Taking the long view of “The Tech Effect” in HOW magazine

In the inaugural issue of Loop, contributing writer Nico McDonald reviews the DIS Conference (Designing Interactive Systems). Included in the review is Lauralee’s talk, “Envisioning the E-Quarium.” At DIS 2000 last August, Lauralee, along with our client, Mike Rigsby, presented “Envisioning the E-Quarium: Strategic design planning for the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s web site.” The talk described our immersive approach to the project. Among other things, Lauralee presented a case history, which included extensive audience research and scenario planning. Check out the review at Loop. Download the talk!

The Monterey Bay Aquarium's newly designed and launched web site, the E-Quarium, was voted by the general public as the winner of the science category. Over 130,000 votes were cast for the People's Voice Awards 2000. At AlbenFaris, we're proud to have this site honored by the people we designed it for.

The Webby Awards, presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and hailed as the "Oscars of the Internet" by worldwide media, are the preeminent honors for web sites. The science category includes "sites that distribute information related to scientific exploration These include science exhibits, science museums, science organizations, science laboratories, and academic institutions. Mike Rigsby from the aquarium, accepted the award by saying, "We're your ocean-conservation link."

In Susan Davis' article, "The Tech Effect," Lauralee Alben comments on technology and design: "Designing tools is an area where it's very important for designers to be involved. If we're going to use the software, web applications, hand held devices or any kind of interactive interfaces, we need to be involved with their design. It's going to become more and more important that we design the technology and not have it design us."

Wendy Richmond, Katrin Eismann, and Jeffrey Veen of Wired Digital offer more intriguing challenges and insights, so have a look at HOW, February 2000.

The leading Korean magazine, Monthly Design, included AlbenFaris in its special report on Information Design, featuring projects by internationally acclaimed design firms. January's issue showcases our latest web project in a story written by YeGyung Gil: "User Experience Designed by Multidisciplinary Teamwork: Monterey Bay Aquarium Website, 'E-Quarium.'"

The article concludes with this thought: "To a nonprofit organization like the Monterey Bay Aquarium who needs continuing support from the public, what AlbenFaris and other members of the web team did for the web site is also a valuable contribution."