Archives For December 2009

Title: Bilingual Web Developer
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posted: December 12, 2009

Forge Media + Design is a multi-disciplinary design firm that excels in the art and science of telling our clients’ stories in a compelling manner and with impact, across multiple media channels and applications. Based in Liberty Village and with a growing array of major clients, our work covers a broad range of disciplines, including digital content, interactive, corporate communications, branding, print, wayfinding, signage, exhibits and state-of-the-art media installations. Forge has built a solid reputation for our unique ability to fuse design and technology to build comprehensive solutions with harmony, elegance and function.

We have an immediate opportunity for a talented bilingual (French) web developer preferably with solid experience in CSS, D/HTML, Flash, PHP Javascript, MySQL, ActionScript and XML to join our firm. The candidate we are looking for will be expected to show initiative and be pro-active, have the ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a team, and consistently deliver top level solutions to address interactive content challenges.

If you feel you have what it takes and are ready to make significant contribution to our dynamic team, please forward your resume and portfolio to careers@forgeinc.ca

Source:
The Decade in Design by Alissa Walker at http://www.good.is

Via: breathe FREELY & whatsthebeef

Ten years of Apple, starchitects, and design for change.

2000

No Logo, Naomi Klein’s treatise on anti-globalization, sets the tone for the decade’s debates about consumerism and branding.

Tech stocks plummet, signaling the official burst of the dot-com bubble. Thousands of newly-minted web designers are laid off. San Francisco’s cafes swell with unemployed creatives paying inflated rents.

Dwell publishes its first issue, transforming the way that people understand—and purchase—modern design.

The Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum launches the annual National Design Awards, giving nods to Frank Gehry and Apple.

American Apparel moves into its current factory in downtown Los Angeles. Under the leadership of Dov Charney, it becomes an incongruous champion of locally-produced fair-labor clothing, racy quasi-pornographic advertising, and Helvetica.

After a tight presidential election introduces the world to the Floridian hanging chad, AIGA’s Design for Democracy begins a massive effort to redesign and standardize voting across the nation.

2001

Apple’s first retail store opens. Steve Jobs announces the first-generation iPod, which can hold 512 MB of music. It is available only in white.

The Mini Cooper is launched in the United States, followed by the Toyota Prius, the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle. The SUV backlash begins.

September 11, 2001: The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center utterly transform the skyline of New York City and destroy two of the world’s greatest architectural and engineering feats: Minoru Yamasaki’s 1973 twin towers.

Peter Jackson’s Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring reforms live-action purists by showing the artistry possible with digital filmmaking. Nerds rejoice.

The Prada Epicenter Store in New York’s SoHo makes retail into a spectacle, thanks to a collaboration with Rem Koolhaas’ OMA, 2×4, and IDEO. Flocks of tourists try on Prada clothing just to play with the legendary dressing room doors, which become frosted for privacy with an electric current.

2002

Design Within Reach opens its first retail store, reintroducing midcentury designers like George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames back into the vernacular.

The stop-motion Lego animation of the White Stripes’ video Fell in Love with a Girl by Michel Gondry heralds a new generation of video and commercial auteurs who bring their specific aesthetic to feature films (and Criteron Collection DVD sets).

Minority Report’s Precrime interface, designed by Imaginary Forces and Schematic, spurs interactive firms worldwide to create similar real-life multi-touch and gesture-recognition systems.

William McDonough publishes the sustainability manual Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. An industry-wide call to make “cradle-to-cradle” products supersedes the more ambiguous movement of “going green.”

2003

Jeffrey Zeldman’s book Designing with Web Standards transforms the way that web developers interact with code, calling for universal accessibility across browsers.

“Design thinking” is referenced in a BusinessWeek article.

DIY doyenne Martha Stewart is indicted for insider trading. She goes to jail, where she teaches craft classes to fellow inmates.

The Droog Design Foundation opens its first retail store in Amsterdam, becoming the magnetic center for an era of witty, issue-oriented industrial design. A signature piece is a chair made from piles of bound-together rags.

2004

The first batch of city funding is allocated for what will become the High Line, a community effort to transform an abandoned railway into a New York City park, and the most talked-about public space project in years.

The Beautiful Losers exhibition opens at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, legitimizing the work of street artists and skateboarders who have been influencing culture for decades.

H&M launches its first collaboration with a high-end designer, Karl Lagerfeld.

Massive Change by Bruce Mau is released, asking designers to think about their work within a greater global context.

