“WHEN WE WERE KIDS WE LOVED PLAYING AROUND WITH CAMERAS — WE LOVED HOW ALL THE OLD POLAROID CAMERAS MARKETED THEMSELVES AS “INSTANT” (SOMETHING WE TAKE FOR GRANTED TODAY). WE ALSO FELT THAT THE SNAPSHOTS PEOPLE WERE TAKING WERE KIND OF LIKE TELEGRAMS IN THAT THEY GOT SENT OVER THE WIRE TO OTHERS — SO WE FIGURED WHY NOT COMBINE THE TWO?

INSTAGRAM CAME FROM THAT INSPIRATION—COULD WE MAKE SHARING YOUR LIFE AS INSTANT AND MAGIC AS THOSE FIRST POLAROID PICTURES MUST HAVE FELT? OUR FIRST PRODUCT IS INSTAGRAM FOR IPHONE, AND WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED.”

― INSTAGRAM

If you have not heard the big news yet, the popular photo-sharing app for iPhone (and now Android) recently agreed to be sold for ONE BILLION DOLLARS to the social-media-giant, Facebook. Considering that the app allegedly only took eight-weeks to develop curtailed with the fact that it currently has no real income-stream, this acquisition is indeed quite extraordinary and perhaps even a bit excessive (yes that’s nine-zeros in a billion). To memory, I can’t really say I can recall such interesting and unanticipated sale, ever!

Me personally, I have become quite fond of Instagram. Like many users (igers), I share the same sentiments, hoping that Facebook will stay true to their word. In recent blog post, they stated that they, “need to be mindful about keeping and building on Instagram’s strengths and features rather than just trying to integrate everything into Facebook. That’s why we’re committed to building and growing Instagram independently.” It’s always a question and often a fear, that when a brand/company is acquired, of whether or not it will it maintain its identity through such change? I recall when McDonalds purchased a majority share of Chipotle Mexican Grill, the popular fast-casual restaurant chain (and one of my favorites), many feared the same, however it seems it turned-out to be a rather win-win for both parties. The Chipotle brand maintained integrity and the acquisition provided added capital and resources to make that brand/company stronger and thus expand. Facebook has practically unlimited resources at their disposal and could indeed, “help spread this app and brand to even more people” as they claim their intentions are. Perhaps it will be advantageous for all parties, including the beloved users.

In the last few months, I have developed a love for Instagram. You know how the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words!” The interface is easy to use and it’s balance of simplicity and functionality is weighted perfectly. There seems to be a good mix of forethought in the postings. Many folks simply share a photo of what’s going on in their life, thus rendering a snapshot of their world for the moment. Others, are photographers or simply like taking pictures and post some beautiful images. I’ve had many awe-ha moments, given my state of mind or the mood of the moment and seeing just the right picture at the right time; the arts can be so soothing and gratifying. Unlike certain social-networks, Instagram has NO obnoxious and intrusive advertisements (actually unlike most of the internet) and moreover has not yet caught-on to businesses and consumerism in the mainstream. It has a sort of friendly and organic culture and candor, which I greatly appreciate and love! I enjoy sharing some of my photos and have met some great acquaintances from around the world. If you have an iPhone or a Droid and love sharing your life in pictures with a hint of nostalgia via the old vintage ‘instant’ cameras you grew-up with, give it download.

Below are just a few of my recent favorites, mixed-in with a few of my shots. If you’re an iger, give me a follow (@burito1043) and thanks for the listen! Don’t forget to leave a comment, I would love to hear your experience and thoughts about Instagram!

*Feature image recently posted on Instagram by the founder and courtesy of LAIKA STUDIOS. Make sure to check them out, they do amazing work with video and animation!

“LOUD COFFEE IS A MEDIUM ROAST OF ORGANIC AND FAIR TRADE BEANS. THERE IS THE STRONG INFLUENCE OF THE ETHIOPIAN LONGBERRY HARRAR FROM THE OROMIA COOP WHICH GIVES THE BLEND A DEEP FLORAL AROMA. THE FLAVOR IS DRIED STONE FRUIT WITH STICKY CARAMEL NOTES.

LOUD COFFEE IS A SPECIAL PRODUCT THAT SUPPORTS THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST IN KENYA. THE DSWT HAVE BEEN SAVING ELEPHANTS FOR YEARS AND AS OBSESSIVE COFFEE DRINKERS AND ELEPHANT LOVERS, WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THEIR WONDERFUL WORK THROUGH THE SALE OF OUR COFFEE.”

Now here is a beautiful idea! Take an everyday action you love, like drinking coffee (who doesn’t like coffee?), and be perpetually helping to save elephants in need, one cup at a time. Started by my friends Wade and Jennifer Skelly of Melbourne, who are coffee connoisseurs, they always dreamed of having their own coffee business. Their very own label, Loud Coffee, is a product of hand-selected beans and is fair trade organic. Disturbed by the state of the world, particularly the suffering of animals they conjured-up this symbiotic idea of delectable coffee and saving elephants. These elephants are very close to their hearts and they feel very fortunate and thankful to be able to lend a helping hand.

