Creating a spark

Dean Vipond has designed the visual identity for Amblr, an exciting service for creating geo-located audio-visual experiences through mobile devices.

Amblr apps deliver audio and visual content, depending on a person’s specific location. This allows for interesting, unique, story-based experiences as someone wanders around a place, such as in the Hackney Hear project. Amblr is also an open platform, allowing developers to experiment and create their own experiences.

The identity needed to work in a business-to-client context, positioning Amblr as an innovative business that can create these experiences. At the same time, it also had to be appealing to developers, hackers, and so on, communicating the possibilities the platform affords.

The solution was to create a series of sparks, made of a graphic representation of a compass needle. This communicated both creative opportunity, and the boundless routes Amblr apps could take.

The ’spark’ device also acts as a standalone graphic, and will be used to co-brand apps created on the platform.

Amblr is a hugely exciting concept, with many projects due to launch in the coming months. Keep track of its activity on Twitter.

Capering about

Dean Vipond has designed the logo for an interesting new start-up called Caper.

Caper aims to promote disruptive thinking and action within businesses and cultural organisations, and encourage new ways of doing things.

The logo has been designed as a badge which can be used in any number of applications – the irregular shape and characterful type reflecting Caper’s approach to work.

It’s been a fun project to work on. Keep an eye on Caper – they’re doing some really interesting stuff right now. Follow Caper on Twitter, too.

Nightmare High now live!

Nightmare High, a pioneering online game for Channel 4 Education, launches today. Aimed at 11–13 year olds making the transition from junior school to ‘big’ school, and examines the personal qualities needed to help them through.

Dean Vipond was appointed by agency Somethin’ Else to design the main interface for the game, as well provide much of the information design which is delivered as the game progresses and the player’s experience increases. Oh, and the logo too!

Players play the part of someone starting at a new school, who is plunged into a scary alternate reality, featuring zombie teachers, spider-bats and giant pandas. On the way you’ll meet lots of strange characters and need to work out how best to communicate, and see behind their façades to succeed. Can players fix reality and return the school to normal?

The game is a huge production, featuring brilliant writing, some excellent Flash games by Player Three, and the (literally) fantastic illustration work of Ben Steers. It also has video interviews with celebrities talking about their experiences of making transitions in their lives.

Check it out at www.nightmarehigh.com

Can you crack The Code?

The interactive experience for BBC’s The Code is now live!

The digital component of BBC’s pioneering new three-part TV series The Code has now launched. Dean Vipond was appointed by game and storytelling experts Six To Start to provide visual and interaction design for this ambitious and exciting project. The Code encourages players to find clues in the show and online, in order to solve puzzles as part of a real life treasure hunt.

The show is all about the mathematical codes which underpin how our world works. Unlike most TV shows, the online aspect has been a fundamental element of the entire production, with TV show and game created as a single experience.

It’s been a hugely exciting and satisfying project to work on. The first episode of the TV show airs on 27th July at 9pm, but players are already working to solve various puzzles online now. Take a look, and join the treasure hunt!

Go to The Code on BBC
Follow The Code on Twitter
See The Code on Facebook