The video was a created by using long exposures which captured the iPads movement through space creating three-dimensional forms in light.

The process started by creating software models of three-dimensional typography, objects and animations. These were then rendered into cross sections, making a series of outlines like a virtual CAT scan. The cross sections were then played back as movies on the iPad and captured in long exposure photographs as it was dragged through the air to extrude shapes.  Each long exposure still is a single image in a composite stop frame animation.

Each frame is a long exposure photograph of 3-6 seconds. 5,500 photographs were taken and only half of these were used in the final edit.

LIKEaBIKE is designed with child safety in mind. Although lightweight (approx 3.5 kg), quality materials such as birch, beech plywood, aluminum, and the use of high grade steel fasteners ensure that a LIKEaBIKE can withstand any amount of rough and tumble. The saddle can be adjusted for height as your child grows. In addition, the cotton saddle cover is removable and fully washable.

Our son Samuel got a LIKEaBIKE just before his second birthday. The bike performed just as advertised. He was able to instantly maneuver around, and by the time he was three he was weaving in and around people with poise and confidence on the sea wall here in Vancouver. He has clearly loved his LIKEaBIKE from day one, and he’s gotten every bit as much joy out of it, if not more, than any child could have had on a tricycle or traditional pedal bike with training wheels.

The real question, however, is: “Are these two-wheel push bikes more effective at teaching balance than a traditional pedal bike with training wheels?”

Well, today, after two years on the LIKEaBIKE we thought we’d try our son out on a standard pedal bike. We wanted to see if he could pick it up without training wheels.

Let’s let the video do the talking.

Obviously the LIKEaBIKE experiment was a resounding success. This product not only provided years of enjoyment for our child, but it looked cool, and the all-wood design is environmentally friendly (not to mention lighter) than a traditional bike. And, most importantly, this product innovation actually changed the way our son learned balance—this will undoubtedly have an impact on his ability to adapt to other sports and life skills, as good balance is a fundamental skill for so many activities.

LIKEaBIKE has taken something as simple as the bike and reinvented it in a way that has a strong and meaningful impact.

So it’s safe to say that we’re super clever. But we don’t want all the spotlight. Besides, our eyes are sensitive to light.

Hopefully yours aren’t. And hopefully, you’re not against the idea of winning $5,000, Slurpees for a year, and potential TV stardom to go along with that spotlight. If you don’t, well, you’re just lying to yourself and you will go to hell. Oh, there is a hell. We’ve been there. There’s no soap there. And if there’s anything worse than a liar, it’s a stinker. So be true to yourself and get involved. Visit slurpee.ca for the who, what, where, when, how, and sometimes why of our FREEZE THE MOMENT contest. (Like we said, we’re super duper clever — why else would we throw a duper in there?)

In the meantime, watch out for all things Slurpee, as Hot Tomali recently launched the Big Gulp of Slurpee campaigns through TV, three radio spots (Ricardo – Seeeeeeeven, Steven Wright – Priiiizes, and Kip – Mooooooment), CITY-TV IDs, guerrilla stunts, BT Television live stunts, a website and contest, Live 7/11 Remotes, this blog, that blog, and everything in between.

Halloween is on its way, and we’ve been relentlessly searching the web for some great costume inspiration.

So far, we’ve found stuff like transformers.

TIE Fighters.

Crayons, if you have a horse.

iPhones!

Glow in the dark stickpeople.

Disabled superheroes.

Birth.

Controversial illegal aliens.

And animal cruelty.

But what about costumes designed for those in the marketing industry? Costumes for the social media enthusiasts, the account execs, and the web designers?

Don’t worry. We’ve decided to share some of our own ideas with you.

Anyone have any more suggestions? Let us know.

On June 15th Hot Tomali officially moved into our own building at 1441 E Pender St. This move was a big step for the little agency that I started in the living room of a one bedroom West End apartment in the summer of 1998. Since then, we’ve upgraded our work spaces a few times as necessitated by growth. The first big move came in October 2008 when I took a flying leap and hung out a shingle at Homer and Helmcken in Yaletown, above what used to be the swanky Century Grill (now the Blue Water Cafe). That 1,200 sq/ft space saw us hire our first employees, land our first big contract, and win our first awards. Ah, memories.