“THESE ARE THE APPARENT LUCKY ONES IN AN OTHERWISE POOR SUFFERING RACE OF ELEPHANTS IN MALAYSIA. AFTER VISITING THE PLACE AND WITNESSING THE CRUDE AND OUT OF DATE PROCESSES THEY ARE USING TO CAPTURE THE POOR CREATURES. PLUS THEIR ALL OVER RATE OF SUCCESS, THE ELEPHANTS DO NOT STAND A CHANCE. MOST OF THEM LIE DOWN AND DIE FROM DEPRESSION AND STRESS. I WOULD BE SURPRISED TO SEE ANY ELEPHANTS ALIVE IN MALAYSIA IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS. BESIDES THE ONES IN CAPTIVITY? PALM OIL PLANTATIONS WILL WIN OUT OVER THERE.”

Their plan is simple, encourage people to drink Loud Coffee and with every bag sold, and donate to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) in Kenya. Loud coffee is fairly traded (very important to them!) It’s also roasted in Melbourne in a fully sustainable building with the highest eco standards. So go ahead and order yourself a bag of beans today! Feel free to peruse some photos below, shot by the very talented Wade Skelly himself. Both of them have a passion for the arts and design as well as some common values.

If you’d like to join in, you can buy it through their website Gang of Elk. You can also, “like” their facebook page for the latest updates and news about Loud Coffee and the DSWT. In time, as their business grows, they hope to be able to extend help to other organizations trying to help elephants as well as other animals.

Finally, the infamously despised and even hated Internet Explorer 6 (IE6), is biding adieu! Anybody who has put in their time as a web developer or desginer has likely succumbed to the effects of the outdated browser, thus likely feeling its numerous symptoms. While IE6 was celebrated in it’s day and indeed had it’s time, it is finally time to say goodbye! Last year, Microsoft officially stopped supporting the browser and is now currently in a campaign to put it to rest, thus moving the world to toward new and better things, at least in theory. Their goal is to get the browser to under one percent worldwide, which is currently around seven percent. To my surprise, approximately one quarter of China’s population is still on the dinosaur of a browser. Who would have known? As any developer knows, with IE6 gone, there are still certain challenges with Internet Explorer seven and eight as the world looks to IE9 and the promises of HTML5 and CSS3.

TEN YEARS AGO A BROWSER WAS BORN. ITS NAME WAS INTERNET EXPLORER 6. NOW THAT WE’RE IN 2012, IN AN ERA OF MODERN WEB STANDARDS, IT’S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.

Because of all the turmoil and headaches caused by this browser, a variety of coping methods have been utilized. One such method on the rise is the IE Voodoo Doll and accompanying pushpins. I am not personally a believer in voodoo necessarily, but this particular coping method seems to be yielding exceptional results while mitigating side effects, thus giving a glimmer of hope for developers and designers alike. The reality of the new HTML5 standard for web browsers could possibly be a reality someday for IE users, and not simply a marketing buzzword. Perhaps 2012 will really usher in a new age of enlightenment, as some suggest. For your convenience, an IE Voodoo Doll instruction manual is provided. If you know somebody in need, please help spread the word and alleviate this issue from becoming an epidemic. With a little fabric and stitching, along with some pushpins, we can change the world.

“OUR HEARTS ARE PASSIONATELY ENGAGED IN SERVICE TO THOSE DISCARDED SOULS DEPRIVED OF KINDNESS, HOPE AND BEAUTY. IT IS OUR MISSION AND OUR PRIVILEGE TO GUIDE THEM SO THAT THEY LEARN HOW PRICELESS AND CHERISHED THEY ARE; THAT THEY LAUGH IN JOY AND FELLOWSHIP DESPITE THE DECAY THAT SURROUNDS THEM; THAT THEY FEAR NO RISK OF LOVE, GIVEN OR RECEIVED.”

We introduced you folks to The 3L Foundation some time ago and wanted re-visit and share the amazing work Pam, Ashley, and Matt are doing across the globe. They have successfully completed the highly awaited Dining Sala, in their continued efforts of Learning, Laughing, and Loving in a small village Pattaya, Thailand. They had a wonderful dedication, for you can read more about the dedication and celebration here.

I personally admire their efforts! Their mission is simple, to learn, laugh, and love! The world can be a dark and muddled place of hopelessness and despair, people need love! A few months back, we (Kalos) helped 3L add some additional giving and donation functionality to their site. Now, you too can get involved and join them in their mission to make a difference in that special village across the globe. We are truly blessed here in our country, for the pictures tell the story of their living conditions and their plight. I urge everybody who reads this to go peruse their site and learn more of the work they do. Give in gifts or make a donation and come alongside them in their journey of love! I personally know Pam and Ashley and they doing A tremendous work over there in Pattaya. My thoughts and prayers are with you all!

Well, it has been nearly six-months since Starbuck’s Coffee Company implemented their re-branding and celebrated their fortieth-anniversary. Thus, as the changeover throughout their stores is underway, the stylish new Starbucks-Green-Siren makes it’s debut, by way of new signage, cups, print-collateral, and other marketing materials. Yes, after forty years of revolutionizing the coffee industry, and even creating their own vernacular and ethos, the Starbuck’s logo has reached new and epic status, lending to a stand-alone logo without the needed copy for name recognition. Pepsi, Apple, AT&T and Nike are some of the immediate brands that come-to-mind, that encompass this same quality. While somewhat understated in it’s communication, the Starbuck’s Siren was originally borrowed from a well know literary piece you might of heard of, Moby Dick!

While some may find the re-brand or brand-update unnecessary, design geeks and branding folks like us, find it interesting and rather refreshing. Looking at the various iterations of their logo over the last forty-years, they have created a heritage of updating as trends change, along with the needs and vision of the company. Thus, from a design, marketing, and business perspective, it seems to make sense. You can read more about it here, if you did not see the initial online announcement from Starbucks!

