Angled Whiteboards

Okay, we’re a couple months in now — I guess we should explain the title of the site. We’ve detailed bits and pieces of our design process from whiteboard to production. So the “whiteboards” portion of our name is pretty self-explanatory.

But would you believe our working conditions are such that our whiteboards are NOT completely 90° perpendicular to the ground? And that we’re not talking about that loosey-goosey flip-over portable kind? That instead, we work on whiteboards that are permanently inclined? ‘Cause we do.

Design and architecture-wise, the GameTap offices that we moved into last summer are new, fresh, and funky. So much so that certain workspaces have these supertall, lean-y walls. Both Dinah and I each have one of these lean-y walled offices. And on our lean-y wall is our gigantic whiteboard:

But here’s the catch: these particular ice-cube tray offices adjoin at the inclined wall. So one person gets the 100° angle and the other the 80°! To pull it all together, Dinah has to make sure she doesn’t jump up excitedly or risk ink on her face. And I end up with bits of erased detritus all up IN my sleeves. Design is DANGEROUS. Don’t stand up too fast. Don’t let your sleeves dangle:

but we didn’t win the Emmy. Las Vegas was a blast and if you ever get a chance to go there, make sure you drop by the Venetian. This picture (taken with my phone. ugh) is the ceiling in a small lobby area.

Anyway, in our category “Outstanding Innovation and Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for the Best Use of “On Demand” Technology Over the Public (open) Internet“, StimTV (by NPOWER) won the Emmy. Congratulations, StimTV.

If no one has noticed, xamount seems to have a lot more time to post on this blog than I do. Or, maybe I’m just a slacker. (You make the call. No. Wait. Don’t. No, really, I had to shop for an outfit to wear to the Emmys. Uh huh. Yep, that’s it.)

Happy New Year, everyone. Look forward with us to a 2007 filled with some really cool GameTap treats.

Dinah and I have had a blast launching this little site in the waning months of 2006. And while the last couple of posts have been a bit light on the design and behind-the-scenes side of things, rest assured: we’ve got plenty to talk about in ‘07.

Thanks to those of you who’ve visited, emailed, and commented so far. Stick around! We’ll be back with more in the new year. Here’s a somewhat cryptic visual preview of things to come:

You know those technical Emmys with the really long titles? We’ve been nominated for one! (talk about a complete thrill)

Specifically:
The nominees for Outstanding Innovation and Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for the Best Use of “On Demand” Technology Over the Public (open) Internet are:

• ABC.com Full Episode Streaming Player – Disney – ABC Television Group
• AOL Music’s Top 11 Countdown Show – AOL, LLC
• GameTap – GameTap, Turner Broadcasting
• Revver.com – Revver
• Stim TV – NPOWR
• Vongo – Starz

And the invitation is oh, so very cool. Heavy, dark brown, gold glittery card stock with slippery embossed gold print. Oooh…

See ya in Vegas, baby!

Angled Whiteboards is written by members of GameTap’s user experience design team. We’ll use this space to talk about the freedoms (and challenges) of designing for a downloadable client, lessons learned from other UX teams, and how to score a jillion points in Zoo Keeper.