ritter sport

ritter sport

this flash website is great: crisp interactivity, easy & smooth navigation, and doesn't feel like a "flash" site at all.

maybe i'll get to buy some in germany! p.s. i'm going! hooray!

george lois

the stories are great. it's a dream in the realm of advertising. i should sharpen my satirical wit.

process

http://jennscheer.com/projectflash/

CONCEPT
the beauty of science is simplicity. and the chemical reaction that creates a battery is as simple as zinc + copper + acid.

experiments like making a lemon-powered clock need straightforward directions, but also much encourage kids to start thinking in terms of play instead of work. start thinking, start tinkering, and feel comfortable doing it in your own bedroom!

"there ain't no rules around here! we're trying to accomplish something!"
—einstein

ASSOCIATED WORDLIST
linear
steps
order
scientific method
experiment
goggles
laboratory
clean
freedom
awe
excitement
new
mystery
lab coat
science
electron
proton
how it works
circuit
power
energy
Bill Nye
Einstein
whole
complete
serious
fruit
metal
energy-saving
learning
knowledge
electricians’ clips
clock
battery
lemon
copper
wire
galvanized
nails
food
time
tick-tock
transfer
connection
positive
negative
everyday
play
creative
supply
hardware
dissolve
reaction
eat away
sizzle
fizz
rust
acid
resourceful
handy
do it yourself
electricity
chemist
scientist

KEYWORDS
excitement: a feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness; something that arouses such a feeling, an exciting incident

reaction: an action performed or a feeling experienced in response to a situation or event; a chemical process in which two or more substances act mutually on each other and are changed into different substances, or one substance changes into two or more other substances; an analogous transformation of atomic nuclei or other particles; a mode of thinking or behaving that is deliberately different from previous modes of thought and behavior

energy: the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity; power derived from the utilization of physical or chemical respources, especially to provide light and heat or to work machines; vitality; vigor; life; animation; spirit

order: the arrangement or disposition of people or things in relation to each other according to a particular sequence, pattern, or method; a state in which everything is in its correct or appropriate place; the overall state or condition of something; an authoritative command, direction, or instruction

play: engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose; amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretense; the space in or through which a mechanism can or does move (interesting last definition..)

resourceful: having the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties; involving the imagination or original ideas, esp. in the production of an artistic work; inventive; ingenious

AUDIENCE PERSONAS

1.
Although Sam's grades in school aren't the highest, he is always tinkering around at home, taking apart old radios, collecting spare parts, and asking, "Why?" Online he has found many websites with fun games but he prefers to read Wikipedia, eHow, or work offline instead. He's a clever kid, mature for his age.

If he's looking for directions, he wants the most succinct instructions. It must be a tutorial he can follow along with himself, or remember vividly for later.

2.
Alix is in fifth grade and constantly online or in the library, chatting, exploring, and playing. She is a good student but more of a book-learner, a studier, a test-taker. She often has big plans for extravagant projects or experiments, but gets distracted by new plans or doesn't get the proper motivation to go through with them.

For the ones she does try, it usually takes quick, simple steps that offer immediate results. She sees many potential ideas, but a tutorial with attractive photos instead of illustrations has a better chance of sparking her imagination.

TO COMMUNICATE
empowerment
curiosity
excitement
investigation

TO SUGGEST
do-it-yourself
ease
craft
fun
lighthearted
play

the electric company

pbs's re-vamp of the classic 70s tv show looks like it'll be cute cute. the flash intro and site are well done, engaging, and the viewer has an immediate feel for the show, even though it's not even out yet. yes!

brooklyn superhero supply

i noticed the boring store the last few times i was in chicago, admiring its clever typography and verbiage. i later learned its backstory from friends and the internets; above is 826 national's brooklyn branch of its outreach program that spans seven cities across the states.

"the store itself claims to sell all manner of super-equipment, including canned chaos, an apprehended mini-blob, various grappling hooks and secret identity products. they offer capes in all colors and even have a cape-testing area where you can stand on a steel grate and flick a switch that powers several fans, causing said capes to furl and flutter...

the store is a cover for the 826NYC program, a nonprofit that offers free homework help to kids between the ages of 6 and 18. white-hot literary superstars sarah vowell and dave eggers are on 826's board. the 826 program itself is an outgrowth of mcsweeney's, and their brand of bone-dry hipster comedy permeates the place."
(from and i am not lying for real)

i'm not sure if chris ware did the signage for the brooklyn store, but i know he did chicago's. i'm also not sure what their other outreach locations are like (and i'm way too full of curry and ready for sleep to even keep researching at the moment) but i'll bet they're just as adorable. mcsweeney's can do no wrong, as usual. my friends and i want to start a branch in kansas city!

fennesz

///

if you think too hard about what everyone else is doing, you’ll wind up doing it too.
(instead think long and hard about what they’re not doing)
and about how to do better what you do best.

///

a coupla screenshots of nice websites and designers lately.

electricityyy

http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/elect/index.htm

http://www.engineeringinteract.org/resources/siliconspies/flash/concepts/electricity.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/10_11/changing_circuits_fs.shtml

http://www.andythelwell.com/blobz/

http://www.engineeringinteract.org/resources/siliconspies/siliconspieslink.htm

http://familyfun.go.com/parenting/learn/activities/feature/famf119weirdsci/famf119weirdsci6.html