So as you all wait in line in the morning at your local Starbucks, via drive-through or herd-like-cattle in their dining area in for your stylish cup-o-joe, what is the consensus regarding the new look? We would love to hear from you! Join in the conversation below and leave a comment. It seems everybody has an opinion about Starbucks and we’re curious if you have found the new look as refreshing as we have.

“FOR COMMUNICATION PROFESSIONALS AND DESIGN NERDS LIKE ME, THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME. WATCHING THE REACTION TO ANY NEW LOGO IS FASCINATING, BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN HOLD SUCH PASSIONATE ATTACHMENTS TO THESE MARKS. THE COMMENTS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND BLOG POSTS WERE DECIDEDLY MIXED – SOME OF YOU DON’T LIKE THE NEW LOOK AT ALL, SOME OF YOU THINK YOU’LL LOVE IT ONCE YOU GET USED TO IT.”

—Thomas P. / Interactive Content Manager / Starbucks

I’m super-excited to get an early look the new Adobe Edge software, currently in public preview and is a complimenary download on Adobe Labs. Adobe Edge is a new motion and interactive design tool currently in production that renders content to HTM5, CSS3, and Java Script. With HTML5 as the newly approved web standard for your markup, Edge is a promising tool for us Flashers (NOTE: “Flashers” are Adobe flash users, not to be confused with other types of flashing).

Like Adobe Flash, designers will again be able to have an art-board and a timeline to produce stunning animation and dazzling effects to your website or interface. Thus, Edge will help provide the needed “bling” to add that needed element of professionalism and coolness that will separate you from your competition.  So go ahead, click the link below and check-it-out for yourself.  It will be interesting to see how this new tool evolves and will change the web.  HTML5, CSS3, and Java Script are a promising team and quickly emerging as the new industry standard.

“EDGE IS IDEAL FOR VISUAL, WEB AND INTERACTION DESIGNERS WHO WANT TO ENERGIZE THEIR CONTENT FOR THE WEB WITH MOVEMENT AND TRANSITIONS. EDGE PREVIEW ONE FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON ANIMATION AND MOTION, WITH UPCOMING PREVIEWS FEATURING ADDITIONAL CREATIVE CAPABILITIES AND FUNCTIONALITY.”

ACCORDING TO ADOBE THE SOFTWARE WILL DO THE FOLLOWING:

• Create new compositions with Edge’s drawing and text tools.
• Import popular web graphics such as SVG, PNG, JPG or GIF files.
• Easily choreograph animation with the timeline editor. Animate position, size, color, shape, rotation and more at the property level.
• Energize existing HTML files with motion, while preserving the integrity of CSS-based HTML layouts.
• Copy and paste transitions, invert them, and choose from over 25 built-in easing effects for added creativity.

The Favourite Website Awards (The FWA), is a popular industry recognised internet award program and inspirational portal, established in May of 2000. To promote The FWA, designers from around the world are commissioned to design unique and inspiring desktop wallpaper for your computer, available for download. While The FWA logo is a common denominator in each of these pieces, the various designers and artists share their design direction and voicing. All the designs are available for download in a myriad of sizes, appropriate for your particular monitor resolution, including iPhone & mobile.

We did a post presenting some of our personal favorites some-time ago. It was well received, being one of our most popular posts of all-time, so we compiled some of our favorite wallpapers again. We hope these curated wallpaper’s inspire you. Feel free to download them or click the link below to go directly to The FWA site. Be sure to leave a comment and tell us your favorite one!

THE PASSIONATE PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT CUP!

Kalos Interactive Design is proud to announce the coming of a new site for the Press Coffee Company, right here in the heart of Belmar! The site will feature some nice bells & whistles, as well as all the useful information you would expect to find. To help communicate their story, the home-page will include an interactive collage, featuring some detail Hipstamatic shots from yours truly, here at Kalos Interactive. Below is a sampling of some of the imagery shot for the project. We expect to launch this project here in the late summer, so stay-tuned for more to come. Go-ahead, stop in and treat yourself to a cup-of-joe!

*All Images © Copyright 2011 Steve Trujillo.  All Rights Reserved.

Blackbox Case is hands-down the sleekest and sexiest iPad 2 and Mac Book Pro cases we’ve seen!  As designers, we’ve searched for the best cases around to protect our highly coveted Apple products.  As Dr. Emmet Brown would say, “The way I see it, if you’re gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?” Like the time machine, we think the same of the Blackbox Case, and admire the particular craftsmanship and engineering that goes into this impeccable product.

For those who need stats, the product can withstand over 60 pounds of pressure, choice of oak or bamboo, has a precision fit, lightweight, “TSA friendly,” and of course each case is individually hand numbered and comes with a “Welcome To The Family” card. Your case is one of a kind. Lance Atkins, Chief Dreamer of Blackbox Case, named the company after the “black box” in an airplane, which is a crash-proof box where all the most valuable information is protected and stored. LIke the black box in an airplane, your valuable iPad 2 or Mac Book Pro will be safe and protected in style. Moreover, unlike other cases, since it is a case and thus you pullout the device to use it, all awkwardness in usability is avoided. Personally inspected, this is the nicest case you’ve ever seen!

view site : : blackboxcase.com

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEVER LOOKED SO ANALOG!

