July 4, 2008
The 2008 Fantasia Festival is rolling
by Plank
There are hardcore Festival-goers in theatres and clamoring for tickets as we write this. The Fantasia Festival has begun, and Plank has delivered a kick-ass website to support it. Again.
Wow. Back in 2003 we had no idea we'd still be at it, year after year, turning out some great work for the Fantasia website each and every summer. The Festival keeps getting bigger, the websites keep getting bigger, but Plank is always there to deliver the goods in a high pressure Festival time frame. And we've done it again!
As the Festival keeps growing, Plank has needed to adapt the site to the bigger program. The older layout has been simplified and cleaned up this year, and we have updated the technology to fully valid XHTML and CSS. The result is much faster load times. While the design itself may have been simplified, the home page has been expanded to have more information right up front, including a neat little news marquee.
Another new feature this year is a nice little Flash touch where multiple still photos for a film can rotate through with a cool transition effect. This gives the film pages a feeling that's more vibrant and alive. Here's a great example, with Yunjim Kim for you Lost fans!
Once again, praise should be heaped on Black Eye Design, creators of the Fantasia printed program and the visual identity of the Festival. While Plank's talented designers did a fantastic job adapting the look to the web, it was Black Eye who set the look in the first place.
So check out the Festival site, and check out the Festival. We'll see you in the theatres!
June 10, 2008
Checking in from the Webby Awards
by Allen
Greetings from New York City! Yours truly is currently sweating through a heat wave to bring you all the news about the Webby Awards. It's been a whirlwind so far, but your Canadian Webby Ambassador is doing Canada proud.
On Sunday evening, Planker Geoff and I enjoyed the opening cocktail party at a great terrasse at the Maritime Hotel. Really nice, and it was fun to meet some really cool web professionals from around the globe.
Last night was the Webby Film and Video Awards. Hosted by Judah Friedlander (who yours truly had a nice chat with at the after party), the best of web videos were honoured. The highlight of the night was the lifetime achievement given to SNL kingpin Lorne Michaels, which included a montage of all the best SNL digital shorts. My favourite five word speech of the night was "Together, we'll make reading obsolete" from the Onion News Network rep. Excellent.
The after party proved to be even more fun, a phenomenal location at the Angel Orensanz Foundation Center, an arts and party space that was once a synagogue. My evening's highlight was a nice chat I had with Tay Zonday, a.k.a. the Chocolate Rain guy. Very friendly, and he seems a little overwhelmed by it all. His voice really is deep and low.
Tonight is the big finale, the actual Web Awards. Really looking forward to seeing Stephen Colbert get the Person of the Year. If I survive another after party, I'll fill you in tomorrow. Now would someone please turn up the A/C?
June 6, 2008
Warren is attending the SEED3 conference in Chicago
by Plank
Our fearless leader is off today in Chicago attending the 3rd SEED CONFERENCE.
We're eager to hear what happens, and knowing Warren, he'll pull a year's worth of inspiration from this excellent event.
June 6, 2008
PHP/MySQL Developer needed - AGAIN!
by Plank
Want to work in our growing Web agency with great people, great clients, and a great working environment? Of course you do! Plank is actively looking to add to our Montreal-based team. Whether you're completely self-taught or have multiple degrees in Computer Science, we're only concerned that you have the skills needed to perform the job. We need someone who is interested in working on exciting Web projects, generally in the fields of entertainment, technology and social action.
Your tasks will include:
1. Development of website back-ends and interesting Web applications;
2. Building on and working with our existing code base.
Our Expectations
We’re looking for someone fun! But seriously, you should have the following:
1. 2+ years of related experience;
2. Strong background in PHP and MySQL;
3. Experience in AJAX, DHTML, XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML, will be an asset;
4. Knowledge of CMS’s such as Drupal, Expression Engine and WordPress will be an asset;
5. Knowledge of open-source PHP frameworks such as CodeIgniter will be an asset;
6. Willingness to work locally in our Montreal office.
We are a close-knit company that continues to grow, and we need your skills. We want you to be part of our team for a long time to come. We offer a competitive salary, normal business hours, a comprehensive health and dental plan, and a great work environment.
If you think you would like to be part of the Plank team, please email your CV and cover letter to warren@plankdesign.com. If you would like to learn more about us, please surf around our site.
We hope you’ll join us.
Please note only those candidates we have selected to interview will be contacted.
May 14, 2008
The Webby Winners Have been Named
by Plank
And the winner is...
Who hates sitting through four and half hour award shows to hear the winners? We do! That's why we love that the Webbys annunce the winners in advance. You should check out the interactive winners gallery.
Plank had another great year as Canadian Ambassador to the Webbys. We're so proud to represent the Webbys in Canada. We'll see you in New York City for the big event!
May 7, 2008
Plank wants you to be satisfied
by Plank
Plank has taken the next step in social media, joining Get Satisfaction.
So what is Get Satisfaction? From their site:
Get Satisfaction is a place where people can get the most from the products they use, and where companies are encouraged to get real with their customers. Customers, employees, and companies are all welcome. Nothing is hidden, and no one is censored. Join the conversation!
So check us out on GS and tell us what you really think of us. Don't be shy, we can take it.
April 30, 2008
One day left to vote for the Webby Awards
by Allen
As you probably know by now, Plank is proud to serve as the Canadian Ambassador to The Webby Awards. We are so proud that this year, we helped get a record number of Canadian companies to enter (up more than 40% from last year!) which turned into a record number of nominees as well.
And you can help them win! Voting is open for the People's Voice Webbys. All you have to do is head over to the People's Voice site and vote for your favourite websites, mobile sites, online advertising and online film and video.
But do it now, because you only have today and tomorrow to do it!
April 20, 2008
Lang's little gems
by Mitch
I was pretty new to javascript when I started using the YUI. For a long time, YAHOO was just that file I had to make sure to include. It was a few months after using the YUI (and was more comfortable with js in general) that I happened to peek at the YAHOO.lang API. It doesn’t get much attention, but it’s got a few useful functions you may not realize are along for the ride (since about version 2.3) - functionality you may be duplicating.
