Mod7

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The correct title of this article is mod7. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.

mod7 (Mod7 Communications, Inc.) is an interactive design and motion graphics design studio based in Vancouver, Canada. mod7 was formed in 2000 by Bill Hine and Emily Carr Institute grads, Wilfred G. Arndt and Peter Hoang. mod7 is the winner of dozens of seminal international design awards, and its work has been featured in many magazines, books and newspapers since its founding.

1 Corporate History
2 Influences
3 Awards & Accolades
- 3.1 Selected Awards
- 3.2 Selected Press Coverage
4 Notes
5 External links

[edit] Corporate History

At the height of the dotcom excitement of the late 90’s, Hine Design hired Wil Arndt to founded Hine's interactive design division in June, 1999. Hine Design hired Peter Hoang in July 1999. In November of 1999, mod7 was formed by Bill Hine, Wil Arndt, and Peter Hoang when the division split from the parent corporation. mod7 Communications, Inc. was officially incorporated in January, 2000.

Early in its history, mod7 was recognized in the international interactive design community due, in part, to its approach to educational content and visual design aesthetics. From 2000 to 2001, the mod7 studio grew from three employees to ten, and revenues increased 50%. The majority of mod7 clients came from the Vancouver travel and tourism industry, including Tourism Vancouver, SNV International, and the Canadian Tourism Commission.

During this period, mod7 also created several notable and award-winning web projects, including the critically-acclaimed PinholeSpy.com and Dots Magazine, which was called the "the first arts and culture magazine created specifically for Palm and Pocket PC handhelds". ^[1]

With the economic fallout in the travel and tourism sectors directly attributed to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, many of mod7's clients cut back operations or went out of business. This resulted in a rapid decline in the company's core business and subsequent personnel layoffs. An industry interview quote referencing this period: "And so, with the drop in the Internet’s fortunes, they made the inevitable cutbacks and reinvented themselves as a micro-boutique, ready to take on smaller but more challenging projects".^[2] Two mod7 partners have since left the company: Bill Hine in 2003 and Peter Hoang in 2004.

In 2004, mod7 was asked to work with the firm of American architect Jon Jerde (The Jerde Partnership), and to develop a website that catalogued Jerde’s influential work, which includes Horton Plaza, the Mall of America, the Bellagio (hotel and casino), and the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics. The site was launched in 2005.

In 2006, the mod7 designed the BC Sport Event Hosting and Resort Guide, an initiative of 2010 Legacies Now, which was launched at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

[edit] Influences

Early mod7 work was notably influenced by hip hop culture, minimalist design and architecture, and Asian aesthetics.

[edit] Awards & Accolades

[edit] Selected Awards

Applied Arts Magazine Design & Advertising Annual 2006: The Jerde Partnership website wins in the 4th Applied Arts Design & Advertising Annual, Business Category.

New York Festivals 2005: The Jerde Partnership website wins a finalist certificate in the New York Festivals' 2005 Interactive & Alternative Media Awards, Professional Services.

Lotus Award 2004: Washington 14 Promo Videos - Winner, "Best On-line Advertising" category.

Applied Arts Magazine Design & Advertising Annual 2003: PinholeSpy.com - Number One in "Micro Web Site Design". (Publishing date: January 2003)

Communication Arts Interactive Design Annual 2002: PinholeSpy.com wins in "Information Design - Web" category.

HOW Interactive Design Annual 2002: PinholeSpy.com wins the prestigious "Best of Show." (Publishing date: August 2002)

Webby Awards Nomination 2002: PinholeSpy.com - nominated for "Best Kids Site of 2002"

Lotus Award 2001: Pinhole Spy Camera - Winner, "Best Corporate/Association Site" category.

[edit] Selected Press Coverage

Dynamic Graphics Magazine: Mod7 is featured in an article on "Fresh Web Design." (Published: August/September 2005 issue)

Business in Vancouver Magazine: Hightech 2005: Wil Arndt is interviewed for an article on independent web developers. (Publishing date: July 2005)

Design Interact Feature June 2004: The Mod7 studio and our work is featured on Design Interact, part of the Commarts Network.

HOW Magazine: Wil Arndt is interviewed for sound design feature. (Publishing date: February 2003)

Past, Present, Future: Inspiring Creative Web Design: Written by Chris Brock, Published by AVA Publishing. Dotszine is featured as an example of future reading.

Computer Arts Magazine: Mod7 is a featured profile (Publishing date: May 2002)