So here’s one more argument for web standards purists: MTV has just dropped their previous Flash website !
Tip from UxMag

As someone who came from a Flash background, it’s interesting to see how companies are choosing XHTML when it comes to creating communities or managing too much content. It’s not that it can’t be done in Flash (RoadRunner comes to mind) , it’s just that it becomes quite hard to find the resources (time and people, mostly) and deliver a flexible website. For shorter websites with less content, and more focused on experience, i still think that nothing beats Flash.

As the latest USA Today social revamp showed (increasing in 380% the number of registrations), when you connect to your audience the way they talk to each other, the reward is swift. Teenagers, now used to blogs and MySpace, are no longer into Flashy websites with large pre-loading times and lack of social features. Welcome to Web 2.0, MTV.

Oh, forget the post title - it’s not validating. But it’s a start.

Busy times at the portuguese webdesign scene, with two projects being recently given a Favorite Website Award (FWA).

First there was Triworks, the company from Aveiro and offices in the USA, that launched their BlackVersion 9.

The dark and minimalistic website, with prominent highlight to their latest projects, is a pleasure to the eyes. They still deliver smooth transitions as in the previous versions and had extra care in interface design.

Next came Tinoni Aventura, by Tungsten, a public awareness site teaching children about security problems such as earthquakes, internet or road safety. With nice illustrations and 3D animation, it’s a beautiful example how public institutions can use the web to promote citizenship.

I just hope the rest of 2007 keeps this promising.

Green is the new black, with the Al Gore manifesto making waves in many fields. Now it’s the turn for designers to take a stand with designcanchange.org.

The site uses great  infographics and smooth photo transitions to present a quick overview about global warming and encourages designers to make a change, through their active role in society. Choosing materials or suppliers that are ecologically sustainable is one of the examples given so in the end a designer does make a difference.

Our professional role does have implications to our society - in a sense,  we do shape the environment with minor design choices that build the long tail of our consumer society. If you feel like taking a active role, take the pledge and join the community.

Poynter Online just published their 2007 study of reader behavior .

Watch the video below:

Some interesting facts:

• People read a high volume of story text in both print and online.
• People read two ways: methodically or scanning.
• Alternative story forms – like Q&As, timelines, short sidebars and lists – help readers understand.
• Bigger heads and photos attract print readers; but directional elements draw online readers.
• Photos get a lot of attention in print.

The swedish have done it again, pulling out a great website with an exquisite sense of humour. We get to know a tailor that specializes in great pockets as a way to solve the problem of our increasing number of gadgets.

One of the more interesting aspects of the interactive narrative was the synchronized back and forth between the two realities, with fine flash video. There’s also some extra care in details such as the dialogs while waiting for the user to do something.
As usual, they included the viral tools: stuff to download and links to Henry Needle MySpace profile or more pictures at Flickr.

I don’t want to be a spoiler so i let you figure out who is the client …

Agency: FarFar
URL: http://www.greatpockets.com/
Launch Date: March 2007

via ComputerLove 

Continuing with this week’s corny websites, my friend Andre just tipped me about a new MTV sponsored website: Rodney Heals.

It’s a really strange mix of whale music with new-age spiritualism and aura pictures! Lots of social networking/viral tools available also. I’m feeling weird … Aummmmm.

Update: let’s not forget the credits

Product : MTV (rodneyheals.com)
Agency : N/A
Country : New Zealand
Creatives : Gaysorn Thavat (Director), Gaysorn Thavat (Copywriter) and Claris Harvey (Producer)
Other Credits : D.O.P : Ginny Loane
Interactive director: Kentaro Yamada
URL : http://www.rodneyheals.com/

The author of one of the most inspiring portfolios last year has launched Minor Ventures, his own agency at San Francisco.

FWA has a great interview where he shares some insights, advices and the feedback received with his portfolio. Good luck Dave!

The ad was already superb but who would have thought that the website had such a twist. Levi’s did a great job at Levi Cooper and given us some underground vision (literally) of their new collection. Forget those web 2.o gradients or alpha video on Flash sites ! Grey input buttons and extra large image slices are back !

Source: Adverblog

This “back to the future” approach does bring some nostalgia. I’ve learned HTML markup around 1996 and it seems ages ago when i was using HotDog editor (any web veteran out there that used this app?) and hacking Java beans. Oh my, those were the days when we had all the fun with animated GIFs and blink tags.

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“This can be a tricky one…” says the secret agent on the site’s intro. A few seconds later, a sexy lady goes “You don’t need to look, you just need to drive”. Suddenly, you find yourself in the street of Paris, driving like a mad to reach the checkpoints with the precious help of the CK 20w car system from Nokia.

What a ride. Fantastic interactive experience, a game narrative in the pursuit of a challenge and the certainty that you’ll not forget the new product from Nokia (besides the GPS features it allows you to change your car tunes, handsfree).

This Nokia experience through the street of Paris, has also a great soundtrack and sound fx, so if you have a broadband connection then you are set for a ride in Paris. Speed up to the site, “or we’ll never make in time”.

• URL: http://www.the-passenger.com/
• Client: Nokia
• Product: Nokia Multimedia Car Kit CK 20W
• Interactive Agency: Fuel Games + Hyper Happen
• Film Production: Karbon Arc