April 15, 2008
Plank joins the Twitter revolution
by Plank
Many of our employees were there already, and we've admittedly all become fans of Twitter.
Twitter is a micro-publishing platform (posts limited to 140 characters) which combines blogs, instant messaging and a social network. It's been kept purposefully simple, but has grown rapidly through offering a popular API allowing people to build upon the network and technology.
We're keeping it relaxed and friendly, sign up and follow along. You can find us @ http://twitter.com/plankdesign.
March 11, 2008
SXSW Day Something-or-other
by Allen
Panels, parties, panels, parties. It's sort of becoming a blur, and we're exhausted. But the Plank gang couldn't come home without checking in one last time.
Everything has been great. We are having an amazing time, learning so much, and meeting so many great people. It's just incredible how big SXSW has become, even since last year. The conference rooms are bigger, there is just more going on, and the beer lines are longer. Tells you something about our industry, that's for sure.
From a business perspective, I think the message has been "be honest." Transparency goes a long way. From a tech perspective, everyone hates Microsoft, and they hope Silverlight fails. But I guess that's not really news.
Well the panels are starting up again in about 20 minutes so I've got to run. Steve has all sorts of great coverage over at his blog, and be sure to check out Nancy's awesome photos. We'll have some real thoughts on this whole thing when we're back and have had a chance to let it all sink in. Later, y'all!
March 8, 2008
SXSW Day One
by Allen
Well Austin goes swimmingly! After having nightmares about the Core Conversation, it turned out fantastic. Over 100 people showed up when I expected 10. Steve has a report, with a nice photo.
We'll report more as the Conference goes on. Now, it's time to go out to party!
February 29, 2008
Plank: Behind the Scenes
by Nancy
Before joining the team at Plank, all I knew of this company was what you’re all exposed to: Incredible designs, fancy programming footwork, and a stunning portfolio that includes numerous nifty clients.
Now being a part of it, I get to witness first-hand the great talent these people possess individually, as well as the lighthearted & thoroughly enjoyable work environment they maintain as a group.
In fact, so much fun stuff happens here that I created the latest edition to Plank’s online presence: the Plank Flickr group. Now you can all see what really goes on behind the scenes including the elastic band fights, the Friday afternoon cocktail hour, desk ornaments, and (of course) the stunning sun-soaked office.
I can’t understand why this hasn’t been created before, because it sure isn’t for lack of photographic talent. We have Allen’s portfolio with his muddy cameraphone lens, Stevey’s macro desk shots & infinite uploads, and Geoffrey’s sparse yet masterful photos.
With all this talent, silliness, and all-round fun, it didn’t seem fair to keep it all to ourselves. Enjoy!
February 25, 2008
Getting psyched for SXSW
by Allen
Steve, Gary, Nancy and myself comprise the largest group Plank has ever sent to the SXSW Interactive Festival. Plank is always looking to keep on top of all the latest developments in web development and design, and the SXSW Festival is absolutely the best way to do that.
Taking place in Austin, Texas, this year from March 7th to the 11th, the Interactive Festival is an offshoot of the more famous SXSW Music Festival. Last year, over 6000 web professionals from around the world attended, and this year is expected to be even bigger.
As an added bonus, yours truly is hosting a Core Conversation this year. I'm really excited to share knowledge with all my fellow web professionals, and to learn from them as well. That's the real beauty of SXSW; it's not just a conference in the traditional sense, the information flows both ways.
Stay tuned to this blog for lots more from all four of us throughout the next three weeks. We'll bring you what we think about SXSW before, during and after the festival. Oh, what to pack...
January 24, 2008
Webby Awards entries - 2 days left!!!
by Plank
In one of our last acts as Webby Ambassadors for Canada, we've got to tell you that tomorrow is the deadline to enter your website, interactive ad, web video or mobile site into the 12th Webby Awards. GO DO IT NOW!!!!
The Webbys are the best, most important web awards on the planet. You want to get in on the action. Here's a recap of last years awards to get you psyched up:
We'll see you in New York City June 1-3! You haven't entered yet??? What's wrong with you? GO!!!
January 23, 2008
Our office is nice!
by Allen
We love our office at Plank. Apparently, others do too. Jose over at Office Snapshots has featured the Plank office as part of their look at the nicest and coolest web / tech offices. To be in the same discussion with big boys like Google and Flickr is alright by us.
Check out the feature, and see photos like this:
January 21, 2008
I get things done, digitally at least
by Warren
I was recently at a meeting where I was going over a project with a client / friend (that seems to happen to us, how about you?) and at one point she opened up her Outlook on the projector to try and find an email from someone. Sort, scan, scroll and a few minutes later, no trace of the email (which was sent only a few days ago). As I was waiting my eyes drifted down to the lower left corner of her screen and went bug eyed. The number of emails in her inbox? Over 10 000.
It wasn’t the number that was all that strange to me (since I usually send over 15 000 emails every year), it was that they were in her inbox. It was a prescient moment given that after a few months of discussing the idea with Steve, that week I had started reading Getting Things Done by David Allen.
Some people will joke with me about (depending if you want to be nice or not) my ability to multitask on many things at once, or my Attention Deficit Disorder. All kidding aside, while I may jump from thought to thought to thought, I have always prided myself on my ability to keep a lot of information well organized and easy to find. I rarely have an “uh-oh I completely forgot about that” moment.
In reading through the book and wrapping my head around the theories of GTD, it was clear that it wasn’t something that was foreign to me. I already had a series of systems in place that were pretty robust and that keep me on track.
- I have a 10 inbox / 10 drafts email rule (inbox = still to be done but not a high priority / drafts = get these done as quickly as possible). I make sure to file away all emails so that by the end of the day I am never over 10 emails in either box;
- I don’t move anything out of my inbox until I know that it has been dealt with, scheduled or has no action item;
- Any appointment, event, birthday or anniversary is in my calendar with reminders so that I am always pinged about the items at least one day in advance;
- I make sure to transcribe all notes from all meetings and either drop them in Basecamp or file them somewhere relevant if they are just for me;
- I take a few hours every Sunday night to think about and organize myself for the coming week;
- And in fact because of the GTD theory I have now gotten rid of my notebook full of lists, and moved to a fully digital task manager, OmniFocus.