The Hipstamatic iPhoneApp has been making quite a buzz over the last year or so. With this app, you just choose your film, lens, camera body, flash and start shooting. All the equipment is based on REAL analog cameras and equipment of the past, prior to the digital era. Thus, as they say, “Digital photography never looked so analog!” I (Steve Trujillo) have been shooting a variety of things with this $1.99 piece of equipment, from both personal and business. With some creativity and my iPhone, I decided to try using the Hipstamatic App for client’s and their website and digital promotional needs on lower budget projects. Good strong imagery can go a long way in a project, and we have been very pleased with the results. Below is a sampling over the past year of both personal and business shots. It’s not quite an SLR and obviously no telephoto lenses or f-stops, but you can get an idea of what this baby can do!

*NOTE: Please note, that NONE of the images below have been manipulated in Adobe Photoshop in any way. All of these images are shot as is and merely resized for web usage. Please enjoy and feel free to leave a comment. We would love to hear what you’ve done with the Hipstamtic!

*All Images © Copyright 2011 Steve Trujillo.  All Rights Reserved.

Bored? I found this image super interesting and have been waiting for just the right post to use it. Perhaps after repeatedly misfiring in my brain, I simply cannot think of a better image to kickoff the Bored? Category for the new Kalos Interactive Design Blog. This category will hopefully be a wealth of posts dedicated for those counting-down the minutes to go-home, while sitting anxiously in their cubicles, or perhaps for design friendly insomniacs. Blogs and social media, while I am a fan of in general (no pun intended), can be rather mundane and simply uninteresting. Do we really need to know what you’re doing while sitting in the bathroom? The Bored? category hopes to be the antithesis of just that. So go ahead, immerse yourself in some of these posts that I find interesting enough to curate for this section. Thank you for the read and remember to leave a comment, it’s always nice to hear from you!

Note: I was contemplating this image for a post about Angry Birds and how interesting it’s rise in popularity and it’s downright addictiveness, but I simply decided against it; these birds don’t look so angry. I like their style!

Copenhagen-based artist, Eske Rex’s extraordinary “Drawingmachine,” recently on display at the Danish MINDCRAFT11 exhibition in Milan, is quite impressive to say the least. Inspired by Di Vinci during the Renaissance, Drawingmachine, which is actually a “sculpture”, which is ironic, since the piece itself is one creating art.

According to the official Press Release, “Drawingmachine is a construction involving two pendulums, each suspended from a tower construction and connected through ‘drawing arms’ and moveable joints. A ballpoint pen resting on a drawing surface covered with paper is mounted at the point where the pendulums come together. The pendulums are set in motion by hand, and their movements are represented on the paper. The movements of the pendulums affect the entire room, and the experience engages the beholder’s body. While the rhythmic repetitions cause the beholder to pause, the drawing emerges on the paper.”

The movement of the pendulums affects the entire room. It is easy to become entranced while watching the drawing emerge, line by line.

A video is embedded above, for words just simply cannot quite convey the beauty and sophistication of the actual “Drawingmachine.” Like William Betts, one of our other favorite artists, we are fascinated by artists who utilize atypical methods involving art and technology.  Go ahead, click the play button, and enjoy!

Like you, we keep busy here at Kalos Interactive, and don’t get to travel as often as we would like. Thus, we are often inspired by places of foreign interest and have this strange obsession with Italy, and apparently Spain now as well! We stumbled upon this HD video of a vacation in Spain by a gentlemen named Ben. It is inspiring in that, we get to vicariously travel with them, by way of this exceptionally interesting video. From a design aspect, we liked the way it is shot and felt it to be inspiring and simply well-done. The landmarks and history are of epic proportions. So click that little play button, buckle your seat-belts, and enjoy!

We were for five days in central Spain, a region full of history and culture. The Goths, the Romans, the Moorish left their mark here. This is where Don Quijote fought against the windmills. El Greco, Diego de Velazquez and Francisco de Goya had their home here.

Arcade Fire’s recent HTML5 project, “The Wilderness Downtown,” is a noteworthy piece exemplifying many of the new bells-and-whistles HTML5 is capable of. Developed in collaboration with some ‘friends from Google’, the execution of this project is simply stunning and the intentional attention to detail is impeccable. According to Google the site exhibits,

Choreographed windows, interactive flocking, custom rendered maps, real-time compositing, procedural drawing, 3D canvas rendering…this Chrome Experiment has them all.

The site is an interactive interpretation of Arcade Fire’s song “We Used To Wait” and was built entirely with the latest open web technologies, including HTML5 video, audio, and canvas. We here at Kalos Interactive spend many hours surfing the web and this is a gem you simply cannot miss. Give the link below a click, type in your address, and allow the prodigiously engaging interactivity to begin!

Inspiration is a beautifully insightful agent, perpetuating a curiously animated acuity, and thus fostering creativity. Inspiration and creativity are two very good(kalos) things. On occasion, I stumble upon a particular interactive experience that will be just that; an inspiration. This particular interactive experience or journey, if you will, left me with quite an impression on this particular day. Celebrating Claude Monet for the historic exhibition at Grand Palais, Paris, the website is a collaboration between  Les 84 and faberNovel, both of whom, do simply marvelous work. The Impressionism of Claude Monet is enough of an inspiration, in and of itself, however when you combine his beautiful paintings along with a gracefully elegant and engaging web experience , it is simply wonderful!

