DESIGN EXPLORATION | ecomagination

Okay, before we talk about the site, we have to talk history first. Just as we evolved from silent black and white films into the talkies and later color films, the first Window’s pages adopted a newspaper type format. Then, Flash came along to blaze a trail of motion and movement. But we are now at the crossroads…and there is no turning back. The rules have changed and we as designers have the responsibility to merge function with current artistic design concepts. I believe we are moving toward the next generation of Flash sites that will include more 3D modeling. By next year televisions will be available with visors designed with computer chips with the ability to change the 3D images for the right and left eye independently. As our lives become more complex we are hungry for more than 2 dimensional images and static HTML pages. I chose the GE ecomaginaton site because it is an innovative design representing the cyber world of 3D modeling.

-jv

http://ge.ecomagination.com/smartgrid/#/landing_page

I love the graphics of Ecomagination. The animation comes in vertically from the top as moving 3D graphs modeled in vibrant earth tone colors and textures. As you roll over the images the text is engaging and appears to be 3D by the use of a drop shadow effect on a skewed text. I like the way the site is very clean with open spaces, and includes a great pre-loader. There are no extraneous, unnecessary movements or distractions and it is very easy to navigate. The navigation bar is hidden and becomes active with a rollover of the mouse. When you roll over the icons on the menu there are subtle movements of a simple movie clip. If you navigate to ‘Alternative Energy’. A very nice addition to the graph is a click and drag option to plug in an animated turbine engine powered by wind. When you add the turbine energy by dropping and dragging to the electrical outlet, the images grows larger. Once you traverse to ‘CO2 Emissions’, a 3D model of a map of the United States rolls in, and a cloud of CO2 collects as the data increases. To the right is a an exciting feature animating how much smoke disappears as you move the mouse over a scale which represents how much emissions are reduced if the power grid is made more efficient, as it simultaneously crunches the numbers of the data in an interesting and informative manner. Another feature is a do it yourself hologram as the ‘Smart Grid Augmented Reality’ comes to life when using your web cam and a special image that you print from the site. This site is fascinating because it presents a lot of information and data in a small amount of efficient design space. By using a Flash design the creator was able to use compelling visual elements in an informative, educational manner creating interest for a general audience on a typically dry subject matter.

Technology is changing at an alarming rate. The introduction of the ‘Apps’ have kicked it up a notch and changed how we approach digital graphics over night. Flash capabilities are being introduced to the iPhone as we speak. The electric car in every driveway is in our immediate future. As technology changes so do design concepts. So it’s time for us to put our thinking caps on and start thinking out of the ‘cube’. Speaking of which, before I go, there is one other site of interest that you have to experience. I found this to be an incredible use of Flash. It’s in Spanish but basically it says that you can paint along to the music with your mouse to this beautiful love song that has truths and lies called “Soy Tu Aire”, by ‘Labuat’ This is a definite Flash Design ‘must see’. FYI, A rough translation of soy tu aire, soy tu agua means I am your air, I am your water.

Enjoy.
http://soytuaire.labuat.com/

This post was originally published on 02/26/10 but I didn't like the end results of the layout, so I made a few changes in the images. Sorry, but I'm a newbie at this.

-jv