But if you look at the list above, you’ll notice that everything I’m describing is digital organization. It’s all about email, calendar reminders and notes. So, you may ask, what about my non-digital efforts.
That’s where the problem is.
My desk at the office? Full of papers that I should have looked at or filed a few weeks ago. There are trinkets everywhere. There is a “junkyard” of broken equipment that needs to be either fixed, thrown out or recycled sitting behind my desk.
My home? I have a room full of boxes that need to be unpacked from my move 6 months ago. I have boxes full of documents that need to be organized. On my cell phone I have 5 messages that I haven’t listened to from over a week ago. There may also be a container with some unidentifiable foodstuff sitting in the back of my fridge.
While it’s working well and I would suggest exploring the GTD system for anyone, sounds like I have a 10 000 email problem outside of that MacBook Pro.
I guess it’s time to start to applying GTD to my real world.
January 17, 2008
Nancy rocks in photo contest
by Plank
We all know that Plank production specialist Nancy is a great photographer. Now we have proof!
In their "Montreal Matters" photo contest, the NFB asked Montrealers to show "the wastelands and hidden corners where industry, development or simple human neglect are taking their toll. Or, to show us where eco-initiatives and sound green principles reign."
So Nancy, always with a sunny disposition, chose the second part of the contest. And she was rewarded with a runner-up prize for the photo below. Congratulations Nancy!
January 9, 2008
Warren's Resolution
by Warren
Well, seems our Mr. Mendelsohn has outed me on one of my strange hang ups; hatred at having to say Happy New Year deep into the new year. For me, one week of good cheer is more than enough but I know some people who need to be jolly all the way into February. I’m not naming names.
At least Allen gave me a good opportunity to drop by and get in a post before all the cheer is drained out of me.
The beginning of the year is always an interesting time of reflection, refreshment and resolution. After some time off work, spent with family and friends making a pig of yourself, you can’t help but look at your gut, smile, frown and then realize you have to do something about it. And I, for the first time in years, have one very important resolution. Unfortunately for now, it has nothing to do with my gut.
While I’m really proud of what all of us at Plank have accomplished over the past 9 years, I worry that we seriously suffer from one big bad fault: modesty. So, you must be asking yourself how can someone so proud be so modest? It may be the bass player in me but I’ve always felt like if we just plod along and try to do the best work possible everyone will just figure it out. They’ll get it and need to work with us.
Obviously we have had some attention over the years thanks to some high-profile clients but I / we have never actively sought attention or a public profile. Over all these years I think we offhandedly sent out two press releases and emailed a few design portals as an experiment. It worked but we all quickly burrowed back into our work. We got back into the habit of letting people discover us when they manage to.
I guess I’ve had a change of heart.
2008 is the year we will come out of our cocoon and be the butterfly we know we are. This comes back to my personal resolution, which is, you will hear a lot more from me Dear Internets. I have made a personal commitment to blog regularly here and at my personal website. I will also be participating more in the Internet world at large and will actively tell you a lot more about Plank and myself.
Sit back, enjoy, and may 2008 be as exciting for you as I see it for Plank. Of course, in December if I have completely defaulted on my intentions, please come to our 10th anniversary party and give my nose a wee tweak.
January 7, 2008
Happy New Year!
by Allen
Warren has a thing about New Year's. He doesn't like anyone wishing anyone else "Happy New Year" after a week has expired in the New Year. Today's the 7th, so we're just under the wire!
There is so much excitement around Plank for 2008. We have all sorts of great new sites in development that we look forward to introducing you to very soon. Plank continues to grow, and we need more developers! Stand by for details on that. We've got a big gang headed to SXSW this year, and yours truly will be speaking at the conference about... how big Plank has gotten!
On the design and technology front, Plank will be keeping up with all the latest trends and hopefully ahead of them. We see a focus in 2008 on mobile and Twitter, scalable designs and fluid layouts, and the continuation of all sorts of interactivity. Of course there is always a place for the best usability, some cool AJAX, and an easy to use CMS.
Stick around with Plank in 2008. The best is yet to come.
December 20, 2007
Happy Holidays from Plank!
by Plank
Wow. What a year. We've seen the arrival of some great new staff. We've launched a bunch of great sites large and small. We've made our mark at SXSW and The Webby Awards. Thanks to all our clients, old and new, we've kept tremendously busy!
With all that work, now we need a nap. We're closing up shop for the holidays to recharge our batteries. We look forward to making 2008 even better than 2007.
So Happy Holidays everyone! And don't forget to check out our holiday card. See you in 2008!
December 13, 2007
Time is really running out for your Webby Awards entry
by Plank
The Webby Awards are the leading international awards honouring excellence on the Internet. Canada has some amazing web talent and we need to show it off.
And Plank is here to remind you you HAVE ONE DAY LEFT TO DO IT. Yes, the deadline is tomorrow!!! Enter in numerous categories in four types - Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video, and Mobile.
Stop reading this! Go do it! NOW!!!!!
December 5, 2007
Congrats Stephane!
by Allen
So do you use WordPress but don't always have access to your computer? Would you like to blog through your mobile phone or any other handheld device? Thanks to Stephane Daury, Plank's Technology Director, and the WPhone plug-in, you can do it easily.
In a contest sponsored by Matthew Mullenweg, grandaddy of WordPress, Stephane and his team of ZaMoose and Viper007Bond took first prize. The prize? An iPhone / iPod Touch for each of the developers, and fame throughout the world. WPhone is now available in the official WordPress Plugin Directory.
The contest was originally for an iPhone plug-in only, but Steph and his team took it to the next level by making it usable with all mobile devices. The iPhone / iTouch version takes advantage of the CSS and AJAX capabilities of that platform, while a lite version will work on just about any old phone, Windows Mobile, Palm, or other portable device. Damn, if I was a WordPress blogger, I'd want this. How about a Blogger version?
So congratulationss Steph. We knew we hired the right guy!
December 3, 2007
1-800-GOT-JUNK? gets animated
by Plank
At Plank we like to have a little fun every now and then. So we love our clients who like to have a little fun themselves. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? fits the bill to a T. Irreverent and fun, they have built the world's largest junk removal service with that attitude.