This particular exhibition should be legendary, being the first significant exhibition in France of Claude Monet’s work in over 30 years. The setting will be the Grand Palais in Paris, from September 22, 2010 to January 24, 2011. It is noted that there will be over 200 paintings on display from both French and foreign museums. What a collection and experience this will be.

Given the combination of Monet’s realistic-aim in his paintings and the make-believe nature of the internet, I find a curious irony.

While traditional landscape artists painted what they saw in their mind, Claude Monet sought to paint the world exactly how he saw it, not how he knew it should look. So rather than painting a myriad of separate leaves, he depicted splashes of constantly changing light and color. It’s important to note that in this aspect, Monet belongs to the tradition of Renaissance illusionism. In depicting the natural world, he based his art on perceptual rather than conceptual knowledge.

While Monet essentially sought to depict the real world in his paintings, the internet world is not of the real world, for it is virtual, and thus the irony. The virtual world of monet2010.com is realized in a very well done Adobe Flash experience, with a nice flow, magical masking effects, a webcam journey of goodies, vivid imagery and much more. It is not just a website, but an interactive Journey into the works of Claude Monet. If you cannot make the real exhibit, the virtual exhibit will make quite an Impression.

visit site : : monet2010.com  |  quotation : : biography.com

]]> http://www.kalosinteractive.com/blog/2010/12/an-impression-monet-2010/feed/ 1 http://www.kalosinteractive.com/blog/2010/11/styleworks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=styleworks http://www.kalosinteractive.com/blog/2010/11/styleworks/#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2010 23:41:14 +0000 Steve http://www.kalosinteractive.com/blog/?p=1564

We are very proud to announce our latest project launch for Styleworks, an award winning interior design practice located here in Denver, Colorado. Styleworks focuses on creating inviting interiors for the commercial, multi-housing, hospitality and residential markets. They are professional and very pleasant to work with and have a straight forward approach to interior design.

Utilizing typography, vivid color, full-screen imagery, and a very thoughtful minimalism, the new site carefully communicates their company ideals and attention to detail, where everything is well intentioned in just the right place. Design, vibrant colors and drawing are some reoccurring themes discussed throughout the project, and played a significant role in it’s realization, with the colorfully interesting line-drawing on the site landing illustrating just that. Throughout the design process, we collaborated with them to create a site that is true to their branding/identity and their ideals of design, professionalism and integrity.

The site embodies some very cool elements through the use of some slick coding and is simple to navigate and find your way around. Styleworks creatively utilizes one of their project blueprints to visually and effectively communicate their unique design process. Their portfolio is simple and easy to use, presenting their work in pictures, moreover suggesting their capabilities and kinds of projects they take on.  They are unique in that they also create useful and stunning marketing instruments for their industry.

This site was a fun collaboration and exemplifies our philosophy of coming along-side a client and translating their vision and company into a beautifully-crafted web experience. We invite you to peruse their site and learn more.

visit site : : styleworks.us

Kalos Interactive Design is proud to announce the launch of the new avenue:two design website. Avenue:two design is the remarkable handy-work of Jeff Faine, a talented furniture designer from Iowa, currently residing in Denver, Colorado. He is LEED certified and strives for the perfect balance of design and utility. Jeff’s stringent work philosophy promotes his strong work ethic. He says, “Many of my design and construction philosophies can be attributed to watching and working with my father for many years. Whether it be framing an addition to the house, landscaping the backyard, or plumbing a new sink, there was always a sense of pride and integrity instilled into every project. The ‘do it right, or don’t do it at all’ mentality my father portrayed is the foundation for each piece I create.”

I’ve structured my business around innovative designs that are focused on clean aesthetics and maximum functionality. Oftentimes products are designed in a manner in which one of these factors is sacrificed, or neither are present. I believe aesthetics and functionality are not mutually exclusive.

Jeff’s furniture designs are equally as impressive as his work ethic. His designs are “innovative designs that are focused on clean aesthetics and maximum functionality.” Each piece is intentionally unique and personally hand-crafted to the highest standards. His designs have been recognized and featured in the 2010 Parade of Homes (see the American Dream starting on page 26) this past August. Give his new site a visit and drop him a line on his blog, integrated into the new site.

The site is effectually consistent with the clean red avenue:two design branding and mantra of “Clean Aesthetics & Maximum Functionality”. Thus, utilizing a clean full-screen layout with the navigation, footer and logo properly anchored to their respective places in the browser, allowing for a maximum viewing area and a strong image presentation.  The site is another Kalos Interactive example of an HTML/CSS/Java Script site that is search-engine friendly and non Flash, however still utilizing some motion, full screen imagery and clean layout often only realized using Adobe Flash.  One of the objectives for the site was to create an appealing and sleek design-forward site utilizing clean navigation, thematic full-screen imagery, and some nice little Java Script extras, providing a clean and sophisticated user experience.

view site :: avenuetwo-design.com

The Adobe Flash and HTML5 debate continues to be the talk of the blogosphere, news headlines, web developers, and Steve Jobs alike. While much could and should be said about the issue on both sides of the isle, from open web standards and propriety, iPhones/iPads and touch interfaces, usability, browser compliancy, security, performance and of course aesthetics and utility, Adobe Flash and a little creativity can go a long way in creating a simply stunning and captivating web experience not realized in other technologies. While Javascript and other web technologies can do some remarkable things, many Flash websites are delectable and simply a work of art.

