With three months down at texturemedia and one to go, I’ve been doing some reflection about my experience here: what I’ve learned, what still flies over my head like an overthrown frisbee, and how I can make the most of what little time I have left. Standing at the forefront of the interactive age as part of a company leading the charge, I consider myself extremely lucky. If anyone is in a good position to understand the digital sphere, my name falls near the top of the list. But because the Web evolves at an exponential rate, it seems like all I can do is play catch-up. And what’s ironic is that every second I do, and no matter how hard I sprint, I’m still losing ground.

That’s daunting whether you’re an intern, a long-time employee, or anyone else, for that matter. No one knew the Internet would do what it has done to media, globalization, information acquisition, humanity. I can’t even speak accurately as to what it’s doing now except growing.

Yet despite a slipping grasp on what I know to be true about the Internet, I’m not deterred by information overload. Quite the opposite, in fact. Agencies like texturemedia make content more presentable, more easily digested, more navigable, so that the ambitious learner in me can sit down at the computer several times a day without feeling inundated by Web content. I browse, I log in, I hunt like I’m getting paid by the click.

[ more… ]

This year texturemedia is fortunate enough to have two of our sites nominated for Webby Awards, The Pentax Photo Gallery in the best use of photography category and the King Tut exhibition site they created in the event category. Politics West, a site we produced for The Denver Post, also was an official honoree.

Both of the nominated sites are also up for People’s Choice Awards, which means that you can help us and cast your vote now! Of course we hope the sites win, but just to be nominated is a huge honor. This year the Webby Awards received over 10,000 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries! Less than 5% were selected as nominees. Congrats to everyone on the project teams!

David Schell, Creative

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

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

Premium is an organic term, literally. Many brands are seeking to define Premium, own it, redefine it, sell it, push it, and share it. For example, the makers of Bud, Anheuser-Busch, are now selling Organic, Ultra-Premium Vodka. Not just premium, but Ultra-Premium. There are many examples. Odwalla Juices are super-Premium juices. Premium is everywhere. There are Premium chocolates, condoms, water, DVDs, and cats. We are surrounded by Premium.

This leads me to think, if the term continues to be used for everything from Vodka to Christmas Trees (I purchased a Premium Noble Fir this weekend), will the term lose meaning? If Premium were enough of a description, why is Ultra-Premium or Super-Premium needed to describe a superior product or service? Or, is Premium simply the new luxury? According to this article there is no such thing as a luxury product, just a product that has a good luxury story attached. Does the same rule apply to Premium?

Fortunately, at texturemedia, we have more than just a Premium story. We have Premium-Proof.

Premium-Proof: (adj.) has stood the test of time, contains hard facts and data, collective belief, great taste, and talent.

Allison Kent, New Business

Texturemedia is proud to announce the launch of Pentaxian.com, the second site in a series of sites that piggy-back off of the national campaign in celebrating the PENTAXIAN community. Following in the PENTAX Photogallery’s footsteps, the PENTAXIAN site both dissects what PENTAX considers to be their most diehard photographers, as well as allows all other PENTAXIANS to unite and show their loyalty. Watch elaborate documentary style videos, take the quiz to see what type of PENTAXIAN you are, and check out how diehard, and international, the PENTAXIAN community really is.

David Schell, Creative

With clients, the variety varies. Most successful companies (clients), the ones that realized the value of Interactive some time ago, have 7th or 8th generation Interactive best practices alive and well within their organization. These companies could be referred to as the Wise ole’ Grandfathers or Astute Ivy-League Uncles. These are the companies that get it, invest in it, challenge it, demand it, leverage it, praise it, and share it (it = Strategic Interactive Practices).

What about the rest of the family? We can’t forget about the odd step-sisters, misbehaved nieces/nephews, or the cousin-you-never-met-before companies…

These are the companies that offer the most challenge, though worth the effort. They could be referred to as the companies in mid-life crisis: I must have that ‘new thing’, I must have it first, I must finish this project tomorrow, I want it shiny and sporty, I want it to look hip, and I prefer to date a younger agency.

At texturemedia, we believe in the power of client diversity. Come on over crazy cousins-we-never-met-before!

Allison Kent, New Business