The workshop was structured in 4 main components, here are the presentations for each:

An introduction to Social Media

By Haig Armen
Download Introduction Slidedeck 467Kb

The Strategic Plan

by Todd Sieling
Download Strategy Slidedeck 5.1Mb

The Channels of Social Media

by Haig Armen
Download Channels Slidedeck 492Kb

Measuring your efforts

by Todd Sieling
Download Measuring Social Media Slidedeck 5.1Mb

Some of the notable features that Clive demos are the newest drawing functions, and the ability to save “Prop sets” – packaged objects. Additionally we touch on the new features for Pixton Pro and Pixton for Business.

Technically Speaking
The second half of the conversation concentrates on the technical implementation of the Pixton site. Clive talks a bit about the Flash to database communication via AMFPHP and Flash to Javascript using External.interface.

I’d like to thank Clive for coming in and wish him luck on his move from Vancouver.

We’re looking forward to seeing what 2010 brings in store for LiFT studios. To say that 2009 was a busy year for us would be a serious understatement. The LiFT team was diligently working on a variety of interesting projects that we’d like to share with you. Here’s a quick summary:

LiFT Studios Broadcasts

In May 2009 we launched a weekly video podcast called LiFT Studios Broadcasts (LSB). The videos give us a way to reach out into the Digital Design industry to talk to people we believe bring good energy to the type of work that we do. The feedback for LSB has been tremendous and the audience seems to consistently growing. Check it out and let us know if you have a suggestion for someone we could interview.

Association of Book Publisher’s of British Columbia (ABPBC)

This year we designed and developed a new ABPBC website and had a great time working with Margaret and Gerilee.

Vancouver Aquarium

In August the LiFT team was asked to design and build a Touchscreen kiosk for the Aquarium. The exhibit lets visitors explore and compare the sounds of Beluga Whales to the sounds of other natural and man-made environmental sounds.

D+M’s Publishers

LiFT studios had the pleasure of designing a new website for one of Canada’s most prestigious publishers, D+M. We were also given the opportunity to develop a new podcast. The Speakeasy podcast is a monthly show with interviews with D+M authors. We took this production very seriously and even wrote and recorded original music for Speakeasy

Bookriff

If you haven’t heard of Bookriff, then you need to go see it now! Bookriff is a new web service that allows visitors a chance to compile their own books out of a range of licensed publisher’s texts, then you’ll actually get a custom ‘one-off’ book sent to you. LiFT has spent a good part of 2009 working on the user interface for Bookriff and we look forward to seeing it in action.

Emily Carr University of Art + Design’s new website

LiFT worked in collaboration with Emily Carr University’s web committee and students to design and develop the new ECU website. Users are provided with a profile page where they will be able to post a bio, showcase their work, and pull in content from Facebook and Twitter.

Coming soon in 2010

Here are some projects that we’re looking forward to launching in 2010:

• UBC’s Sustainability website
• Canada’s Aboriginal Sports Hall of Fame website
• Namaste Publishing
• New Society Publishers

Processing Christmas

Were you wondering about the graphics we’ve used for this year’s christmas mailout? It’s a quick collaboration between the LiFT team, the graphics were created with a relatively new interactive programming environment called Processing. To really see the graphic in action visit the Happy Holidays web page.

Special Thanks

We’d like to send a special thanks to both Andrea Mignolo and Travis Nicholson for their amazing hard work interning at LiFT studios in 2009. We’re going to miss you both so much.

We begin our conversation with a brief background on Monique’s journey through education, internship, working for Raincoast Books and then finally to establishing Boxcar Marketing.

After mentioning some of the common challenges that most publishers seem to be facing these days the conversation turns toward the topic of Citizen Journalism. Both Monique and I seem to agree that there is still a huge difference between traditional journalism and the new blogging movement, both are important and both can learn from each other. Unfortunately both sides seem to be taking a defensive stance and tend to throw stones more than listening.

Monique mentions two journalists that understand the online space: David Beers of The Tyee and Kirk LaPointe of the Vancouver Sun
and then goes on to talk about an interesting iPhone app called ScanLife that lets newspaper readers take a photo of a barcode and get access to auxiliary information to an article.

