[zoom in screenshot - 15K]

Ego Media
http://www.egomedia.com

Category:
Graphics & Web Design > Studios

Created by:
Ego Media in 2001

Rating:
7.0 (34 votes)

Date added:
Jul 26th, 2001

Last updated:
Jul 26th, 2001

Our comments:
The design of Ego Media's web site has its own (virtual) desktop complete with draggable windows, icons, tabs and scroll bars. You can minimize or close windows, change the desktop background, and even adjust the sound volume (a welcome addition to the on/off scheme). Everything works smoothly and the design scores high in usability as well.

What makes Ego Media even more compelling is the way film footage used. Reducing the color depth to 1-bit (only black and white) not only reduces file sizes dramatically but allows easy bitmap to vector conversion. This is not new, and some Flash sites have already been employing this technique for some time. But here style really shines: men in black suits sure look cool, but it probably wouldn't be very effective if the movies were not played faster than normal. The backdrop movie used in the contact us window is wow! Also check out the agents section to see the guys behind this absolutely must-see web design (hint: we probably wouldn't recommend this section if they only provided a list of names and photos).

Finally, we are definitely not the type who enjoy full-screen web sites, but this design does not hide the task bar nor does it resize the current browser window (so we wouldn't have to resize it back to 800 x something later. Boy, we hate that! :) ).

--Aycan

mlocke (26) - Jun 24th, 2003 Presentation  10 Graphics  8 Usability  1 Technical  7 Personal Slant  1 Overall 5.4 Boy do I hate when a site takes over your computer and crashes your IE browser. The site is nice, great identity presentation, cool idea. But man, I would hate to be a client with a 56k modem. Usability was very difficult. The site was ok until it crashed my browser, for that it gets a 1 on the personal slant. Booo! ml. zepner2k (4) - Mar 21st, 2003 Presentation  9 Graphics  9 Usability  9 Technical  9 Personal Slant  9 Overall 9.0 awesome programming, great desktops Axistrizero (13) - Feb 11th, 2003 Presentation  8 Graphics  8 Usability  7 Technical  9 Personal Slant  7 Overall 7.8 A fine example of a big new media company. Lots of news on project development, awards and information with regards to the company and crews...but not much if you are looking for something to get from the site except a few corporate wallpapers. A bit arrogant and very business-centered. (makes me think of a man in full suit and a black tie..hehe) I still can't believe Theory 7 is not their work...have to say Nevil from Theory 7 is quite a talent too. Let's see in their next website overhaul - who wins. SA Williams (4) - Aug 13th, 2002 Presentation  8 Graphics  8 Usability  5 Technical  4 Personal Slant  7 Overall 6.4 Ego Media display a great design, with an Operating System look to it -- a growing fashion in modern design. What it is lacking in functionality and compatibility, however, is overshadowed by the greatness of concept and typography. The color scheme, however, is not an element of the website that one can indulge in. But, with the Operating System simulation, they are able to bring in different themes, in a very good way. Overall, A very good design. francesco (17) - Jun 21st, 2002 Presentation  10 Graphics  9 Usability  10 Technical  10 Personal Slant  9 Overall 9.6 great animations ugwump (31) - Apr 16th, 2002 Presentation  8 Graphics  8 Usability  6 Technical  10 Personal Slant  3 Overall 7.0 From a technical standpoint, this is the shiznit. These guys know what they're doing. The whole "OS-ish" look is original, but annoying. I think we all see quite enough of Windows as it is. Two major gripes: tiny fonts, and going full-screen. Major no-no's. The graphic design has a stylish look, the animations are catchy. sho-maaan (29) - Feb 22nd, 2002 Presentation  9 Graphics  8 Usability  8 Technical  6 Personal Slant  8 Overall 7.8 HI I like this page, the color combination of orange and dark gray is very outclass, there are several good ideas, and themes in this site.. so i like it very most Updated on Apr 29th, 2002 samktheman (27) - Feb 19th, 2002 Presentation  4 Graphics  1 Usability  1 Technical  3 Personal Slant  1 Overall 2.0 I HATE full browser windows. The colour was weird, and i found it so boring that I was reading through junk Hotmail email while waiting for it to load. Oh, and I won't come again. Mugsy (23) - Dec 7th, 2001 Presentation  6 Graphics  6 Usability  8 Technical  8 Personal Slant  6 Overall 6.8 cold, arrogant and plastic. Timmy G (18) - Nov 18th, 2001 Presentation  8 Graphics  7 Usability  6 Technical  7 Personal Slant  6 Overall 6.8 trendsetting design, but ageing. could use a serious brush up, but despite that it still puts most agency sites to shame. Kay (16) - Nov 14th, 2001 Presentation  9 Graphics  7 Usability  7 Technical  8 Personal Slant  7 Overall 7.6 excellent branding of corporate identity (fast, hip and arrogant -> ego), makes strong first impression. High remembrance value. by Brown   (unregistered) - Jul 27th, 2001 Nice design, poor mechanics, I agree! The music kept playing even after I left the site. I think this is important when designing a site, have it work correctly, and don't marry your visitors to your music. //udminc (12) - Jul 27th, 2001 Would love this site if it didn't chug my usage - the first thing I clicked on, "drink of the day" I received an error "This script is causing your computer to run slowly - do you want to continue running the script?". I run on a T1 connection, MAC platform. Bad first impression, the design is great, good concept - bad functionality. The desktop images could look a bit clearer.