fan"

Commerce: Reisenthel Accessories

New Playstation 3 EU Site

Sony has launched a new site for the Playstation 3 in the European Union. Despite the horrible new tagline for the PS3, "This is Living", the site is very interactive, and features interesting navigation. Definitely worth checking out.

Nokia 6131

Nokia has launched a great site in Ireland for the 6131. It's very clean, but with some fun interaction. The soundtrack might start to get on your nerves after a few minutes, but it's worth a look.

Ghost Rider Website

Check out the website Sony Pictures created for the upcoming comic book adaptation movie, Ghost Rider. Good integration of video and flash, and there's even a fairly entertaining flash game.

Flash 10th Anniversary Website

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Flash, Adobe has launched a website that charts the history and future of the application. You can check out some of the more notable websites that have been created with flash, product improvements over the years, and much more.

Publicis Net Redesign

Publicis Net, in France, has launched a great redesign of their site. Check out the site, and you'll also find a blog for the agency, BadBadBlog. Although I'm a little perplexed by their choice of name, I think it's great to see more agencies blogging.

Gucci: Web 2.0 Redesign

Flash is basically a staple for high-end fashion websites. This is because the "cool" factor flash provides is one of the most important goals many fashion brands have for their website. Gucci, however, is shaking things up a bit. They've redesigned Gucci.com to retain the "cool" animations and effects, but they haven't used a lick of Flash, it's all Javascript and Ajax. Interesting to see the types of "cool" transitions and dynamic behaviors that aren't solely the domain of Flash.

Link via Adverblog.

New Diesel Site: Diesel Heaven

Diesel has launched a new section of their site, called "Diesel Heaven." It's got some nice video/flash integration, and I have to say, it's straight up strange. Who knew heaven had a VIP door?

Beautiful: Hope Garden

Hope Garden is a beautiful site from BSD Medical, a cancer treatment company in Salt Lake City, Utah. The site offers a way for those fighting cancer, or loved ones to "plant" virtual flowers and leave messages. Plant your own flower or look through those already in the "garden."

No word on who built this for them. Anyone know?

Update: Paul Mayne writes in to let us know that BSD's ad agency is Richter7, and he confesses to building it.

Coca-Cola.com Redesign by AKQA

Coca-Cola has launched a redesign of their flagship website. One of the unique things about this site is that they've begun to integrate consumer generated media. The site was designed by AKQA. Read more about the initiative in this Clickz article.

MGM Grand Website

Great website for the MGM Grand. Make sure you check out the "Maximum Vegas" section. It's got great integration of video and flash.

Web 2.0 Logo Redesigns

Yay Hooray has a great gallery post going on where designers give logos we're all familiar with a "Web 2.0" makeover. Of course, this means lots of reflections, 3D and abbreviations of names. Most of these are REALLY well done, and it's worth checking out. Heck, some of them are actually much better than the originals.

New Nike Air Site

Nike has launched a really nice looking new site for Nike Air. It's good because it's beautiful, although you might get bored pretty quickly.

I hear that Big Spaceship was involved in creating this one.

Great Site for New Volvo C30

Volvo has just introduced a new low-cost compact 2-door car, the C30. As a part of this campaign, they've launched a nice website that takes the "sneak peek" metaphor literally. No word on who created the site.

Link via 37Signals.

The Vodaphone Journey

Vodaphone has launched a great looking site integrating video and flash. It's built really well, easy to use, and even though I was in the "high bandwidth" experience, it loaded very fast for me. See it for yourself at: Vodafonejourney.com.

Update: Llamamelola.com points out this site was created by North Kingdom.

Travelers In Synch

Travelers Insurance has launched a great site: Travelersinsynch.com. What, an insurance company with a good site... that's crazy. One of the particularly great sections, pictured above, is their "In-Synch Challenge", which features some great 3D and flash that teaches companies about minimizing risk in the workplace. The subject might be boring, but the design and interactivity is excellent. Thanks to Robert for the heads up!

Cannes Cyber Lion Finds

Looking through the 2006 Cannes Cyber Lion Winners, I found a few gems that somehow slipped under my radar, but are worth checking out:

Stockholm - The Musical
Created by FarFar for the Swedish Tourist Council, the site allows users to enter their name, which is then dynamically inserted into the musical.

Cisco Booom
Created by OgilvyInteractive Worldwide for Cisco, this website allows you to play a game with the website through your phone. Unfortunately, it's an international number... so someone try it out and let me know what you think. Looks interesting.

Make sure you check out the complete list of winners... some good stuff in there.

Orbit Gum: Get A Call From Snoop Dogg

Orbit Gum has teamed up with Snoop Dogg and created a great promotional website: Orbit Gum: Goodcleanfeeling.com. On the site, visitors can enter a phone number to receive a call from Snoop, or a number of other prerecorded voice message. The site's really well designed, with great use of flash and video. One of the neat aspects of the site is a password protected area that can only be accessed by people who get a password from the call. It's a nice touch.

I can testify for how engaging this type of phone feature is. We used it several years ago on a website in support of Home Depot's ESPN College Gameday sponsorship. Visitors to the site could receive or send a call from Lee Corso, one of the hosts. It was the most popular feature on the site. If you're interested in the technology, check out eStara, they provide it.

Thanks to Robert for the heads up!

Motorola Q Website

Motorola has launched a great new site for the Motorola Q device. Lots of 3D and video, and tons of interactivity. So much interactivity, in fact, that you might have a hard time keeping the interface still enough to click on what you want to... but we'll forgive them. It looks amazing.

Converse.com Redesigns

Converse has just launched a nice website redesign. Check it out at: www.converse.com.

2006 BMW 3 Series Microsite

BMW has launched a great microsite for the 2006 BMW 3 Series. The site looks great, utilizing lots of 3D renderings of the car, and also has a ton of video content. Beyond that, I was really impressed by the sound used throughout the site.

No word on who created this site for them. Anyone know?

The Design Behind Gore's Presentation

I saw "An Inconvenient Truth" this weekend, the Al Gore movie about global warming. Politics aside, if you've seen any slides of the actual presentation Gore has been giving, the design is awe inspiring.

This morning, I found a post on the Presentation Zen blog about the company behind the design of this presentation, Duarte Design. They're a Silicon Valley design firm that's got a good reputation in presentation design and infographics.

I've definitely got powerpoint envy after seeing this.