Three years later (2001) we were in the middle of the dot bomb crash and the once lucrative office space in Yaletown was now plentiful. Rather than renew the lease on our cozy little studio, we opted to move across the street into a bigger space that had previously been home to notable organizations such as Vancouver Film School and Stratford Internet (a big victim when the dot.com bubble burst). Things were good—we had high tech wiring, built in modular workstations, and air conditioning that “usually worked” in this amazing brick and beam construction office space that had been converted from an old warehouse. More contracts, employees and awards soon followed.

A couple of years later our neighbours, Network Productions (makers of the “Bell Making The Cut” reality series) moved out and we opted for further expansion. We blew through the wall and added more office space and a production facility with two HD editing bays. Our already bustling studio now felt like a real agency, with departments, separate offices, and even a kitchen sink.

Now you might ask, if times were good, and the space was great, then why move? Well, being the principal owner of Hot Tomali, I was always a little bit dismayed with the fact that we’d spent a great deal of money to work in all these trendy buildings over the course of a decade, yet aside from some great memories, we had nothing to show for it. We were also faced with the need to expand again, and I was reluctant to invest a huge sum of money into a space that we might outgrow in a couple of years.

I had been passively following the commercial real estate market for several years with a sense that when the time was right we would make a move. About a year ago there was all this inventory coming on the market and it was just sitting there, often dropping in price by hundreds of thousands of dollars, as anxious owners tried to instigate a sale in a stagnant market. The media was talking about the real estate bubble being burst, and everyone was speculating about where the bottom might be. As with any market downturn, you had your doom and gloom guys trying to scare the pants off of everyone by saying we faced a recession worse than the great depression. What were we to make of it?

Sub-prime mortgage crisis be damned, I wanted my own space! I ramped up my search efforts and we looked at several offices in Yaletown, Hot Tomali’s home for the last 10 years. The thing that held me back was mainly the fact that most available spaces for sale were the same size or smaller than what we were already in, and the only ones that were bigger had big strata fees to go with those big mortgage payments. It just didn’t feel right—I just couldn’t justify the commitment.

Working with our realtor, Mario Felicella over at Sutton, we started to venture out a bit. We checked out some live/work studios in Coal Harbour that were funky, but too impractical for a company of our size. We investigated some big lofts in Gastown and the Cambie area, which were super cool, but required a full on gutting and reno before they would be suitable for us. Then, we finally ventured over to the Commercial Drive area to check out this building on East Pender St. that I had found on the Internet.

It was love at first sight. Upon arriving to look at the building I was immediately impressed by the stunning and awe inspiring facade of the place. My initial thought was that the building almost seemed out of place—a structure of this nature would surely belong in a chic-modern European setting such as Copenhagen or Barcelona.

The building’s developer, and current occupant, Randy Lim of Revolution Designs met with us and gave us the tour. Randy’s appreciation for fine design is apparent in his passion for every detail in the space. Everything was custom fabricated—there are no Home Depot finishings to be found here.

The building exterior is comprised of structural concrete block that has been finished with expert precision. The facade is finished with galvanized, custom fabricated paneled soffits and downpipe, and custom exterior trim.

Arriving at the 11 foot tall entrance doors makes visitors feel as though they’ve arrived at the residence of some gigantic being. These towering doors provide a touch of grandiose in an otherwise minimalist modern design, and often times when entering through them I’m reminded of the feeling a child might have entering an intentionally oversized theme house at Disneyland.

The main office at the front of the building provides retail worthy storefront, with floor to ceiling windows and a fantastic concrete feature wall that runs up the entire height of the building. (This space is currently occupied by our tenants, Mango and Aloe Designs.)

The staircase to the second level is comprised of powder coated, checker plated metal stairs, a 15-foot feature wall, and railings with custom fabricated powder coated steel pickets and thick commercial glazing. These touches provide a futuristic design element that would be worthy of a setting in a Phillip K. Dick novel.

At the top of the stairs, visitors are greeted by a lush garden deck that houses a large bamboo planter. This cedar decked patio is surrounded by floor to ceiling glass on three sides, providing natural illumination to the second floor offices and the stairwell below.

The offices on the top floor are furnished with built-in millwork, consisting of white laminate storage and custom fabricated workstations with powder coated metal frames and larch counter tops. The view from the north side of the building provides a stunning view of the North Shore mountains and the Vancouver shipyards.