Our talk moves onto the subject of books, how will we use them in the future, will the printed book live on and what are the possibilities to come.

Bonus topics:
Author Blogs: Monique gives authors tips on writing blogs Download MP4 here
Bookriff: a few thoughts about the Bookriff projectDownload MP4 here

I really enjoyed my talk with Monique and would like to thank her for taking the time to come chat. We look forward to working with you again on future projects.

We begin our conversation with a brief background on Monique’s journey through education, internship, working for Raincoast Books and then finally to establishing Boxcar Marketing.

After mentioning some of the common challenges that most publishers seem to be facing these days the conversation turns toward the topic of Citizen Journalism. Both Monique and I seem to agree that there is still a huge difference between traditional journalism and the new blogging movement, both are important and both can learn from each other. Unfortunately both sides seem to be taking a defensive stance and tend to throw stones more than listening.

Monique mentions two journalists that understand the online space: David Beers of The Tyee and Kirk LaPointe of the Vancouver Sun
and then goes on to talk about an interesting iPhone app called ScanLife that lets newspaper readers take a photo of a barcode and get access to auxiliary information to an article.

Our talk moves onto the subject of books, how will we use them in the future, will the printed book live on and what are the possibilities to come.

Bonus topics:
Author Blogs: Monique gives authors tips on writing blogs
Bookriff: a few thoughts about the Bookriff project

I really enjoyed my talk with Monique and would like to thank her for taking the time to come chat. We look forward to working with you again on future projects.

Losing My Religion
To me the chat gets interesting when Kris talks about the life-changing events at Trinity Western and his view of religion after that point. We all have moments in our lives that we can look back on and see how our decisions have been informed.

Thoughts on Outsourcing
Another surprising topic that comes up is Kris’ opinion about outsourcing. I’ve had many people suggest that we try outsourcing the development work overseas but like Kris, I don’t yet believe that it’s a viable option. I’ve only heard nightmares about iteration after iteration of complex web projects that end up costing more and taking three times as long to complete.

Kris suggests that building quality software requires quick iterative cycles, clear communication and agile design and development. We’re definitely with Kris on this one.

If you want to learn more about Kris Krug, I suggest Google, he’s everywhere. In fact, that’s maybe what we should talk to Kris about next.

Thanks to Kris for a great talk, we’re looking forward to having you in again to chat about the future instead of the past.

Losing My Religion
To me the chat gets interesting when Kris talks about the life-changing events at Trinity Western and his view of religion after that point. We all have moments in our lives that we can look back on and see how our decisions have been informed.

Thoughts on Outsourcing
Another surprising topic that comes up is Kris’ opinion about outsourcing. I’ve had many people suggest that we try outsourcing the development work overseas but like Kris, I don’t yet believe that it’s a viable option. I’ve only heard nightmares about iteration after iteration of complex web projects that end up costing more and taking three times as long to complete.

Kris suggests that building quality software requires quick iterative cycles, clear communication and agile design and development. We’re definitely with Kris on this one.

If you want to learn more about Kris Krug, I suggest Google, he’s everywhere. In fact, that’s maybe what we should talk to Kris about next.

Thanks to Kris for a great talk, we’re looking forward to having you in again to chat about the future instead of the past.

On LSB024 this week we sit down and have a few drinks with three Vancouver designers about their thoughts on defining Interaction Design and a explaining a typical day in the life of an Interaction Designer. I’d like to thank Dave Shea, Todd Sieling and Kathleen Moynahan for being candid and speaking with me, Haig Armen and sharing their point of view.

This process of documenting talks about Interaction Design has another purpose other than our LiFT Studios Broadcast. We are submitting many of the best ones to the IxDA 10 conference in.

If you feel you have a strong opinion about what Interaction Design is, drop me an email haig(at)liftstudios.ca. Maybe we can have a skype call to put you on the next broadcast in this series. I’m serious!

On LSB024 this week we sit down and have a few drinks with three Vancouver designers about their thoughts on defining Interaction Design and a explaining a typical day in the life of an Interaction Designer. I’d like to thank Dave Shea, Todd Sieling and Kathleen Moynahan for being candid and speaking with me, Haig Armen and sharing their point of view.