Zaha Hadid, architect of swoopy, sculptural, computer-generated forms, is the first woman awarded the Pritzker Prize.

The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty is launched by Ogilvy & Mather, featuring self-esteem messaging for young girls, an attack on glossy magazines, and imagery of real women shot by Rankin.

2005

The One Laptop Per Child project announced by Nicholas Negroponte. The lime-green laptop is later designed by Yves Béhar.

Target debuts the Clear Rx pharmacy bottle, a redesigned system for safely labeling medication. The idea originated as a School of Visual Arts design thesis project by Deborah Adler.

Emigre, the seminal graphic design journal published by Rudy VanderLans and Zuzana Licko, publishes its final issue.

Etsy.com launches as a new way for a swelling community of designers, makers, and crafters to sell their goods online.

Industrial designer Hella Jongerius mass-produces the Jonsberg vases for Swedish retailer IKEA.

Philip Johnson, a modernist architect famous for black angular boxes and black rounded glasses, dies.

The housing bubble peaks. Prices skyrocket and the building frenzy reaches critical mass. Cranes crowd the skyline in every major metropolitan area.

2006

Architecture for Humanity’s TED Prize winnings are put towards the launch of the Open Architecture Network, allowing architects to easily share best practices for building affordable, sustainable structures in communities around the world.

The Council for Fashion Designers of America introduces legislation to copyright their designs, lead by new president Diane von Furstenberg.

We Feel Fine, created by Jonathan Harris and Sep Kamvar, heralds a new era for data visualization and internet-based art.

Widely considered to be the first green skyscraper, the Hearst Tower opens as a Gold LEED-certified building that tops a 1928 structure with a glittering, pixelated bouffant by Norman Foster.

An Inconvenient Truth changes the way we think about global warming, Power Point-style presentations, and Al Gore.

The Wii gaming console is launched by Nintendo, forever transforming the way we interact with games. We never need to go outside again.

2007

The type-focused documentary Helvetica, directed by Gary Hustwit, premieres at South by Southwest, the same time and place as another type-focused product debuts: Twitter.

Design for the Other 90% opens at the Cooper-Hewitt, showcasing hundreds of products and initiatives that designers are creating for the rest of the world’s population.

The 2012 London Olympic logo by Wolff Olins is revealed, sparking a international scandal as more than 50,000 British citizens sign a petition against its design. An animated version is said to cause seizures.

Mad Men debuts on AMC to a small audience, but Matthew Weiner’s tireless meticulousness in recreating 1960’s ad campaigns, three-martini lunches, and pregnant smokers quickly makes it a cultural touchpoint for all creatives.

The I-35 bridge collapses in Minneapolis, killing 179 and forcing inspections of the United States’ deteriorating infrastructure.

Amazon’s e-book reader, the Kindle, debuts. Book designers call it a print-killer. Industrial designers call it ugly.

“One more thing…” At Apple’s keynote event, Jobs introduces the iPhone.

2008

Industrial designer Philippe Starck declares “design is dead,” retires, signs on to star in BBC reality show Design for Life.

Shepard Fairey creates the “Hope” poster to support Barack Obama’s presidential run. It becomes the single most representative image of any political campaign, ever. Fairey spends the next year in a heated fair-use battle with the Associated Press. No one wins. Oh, except Obama.

The Designers Accord, dubbed the “Kyoto Treaty of design,” sees 120,000 firms and individuals sign on as adopters.

Brad Pitt hires a bevy of starchitects including Thom Mayne, David Adjaye, and Shigeru Ban to design flood-proof houses for Hurricane Katrina victims and raises millions of dollars through his foundation, Make it Right.

Design and the Elastic Mind, curated by the Museum of Modern Art’s senior curator and design cheerleader Paola Antonelli, illustrates the many applications of design beyond creating physical objects.

2009

Dubai’s Burj Dubai, designed by Adrian Smith, tops out at 2,684 ft, the tallest man-made structure ever built. It’s scheduled to open in January 2010 as reports of Dubai’s downfall begin to trickle into architectural publications.

Ninety-eight-year-old architectural photographer Julius Shulman dies. A documentary of his life, Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman directed by Eric Bricker and narrated by Dustin Hoffman, enters wide release.

The Aspen Design Summit, previously the 58-year-old International Design Conference at Aspen, relaunches under the guidance of the Winterhouse Institute, AIGA, and Change Observer, a new social change-focused division of the blog Design Observer.

