This FWA website of the month is GE’s Smart Grid. This is a fun and intelligent website that is 50% product marketing and 50% environmental stewardship. The experience is crafted similar to a linear touch screen experience where each “page” starts with a narrated vignette that leads into an interaction mode allowing users to further explorer the outcome of how a change in behavior can positivity impact the world e.g. more turbines will help reduce CO2 levels. The visuals are clean and very digestible and the use of animation with sound effects really creates a rich, immersive experience that adds to the messaging.
Another notable element of the website is the “Get Plugged In” section which allows users a complete array of channels to plug in to for additional information. I’m very impressed with the degree of viral sharing and authentic community focus from GE as they leverage Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs, online journals, email newsletters and the like to engage the public in follow-on conversations.
GE added their video commercial to the offering as one of the site navigation options. Normally we are very concerned about over-videoing websites, turning them into a passive observation experience. But this is a nice addition that does not feel out of place. Thank you for the 16:9 format.
The cherry on top of this website experience is the Augmented Reality feature. This section provides a WOW factor for webcam enabled users. Not a lot of utility but very cool, a classic example of eye candy.
Here is a video of me using the fiducial-marked paper to trigger a solar panel graphic that “grows” out of the paper in my hands.
Over all I think this is worthy website of the month, well done Goodby, Silverstein & Partners.
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