A Tool for AnalysisEnter font size of an existing design (in points, inches or cm) and the Font Size Calculator computes the maximum viewing distance. Adjust lighting conditions and reliability to determine the effectiveness of the design at different viewing distances.

Review the science behind this app.

Credits
Development: Joe Maurer
Project Management: Jeff Cortez

Verbal Language

Verbal Language is what you say and how you say it.
Ultimately, every brand is judged on these two accounts. A thoughtful decision about the former is the first step to appropriate motives for the latter.

Visual Language

Visual Language is what you look like.
These decisions encompass all shape, color and design cues associated with a brand’s visual identity. This is the most recognizable of the four languages.

Behavioral Language

Behavioral Language is how you act and interact with others.
Because people have control over their online experiences, brand interactions are powerful persuaders for brand personality. Design of interactive elements must be driven by brand values, not as a showcase for digital wizardry.

Structural Language

Structural Language is how you present your story.
Is information presented sequentially in a logical progression as you might expect from a medical firm? Or is there a scattergun of intriguing tidbits and visual titillations as you might expect from a video game company? These brand values can and should be expressed through the interface and technological fabric of the interactive experience.

The Charles Pankow Foundation (CPF) brand identity represents the organizationʼs mission to provide the public with improved quality, efficiency, and value of buildings by advancing innovation in design and construction.

The three buildings represent, from shortest to tallest, (1) the research idea or inspiration, (2) CPF as facilitator (stepping stone) and (3) the ultimate goal: the realization of better buildings.

PCD will continue working with the foundation to oversee the rollout of their brand identity to analog and digital applications.

PCD incorporated a booking calendar, a flight finding tool and other useful information for sun seekers and golfers alike.

We created Mr. Bowling’s website to showcase over 600 paintings and many of his essays on art, formalism and social issues.

The Charles Pankow Foundation exists to advance innovations in building design and construction, so as to provide the public with buildings of improved quality, efficiency, and value.

Mid-State Precast provides high value, low-cost structural and architectural precast/prestressed concrete components, preconstruction, design-build services and installation services to the construction industry.

The projects are scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2009. Stay tuned…

In their words…

Dear Friends,

One of the most important elections in United States history will take place this November 4, 2008. While only US citizens may vote in this election, much of the world is watching the race very closely. Faced with a growing financial crisis, climate change and global energy challenges, we all know that an uncertain future will be greatly defined by the next US president. For better or worse, we are all interconnected.

With this in mind, we have created TheWorldFor.com, an interactive web site where people all over the world can cast a vote for the next United States President. We invite all citizens of the world to participate:

http://www.theworldfor.com

We ask that you please share this site with all of your friends and family around the world. In the coming weeks, the site will feature an increasingly diverse and living visualization of world opinion, ultimately aimed to inform US voters as they make their way to the ballot box on November 4.

TheWorldFor.com was developed by a few concerned and hardworking Americans who made this project as a labor of love. We are not affiliated with any group, campaign, or government agency.

Thank you for your attention, your voice, and most importantly, your vote.

Sincerely,
TheWorldFor Team

Visit VW.com and navigate to VW Life, Nav Companion.

PCD was involved with the development of the prototype version of Nav Companion. In addition to the features available in the production version, the prototype supports categorization of destinations and 1-click syncing with the data transfer device. Perhaps these features will be available in the production version soon.

In the meantime, visit VWLabs.com to see the fully-featured prototype.

Connectivity has opened unlimited potential for communication and data sharing. The future of mobility is sure to follow a similar path. The Showcar Passat was a window into this future.

Challenges

We worked with the Volkswagen Electronics Research Laboratory in Palo Alto and their Design Center in Santa Monica to develop a central interface bringing together a variety of mobile devices. Our challenge as interface designers was to maintain driver safety without sacrificing functionality.

Approach and Lessons Learned

Unlike computers, cars are moving. Multitasking is not a great idea. Our goal was to limit the driver’s interaction with the console - one screen, one operation. By presenting each task as a sequence of screens, we were able to present large, easy to use controls. Similarly, our floating navigation, breadcrumb trail and application dock reduced the search effort.

Outcome

The Showcar Passat received a warm reception at the 12th Annual World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and favorable reviews from c|net.