William Kamkwamba, a Malawi inventor who built a wind farm for his village from scrap metal when he was 14, publishes his book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.

CityCenter, the United States’ largest privately-funded development in history and one of the largest starchitect collaborations in the world, opens in Las Vegas with aspirations of “green superdevelopment” cred.

A meeting with Washington officials and a multi-disciplinary group of designers forming the United States Design Policy advocacy group solidifies a plan for designers and policymakers to begin working more closely together in 2010.

City of MississaugaJob Type: Full Time 
Location: Civic Centre, City Of Mississauga, ON, CANADA; 
Job Category: Marketing 
Industry: Government 
Year(s) of Experience:
Number Of Positions:
Date Posted: Dec 22, 2009  
  

Mississauga is Canada’s sixth largest city with a population of more than 700,000. With well-established infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities, the City is considered to be an employer of choice, delivering quality municipal programs and services to its citizens. Mississauga is a dynamic, diverse and progressive municipality, known for its economic strength and for being Canada’s safest city.

CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT
COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
CORPORATE MARKETING/PROMOTIONS SECTION

requires a

MARKETING CONSULTANT, NEW MEDIA

Job Specifications:
Post secondary education in Marketing, Web Design, Information Technology, Graphic Arts, or Communications along with a minimum of 3 years progressive experience in the development and management of a large corporate Web site or equivalent combination of appropriate education and experience. Experience in all aspects of the web development lifecycle including: analysis, specification building, design and development, coding, QA testing, promotion and maintenance. Proficient in web design and development software including advanced experience using Dreamweaver, Photoshop, ImageReady and Flash. Must be highly skilled in hand coding HTML, JavaScript, Cascading Style Sheets and Action script. Demonstrated proficiency in user interface design principles and standard web design and development methodologies. Demonstrated proficiency in the development and integration of dynamic content such as Flash, video and audio content within web sites. Experience and proficiency in the development of dynamic multi-media presentations using PowerPoint, Flash and Apple Keynote. Experience with Content Management Systems (creating and deploying content). E-marketing tactical experience, including creative development that supports a broader marketing plan. Excellent oral and written communication skills. A task-orientated approach to projects and the ability to perform duties requiring independent judgment, analytical skills and initiative. Demonstrated commitment to professional development, including a track record of remaining current with emerging web technologies. Ability to work well under pressure and within strict deadlines. Strong problem solving skills and attention to detail.

Primary Responsibilities:
Under the direction of the Manager, Corporate Marketing and Promotions, the successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating and completing assigned Web page maintenance tasks and supporting the design and implementation of various web development and multi-media projects. Completion of these duties will require, but not be limited to creating, managing and integrating web pages into eCity and Inside Mississauga. Supporting the development and integration of multi-media content such as flash and video on to City Web pages. Developing and implementing dynamic and user-focused web content (both internal and external) for Communications division supported projects. Providing support and consultation to the Communications Team with implementing web-based projects. Partnering with Creative Services to develop dynamic multi-media presentations utilizing PowerPoint, Flash and Apple Keynote for high-profile and strategically important initiatives. Prioritizing and responding to web page maintenance requests from Communications staff based on defined priorities and workload demands. Partnering with Creative Services and Information Technology to advise, build and execute web site development plans based on project needs and goals. Participating in section and divisional work teams and projects as required. Assisting with the ongoing evaluation of web sites and other web services by producing quantitative performance measures. Maintaining an awareness of current trends and technology in related fields. Performing other related duties as assigned.

Salary range: $50,947 – $67,929

A Criminal Record Search will be required of the successful candidate, at their own expense, to verify the absence of a criminal record for which a pardon has not been granted.

We thank all who apply, however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.  All personal information is collected under the authority of the municipal Act.  We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Please note that once you have submitted your resume an on-line a questionnaire will appear on screen and must be completed in order to be considered for this position.
 

Click here to apply.

In case you missed it, Seth Godin posted this free ebook entitled, What Matters Now, on his blog, Seth’s Blog

Seth comments on this ebook are as follows:

“Now, more than ever, we need to shake things up.

Now, more than ever, we need a different way of thinking, a useful way to focus and the energy to turn the game around. I hope a new ebook I’ve organized will get you started on that path. It took months, but I think you’ll find it worth the effort. (Download here).