The backside of the building features a mezzanine level, which sits halfway between the ground level and the second floor of the building. This space overlooks an additional 1,000+ sq/ft of broadcast production and photo studio with 16+ foot ceilings.

Shortly after arriving on the top level of the building for the first time I said “this is it”. It was essentially a turn key solution that provided ample space for our staff, a great studio space for us to aggressively expand our production capabilities, and the entire building in itself was inspirational.

Although I had some hesitation to move away from Yaletown after 10 years, the Commercial Drive district is a thriving creative community with great amenities. With local hot spots like Stella’s, The Reef, and Havana Cafe all within blocks of the agency, there are a ton of options for lunches and client meetings.

All in all, the benefits of having a place to call our own simply outweighed sticking with the status quo and paying through the nose to lease for another 10 years. Some people cautioned that we were buying during a time of incredible uncertainty. I believe the best opportunities to be found are really only available when you’re willing to take a risk. This step in our evolution holds many similarities to that fateful “flying leap” I took 11 years ago when I leased our first office space. The difference this time around is that I jumped into something we can take pride in and call our own.

Ultimately, you can put the right creative people pretty much anywhere and have success. The space doesn’t define the agency so much as the agency defines the space. That being said, smart agencies are realizing that they need to make good business decisions to grow and prosper for the long haul. Wise investments provide valuable equity and resources for future expansion and growth. It’s not all about drawing pretty pictures, and making people laugh—it’s about setting goals and executing a plan to get you there.

As much as I love our new high-end digs, I will never forget the experiences I learned by bootstrapping an agency in my one bedroom apartment in 1998. Many agencies try to sell themselves as “new age” because they keep their overhead down by using IKEA furniture and buy their boardroom tables at garage sales. My question for them is what will you have to show for your leased office space 10 years from now?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuGaqLT-gO4

“MUTO is a short film by Blu. It is an animation in stop-motion painted on public walls. The movie was made in Buenos Aires and in Baden. Here the paintings are alive and invade the city. Blu’s characters are half human, half machine, half beast, and human elements such as limbs (tooth, hands, etc.) can live freely their autonomous life, a bit like insects.”

Think about this… every frame required Blu to cover the previous frame in white, repaint the entire character a few inches over in its next pose, go back to the camera, snap a picture, then repeat. Amazing.

Generic Condo HQ. I can't even tell where in Vancouver this is...Where are the landmarks?

Having recently returned from Barcelona, I found it felt somewhat like a time warp stepping off the plane back onto North American soil. That may sound strange out of context, given that Vancouver is of course a much younger city than Barcelona, but what I mean is that the Barcelona environment feels like 2009, while Vancouver feels more like 1989. Now, I’m not usually one to bad-mouth the place I live, but I think Vancouver gets more than enough positive attention, what with being voted “the most livable city” and all.

Below are a series of shots from Barcelona (and not even one Gaudi is shown).

Vila Olympia (Olympic Village) Barcelona

I’m not sure whether it’s a general lack of interest in design that plagues us here, or if it’s simply a lack of quality architects, but I found myself thinking how I have come to accept the sub-par architecture as the norm. What do we have here in Vancouver that we have to be proud of? (And don’t say the mountains, cuz we didn’t make those!) The Harbour Centre? The Steam Clock? The Vancouver Specials? There seems to be a whole lot of kinda old or kinda average, but nothing really old or really cool (besides our office). Sure, the really old we can’t do much about, so that’s out, but the really cool, we can do something about. It’s not like good design has to cost more. It just has to be good design.

You say why? I say why not?

As I sat on the Barcelona hop on hop off bus, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the hoards of people who jump on Vancouver’s hop on hop off bus to do the city tour, only to find themselves overwhelmed by wall to wall cookie cutter leaky condos. Science World is perhaps the only deviation from blah we have, and even that isn’t great. Is it that we are so preoccupied with nature in Vancouver that we forget to create new things? Barcelona is a coastal city surrounded by nature, and yet it manages to decorate the coastline with brilliant man-made structures bridging the worlds of style and functionality. Yes, it has a rich history, and amazing classical architecture too, but works of the last 20 years alone are stunning.

Drassanes Metro Station freshly renovated

Side note: Not everyone knows this, but the beaches right in the city are actually man-made. As in they cover the ground in some kind of carpet and then dump thousands of tonnes of sand on the shores. It sure fooled me.

