We were approached by Marc Moore of Koda Media Group in early July to see if we were interested in working on a BMO interactive web tool that was already launched but needed to be taken to the next level for v2.

We agreed and were put to work on making several changes and updates to an already existing (and extremely well put together) Flash application.  Over first two weeks of July we spent many an hour creating new volume sliders, pre-loaders, modifying animation sequences, upgrading graphics and copy and generally having a ball! (Did we say that this site was EXTREMELY well done to begin with?)

The tool is very much like a guided tour of things you need to think about to ensure you have a safe and prosperous retirement.  You are guided through it by several videos featuring Dr. Amy D’Aprix who is the BMO Life Transition Consultant.

The site was done in Flash and coded using ActionScript 3.0.  It loads data externally from XML and also uses external Flash Videos throughout.  It takes advantage of several new features found in ActionScript 3 and is an excellent example of the robust and scalable applications that can be created with Flash nowadays.

You can view the site here in English. 

http://www4.bmo.com/vgn/takecharge/bmofg_en.html?Wt.ac=E1610_hp1e_ryw

For French simply click the link at the top of the site page.

Xmarks Website

Auditory Relation:   Bloc Party – Silent Alarm (Japan Bonus Tracks)

Duration: The month of February (pretty much)

Location : http://www.xmarks.ca

What We Did: Built the 80 separate flash movies, wrote the 1000 or so lines of code, built the ASP.NET wrapper site that manages enquiries and downloads, and we also are hosting the site at our Tier 1 data center. 

We were approached by David Saltmarche in late January 2009.  He showed up at our door with literally 500 megabytes of 150dpi Photoshop files in “perfect register” as he likes to say.   We invited him in, he met the dogs and 2 hours later the Xmarks idea was conveyed to us. 

From I think about the second PSD we looked at we knew that we wanted this project.  The visual details alone were enough to get our juices flowing.  Not to mention the fact that this man, this classically trained artist, had already provided us with better quality assets than most of the art directors running major agencies can even offer.

So, about a month later, and after listening (almost exclusively) to Bloc Party’s Silent Alarm album about 100 times – out popped the Xmarks.ca site. 

The site itself showcases the collection of David Saltmarches’ Xmarks which are a collection of ingenuously assembled 4 or 16 panel images taken of natural occurring X formations in Northern Ontario islands.  But – like the art itself – the site is so much more than pretty pictures.   Cruise the different areas of the site to understand what we mean.  From Xmarks as Object – a visual representation of the assembly and components that come with each Xmark, to the “As Installed” section – where you can see these “objects du art” installed in inspiring and thought provoking situations.  Then off to “The Marks” where you can go through all 48 unique images, see them up close, and of course – reserve your spot for limited edition numbering and enquire about the Xmarks. 

Truly a unique and interesting site created for a very unique and interesting artist.

Check it out at http://www.xmarks.ca and Enjoy.