Planning as a Team

Verne Ho @verneho

Process Monday, January 28, 2013 7 Comments

Two Fridays ago, we got the team together to kick off our upcoming company planning sessions. With everyone seated around the Sandbox (our nickname for our team meeting room), we openly discussed topic ideas, session formats, organizing action items, and scheduling, among other details.

Last week, each person had a chance to submit their recommendations on topics they’d like to talk about or see covered. Recommendations typically cover everything from the way we work (process, roles, accountabilities), to the things we work on (new industries, clients, special projects), to the things we use everyday (equipment, supplies, studio space). These recommendations get consolidated, refined and turned into a series of presentations, workshops, and roundtable discussions that are led by our team over a course of 2-3 days where the studio closes up shop. It’s like our own internal Jet Cooper conference. And we do it every 6 months.

Behrouz leading a Futurecasting workshop.

Creativity in Windows 8 App Design

Luciano Castillo @luccast85

Design, Process Tuesday, November 27, 2012 4 Comments

The Fall of 2012 brought a great opportunity to design for the new Windows 8. We were tackling The Globe & Mail's news app, which was slated to be released on launch day in the Windows Store. While ramping up on the Microsoft Design Style and Windows 8 design patterns, it became apparent that the real challenge would be in finding ways to flex our creative muscles with a platform that, to some critics, has been designed to homogenize digital experiences.

A Fresh Look at Jet Cooper

Satish Kanwar @skanwar

Design, News, Projects Thursday, November 8, 2012 18 Comments

We started Jet Cooper three and a half years ago from humble beginnings. Our website has taken many forms since, from the first ever splash page to our first major release last year.

We’ve intentionally said only what we’ve known for certain over the course of our short history. With the progress we’ve seen this year in our team, business, and industry, we’ve had an opportunity to learn more than ever before about the role, value, and experience we offer.

Today, in keeping with tradition, we’re proud to introduce you to our completely redesigned website.

Behind the Scenes: TEDxToronto

Verne Ho @verneho

Community, Design, Projects Tuesday, November 15, 2011 7 Comments

TEDxToronto is an independently organized conference licensed by TED. The yearly event brings together Toronto’s thought leaders, change-makers and everyday citizens to witness unforgettable talks from all disciplines.

As active participants in our local community of technologists, educators and designers (in all their broadest definitions), our team couldn’t have been any prouder to carry the label of official Creative Partner for TEDxToronto over the last two years. With the release of this year’s talk videos this morning, I thought I’d reflect on the work we’ve been privileged to create (and recreate) for this prestigious annual event.

AccelerateTO’s Online Home

Arati Sharma @aratisharma

Design, Process, Projects Wednesday, November 9, 2011 1 Comment

AccelerateTO is a day-long conference celebrating technology entrepreneurship in Toronto, hosting some of North America's most influential leaders. So, when we became involved with the conference as the design partners, we found an opportunity to build an online home for the event that would truly reflect it's quality, expertise, and value.