Adobe Flash and a little creativity can go a long way in creating a simply stunning and captivating web experience not realized in other technologies.

After hours and hours daily on the internet, over the course of the last few years, these are some of my personal favorite sites, hand-picked by me as both noteworthy and inspirational. These are sites that have stuck with me and my mind for years. Unfortunately, some of my additional longtime favorites are no longer with us. We give our condolences and mourn all of those amazing sites that endured many years of visitors gawking at their splendor. Whether their fate succumbed to the ongoing debate of Flash-nay-sayers, or simply time for a redesign, they will be missed; not just by myself, but many I presume. Strangely, after carefully selecting and deliberately rummaging through my bookmarks from the past few years, I realized that all of these favorite sites of mine have one thing in common, namely that they are realized using Adobe Flash. So no matter if you’re a “Flasher” or not, I simply invite you to take some time to sit back and relax, and peruse these fifteen beautiful sites which have inspired me throughout the years. They are definitely worth a click.

Amazonia
view site :: amazoniamoveis.com.br

City Center
view site :: citycenter.com

Concave Scream
view site :: concavescream.com

Floe
view site :: nationalgridfloe.com

Gucci Group
view site :: guccigroup.com

Hem Jeans
view site :: hemjeans.com

Idecorabili
view site :: idecorabili.com

Quat ‘Coul
view site :: quatcoul.com

Shsk’h
view site :: shskh.com

Stefano Bidini
view site :: stefanobidini.com

Waterlife
view site :: waterlife.nfb.ca

Wilier
view site :: cento1.it

*NOTE: Cover image courtesy of the idecorabili preloader (my favorite preloader of all time).

Through XHTML, Java Script, Ajax, some fancy scripting, a little pixel pushing, and a magic wand, we patiently nurtured our concept into reality. The sexy one page design is deceptively complex, offering the user a simple interface with sleek movement to easily get where you need to go. We load some content dynamically in an orderly fashion that is well though-through, purposeful, and clean. This allows for maximum site content, that is organized and purposeful. Much planning and forethought went into the architecture and design of the site, allowing for everything to have a home and a purpose, and simply not allowing some features or elements to be an afterthought that is just out-of-place.

Here at Kalos Interactive, we believe that websites should be clean and clutter-free with simple navigation, so the user can have a positive experience, able to find just what they are looking for and hopefully, even enjoy the experience along the way. On this site, overtly obvious navigation and a sleek search feature is first and foremost always just where you want it, namely right in front of you. Luscious imagery is another value of ours and pictures are indeed worth a thousand words! On all our sites, we strive to use vivid imagery and photography.

We listened to you, the user, thus the site also includes a myriad of new features from social networking buttons, product brand icons & links, a job application, the unique store history (since 1955), press & awards, a new robust products section (in which you can zoom-in and almost feel the bike in your hands), fancy deep-linking, a JS share feature, a built-in blog, directions and a map, a slick active search feature, and some fancy motion. Spend some time perusing the new bike you are after, read their blog, learn about who they are, or just get directions, so you can go-ahead and give them a visit!

view site : : littletoncyclery.com  |  awarded : : coolhomepages.com

To Learn, Laugh, Love. 3L Foundation is a product of our shared experiences to illuminate a bright path for those in darkness.

As the story goes, “While being just eleven years old, Ashley Syms was first introduced to the Pattaya Orphanage in Thailand. Along with her mother and family friends, she would spend vacations with the little ones at the orphanage, changing diapers, feeding bottles, playing patty cake, and giving out as many hugs and kisses as they could fit in a day.” According to Ashley, “To say that I loved the Orphanage and my time with the babies and kids would be a drastic understatement. Infatuated might be a better term to describe it.” Many years later this love and infatuation for the children of Pattaya, whom have been abused and discarded, would manifest itself in what is now the 3L Foundation.

Founded by Ashley Syms, Pam Proto, and Matt Cline, the 3L Foundation is making a real difference in our world, just twelve time-zones away. Again, as the story goes, “The founders of the 3L Foundation came to each other from very different paths, but each have found joy and an unconditional dedication to a specific mission: to contribute to the rescue and healing of children in Pattaya, Thailand who have been abused and discarded.” The 3L Foundation is partnering with the Child Protection and Development Center in Pattaya in association with the Human Help Network Thailand. The kid’s ages vary, from very young, all the way into their teens. All have had stories of grotesque abuse, including exposure and participation in drug trafficking and sex trade by their parents or relatives, sexual slavery, and victims themselves of human trafficking. In the wake of all this, The 3L foundation’s mission is simple,

Our world is filled with discarded children in despair, forced into tragic lives for their very existence. It is our mission that they Learn how priceless and cherished they are; That they Laugh in joy and fellowship despite the decay that surrounds them; That they fear no risk of Love given or received.

Each founding member brings their own talents and treasures to the organization and calling. Ashley brings her passion and organizational skills, immersed with her rich childhood memories and experiences of love and service for these children. Pam is a successful restauranteur of Proto’s Pizzeria, a delectable Napoletana style Pizzeria here in Colorado and Boise with a handful of locations; hands-down the best pizza in Colorado! With Pam’s background and expertise in the restaurant industry, building a new Dining Sala and cleaner eating facilities was a “no-brainer”. Matt is a fine art photographer in South-Western Ohio, using his talents to visually document the conditions and stories of the people of Pattaya. Together they bring a myriad of resources, passion, and desire to love, laugh and learn with the the children of Pattaya.

