A short while back I had the honor of working with Microsoft’s Projectline Services and Cadence Preferred to produce promotional and marketing materials for the upcoming release of Microsoft IO University and Microsoft Optimization web site and tools. The Microsoft Core IO University is an interactive, Web-based training site designed to help Microsoft partners educate themselves on Microsoft’s core infrastructure technologies, Core IO model, and sales approach. It includes video, audio, and assessments of concepts learned. It also includes community-based features to allow partners to interact and share their own learnings, and a point-based rewards system for the most active partners.
As usual, working with a corporate giant such as Microsoft came with endearing quick deadlines and astute perfection with the proposal and finalized product. The scope of the project included creating graphics and fonts for use on promotional materials such as laptop skins and hats. The theme for IO is driven by their optimization-forward tools and software. Optimized! Ready to Discover was the pitch for getting customers acquainted with the IO system and how once a part of the system were already in the future of facilitating needs of business progression through efficient IT solutions. The Microsoft Optimization Website is a Microsoft customer-facing portal designed to educate existing or potential Microsoft customers about the value and opportunities surrounding Microsoft Optimization. There is a critical element of project management in order to manage and facilitate input from multiple optimization-focused organizations. The site utilizes Microsoft SilverLight elements, adheres to stringent Microsoft corporate Web standards, and multi-level staging and production system requirements. After reviewing 4-6 proposals we agreed to move forward with an image that spoke future and optimization through visual elements.
Our creative group came up with the concept of the first-person user flying into port of the future which inevitably became a vibrant cloud city. Along for the creative process I worked with Zac Atkinson who assisted in the flattening and color sectionalization of the composition and traffic. Cloud city was not built in a day. We retooled the background several times to get the perfect sense of atmosphere, perspective, and focal points. There is an extreme amount of detail that went into the buildings of the cityscape, digital painting in the background, special effects in our flying vessels and piloting indicators, and well over 200 layers of digital imaging before the final file was to go to press. Along with a few tricks of the trade, several conference calls, ground freight delaying product materials, an ice storm, and a few all nighters we pulled off a unique piece of imagery that garnered great attention and feedback from Microsoft and the respective customers. As a huge sci-fi fan this design was a real treat to put together.
Since this was a future-forward concept with “Ready to Discover” I wanted to give the font style a block, wide-flat, semi-deco look. After a few sketches for the font, which included a variation of line work and kerning, I nailed a bold font style that worked seamlessly with the laptop skin and the embroidered title for the promotional hats. This font was developed to compliment the geometric patterning and ‘futuristic’ appearance of the graphic. In a nutshell I was thinking TRON with more stylish deco-related atonements. It really made the promotional packets cohesive utilizing various media outputs.
Back of hat read “Ready to Discover”.
IO hats and laptop skins created by Beery Method Studio for Microsoft ©2011 Nick Beery.