Big news in the web world as Typekit was launched last week. For those of you who missed news of the launch, it serves to bridge the copyright issues associated with the CSS3 Property @font-face (hotly debated issue among foundries and developers recently). Solutions like sIRF and Cufon have greatly pushed the industry in this direction and, while we have used them on projects, they have limitations, particularly when it comes to body copy. The hole with @font-face is that it makes it possible for the end user to download the font in question, which in virtually every instance violates the license.

The concept behind Typekit harnesses @font-face but protects the font files on a separate server. The designer/developer/client would purchase a license (per site? per month?) to use the font. With an expected to launch sometime this summer, the major draw back seems to be the issues surrounding the storage of the font information on a different server from the website. (required to satisfy DRM licenses) The anticipated problem with this surrounds the issues associated with the uptime (and downtime) of this font server. No server is up 100% of the time, it just doesn’t happen. But what happens when this server goes down? Potentially all websites linking to this central database will lose their font definitions.

Sharing code snippits on a central server hasn’t presented a prohibitive problem in the past as the jQuery library, CSS Resets and other snippits are all available hosted on a central server and used on major sites world wide and downtime hasn’t presented itself as a problem. Although we might be comparing apples and oranges between Google’s servers and Typekits. Time will tell. Certain some exciting developments for sure!

WHERE

We really enjoy working with architects. The simple fact that we speak the same language of design and work in the creative field, often immersed in a similar processes makes it all the more appealing. Last year we were fortunate to be asked by Vancouver-based Henriquez Partners Architects to recreate their online presence. Their goal was to showcase their studio, some of their recent projects, and the ideas behind them via a clean, modern web interface.

For many architects, the thoughts and stories they have to tell are often left to be expressed solely by the buildings they create. As creative professionals, there aren’t many architects who don’t fill notebooks with sketches and thoughts. This was especially true of Gregory Henriquez. We set out to provide a digital outlet for his, and his team’s, prolific analogue output in tandem with a new portfolio website for the firm.

IDEAS

The blog, called Archimemo, functions as a modern upgrade to the old fax blast newsletters Gregory used to send to the industry, and lets him and his staff speak their minds on any topic. But it goes beyond that. Through some careful analysis and planning, we created an editorial method of promoting certain posts from the text-based blog format to their Flash-based website via what we called “the tunnel” using RSS. Specific posts that directly relate to a project are ported and represented on the main Henriquez portfolio website, lending a deeper understanding to the process and the project than is usually seen on other architect sites.

WORK

The final result is two sites that are linked, yet function independently of one another when required, since the opions expressed on Archimemo are not always the ones Henriquez wants directly in front of clients. The primary corporate website is presented as simple and elegant with large images of the firm’s oevre, deep content and an underlying CMS system to allow the client complete control of their online presence.

“We are so very happy with our new website and blog. Industrial Brand delivered exactly what they promised.” - Gregory Henriquez, Managing Partner, Henriquez Partners Architects

Launch portfolio website: www.henriquezpartners.com
Launch Archimemo Blog: www.archimemo.ca

Ever since reading Speak Up’s Landmark Web Sites, Where Art Thou? two years ago, the concept of the differences of print vs. interactive have been simmering on low on my mind. There are obvious differences, between these two mediums that those of us understood, though I for one have lacked the articulation to explain it. My rational lies somewhere between the obvious and “If you don’t already know, I can’t make you understand”; neither of which pedagogical nor insightful.

If you’ve fallen short of providing an answer, or ever wondered about this yourself, go check out web wiz Jason Santa Maria talking about this topic on Vimeo. Granted he doesn’t offer a lot of solutions (besides a look at Jason’s own site) but it provides an insightful and articulate look at differences to date.

We really enjoy working with architects. The simple fact that we speak the same language of design and work in the creative field, often immersed in a similar processes makes it all the more appealing. Last year we were fortunate to be asked by Vancouver-based Henriquez Partners Architects to recreate their online presence. Their goal was to showcase their studio, some of their recent projects, and the ideas behind them via a clean, modern web interface.