So when they came to us asking for a fun way to demonstrate what they do, Plank was quick to jump at the chance to make a web-ready Flash animation that would really show off the fun side of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, while clearly and simply showing what they do. We commissioned illustrations from the ultra-talented Luke Magee, a member of the extended Plank family, and his gang at UOVO. Luke's unique and fun style fit right in with what 1-800-GOT-JUNK? was trying to do. Our talented Flash animators then took over, delivering a fun little vignette with a soundtrack to match.
Fun, but effective. Just like Plank.
November 29, 2007
We'll take the praise, thank you!
by Allen
The Sun has a fanatical following. Their readers are diverse and loyal. When one of them found the new website, they were impressed. Really impressed:
"So maybe two weeks ago I was surfing online and found the magazine's recently updated website. As an IT professional, I am in awe of the design work on the site. It really is perfect and flawless."
Thanks, we knew it was a good one!
November 20, 2007
Welcome Sarah!
by Plank
Plank is excited to welcome Sarah Bagnall as Plank’s first-ever full-time Account Executive. As Plank has grown, we have recognized the need for a full-time contact for our clients. Sarah has extensive client relationship experience, having cut her teeth at Optimum Public Relations, a division of Cossette. We are confident that she will become a valuable and integral member of the Plank team, and will respond to all our client needs quickly and efficiently. Already she has taken the lead on certain projects and she has tackled the challenges with amazing skill.
Sarah also has extensive experience in Communications and PR, having come to us from PUMA Canada where she excelled in that role. Allen is excited to have someone else here who speaks that language!
So welcome Sarah. We already know you belong.
Sarah can be reached at sarah@plankdesign.com or 514-875-0003.
November 14, 2007
Plank rocks out for a good cause
by Allen
On Monday, Warren and I were thrilled to lend our support to the David Suzuki Foundation, as we attended "Up Close and Personal with The Police." An event co-chaired by Garner Bornstein, Stephen Bronfman, and Andy Nulman, the evening was a whirlwind of music, fun, and most importantly, environmental awareness and fundraising for a great cause.
While the whole night was amazing, the first part was the highlight for me as you'll see in a second. After getting to the Bell Centre, the 100 or so attendees were ushered through the backstage area to sit in the front rows to watch the sound check. That was exciting enough, but things were about to get better. Sting says he's got a bit of a cold, so he asks for volunteers to go up on stage and sing! That led to yours truly running like a madman, and here's the evidence:
I know it's pretty small, but that's me third from left clapping. What a thrill! It got even better, as I went back up again for the last song, my personal Police favourite So Lonely. This time, I hogged the mic and belted out lead vocals as best I could. The highlight for me was when Sting gave me a disappointed look when I missed a line! He seemed to be expecting better from me as I had done well up to that point. So cool.
UPDATE - there is now video! You can't see me, but you can hear me...
Before I got off the stage after the song was over, I made a point to shake the hands of Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland. As a (bad) guitarist, I was thrilled to meet Andy. And I was quick enough to ask him for a guitar pick, and he handed me the one he had just been playing with! Here it is:
The next part of the evening was a cocktail at Queue de Cheval. This was also a highlight, as Warren and I had the chance to chat with Mr. Suzuki, who was so intelligent and friendly. When he spoke to the whole room during the evening, his passion and eloquence were literally mesmerizing. Both Warren and I were so impressed with him and his message. It's a message everyone needs to take to heart. Please go to his foundation's website and find out what you can do. The cocktail also included an auction, where several bass guitars signed by the band and other Police memorabilia helped raise tens of thousands more dollars for the foundation.
Finally, the concert. It was almost a letdown after the evening so far! But really, we had a great time, rocking to an amazing greatest hits-laden set. Thirty years after they started, all The Police sounded fantastic. Warren and I were both blown away at the musicianship, and Sting's voice, even hindered by his cold, didn't disappoint.
All in all, an evening we will remember for the rest of our lives.
Montreal Gazette story about the event
Just the shots of me on stage!
November 2, 2007
Last chance for early Webbys entry
by Allen
Today is the early entry deadline for The Webby Awards. If you enter your website today you will save considerably on the normal entry fee. Act now! The Webbys are the most prestigious award in our industry. Plank has already entered 2 sites; think you can beat us?
November 1, 2007
Bar Camp Montreal 3 is this weekend!
by Plank
This Saturday, November 3rd, the best and the brightest of Montreal's tech community will gather for BarCampMontreal3. It should be amazing.
Why should you go? A couple of reasons. One, everyone in the Montreal tech community will be there, Two, you can learn more in a day about technology, enttrepreneurship, start-ups, and the Web than you might all year, Finally, it's FREE! What are you waiting for? Sign up!!!
Plank will be represented by our new Technology Director, Stephane. We'll ask him to give a report next week. Hopefully he'll come back with some amazing ideas and knowledge.
October 30, 2007
Welcome Stephane!
by Plank
Plank is thrilled to announce that Stephane Daury has joined us as Director of Technology. We will have an in-depth post about him soon, but we just wanted to say a quick word of welcome to the newest Plankster. He comes to us from McGill University, where he served 5 years as Web System Architect.
At Plank we always pride ourselves on our perfect balance of awesome design and the most modern technology. Stephane is going to put the tech side ahead. Better catch up designers! ;)
Find out all about Stephane by reading his amazing blog. Technophobes beware - it's loaded with great geek humour!
So welcome Stephane; Allen is ready to pour you a welcome cocktail or two.
October 1, 2007
The 2008 Webby Awards are around the corner!
by Allen
Last year, Plank was proud to serve as Webby Ambassador to Canada. In that role, we were assigned the task of raising the profile of the Webbys in Canada, as part of the overall effort of the Webbys to increase their profile worldwide and to make it a truly global event. It was easy, thanks to the support of Webbys staff (shout out to Emily) and the already high profile of the Webbys.
Plank could not have been more thrilled when the Webbys asked us to once again serve as Canadian Ambassador for the 12th Annual Webby Awards. We hope to do even better this year, getting more Canadian companies, agencies and individuals to submit their work. Canada is doing some of the best web work in the world - let's prove it.
