The project was a collaboration with our good friends at Swarm and DNR Films.

Here’s a little quite from Riz himself about the project:

“This was a crazy idea and I’m fortunate to have connected with people who believed in the concept enough to execute it beyond my best hopes,” says Ahmed. “Budget was a big challenge, but because the website grew with the show, and developed as a core part of the transmedia narrative – rather than being a marketing afterthought – we were able to conceive the site and the show in a way that maximized our limited resources and pre-existing assets across album, live show, and short film.”

Earlier this month, along side with Swarm, we were honored with an FWA award that was a welcome pat on the back for a small shop like us. We’ve won awards before, but this is the only one so far that means much to us. And this will hopefully the first of many awards.

I’ll leave you with some concept and final side by side comparison screens of The Lab.

He’s searched the Internet to learn more about how they work and what they cost.

You (Mr. Solar Panel) want to get your product into Bob’s hands. But how do you get Bob to understand your solution, both its strengths and benefits? And why didn’t Bob already make the decision to contact your Company when he visited your website?

This problem sounds familiar because it is … and it’s poor Bob who loses in the end.

The web term is ‘conversion’ and there are literally a thousand websites promising that they have the formula to make it happen for you. But they’ll never solve the ‘conversion’ problem without focusing on your actual web content.

Website conversion is basically measured as a success or failure based on the actions your prospective B2B or B2C web visitor take compared with predetermined goals you set. e.g. He/She clicks a button and asks for more info = conversion.

Measuring conversion is important but there is more to the equation. Is it possible to increase conversion rates without really satisfying the web visitor? The answer is yes. In fact, it happens all the time … poor Bob.

Let’s look at your website and ask a couple questions:

• Is my focus on providing immediate answers to the questions my web visitor has?
• Have I demonstrated how my business uniquely answers their questions?
• Are my answers interesting and easy to understand?
• Does anyone want to listen to what I have to say anyway? i.e. Have I posed my answers in a way that the viewer is going to enjoy reading or viewing them?

We need to focus not just on content, when building websites, but on ‘good’ content. There is a difference. To be effective we need content that interacts on an emotional level with the audience – we need ‘interactive’ content.

Good content doesn’t just provide answers, it provides answers in a way your website visitors enjoy receiving them. Think movies, animated sequences, motion graphics, colorful images, etc. These can be your initial focal point on each page, a foundation to an overall “Content Strategy”. Good content keeps your web visitor engaged and helps build trust with your prospects, simply because of the fact that they are engaged emotionally, and now have a connection with the content you are sharing.

You are going to enjoy this article – I know I did. Seth Godin: The Wrapper Matters

The success of a website conversion strategy is defined not only by website statistics, but also by feedback from your reseller network, internal marketing groups, and finally and most importantly your customer.

You see, we’re actually thinking of Bob …. well, and you, at least your web content.

There is a moral to this rather lengthy story and it’s that we at Rival Schools understand good content, and how it relates to a “Web Conversion” rate that’s meaningful.

click here

Steve Jobs said:
“Flash was created during the PC era – for PCs and mice. Flash is a successful business for Adobe, and we can understand why they want to push it beyond PCs. But the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards – all areas where Flash falls short.”

So if you take Flash out of the equation does the Flash guy die?

Perhaps, or maybe he’s morphing into Superman. I believe Adobe needs to rethink or even translate Flash into HTML5. Thank God for me, I am not just a Flash Designer. I believe my title is “Señor Interactive Developer”. What does that mean? I make things, digital things, things that are interactive. If HTML5 or Flash Redux is the future, I am comfortable with that. One of the things that characterize Rival Schools is “Versatility”.

Lalala and Peace out.

Produced and Written by Swarm. Directed, Designed and Animated by Rival Schools.

www.RizMC.com/lab

Strengthening our commitment to super awesome client services, Rival Schools is pleased to announce Corey Tracey as our Account Manager effective May 2010. Corey, @seetracey is charged with developing and managing our integrated client services team as well as leading new business development while working to support Rival Schools vision as the most awesomest and influential digital agency ever.

10 km in 45mins, eat my dust Prefontaine.

Three years ago we began on a notion that we could start a new kind of digital agency, one that felt right for us.  An agency fueled by strong creative and backed by a team of unique and talented individuals capable of capitalizing on existing and emerging technologies to deliver award-winning digital experiences.  Despite the worst recession of our lifetime, we are extremely proud of what we managed to accomplish.  We designed a successful platform, created several entertaining and noteworthy games, help some major brands sell more of their major products and had fun along the way.

So to everyone who has taken a chance and put their faith in Rival Schools, we thank you.  Cheers.

Its clear that the publishing world is breathing a slight sigh of relief with the launch of the iPad and digital readers.  In hopes of kickstarting a new more interactive magazine experience.  A limited number of magazines became available over the Easter weekend release of the iPad.  Perhaps the most prominent of these publication is TIME Magazine’s new magazine app.   Its the print edition of TIME plus more.  More international content, more photos,  video coverage and live update from TIME.com.  But with these added features does it justify the per issue price of $4.99?   From the early overall user response its been pretty negative and we agree.

The cost of materials, shipping and distribution is zero.  But does the PLUS MORE features justify the x15 times the price of the current paper issue. Currently you can get 56 paper issues for the bargain price of $20.

We strongly feel that digital publications will change the way we read magazines and other newsstand publications forever.  The biggest barrier seems to be what is the appropriate price point for this new interactive digital?

Vancouver is Awesome is a Vancouver base organization dedicated to the study, promotion and preservation of Vancouver arts and culture.  Just recently they did a feature on us in their Home Grown section.

Full Story

Here I have a version without the timer, so feel free to play with it for as long as you want.  If you would like to start again, simply click on the reset button on bottom right corner.

Here are a couple more tests that you can play with.

Let me know if want me to show you how…
And did I say “We are a creative digital boutique.”?

After 6 months since we sent out our Goldmaster for duplication, I’m proud to announce the Puma Urban Motion Mini Game is finally released to the European markets. Make sure to grab your promotional copy along with a bottle of Puma Urban Motion Fragrance at your nearest retail store.

Agency: Maxx Marketing
Client: Puma
Creative / Production : Rival Schools
Choreography: Kim Sato / Project Soul Productions