This process of documenting talks about Interaction Design has another purpose other than our LiFT Studios Broadcast. We are submitting many of the best ones to the IxDA 10 conference in.

If you feel you have a strong opinion about what Interaction Design is, drop me an email haig(at)liftstudios.ca. Maybe we can have a skype call to put you on the next broadcast in this series. I’m serious!

Although Dasz currently works on a wide variety of interaction design projects, it’s no secret about where his real passion lies. Dasz has a serious long term obsession for synthesizers and creating electronic music on the fly. This ‘live PA’ style of improvised music requires a high level of proficiency on a synthesizer and sequencer and relies on more than just preset sounds and loops.

Dasz and I talk about what lessons can be carried over from synth design to application and web design and visa versa.

We finish our conversation with a few ideas about where synthesis may be heading in the future and some thoughts about networking software.

What do you think the future of synthesis is? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Although Dasz currently works on a wide variety of interaction design projects, it’s no secret about where his real passion lies. Dasz has a serious long term obsession for synthesizers and creating electronic music on the fly. This ‘live PA’ style of improvised music requires a high level of proficiency on a synthesizer and sequencer and relies on more than just preset sounds and loops.

Dasz and I talk about what lessons can be carried over from synth design to application and web design and visa versa.

We finish our conversation with a few ideas about where synthesis may be heading in the future and some thoughts about networking software.

What do you think the future of synthesis is? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Walter Murch

To say that Walter Murch is well-known in the film industry is a bit of an understatement. He has been recognized for many achievements over his 40 year career including Oscars for both Apocalypse Now and The English Patient. Anthony recommended I read Murch’s In the Blink of an Eye (2001), which I ended up reading after really enjoying Michael Ondaatje’s The Conversations (2002). Both books inspired me a great deal.

Check out his page on wikipedia and find out more about the films he’s help make at his IMDB page.

Errol Morris

If you’ve watched any of our other Lift Studios Broadcasts, you’ll know that we are big fans of Errol Morris. But we thought we’d dig into some of the reasons why he is such an innovator in the field of documentary film making. We spend a bit of time explaining how the Interrotron works and why it’s so effective.

Have a look at Errol Morris’ website, there’s some interesting things there and don’t forgot to look at the trailers to some of the videos we spoke about. href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPu0chBQeUk">First Person – Hell of a Flight
Fast, Cheap and Out of Control.

Here are some of the other podcasts that Anthony mentions:

• Film Riot: a great primer for people getting into film making.
• Totally Rad Show:

Thanks Anthony for the great talk. We’re looking forward to having you be a guest editor for an episode of LSB

Walter Murch

To say that Walter Murch is well-known in the film industry is a bit of an understatement. He has been recognized for many achievements over his 40 year career including Oscars for both Apocalypse Now and The English Patient. Anthony recommended I read Murch’s In the Blink of an Eye (2001), which I ended up reading after really enjoying Michael Ondaatje’s The Conversations (2002). Both books inspired me a great deal.

Check out his page on wikipedia and find out more about the films he’s help make at his IMDB page.

Errol Morris

If you’ve watched any of our other Lift Studios Broadcasts, you’ll know that we are big fans of Errol Morris. But we thought we’d dig into some of the reasons why he is such an innovator in the field of documentary film making. We spend a bit of time explaining how the Interrotron works and why it’s so effective.

Have a look at Errol Morris’ website, there’s some interesting things there and don’t forgot to look at the trailers to some of the videos we spoke about. href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPu0chBQeUk">First Person – Hell of a Flight
Fast, Cheap and Out of Control.

Here are some of the other podcasts that Anthony mentions:

• Film Riot: a great primer for people getting into film making.
• Totally Rad Show:

Thanks Anthony for the great talk. We’re looking forward to having you be a guest editor for an episode of LSB

Our Connection
I met Amanda about four years ago as an instructor at Langara’s Electronic Media Design program (EMD). At the time I was teaching courses in The History of Design and Interface Design, she was a quick study and absorbed as much knowledge as I could present to her.