To get you warmed up for the 2008 Webbys, take a look at the awesome highlight reel from the 2007 Awards. I was lucky enough to be there in person, and the highlights really capture the excitement!
Once you've watched that, why don't you submit your work? The call for entries is already open. And by submitting before November 2nd, you'll get a substantial discount form the normal entry fee. Don't delay! Do it! NOW!!!
Plenty of Canadians were honoured at the Webbys last year, including Montreal-based Wikitravel which was named best travel site. Does your site measure up? Submit and find out.
September 24, 2007
Chat with the Governor-General!
by Plank
This Thursday, September 27th, Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean will be chatting with the Canadian public via her Plank-built website, Citizen Voices. Plank is proud of our relationship with Her Excellency over the last year and the site and tools we've built. A head of state uses a Plank system! We still can't believe it.
On Thursday, Her Excellency will be chatting on the subject of "What Drives You to Act?"; it should be a stimulating discussion about change and working for change in Canadian Society. Be sure to particpate on Citizen Voices!
August 23, 2007
Plank's plans for SXSW Interactive 2008
by Plank
Plank has a long history at the SXSW Interactive Festival. Our fearless leader was a speaker there in 2003, talking about our experience building film websites (we had done Bowling for Columbine for Michael Moore amongst our numerous projects for him).
For as long as we can remember, Plank has gone to SXSW. It is a great source of inspiration for us, to be able to learn so much and interact with everyone in person instead of via our computer screens.
This year, Plank is once again going (of course) and we are hoping to speak at a panel again. And you can help! We have submitted two great ideas for panels, which you can vote on. All the votes will help determine which panels are picked by SXSW, and every vote counts. This is truly democratic. So here's what you do.
Go here: http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/, where you will need to sign up for an account (just your email address) to be able to vote. Sorry it’s a pain, but they need to watch voter irregularities. No Florida 2000 here!
Once you have an account, you can search for “Plank” to see our two panels, or you can just go straight to these two URL's:
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/191
http://panelpicker.sxsw.com/ideas/view/471
Thanks for all your 5-star votes, and we look forward to seeing you March 7, 2008 in Austin!
August 6, 2007
Intermediate PHP/MySQL Developer needed
by Plank
Plank is actively looking to add to our Montreal-based team. Whether you're completely self-taught or have multiple degrees in Computer Science, we're only concerned that you have the skills needed to perform the job. We need someone who can complement our programming team and is interested in working on exciting Web projects, generally in the fields of entertainment, technology and social action.
Your tasks will include:
1. Development of website back-ends and interesting Web applications;
2. Building on and managing our existing code base.
Our Expectations
We’re looking for someone fun! But seriously, you should have the following:
1. 3+ years of related experience;
2. Strong background in PHP 4/5;
3. Strong background in MySQL;
4. Experience in AJAX, DHTML, XHTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML, Rails will be an asset;
5. Knowledge of other development environments an asset;
6. Willingness to work locally in our Montreal office.
We are a close-knit company that continues to grow, and we need your skills. We want you to be part of our team for a long time to come. We offer a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, normal business hours and a great work environment.
If you think you would like to be part of the Plank team, please email your CV and cover letter to warren@plankdesign.com. If you would like to learn more about us, please surf around our site.
We hope you’ll join us.
UPDATE - thanks to all those who have applied, but this position has been filled.
July 16, 2007
Michael Moore knows what he's doing
by Allen
We don't normally trumpet our clients around here, we let their work speak for itself. But when a venerable, respected magazine like Variety claims that one of our clients is the best at something, and that something is internet marketing, we figured we should at least point it out.
From Variety:
"No one has mastered the art of Internet marketing more than Michael Moore, who has ceaselessly alerted those on his lists to every media appearance for his healthcare call to action, "Sicko." (He claims his emails reach some 5 million people.) The week before the movie opened, in a video posted on his YouTube page, Moore asked visitors to post their own health horror stories; he plans to send a DVD compilation to Congress. One man, Clayton Redfield from Flint, Michigan, Moore's home town, responded with a report about Cigna not paying $66,000 in medical costs. Suddenly, the insurer told him that he owed only a $500 co-pay. "Michael Moore, you saved my home," he told a local TV interviewer.
If you missed Moore on Larry King Live, the Huffington Post or blasting Wolf Blitzer live on CNN's "The Situation Room," you'll find clips of Moore's myriad TV appearances on YouTube posted by his own team under the member name "mmflint." When Moore disparaged CNN's coverage of "Sicko," he told Blitzer: "I'm going to put the real facts up on my website. People can go to my website and find out the facts about (CNN medical correspondent) Sanjya Gupta."
Crazy like a Fox. The day after the Blitz, Moore's web stats for July 10th, 2007 alone posted more than 800,000 page views, better than 320,000 visits and almost 300,000 absolute unique visitors. In the month from June 10 to July 10, when Moore was in the mainstream media in some form or another almost every day, MichaelMoore.com registered almost 5 million page views, more than 1.5 million visits and better than 1 million absolute unique visitors."
We don't take credit for his marketing skills. We'll just take a bit of the credit for giving him some of the tools that help him.
June 26, 2007
Fantasia Festival 2007 site is now live!
by Plank
The Fantasia Festival continues to grow year after year. It is now the best-attended film festival in Montreal. From the little Festival that could, it has gone big time. And Plank has been right there with them.
Plank has developed every Fantasia site since 2003. Working from the common program and poster artwork, Plank develops designs that share the look and feel of the other Festival materials, to ensure consistent branding.
There are very few festival sites on the Web that are used as much as the Festival site. Festival-goers use it to plan their trips before the Festival starts, and as a place for film info and showtimes once the Festival is up and running. But no matter how much traffic it gets, a Plank-built site can handle it!
So check it out. We'll see you again in 2008.
June 19, 2007
Welcome Nancy!
by Plank
We'll give Nancy Beaton the full Plank welcome blog post sooner or later (it only took me about 9 months to give Mitch his welcome ;)), but for now I just wanted to give her the semi-official, it's-published-on-the-internet-so-it's-real welcome.