Here are more than seventy big thinkers, each sharing an idea for you to think about as we head into the new year. From bestselling author Elizabeth Gilbert to brilliant tech thinker Kevin Kelly, from publisher Tim O’Reilly to radio host Dave Ramsey, there are some important people riffing about important ideas here. The ebook includes Tom Peters, Fred Wilson, Jackie Huba and Jason Fried, along with Gina Trapani, Bill Taylor and Alan Webber.”

It’s an interesting ebook featuring one page thoughts, stories, comments from many industry figures on “Things to think about (and do) this year.”

Perfect brain food for over the holidays. Thanks to Seth and the contributors for sharing.

László Moholy-Nagy

gerarddolan —  December 9, 2009 — Leave a comment

“Design is not a profession but an attitude… Thinking in complex relationships”
László Moholy-Nagy

I stumbled upon a YouTube video someone put together which presents the work of one of my idols… László Moholy-Nagy.

More on him can be found at the Moholy-Nagy Foundation, which is an organization that has documented and distributes proper copies of his work.

Republished from RGD Ontario

December 10, 2009
8:00 – 9:30 am
The Gladstone Hotel
North Ballroom
214 Queen Street West, Toronto

Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the law but were afraid to ask. Copyright/trademark, employment, contracts and commerical litigation… The list of legal territories impacting graphic designers goes on and on but getting legal advice can be expensive. Join us for this interactive Q&A with lawyers with a range of specialties from our Legal Partner Keyser Mason Ball LLP. We’ll tackle all your legal quandaries and address some you may not have even thought of!

Panelists will be:

Amy Delisle – Amy is a member of the firm’s Business Law Group. She is actively involved with clients who are buying and selling businesses and assists small and medium sized enterprises with start up and organization.

Simon Heath – Simon is a member of the firm’s management labour relations and employment law group. He provides advice and services on all aspects of employment law including compensation arrangements, employment contracts and workplace policies, workplace restructuring, wrongful dismissals, employment standards, occupational health and safety and privacy.

Patricia Szwed – Patricia is engaged in a commercial litigation practice. Her practice involves issues pertaining to general business litigation, including shareholder disputes, municipal law issues and environmental compliance issues, employment matters and construction liens and claims.

Ashlee Froese – Ashlee is a lawyer and trade-mark agent whose practice encompasses intellectual property, branding, packaging, labeling, marketing and advertising law. She assists emerging and established clients in all aspects of brand protection, including copyright, trade-marks, branding and domain name law. Some of the questions that will be answered:

  1. When you’re pitching a proposal/concept to a client, how do you protect your intellectual property?
  2. What can you do when your intellectual property is being infringed?
  3. What are some pro-active steps that you can take early on in a relationship to help you collect on unpaid accounts from a client?
  4. What can you do if a client or another that you deal with it has breached a contract with you?
  5. If you use a corporation to carry on business, do you still need insurance? Are you free from personal liability?
  6. Does a contract have to be in writing to be binding?
  7. What are the benefits of a written employment contract?
  8. How much termination pay am I entitled to at the end of employment?
  9. When is a restrictive covenant enforceable?
  10. When can I compete with my former employer in the absence of a restrictive covenant?

Submit your own confidential legal questions in advance to sheila@rgdontario.com.

This breakfast will provide members and other designers a venue to discuss design and business issues, network, discuss the latest trends and learn from peers. This event is open to all but you must register in advance to attend, as seating is limited.

Pricing: Members: $20 + GST
Non-Members: $35 + GST

 To register, email sheila@rgdontario.com, or call 1.888.274.3668 1.888.274.3668

Title: Interactive / UX Designer / Developer
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posted: December 4, 2009

Forge Media + Design is a multi-disciplinary design firm that excels in the art and science of telling our clients’ stories in a compelling manner and with impact, across multiple media channels and applications. Based in Liberty Village and with a growing array of major clients, our work covers a broad range of disciplines, including digital content, interactive, corporate communications, branding, print, wayfinding, signage, exhibits and state-of-the-art media installations. Forge has built a solid reputation for our unique ability to fuse design and technology to build comprehensive solutions with harmony, elegance and function.

We have an immediate opportunity for a talented and creative interactive/user experience designer/developer with solid experience in CSS, D/HTML, Flash, PHP Javascript, MySQL, ActionScript and XML to join our firm. The candidate we are looking for will be expected to show initiative and be pro-active, have the ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a team, and consistently deliver top level creative and functional solutions to user experience and interactive content design challenges.

If you feel you have what it takes and are ready to make significant contribution to our dynamic team, please forward your resume and portfolio to careers@forgeinc.ca