Method

NBC Politics launches their new app for the iPad and iPhone, bringing users inside the 2012 Presidential election through a collection of interactive tools, games, videos, reports and graphics.

Aiming to develop a news tracking app fit for individuals with different wants and interests, Method collaborated with NBC Politics to design a suite of tools and features to make news tracking a dynamic, interactive and personalized experience.

The app was designed to connect users with the political reporting team at NBC, allowing users to follow along the campaign trail to get real-time updates and highlights.

Housing many features and customization capabilities, the app gives individuals the power to track wherever, whenever and in the depth that they want it. Principal Ted Booth adds:

“We wanted to create a personalized and useful experience that allows people to actively participate in political dialogue in real-time while providing access to news and custom analytics tools all on mobile. We’re excited to deliver a political resource that allows people to engage at varying levels while crafting their own, unique elections 2012 experience.”

The resulting NBC Politics app, now available in iTunes, is informative and engaging, allowing various types of users, from political enthusiasts to casual followers, to understand, analyze, and participate in the political news cycle, starting with the 2012 election.

Learn more about our work with MSNBC here!

Designer/maker/seller of good design for the home, Heath Ceramics launches an all-new, redesigned website! Method worked with Heath to create a new online visual language and back-end structure that brings Heath’s brand offering and story into a cohesive online experience.

Focused on lifestyle and curating beautiful, as well as functional products, Heath needed to translate the essence of their company from their retail environments to an ecommerce experience that retained the same brand value.

Method saw an opportunity to integrate the stories and inspirations behind the products to create a digital showroom that would educate, inspire, and guide visitors. Method Design Lead, Adam Weiss adds:

“Heath Ceramics represents a lifestyle dedicated to creation, sustainability, and timeless classics. The Heath brand is larger than just ceramics; embracing this fact, Method updated the typography on the site and created a visual structure that complements – rather than duplicates – the eclectic and personality rich product and lifestyle content.”

The result is an all-new modular system that is organized around use cases as well as product categories. The site focuses on highlighting the aspects of Heath that speaks to their appreciation for lifestyle, aesthetic and functionality. Placing what Heath makes at the forefront of the web experience, the new site reiterates Heath’s look and feel, giving its customers the opportunity to explore and discover in a delightful and simple ecommerce platform.

Method had the opportunity to work on the identity and interface for Viggle, an all-new product from Function(x). Viggle is essentially a loyalty program for television, allowing uses to “check-in” to TV shows and accure points that they could then cash in for real, tangible awards.

Method worked to design Viggle’s identity and application interface. Since it’s launch in February, the app has been widely received, with Fortune 500 companies such as Verizon, Pepsi and Unilever signing on to reach customers via the Viggle platform. Ad-age reported on its recent success.

For more information on our design process for Viggle, read our case study here or try the app for yourself, now available for download!

Very pleased to announce that our work with AIGA has won the Communication Arts 2012 Interactive Annual and has also been selected to be featured in the March/April 2012 issue of Communication Arts Magazine.

For the past few months, Method has been collaborating with renowned Finnish textile and fashion house, Marimekko, to help roll out their launch in the US (including the recent US e-commerce site launch). We are excited to announce that the US flagship store will be opening in October 2011 in New York’s Flatiron District, in the “toy building” on the corner of 5th Avenue and Broadway at 200 Fifth Avenue (next to Eataly!).

Even now, before the store has opened its doors, Marimekko’s bold patterns and colors have arrived to the Flatiron District! The storefront is featuring a custom piece of art designed by Marimekko designer and freelance illustrator Aino-Maija Metsola. For her piece, Metsola was inspired by culturally adapting Marimekko prints and colors arriving in the lives of New Yorkers. She drew reference from the Flatiron District and the artwork depicts an atmosphere of everyday life in New York with parks, birds, squirrels, people, magnolias, milk shakes and blossoming cherry trees. Vibrant and cheerful, the purpose of the artwork falls in line with Marimekko’s mission to bring happiness and joy to one’s every day. Marimekko’s goal was to maintain and respect the integrity of the beautiful area while lifting the spirits of those in the neighborhood.

In anticipation of the opening of the new Marimekko Flagship store in New York City, Method worked with Marimekko to direct a sneak peek video of the store facade being installed.

Watch the video that Method directed. We’ll see you at the Marimekko store in October!

Today’s Co.Design featured an article on how The Gap’s logo debacle shows how logos are no longer key to brands. I disagree.