Nancy has taken the office by storm with her good-natured spirit and willingness to do the production tasks that are part of any web company. She is undoubtedly the best junior production person we've ever had.
We know Nancy is a great photographer and as soon as we learn more about her, we'll give you the full bio she deserves. In the meantime, enjoy one of her many awesome photos, and welcome Nancy.
June 18, 2007
Plank needs a project manager
by Plank
Our company is growing so fast that our old workflow process no longer works and we need your help! Traditionally our executives have acted as project managers. But as our client list gets bigger and bigger, that is no longer possible. So we need you!
And thanks to our good friends at Standout Jobs, we even made our own little recruiting video. Check it out:
But we are not just looking for any old project manager. We need one to be the face of Plank. A friendly face. You are going to be our main client contact for several important clients. And at Plank we pride ourselves on our client service. You have to be able to be friendly, helpful, and supportive; and to be able to get things done. To us these are just as important, if not more so, as any technical knowledge or project management expertise.
We will list some qualifications for you, but in reality we are flexible. If you have an interesting background and that friendly face we are looking for, we will certainly consider an “alternative” C.V.
Qualifications
- 2+ years of project management experience, preferably in high-tech or design fields;
- University degree;
- Bilingual;
- Proficient in standard MS Office software;
- General knowledge of the state of the Web and Web browsers;
- Knowledge of the web and / or multimedia technologies we use - HTML, PHP, CSS, AJAX, Flash, and MySQL (you don’t have to be able to code, you just need to know what they do);
- Basic understanding of Web practices and principles and such as RSS, Accessibility, and SEO;
- Work well with others!
Responsibilities
- Meeting with clients;
- All other client communications on a day-today basis;
- Planning of projects, including all necessary documentation;
- Coordinating production with the production manager;
- General team support throughout the production process;
- Possibly other general administrative tasks.
This is a full-time position, in Montreal, with a competitive salary. If you think you’d like to join an amazing team, please send your C.V. to our President, Warren Wilansky, at warren@plankdesign.com
June 8, 2007
SiCKO site launches into U.S. Health Care System
by Plank
Long-time Plank client Michael Moore is doing what he does best – shaking things up. With his new movie SiCKO set to premiere June 29th, Michael looked to Plank to develop a site that would support the movie, but do much more. Michael doesn’t just want to shake things up; he wants the people to shake things up too.
So Plank has designed and developed a site that will include a series of tools and how-to guides for people to get involved and get things to change. Already there is a What Can I Do? section, and every day between now and the premiere we will be adding new features to enable everyone to get involved in some way.
So check out the site, and see what you can do.
June 5, 2007
Greeting from the Webby Awards in NYC
by Allen
I'll post more about it when we're back, but I just wanted to say hi from the Webby Awards. We are having an amazing time and meeting so many great people. Last night I had a great chat with Craig Newmark, the man behind Craigslist. And LonelyGirl15 and I spoke for a while too. Oh those Web celebrities!
The big event is tonight, and I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.
May 16, 2007
We need help!
by Plank
Plank is actively looking to add to our Montreal-based team. Are you young and eager and looking for experience? We are looking for a junior production person with basic knowledge of internet / digital design, programming, and integration. We need someone who can complement our team and is interested in working on exciting projects, generally in the fields of entertainment, technology and social action.
Your tasks will include:
- Simple graphic production;
- Building website templates;
- Basic PHP work;
- Website maintenance
Our Expectations
We’re looking for someone fun! But seriously, you should have the following:
- 0-2 years of related experience;
- Willingness to work locally in our Montreal office;
- Proficiency with Photoshop & Illustrator;
- Knowledge of HTML, PHP, and CSS;
- Be passionate about all things digital.
We are a close knit team that continues to grow, and we’d love to meet you to see if we can squeeze you in. Act now! While there’s room.
If you think you would like to be part of the team, please email your CV, portfolio and cover letter to warren@plankdesign.com. If you would like to learn more about us, please surf around our site.
We hope you’ll join us!
UPDATE - you're too late!
May 8, 2007
Plank featured in Tachen's new book
by Allen
So last week a big box arrived in the office. I opened it up, and lo and behold, I was looking at several copies of Web Design: Studios 2, by German-based publisher Taschen. I tore through the book 'til I found this:
Admittedly it really wasn't a surprise because I knew it was coming. But it's still pretty cool!
Taschen is an amazing publisher that focuses on the creative arts including architecture, style, design, and photography. They have a range of books highlighting the best websites and we have all of them in the office. They are a great source of inspiration.
What makes this special is that this is not one of those "pay and you're in" books. They select you, they think your work is good, your work is featured. While we don't do what we do for the recognition, every now and then it's nice to know an independent observer thinks we do good work.
I'm looking through the book now and I see the other studios that are in there and I almost can't believe we're part of that group. I know we do good work, but to see our esteemed company sort of freaks me out a little bit!
So pop on by the Plank office and take a look, or pick one up yourself.
April 27, 2007
One Last Webby Awards Post
by Allen
In Plank's role as Webby Ambassador for Canada, we have been thrilled to be involved in the promotion of the most important awards for web and interactive in the world. As our last official act, we would like to remind you that today is the final day to vote for your favourites for the Webbys People's Voice awards - where you get to choose which sites are the best.
So head on over to the Webby Awards site and vote today. It's your last chance!
Now let the "unofficial" part of our role begin - partying it up in NYC at the Webby Awards! See you there, on June 4th and 5th.
April 23, 2007
An official welcome to Mitchell Amihod
by Allen
At Plank, whenever we get a new employee we like to introduce everyone to him or her with a special news item. Usually this is done within a month or two of the person coming on. We seem to be a little late on this one...
Part of the problem was me. I admit it. When Mitch was hired (like, last October or something), I was waiting for the re-design of the Plank site to write his news item, which would now be a blog entry. Of course, as you already know the site took a little while to go live, so Mitch's introduction was a while in coming. Sorry about that Mitch! But I like to look at it this way - we all knew you would be here for a while, so there was no rush.