The city is like an art gallery; the attention to detail is a real pleasure.

The first Monday back at work from my holiday, I walked by the two Barcelona chairs we have adorning the second floor landing of the office, and caught myself wondering, “What would a Vancouver chair look like?”

Learning to ride a bike is one of the most valuable skills a child can learn, helping them master the art of balance, a skill crucial to so many other physical activities and sports. Not to mention there is just something plain magical about riding a bike, what with the wind in your hair, and your green conscience in the clear and all. Traditionally, children learn to ride a bike with training wheels, or at least they did when I was a kid. Now, things have changed, and before you go and get all nostalgic on me, let me tell you, they have changed for the better. A little over ten years ago Rolf and Beate Mertens came up with a novel idea that challenged the way children learned to ride bicycles and the very technology that we (adults) learned with: The Training Wheel.

Rolf and Beate were the creators of the first “like-a-bike”, which has since become a childhood staple for 2 to 5 year olds. It is a simple concept really — a bike without pedals or cranks that relies on two wheels and two feet to keep it upright. It ain’t rocket science, but I bet you wish you’d thought of it. This just goes to show that there’s always a better way to do something, and a lot of the time the “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” mentality can actually hold back progress, that a simple idea with some sweet design can do a whole lotta good. Now companies like UK-based Kiddimotto have taken the Mertens designs to the next level with a neat little range of kiddie motorbikes.

The Kiddimoto range comes in four styles, each based on a motorbike classic. From the “Scooter”, inspired by the mod scooter of the 60s, and the “Chopper”, a nod to future Easy Riders, to the Super Bike, based on real race bikes and the Srambler, a more traditional bike shape.

All this talk of bikes makes me want to go for a ride…and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Peace.

Patrick

This shot is pretty disturbing. Not even sure what's going on here.

Because we end up getting a lot of takeout, we end up with a ton of styrofoam. It sucks, but it’s kind of an unavoidable reality at this point, and so we wash it all out, stack it in a box and then get it over to these guys http://www.pacificmobiledepots.com

All the styrofoam containers we use get picked up by them and shipped off to recycling plants. They take a ton more materials as well, so check them out and see if you can find a way to integrate this kind of program in your business. Every bit helps.

If this guy can do it on his bike, you can to!

If you have some other ideas, we’d love to hear them – post a comment or two!

Clay

Hey Everybody – we just released this press release in anticipation of a unique street team campaign we are executing tomorrow. Read below for the details!

Hot Tomali’s Action-Packed Marketing Campaign for Resume Hut Recruits Super Job Candidates

If you’re walking around Vancouver and notice some real-life packaged action figures, blame Hot Tomali Communications (www.hottomali.com), an integrated marketing agency located in Vancouver, B.C. The action-packed professionals are part of a new campaign titled “Job Candidate 2.0″, which promotes the launch of Resume Hut (www.resume-hut.com) who has expanded to Vancouver after operating for 23 years in Victoria. The expansion is part of a larger strategy in which Resume Hut aims to expand across North America over the next five years.

The unique idea for the campaign came as a result of a combination of factors. “When we were approached with the idea of executing a campaign for Resume Hut, we needed to come up with something that was engaging, memorable, and cost-effective,” says Clayton Mitchell, Hot Tomali’s Strategic Planner. “Working with Resume Hut, we started with a complete rebranding including a new logo and the positioning line ‘Position Yourself’. The key insight we extracted during our creative process was that Resume Hut helps you position yourself more effectively for the jobs you want—in a sense, repackaging you.”

Hot Tomali had to contend with the fact that there are many online services that claim to be able to do the same thing that Resume Hut does, but they’re actually quite different. Resume Hut also specializes in services such as interview skills training, job hunting, career coaching, and conflict resolution.

“Not only is the action figure concept applicable to a street team execution, it can also be applied to multiple media channels. We developed a campaign platform that can easily be leveraged in a bus shelter, television ad, and a variety of other media, making it ideal when Resume Hut expands across North America,” says Patrick Chambers, Art Director at Hot Tomali.

The campaign was launched in mid-March and is being strategically placed around Vancouver. The next street team is scheduled to promote Resume Hut at Vancouver’s Career Fair on March 31. Teams will be stationed outside of the Vancouver Convention Centre, between Howe and Burrard on Cordova Street.

View Campaign Photos on Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/hottomali