This project is very unique and personal to me. Knowing Pam and Ashley personally, and seeing first-hand the foundation grow and mature into this amazing entity has been a life-changing experience. I have had the opportunity to listen and talk with Pam and Ashley about their experiences and what a normal day consists of during their ongoing visits to Thaniland; absolutely inspiring! While I have not personally witnessed and traveled to the Thailand, it is simply amazing to see people love and selflessly serve a people in need, thus giving these people hope and a voice.

They have a variety of new projects underway, but are currently accepting donations for their Dining Sala Project and the Flip-Flop Project. For just $12.95, you can give a child a pair of flip-flops, that 3L will personally buy and give to the children. Many of the kids walk barefoot without any kind of shoes and live in conditions unimaginable to us here in the states. Also, the Dining Sala, that 3L is building will greatly improve their dining conditions and give them an improved and covered place to eat. They need help in the way of donations for this as well. I love that 3L offers very tangible solutions and ways to help real people twelve time-zones away. It is good to know that when you give to an organization, you can really see the difference you are participating in and through their blog, you can get updates of all the important and necessary work going on over there. I love the 3L Foundation’s mission of love!

Kalos Interactive Design has been supporting and encouraging the 3L Foundation and their mission. We have come-along side them and helped with the branding & identity, Art Design & Direction, Website Design & Development, and are currently in development of a new interface to allow users to get more involved. Stay-tuned for more!

view site : : 3lfoundation.org

*NOTE: Below is a sampling of imagery of Pattaya, Thailand by Matt Cline.

]]> http://www.kalosinteractive.com/blog/2010/07/3l-foundation-laugh-learn-love/feed/ 0 http://www.kalosinteractive.com/blog/2010/06/delicate-soles-2-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=delicate-soles-2-0 http://www.kalosinteractive.com/blog/2010/06/delicate-soles-2-0/#comments Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:13:15 +0000 Heather http://www.kalosinteractive.com/blog/?p=1179

Kalos is so excited to launch some awesome new features to the Delicate Soles website. Delicate Soles is one of our coolest new clients, providing an adorable alternative to the high-heeled wearing community. It’s a one-stop shop for roll up ballet flats, where you’re one click away from toe relief.

We’ve created a much-improved, streamlined shopping experience for the Delicate Sole consumers. It literally takes just five clicks to enter the PayPal site to pay for your new footwear. It’s a no fuss checkout with four colors (Onyx, Pixie Dust, Lipstick Red, and Starlight Silver) and three sizes. At $19.99 a pair, including shipping, you might need to get one of each!

The imagery on the site is new and improved with a gallery to showcase the unique rollable flats. We also added a brand new “News” section for quick updates on what’s happening at Delicate Soles. The new social media buttons make it easy for fans to check out what’s happening online at Facebook and Twitter.

Last, but certainly not least, the site’s new jam is a Summer Mix, created by the resident DJ. So stop by and see all the new design changes, buy a pair of shoes, or just groove to the sound bytes.

view site : : delicatesoles.com

Without aesthetic, design is either the humdrum repetition of familiar clichés or a wild scramble for novelty. Without the aesthetic, the computer is but a mindless speed machine, producing effects without substance. Form without relevant content, or content without meaningful form. — Paul Rand

Today’s online world has become increasingly virtual, global, and interactive. We are no longer restricted to dial-ups or AOL screen names and search engines have exceeded anyone’s expectations. Who would have ever though “Google” would integrate itself into everyday language? As a result, websites themselves have grown so far from their splash page predecessors.

Websites are no longer only used to convey basic information with clip art illustrations; they have climbed their way into the ranks of the art world. Kalos Interactive recognizes the ever-present evolution of this new art form. As a web services company, it’s imperative to view the product this way to stay afloat in such a competitive market.

At Kalos you won’t just find graphic designers and programmers, you’ll find a creative and interactive design studio. We offer interactive design and art direction with an emphasis on aesthetics, creative ideas, and communication goals. Oh yeah, and not one detail will ever go unnoticed.

We don’t build our clients websites, we create functional design and art that embodies companies, people, and brands. At Kalos, we see the big picture by helping give expert consultation on every aspect of the project. Not to say that we don’t build high performing sites, but we’ve found a way to balance our disciplines of design and function.

Kalos believes that just having a website to represent your company’s brand isn’t enough. Your web accessibility is essentially your most valuable marketing resource and tool.  Everyone has a website, but  honestly, yours needs to be better and more unique. You have to ask yourself whether or not your online presence makes the statement you want. Even if your site achieves those goals, does it accomplish them better than your competitors? If and when you realize your online persona isn’t making the cut, Kalos Interactive will be here to make you shine.

paul rand : : paul-rand.com

With more and more people purchasing smart phones daily, there’s pressure on the web to keep up. Unfortunately not all your favorite flashy sites translate into their mobile counterparts so well. Your bookmarked pages need to create mobile versions of themselves so that you can enjoy them anywhere you go. Many popular sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and even your personal bank introduced these portable sites a long time ago. However, it’s time for the rest of the web to catch up.

Even the smallest local businesses are hoping on the mobile web train. One of Kalos Interactive’s clients, Proto’s Pizzeria Napoletana is launching their new iPhone and mobile web site. Pam Proto first opened the doors to Colorado’s best pizza in 1999 in Longmont, CO. As an overnight success five more stores quickly followed in the Denver Metro area.

