Computer Arts Projects issue 125

Our interactive design issue, on sale now,  is crammed with inspiration, innovation and new technologies to give your work the edge. We chat to Iain Tait – co-founder of Poke – about creative risks and rewards, and Dan and Adrian Hon – the brothers behind Six to Start – discuss how they make their immersive narratives stretch to all corners of the web and beyond.

All designers should consider their end-user, but in interactive design this is particularly important. We dig beneath the surface of some of the world’s best graphic interfaces, mobile apps and viral campaigns, and draw out invaluable tips on designing for your real users, not just for your creative peers.

Of course, devising an interactive project is useless if you can’t make it work. Get your feet wet with ActionScript, JavaScript and CSS in this month’s tutorials, from manipulating time-lapse video in Flash to experimenting with this year’s hot new digital trend, augmented reality.

And you can’t have missed our mesmerising cover art. It’s always important to break the creative mould, and we’re rather proud of this experiment: we show you how to replicate the stunning-but-simple effect in the mag.

Next issue is a character design extravaganza, including a multi-artist cover collaboration from the likes of Tado, Peskimo, Jeremyville and Jon Burgerman. Trust me, you do not want to miss this one. As ever, hit me with any comments or suggestions via email or Twitter – and happy reading.

Nick Carson Editor
twitter.com/CAProjects

IN THE MAG

Project one: Infectious interactivity

Poke interview
Co-founder Iain Tait chats about his risk-taking interactive projects, and why a sense of humour helps

Viral infection
Behind the scenes with some of this year’s most addictive viral campaigns

Project two: User-centred design

Designed for use
User-centred design specialist Matt Marsh shares his top tips for keeping your audience happy

Controlling clicks
Design inspiration from a haul of Webby-winning graphic interfaces that rethink the way we interact online

Create an animated interface
Polish up your coding skills with some slick visual transitions

Control video in Flash
How you can weave time-lapse video clips into a stunning website front page

Project three: Mash it up

Six to Start interview
Immersive multi-platform stories from the humble winners of Best of Show at SXSWi 2009

Creative mash-ups
What designers can achieve with free APIs from Twitter, Flickr and Google

Project four: New technologies

Designer challenge
Our creatives have a bash at designing a pinball game for the iPhone

A world in your pocket
How mobile apps can push the limits of our smallest, most intimate screen

Work with augmented reality
Sam Rivello shows you how to integrate 2009’s hottest interactive technique into your design work

Regulars

Behind the scenes
How you can replicate the stunning visual effect on this issue’s cover

The big question
What’s the best interactive project you’ve seen this year?

My career so far
2Advanced Studios’ Shane Mielke plots his visual timeline