SmashLAB
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Canadian design company. For the Discovery Channel show see Smash Lab
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It has been suggested that Design Can Change be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
| smashLAB | |
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| Type | Corporation |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Vancouver, BC, Canada |
| Key people | Eric Karjaluoto, Eric Shelkie |
| Industry | Interaction design |
| Employees | 6 |
| Website | www.smashlab.com |
Contents |
[edit] Background
smashLAB is an interaction design firm based in Vancouver, British Columbia, founded in 2000 by Eric Karjaluoto and Eric Shelkie. The firm originally offered a wide range of design services, from identity to advertising.[1] Now it focuses on interactive strategy. smashLAB has received industry recognition and awards from groups including the Advertising & Design Club of Canada, Lotus Awards[2], Graphis, and STEP Inside Design, particularly for their self-initiated projects.
[edit] Notable Projects
[edit] Design Can Change
In early 2007, smashLAB launched Design Can Change, an initiative to unite the world's graphic designers and address climate change. One of its objectives was to highlight the fact that designers influence the buying decisions of businesses and organizations with massive advertising budgets and being in control of such vast purse strings gives committed designers the ability to make a huge difference.[3] Design Can Change asks designers to sign an online pledge to show commitment to sustainable design practice. Signatories are listed in a searchable directory of like-minded studios.[4] Within 4 months of its launch, 1000 designers from around the world had signed the pledge.[5] Design Can Change was featured on popular online design magazines including Design Observer and PingMag and in design publications such as HOW, Applied Arts, and Metropolis. The initiative also received press from The Globe and Mail[6], The Vancouver Sun[7], The Weather Network, and was named one of “today's most influential designs” by TIME Magazine's Design 100.[8]
[edit] ideasonideas
The firm’s blog, ideasonideas, focuses on communication design and branding, and has featured interviews and commentary from prominent designers including Erik Spiekermann, David Carson, Stefan Sagmeister and Michael Bierut. As of November 2007, it has a readership of 60,000 monthly visitors.[9] In 2006, ideasonideas won merit in the Lotus Awards and won the Weblog category in the Applied Arts Interactive Awards. In 2008, the blog entered the AdAge Power 150, a ranking of the top English-language media and marketing blogs in the world by Advertising Age.[10]
[edit] MakeFive
In November 2007, smashLAB launched MakeFive, a social networking website that allows people to build connections through "top 5" lists. MakeFive users can list their top choices on any topic, from sports and movies to current events and life experience, then share and comment on the lists with other users. Makefive won a Popvox Award at the 2008 Vancouver International Digital Festival (VIDFEST)[11] and was Communication Arts’ "Webpick of the day".[12]
[edit] "A Primer in Social Media"
In March 2008, smashLAB developed a white paper titled “A Primer on Social Media”, which they freely distributed on their website. As a result of the white paper, smashLAB’s Creative Director, Eric Karjaluoto, was invited to speak at events including RGD Ontario’s “A Designer’s Guide to Social Media”[13]. The white paper appeared on AdRants[14] and excerpts were reprinted in the May 2008 issue of Advertising Age[15].
[edit] References
- ^ Kevin Brooker. "Rise of the west", Applied Arts, October 2007, p. 64.
- ^ "Creative excellence takes centre stage at Vancouver's 18th annual Lotus Awards", The Vancouver Sun, November 22, 2007, p. archived[online].
- ^ Dana Rouse. "STEP 2007 Best of the Web", STEP inside design, September/October 2007, p. 142 or [online].
- ^ "In Review", Metropolis, June 2007, p. 104 or [online].
- ^ Michael Burns. "Spreading the Green Message", DigitalArts, August 2007, p. 64 or [online].
- ^ Jennifer Hollett. "Smashing global warming with greener design", The Globe and Mail, May 17 2008, p. L7 or [online].
- ^ Brian Morton. "Smash climate change", The Vancouver Sun, May 21 2008, p. D5 or [online].
- ^ "The Design 100", TIME Magazine, Summer 2008, p. 45 or [online].
- ^ David Coates. "The Little Lab that Could", Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, March 2008, p. [online].
- ^ "AdAge Power 150", Advertising Age February, 2008.
- ^ "New Media BC announces Popvox Award winners", Popvoxawards.com May 26, 2008.
- ^ "Webpick of the day", Communication Arts January 23, 2008.
- ^ "Graphic designers explore trends", The London Free Press, May 20, 2008, p. [online].
- ^ "National Geographic Wins Three Ellies...", AdRants May 2, 2008.
- ^ "Need a Primer on Social Media? Read On", Advertising Age, page 13. May 5, 2008.