Enough excuses, let's get down to it. We are all really happy to have Mitch here. He has fit in amazingly. He is officially a "senior developer," but he really is much more. Sure, he's especially skilled at traditional programming, but ask him to do some integretion or build a template, and he won't bat an eyelash. You can even ask him to design something and while he'll complain he's not a designer, he can do that too.
His multiple talents are reflected by his diverse background. Schooled at Concordia in their exclusive Communications Program (just like Warren), he then went on to program, integrate, design, develop, project manage, and more at companies as varied as Spafax Canada, Chambers & Partners in London, Autodesk, the Montreal Mirror, and Blue Dot Communications, working with our own GW Brazier. They all end up at Plank eventually!
Mitch and I were lucky enough to be at SXSW together. While there with him, I learned a couple of things. First off, he is a semi-celebrity in the online virtual world of Second Life. It was amazing - everywhere we went there were SL'ers, and they all knew who Mitch/Max was. It was quite impressive, and I now know why he spends so much time in there. I also found out he snores (albeit in a pleasing, musical manner), is messy, and likes gin and tonics. Too much information for you?
Anyway, an official welcome to Mitch, sorry it took so long. We are thriled you're here, and I know all our clients are happy to know that if they need something done, you can do it. Whatever it is!
April 13, 2007
"Ow, my head!"
by Allen
So it's been a month since Mitch, Jennifer and I got back from SXSWi. I have finally caught up with the work I missed, recovered from the hangovers, and have had a chance to sit back and reflect on our experiences. But I don't even know where to start. So like all lazy writers, I turn to the most trite of literary devices - the Top 10 list.
I will do my own Top 10 list and then Jennifer and Mitch can add their thoughts later. While the three of us hung out at night together, generally we went to different panels during the day. I went to marketing and business ones, Mitch went to technical ones, and Jennifer went to design ones, so we could cover as much as possible as a team. So while I am sure they will agree with some of what I write here, some of my business stuff they may have no clue about. Also, I can't speak for them! So without further ado...
THE TOP 10 THINGS I LEARNED AT SXSWi
10. Web people are cool. Despite the (perhaps misguided) notion that we are all geeks, I met some of the coolest, creative, hip people I have ever met. Sure, there were the traditional geeks who were always buried in their laptops, but generally I was really impressed.
9. Web people are non-hierarchical, reflecting the Web itself. Coming from a traditional business background, I was used to an "I'm the boss and you're not" philosophy. That may be true at Microsoft, but it's not with most of the people that I met. This is reflected by the fact that the panelists at one panel are in the audience at the next; there is just no "us and them." It's all us.
8. I am part of something bigger. Sitting behind a computer you really don't appreciate the people behind the Web. Putting 5000 of them in the same place so they can talk in person, you really do.
7. I know nothing. I thought I knew stuff, but there is just SO much still to learn. Must. Read. More.
6. You can make money and do what you love. Panel after panel included people who loved what they do and were making money. What a concept!
5. The Planksters can party. Every night until 2 AM. Just check out this photo, and that was only Day 1.
4. Mobile, mobile, mobile. It's not going away, and your sites better be optimized for it. Not to mention Twitter.
3. Social networking. Social networking + _____ = VC$. We've been saying that around Plank for a while, but it's true. Everyone has a social networking idea. Even The Planksters.
2. Austin is now #2 on my list of coolest cities in the world. After Montreal of course. But between 6th Street, the random weirdness, and tons of awesome bars, lots with amazing cool music coming out of them, we really never wanted to leave.
1. I want to go back next year. Please, Warren?
April 10, 2007
A Webby Awards Update
by Allen
As you may know, Plank has been working hard as the Webby Ambassador for Canada, with a mission was to increase the profile of the Webbys in Canada. There have been all sorts of things going on I've been meaning to tell you about, so here you go!
First off, in part thanks to Plank, but as much (if not more) thanks to the tireless efforts of Emily Warren at the Webby Awards and the whole Webbys team, the number of Canadian entries increased 15% over last year. This was part of an overall dramatic increase of international entries, so the new Ambassador program worked!
Today, the nominees for the Webby Awards have been announced. With over 8000 entries, it was tough to narrow it down I'm sure, but they have found some amazing sites out there. Choosing the winners will be tough! You can have your say in the process by voting for the Webby People's Voice Awards, maybe the most important awards as they recognize what you and I think are the best.
Plank was so proud of our work on Citizen Voices, we entered that site for Best Government website. While we didn't make the five finalists, we are proud the site was recognized as an Official Honoree, a title reserved for those entries that demonstrated only the highest standard of excellence. Well done everyone!
Finally, a quick note about the Webby's own site. You may have noticed if you clicked the above links that the Webby Awards have redesigned their own website. Kudos to the gang at the Webbys and their design partners The Barbarian Group - looks you guys all did a really nice job. Nice and clean and easy to find stuff. The way a site should be.
See you at the Webby Awards June 4th and 5th in NYC!
April 2, 2007
Warren says hello
by Warren
4 posts later, I thought it would be a good idea to rear my head out of an abyss of emails and formally introduce the new Plank website for 2007. It took a bit longer to get together than expected and we still have a ways to go filling out a lot information for those of you that are interested, but I’m proud of where it stands and the framework we have in place to grow this puppy.
In contrast to our previous site, this site, while being visually reflective of where we stand now design-wise also has a series of other hidden gems under the hood. Built on top of our soon to be Open-sourced Seed Framework, we’ve got all the technical bells and whistles up to date (Search Engine friendly URLs, XHTML compliance, and RSS feeds to boot) and we can now truthfully claim that all the tools that we offer to our clients we now live with on our own site.
Congrats to my whole team.
One of the main new features that we’ve launched with this site is the Plank Blog. Much debate ensured in the office about if / which / should we have a Blog. While we clearly understand the digital relevance of the blog movement and have worked with some of our clients to launch some very high profile blogs, we very simply wondered, did it really matter for us? Would anyone care what we all as a company or individuals have to say? Didn’t we already have a News section of our site? What was wrong with that?
We decided to go with the blog for a series of what we think are really good reasons for us and maybe for you to consider if you are in the same boat:
- There is nothing worse than an infrequently updated blog. We have committed to posting regularly
- Allowing everyone in the company to post will give a much more realistic view of what the Plank team is about as a whole
- Give Plank less of a marketing focused spin
- Give you a more complete insight into what makes us tick.
