February Working Lunch: Exploring Interactive Interactions

FEB 17, 2010 – Join us for a frank panel discussion followed by your questions on how designers and developers can work together to improve the design and technical capabilities of interactive work.

Interactive has two immediate connotations that come to mind. The first definition is that referring to a discipline—a part of an agency or studio that can range from a single developer to an entire department or even a separate agency in itself. The second definition describes relationships, communications, collaborations and synergies between people. When the designer-developer relationship can employ those definitions In tandem—the result can lead to better websites and happier clients.

This working lunch will explore the interactive relationship between designers and developers using two designer-developer teams: Aaron Opsal & Jon Simpson of the Brand Hatchery and Canonball Creative, respectively, and Brandon DeLoach & Blake Elshire of CommerceHouse. The panel will be moderated by Jeff Barfoot of CommerceHouse and Barfoot Worldwide.

Aaron Opsal is the Owner and Creative Director of The Brand Hatchery, a  multi-discipline design and interactive agency. With over 15+ years in the advertising industry, Aaron's print and interactive work has been published in numerous awards annuals and industry showcases. Aaron was an integral part in growing Coffee/Black Advertising and establishing WideEye Interactive which became part of Moroch Advertising in 2002. Some of Aaron's favorite things include bacon, Helvetica, black & white, and The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales.

Jon Simpson is the President and CEO of Canonball Creative, a Dallas-based interactive agency. Over the past two years, they have become the interactive production house for many advertising agencies and design studios in Dallas. Jon manages a team of artists and developers who have passion for bringing their designs to "life" via the tools the interactive landscape provides.

Brandon DeLoach is a senior designer handling branding and online projects for Dallas ad agency CommerceHouse. In the past few years, his work has been recognized by Print Magazine and the Dallas Society of Visual Communications. Brandon currently serves as Web Chairman on the Dallas Society of Visual Communications, oversees the DSVC website which was redesigned by his firm, Marblehead in 2008 and volunteers on the 2010 National Student Show committee maintaining their web site and blog.

Blake Elshire, Esq. handles front-end development and all things hip and digital for Dallas ad agency Commerce House. He has worked tireless hours to make sure clients like Guinness USA, Blue Mesa, Southwest Airlines, Gerdeau-Ameristeel, and Hotels.com all have the very best in online design and technology. Blake serves on the DSVC web committee and National Student Show committee where he keeps both websites up and running. His work on the redesigned Dallas Society of Visual Communications website earned him a bronze medal at the Dallas Show. He was also honored as DSVC volunteer of the year in 2009 for his help on several club committees.

Jeff Barfoot is founder and principal of BarfootWorldwide (a design studio), and is also Design Director of CommerceHouse (an advertising agency) in Dallas. Jeff's design and illustration work has been recognized by Communication Arts, The Art Directors Club of New York, Graphis, Print magazine, the AR100 (for Annual Report design), The Dallas Society of Visual Communications (DSVC), The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), and The American Advertising Federation. He is a past president of the the Dallas Society of Visual Communications, and has served on its board of directors since 2001.

This working lunch has sold out.

For more information on the speakers and moderator:
http://brandhatchery.com
http://www.canonball.com
http://commercehouse.com
http://barfootworldwide.com