Their new mobile site is sleek, functional, and compatible with most of the newer phones with web capabilities. It still has the same great imagery, lots of content, and easy slick navigation, just like their main site. The mobile site even has a content management system in addition to social network compatibility. You can check out their full blog to find out what’s new at all 6 locations and even access Google Maps so you can find out where the heck the closest one is!

A mobile version the perfect accessory to any beautiful flash based site by providing usability to phones that don’t support flash. Jealous much? No worries, Kalos can do both your main and mobile sites. You can check it out the new mobile site by popping over to the Kalos Selected Work section. Kalos also designed and built their regular website which has cool sliding windows and imagery that makes you want a margarita pizza pronto! Maybe you should call Proto’s for a pick-up first….

visit site on your iPhone or mobile device : : protospizza.com

Endowed with the prestigious title of “Diplomat of the American Board of Endodontics,” Dr. Paul Anstey carefully cultivates his distinctive endodontic and implant specialty practice in Beverly Hills, California. This honor is afforded to only fifteen-percent of Endodontists in the United States. Dr. Anstey commissioned Kalos Interactive to design and develop a website which illustrates and personifies the particular ethos of their unique practice.

Sensitive to the needs of his patients, Dr. Anstey has created a peaceful environment, with a calming aesthetic appeal. According to Dr. Anstey, “The cornerstone of our practice is the surgical microscope. This tool is what sets the standard for excellence and it is the surgical microscope that enables us to achieve results never before seen in the field of endodontics,” which conveys his zeal and vigor regarding cutting-edge technological advances in his field, manifesting itself in the ability to treat previously untreatable conditions. In the initial planning of the project, words such as “spa-like”, “technology”, “medical”, “zen-like”, “clean”, and “subtle reflections of our office” were predominant and frequent expressions in our discussions. Thus, our undertaking is to provide a perfectly harmonious balance of these very expressions, representing the very essence of his practice, embodied in a website.

Synthesizing clean minimalistic typography, as illustrated in their logo and branding, against the rich color and texture revealed in the decor or their walls, furniture and dazzling South African Artifacts, strategically placed throughout their practice is the goal. From an art direction, we have two very distinct styles to to integrate into the site. Besides this particular juxtaposition, Dr. Anstey expressed intently that he wants to convey two aspects, which are namely the “spa & zen like environment they have to offer” and the “technological” aspects of his practice; two aspects you wouldn’t necessarily expect to go together. Thus, our objective is to realize an appropriate and creative design direction that fully utilizes the power of imagery, typography, color, texture and other design elements, given that these juxtaposed styles are seemingly opposed to one another.

On a more technical note, the site will have some very cool elements, including Papervision 3D Navigation, sensational imagery, sleek and functional JS/AJAX forms and more. The technologies & site architecture will provide a phenomenal user experience uniquely distinct from his field. Thus,we continually strive to achieve our objectives. One of Dr. Anstey’s most fond quotes by Edward Simmons is, “The difference between failure and success is doing a thing nearly right and doing a thing exactly right.” We will let you decide if we indeed attain our lofty goals of success, for the site is scheduled to launch late this Spring.

*below is a preview of the site imagery shot by Todd Langley.

Color is an experience. Color is a defining attribute in the world we live in. We live  in a world in which we come to know things via our senses; let’s call these perceptual experiences. As humans, we perceive color in truly amazing ways. In fact part of the beauty and awe of color is that the perceptional experience of color is just that, namely the way it appears to us. We perceive color just as we perceive taste.  For instance, can one really say what the color green is like or the taste of an apple? We attempt to communicate these experiences with others via propositional statements or comparisons and literary devices, but in reality, our perceptual experiences are unique to us. One would have to somehow be in our own mind to experience the very things we experience. Many significant memories are experiences that we had, such as that perfect shade of orange submerging the beautifully vast ocean water just before it disappears for the night, setting with a peculiar green flash that you’ll miss if you blink. Color is meaningful to us.

In the world of design, color is one of the significantly defining elements of a particular piece, thus rendering it meaning and life. Sam Levinson, an American Humorist said, “It’s a good thing that when God created the rainbow, He didn’t consult a decorator or He would still be picking colors,” thus underscoring the fact that when picking colors, one should not be cavalier. At Kalos Interactive, we sometimes spend hours upon hours, carefully scrutinizing differing color palettes hoping to communicate just the right message for a given project appropriate for their industry, and hopefully augmenting the subjects perceptual experience of the website, logomark, business card, advertisement, or various other works we create. Much time could be spent on color theory, the science behind light and color, aesthetics, and the way we observe the world, but I believe that color nonetheless is a very significant element that is often taken for granted.

One of my favorite website concepts and means to help the color picking process is Kuler by Adobe. This is a very sleek tool to share color, possibly a way to share your experiences and life with others via color palettes. It is a kind of social networking site dealing with color, where one can explore, create, and share color themes. One can also manipulate palettes based on a variety of different settings, create a palette from a photograph, and even download the theme into Adobe Creative Suite, thus having it right at your fingertips. This Flash/Flex based interface is filled with many great goodies. I sometimes spend hours on this site and it inspires me and my projects. I feel like in an indirect way, others from around the world are sharing their color recommendations and experiences and consulting on projects. Someone once said, “Color is your soul painted,” and I believe this may just be true and that Kalos Interactive Design is green.

visit site : : kuler.adobe.com