Lessons on how a simple office can be transformed…

Before:

During:

And after:

Here at texturemedia, we’ve been fighting a few corporate ghosts. Our space was previously occupied by a sales division of GE Access and it looked like a scene out of GlenGarry Glen Ross. As you might imagine, we’ve had to do a significant amount of work to turn it into a creative digital agency that inspires collaboration.

To that end, we recently unveiled a new space dedicated to brainstorming, collaboration, and just general hanging out. It used to be an office, and now it has been appropriately dubbed “The Thought Lab.” Many thanks to all of those folks here who put in a little extra blood, sweat, and perhaps a small tear to make it happen.

Peyton Lindley, Interaction Design

I love the web. I love how quickly things change, and how a single innovation can open up a whole world of ideas. Take this site, for example. Publicis & Hal Riney’s newly redesigned site allows you to navigate using your web cam. How fantastic is that!

Check it out here.

David Schell, Creative

I have been part of many conversations with interactive folks talking about starting a national ‘committee’, ‘association’, or ‘network’ for Interactive professionals. Low and behold, sounds like SXSW had more to offer this year than the “nuclear disaster“, that everyone is talking about. A new society for Interactive agencies and professionals ‘those selected to participate’ was announced, http://www.societyofdigitalagencies.org/. I have to say, better late than never - but let’s hope they get down to business right away.

SXSW is dear to our hearts for another reason this year, we were nominated for an award in the Interactive CSS category, love those folks down in Austin.

Allison Kent, New Business

Interesting site that breaks down the before and after on some major brand identity redesigns. I find it interesting to flip through, and see whether the changes work for the better, or were even necessary to begin with. They also update the site regularly, so bookmark it for your next brand identity redesign.

http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/index.php?page=1

David Schell, Creative

What is Google’s strategy in the mobile marketplace?

Let’s start with the following premise: since Google is ubiquitous in the online world, marginal increases in the usage of the web improve Google’s advertising business.

That’s one reason why Google chooses to invest so much in projects that seem tangential to their core advertising business. Even if these projects do not seem to create immediate business value for Google, if they serve to improve or increase the use of the web in general they often eventually benefit Google advertising business.

The mobile web is the perfect next medium on which to sell Google’s digital advertising products. If Google can create strategies for leveraging and expanding the use of the mobile web, presumably they’ll grow their business. But the mobile web is problematic.

Mobile development is hard

Those of us who have spent significant amounts of time making websites render well in the main desktop browsers and operating systems know how painful that can be. With the mobile web the problem is magnified. There are more browsers, a broader variety of screen resolutions, and a relatively poor support for standards.

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While staring at pixels all day might be what we enjoy at texturemedia, we also have a fine artist side that occasionally needs to come out and play. As the Creative Director at texturemedia, I rarely get time to pursue one of my true passions, which is painting. I created the 30 days 30 pieces project, with the help of our Grandmaster Flash, Miles Fenn, as a way to force me to do one piece of art a day for a month. A bunch of friends across the globe also liked the idea, and joined in. Check out the 30 days 30 pieces project here. So far we’ve been randomly picked up on designer blogs from Brazil to the UK. If you think you’re up for the challenge, and want in on the next month, please contact me off of the 30 days website.

David Schell, Creative

I don’t know if you have noticed this or not but texture has become gripped by a paranormal force of some sort. Some say it’s a ghost that is depositing these random happy characters. Some say it’s a way ward pirate depositing them from his booty! I’d like to believe it’s the infamous “Figure Fairy” that comes the night after someone has a great idea.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you supernatural force that is responsible for these little plastic happy things. You make me happy

This phenomenon reminds me of this project.

Aaron Congleton, Technology