WiseArts

This evening I attended the PhizzPop design challenge, sponsored nationally by Mircrosoft, and locally by mima. Five local design firms (Colle + McVoy, Hanson Inc., Moov Worldwide, Space 150, and Zeus Jones took on the challenge issued by Microsoft. Very basically, the challenge was to use Microsoft Expression Studio and Silverlight to create a multi-platform web application that integrates social media, services, and digital distribution, as well as integrating physical in-store and mobile interfaces to extend the experience. The point of this application is to create a kind of new, richer, shopping experience - one that enhances physical shopping scenarios, brand awareness and improves online promotion and traditional online browsing, selection and cross-sell scenarios, as well as building stronger relationships with online retailers. The title of the design brief was “Touching consumers: Thriving with online retailing and multichannel promotion.”

The concepts presented were incredible integrations of social media and online shopping. These were like Twitter, Facebook, Wists, Amazon, Google Maps, Yahoo Shopping, and lots more… all wrapped up into one neat shopping experience. In the basic essence, each design firm’s application was the same, as it needed to fulfill certain requirements of the challenge; however, each firm added unique features and design elements. There were concepts such as: creating a shopping list for a retail store and then generating an inside map of the store with notations on where your desired purchases are located, reserving a parking space online and having your in-store purchases ready for a quick pick-up, placing kiosks in retail stores where you could view product demos and comparisons to decide which products are right for you, lots more… Maybe not all of it was possible/practical, but very interesting ideas nonetheless. Each firm’s application had a slightly different twist on interface design. The two I liked the most were Space 150 and Zeus Jones’ designs. The name of this conceptual application was to be “Indigo”, and some of the firms really seemed to take the name to heart and make everything BLUE! Blue is nice, but when nearly everything on an interface is blue it seems so cold and austere. The designs by Space 150 and Zeus Jones were more colorful and also did some nice things with the Indigo logotype. In the end Zeus Jones was the people’s choice, and the judges’ choice to win the Minneapolis challenge and move on to the next stage of competition.

In addition to these nice presentations, there were free drinks, and trays of delicious hors d’oeuvres travelling about the room. The lighting and music created a fun, club-like atmosphere. There were a few prize drawings, and some Microsoft swag on the way out.

My only gripe about this event was that I would have like to have heard more about how the concepts were (or would be) implemented/programmed (and also some people in the back that wouldn’t shut up! Probably taking advantage of the free drinks!). I think the point of the event was really to showcase Microsoft’s interactive design products, so why not get into a little more detail there? In fact, I learned more about Silverlight from a nice guy that was sitting at my table than from the presentations. Overall though, a very fun and inspirational event.