Perhaps not surprising, their objectives and audience needs and behaviour seemed best addressed through the creation of a blog. Senior members of the Henriquez team already kept personal journals and they wanted to archive and share their inspirations, opinions, rants, sketches, and even articles written on design and architectural topics. Also functioning as a modern upgrade to the old fax blast newsletters they used to send out, the blog Archimemo was born.

The next challenge though, was how to tie their less formal, almost sketchbook-like articles, with their corporate website and portfolio. Through some careful analysis and planning, we created an editorial method of promoting certain posts from the text-based blog format to their Flash-based website via what we called “the tunnel” using RSS.

The project was a challenge with hiccups and pitfalls like any other, but in hindsight I think we did a good job of meeting their creative brief and hope you agree.

Data Visualization seems to be all the rage these days and there is a great summary of some of the instances of it from 2008 over at Flowing Data. (via MS on Twitter) Some of these were already familiar to me (Wordle and House of Cards) but there were some new surprising ones, most notably I Want You To Want Me by Johnathon Harris.

New ways or displaying and interacting with information seems to be on the rise. We just launched a new project called Branded Life with our own take of visualization inspired by Wordle. Developed with Jer from blprnt and Ryan Ilg, for Egg Strategy, the site allows focus group users to log their brand experiences through a day, and then visualize the results.

Those of you who know a thing or two about us know that we’re very much into our food. You might have perused this blog and noticed a distinct absence of food-related posts. The reason is that some time ago we decided the topic was so huge for us that it deserved its own space, hence the creation of Industrial Brand’s In the Kitchen blog.

Over time, all our Foodie friends started to join the fold and post to the site because that was what it was about – sharing our food experiences with our other passionate friends. They techincally weren’t a part of Industrial Brand though and that posed some problems moving forward with the project. Thus, we made the decision that In the Kitchen would morph into an independent online food blog and stand alone from the company. We renamed it Foodists and have completely re-conceived the site, organizing it in a more graphic and compelling way.

The new site has its own playful identity and simple, colourful layout designed to provide friendly appeal to a broad audience. Instead of opinions, the site will offer “meditations”. Rather than recipes or tips, we’ll share “guidance”. And as opposed to the standard product or restaurant reviews, we celebrate our finds in the “worship” section.

We guarantee you’ll be hungry within a few minutes of reading.

Smashing Magazine has posted their latest picks for 50 Beautiful Blog Designs. In their words:

In the showcase below we present 50 beautiful blog designs that literally stand out — either through their layout or through their design or through their attention to little details. Below you’ll find a variety of designs: clean designs, grunge, retro, graphics-heavy designs etc. Most designs presented below risk unusual approaches in the choice of design and content presentation. That’s what makes them different.

There are indeed some amazing sites there. Perhaps the most interesting thought is the idea of risk. As in, the riskier the site, the less intuitive it may be. Designing corporate sites for clients can sometimes be a real balancing act between what conforms to an accepted standard of user interface design and innovation, real innovation. So, the measure really does become one of risk. Risk of misinterpretation, missed navigation, intent, content delivery, usability, legibility, etc that some clients simply aren’t willing to take. Fair enough.

There’s always more to lose when you are a corporation vs. an artist or individual making a statement by bucking convention, but that should not mean boring, conventional same-same design by any means. Hope these inspire you to take things one step further.

The Winners of The 2008 W3 Awards have been announced by the The International Academy of the Visual Arts today and the team at Industrial Brand were awarded a Silver for the UBC School of Architecture + Landscape Architecture website. With over 3,000 entries, The W3 Awards’ honours outstanding Websites, Web Marketing, and Web Video created by some of the best interactive agencies, designers, and creators worldwide.

“We were amazed at the caliber and quality of work received this year. Our winners continue to push the envelope of internet creativity and web design, and it is gratifying to see such great work from the smallest agencies to the biggest firms” said Linda Day, the director of the IAVA. “On behalf of the The International Academy of the Visual Arts, we are honored to recognize our winners as they continue to set a high standard of excellence for Web development.”

Congratulations to everyone who worked on this multiple award-winning website.

Buenos Aires isn’t the first place I think of when I consider type foundries, but Studipos has some brilliant fonts. Check em out.