BTW, I’ll be honest and say that I was the one the most resistant to this major shift on our site. Maybe it’s my initial humbleness or just skepticisms but I wondered if people really cared what we had to say. I’ve always felt it was all about “just look at our work and you’ll get it.”
So the experiment begins, and I’m looking forward to being wrong.
Next up: What the hell am I going to blog about?!
March 28, 2007
Plank has an all new site!
by Allen on behalf of all of us
Well I really don't even know where to start. Plank's old site had been around for a while, and we had all grown pretty fond of it. It's been cited by a number of people as a good, clean site that was great-looking and easy to navigate (like all Plank sites!). But boy, after almost 3 years, it was time for a refresh. Here you go.
So, welcome! This redesign has been in the works for ages, to be honest. I've been here for two years and we've been talking about it since I got here. But we've just been too busy to get anything done. Our clients always come first, so our own projects get pushed to the back burner. But enough was enough. We put in some nights and just said, let's get it done. We gave ourselves a deadline, too. We said we will have a new site by the time we go to SXSW. A deadline is always a good idea - just take a look at what we managed to accomplish. Of course a deadline is a bad idea, too - just take a look at what we haven't finished! (Sorry about that, btw). But the new site will be 100% done, and soon, we promise.
The whole team at Plank made an effort to get this done. Highest praise goes to GW, who designed just about everything. GW has really made his mark in his short time here, and we think this design really shows off his skills. Our back-end is of course powered by a Mateo-built CMS, and Mitch and Jennifer have put the whole thing together and fixed those nasty IE7 issues (grr…). Geoff is planning some kick-ass Flash effects for the site you'll see soon, and Steve has guided the whole process with his usual problem-solving awesomeness.
I could go on about the new design, the architecture, the neat little features but I think it's better you discover it for yourself. So take a poke around, don't be shy, and use the comments to tell us what you think (be honest! we like criticism!). And welcome, or welcome back.
March 18, 2007
We're off to SXSW
by Plank
There was a time not so long ago when there were barely even 3 people working at Plank. Now 3 people from Plank are off to SXSW! Allen, Mitch and Jennifer are really psyched to check out the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin and all the amazing interactive people from around the world who will be there. We're looking for inspiration, knowledge, and OK, a little fun while we're at it.
We'll be posting updates from Austin (assuming we're coherent) so be sure to check back to see how we're doing.
January 15, 2007
Plank's designs are about to get even better
by Plank
We’ve always been proud of our designs at Plank. Combining great technology, superior design, and getting results is our goal for every site we build. And one of those elements has just taken a major leap forward with the hiring of GW Brazier as our new Creative Director.
GW’s design experience is frankly too extensive to fully list here. He came to us from Airborne Entertainment where he was Senior Designer and helped that company get propelled to new heights. Some highlights prior to that include a stint as Art Director of The Montreal Mirror and Ici Magazine, and Co-Founder and Creative Director of Blue Dot Communications, an award-winning web and print agency with clients as diverse as Air Canada, Intrawest, and the National Film Board of Canada.
When asked about his design philosophy, GW was quick to rattle off his three-step approach – capture their attention, make a connection, and motivate a reaction. Sounds simple enough in theory, but very difficult to put into practice. But from what we have seen of GW’s skills and creativity in the short time since he joined us, there is no doubt he is succeeding brilliantly.
We also asked GW about designing for the Web specifically and the challenges it entailed. He quoted Cary Grant – “it takes 500 small details to make one favourable impression.” First off we were blown away that he quoted Cary Grant. But then we realized how great it was that we hired someone who understands the importance of the little things.
Not only is GW a brilliant and effective designer, he just may be a Web visionary as well. Way back in 1999, he dreamt of a website where the users would be the ones creating content. It was Web 2.0 when there was barely a Web 1.0. The result was Not Proud, an online confessional for people to post their sins anonymously. The site was so successful it spawned a book of the same name.
Plank’s creative vision has been placed in GW’s immensely capable hands. He says he wants our sites to have an organic quality, to have them go deeper than just the face. Not overly slick, but laden with real craftsmanship. Sites that stand out and are unique – sites that have a voice.
We can’t wait.
To reach GW, send him an email at gary@plankdesign.com or give us a call at (514) 845-0003
October 15, 2006
Plank is now Webby Ambassador for Canada
by Plank
The Webby Awards, the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, recently selected Plank as its official Webby Ambassador in Canada for the 11th Annual Webby Awards. The Webby Call for Entries began on September 19, 2006.
As an Ambassador, Plank will oversee outreach to Canada's most outstanding interactive and creative professionals, encouraging potential entrants to submit their work for consideration for The 11th Annual Webby Awards.
Hailed as "one of the most prestigious awards in the world" by the BBC, The Webby Awards is presented and judged by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, a global organization with a membership that includes musician David Bowie, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, The Body Shop president Anita Roddick, "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening, Real Networks CEO Rob Glaser, and fashion designer Max Azria.
"The Webbys has always received outstanding entries from around the world, but with so much of today's very best interactive work being created outside the US, it is more important than ever for us to work with local industry leaders such as Plank to help us find the very best work in Canada," said David-Michel Davies, Executive Director of The Webby Awards and The Academy.
Noting that The 10th Annual Webby Awards received a record number of entries from over 40 countries, Davies said Plank would play a critical role in building on that momentum and increasing entries from Canada this year.
Plank would like to thank Bruce Livingstone, CEO of iStockphoto, an official event sponsor of the Webbys, who recommended Plank to the Webbys.
About The Webby Awards:
Called the "Oscars of the Internet" by the New York Times, the Webby is the leading international award honoring excellence in Web design, creativity, usability and functionality. Established in 1996, the 10th Annual Webby Awards received over 5,500 entries from all 50 states and over 40 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards are presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include AOL, Verizon, Fortune, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
For more information about the Webby Awards please visit the official Webbys site.
To see Plank’s profile as Canada’s Ambassadors to the Webbys on the Webby Awards site, please click here.
For more information about the Webbys in Canada, please contact us.