After Amanda graduated from EMD I asked her to work with me at Haigmedia, my independent freelance design company, and later I brought her over to Industrial Brand where I was asked to become a partner. In 2008, I formed LiFT Studios and Amanda accepted her current position at UBC’s Sustainability Office.

Amanda and I have had many great conversations over the years and I am very happy to give our LSB audience a small glimpse of our last discussion.

Here are some of the questions I asked Amanda during our discussion:

What brought you to the subject of sustainability in design?
Do designers have an ethical responsibility to work sustainably?
How does sustainable design fit in with larger global movements towards sustainability?
Do you have any practical advise for designers looking to become more sustainable?
Do the principles of sustainable design differ from print to digital?
Do you have any great sources for more information on sustainable design?

Here are the links that Amanda mentions:

Green Graphic Design – by Brian Dougherty
http://www.amazon.ca/Green-Graphic-Design-Brian-Dougherty/dp/1581155115

The Designer’s Atlas of Sustainability:
Charting the Conceptual Landscape through Economy, Ecology, and Culture – by Ann Thorpe
http://www.amazon.com/Designers-Atlas-Sustainability-Conceptual-Landscape/dp/1597261009

The Designer’s Accord wiki
http://www.designersaccord.org/

AIGA: the Professional Association for Design
www.aiga.org

The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada
www.gdc.net

Re-nourish
www.re-nourish.com

Amanda’s Delicious account
www.delicious.com/afetterly

Download Amanda’s Sustainable Design Presentation

Our Connection
I met Amanda about four years ago as an instructor at Langara’s Electronic Media Design program (EMD). At the time I was teaching courses in The History of Design and Interface Design, she was a quick study and absorbed as much knowledge as I could present to her.

After Amanda graduated from EMD I asked her to work with me at Haigmedia, my independent freelance design company, and later I brought her over to Industrial Brand where I was asked to become a partner. In 2008, I formed LiFT Studios and Amanda accepted her current position at UBC’s Sustainability Office.

Amanda and I have had many great conversations over the years and I am very happy to give our LSB audience a small glimpse of our last discussion.

Here are some of the questions I asked Amanda during our discussion:

What brought you to the subject of sustainability in design?
Do designers have an ethical responsibility to work sustainably?
How does sustainable design fit in with larger global movements towards sustainability?
Do you have any practical advise for designers looking to become more sustainable?
Do the principles of sustainable design differ from print to digital?
Do you have any great sources for more information on sustainable design?

Here are the links that Amanda mentions:

Green Graphic Design – by Brian Dougherty
http://www.amazon.ca/Green-Graphic-Design-Brian-Dougherty/dp/1581155115

The Designer’s Atlas of Sustainability:
Charting the Conceptual Landscape through Economy, Ecology, and Culture – by Ann Thorpe
http://www.amazon.com/Designers-Atlas-Sustainability-Conceptual-Landscape/dp/1597261009

The Designer’s Accord wiki
http://www.designersaccord.org/

AIGA: the Professional Association for Design
www.aiga.org

The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada
www.gdc.net

Re-nourish
www.re-nourish.com

Amanda’s Delicious account
www.delicious.com/afetterly

Download Amanda’s Sustainable Design Presentation

Enjoy the conversation, we did.

Enjoy the conversation, we did.

Getting things done is an action management method created by David Allen, and described in a book of the same name.
GTD rests on the principle that a person needs to move tasks out of the mind by recording them externally. That way, the mind is freed from the job of remembering everything that needs to be done, and can concentrate on actually performing those tasks.

If you would like to know more, you can find Andrea’s bio on our site at the following url:
www.liftstudios.ca/andrea-mignolo/

Getting Things Done is an action management method created by David Allen, and described in a book of the same name. GTD rests on the principle that a person needs to move tasks out of the mind by recording them externally. That way, the mind is freed from the job of remembering everything that needs to be done, and can concentrate on actually performing those tasks.

If you would like to know more, you can find Andrea’s bio here.

You can contribute to the exhibit by uploading your favorite photo of you and your bike at http://velocityvancouver.ca/. The exhibit runs until September 7, 2009.