Summary: I advanced from entry-level screen layout artist of this young software developer, to the Creative Director of its new multimedia and animation services division, within fourteen months
Contents
(1) Background
(2) My designs for the new Rainbow Multimedia Group logo, and early opening animation sequences
(3) A partial listing of Rainbow projects on which I provided creative leadership
(1) Background
When Rainbow Technology Group, a young software developer, hired me in 1990 as an an entry-level screen layout artist, it did not have a logo – but recognized its need for one, as it was:
- Creating a new division, Rainbow Multimedia Group (RMG), to develop interactive software presentations for training, education, kiosks and other applications
- Planning to open Rainbow Japan, a satellite sales office just outside Tokyo, to market the 3D animation design abilities that I brought to RMG, throughout Southeast Asia (see numerous examples of projects won by this subsidiary, and which I designed and/or directed the production of, here)
(2) My designs for the new Rainbow Multimedia Group logo, and early opening animation sequences
Rainbow’s CEO and I defined our logo-design mission as being to visually convey the broad range of new services that RMG offered to international clientele, in a simple graphical icon.
I was tasked with leading this effort. After exploring many design approaches, I pursued the concept of integrating an “open book” (or “portfolio”) into the letter “R.”
The resulting logo template was adapted for use by RTG, RMG and Rainbow Japan, and served the company from 1991 through 2004. It also served as the basis for the company’s identity transition in the mid-1990s when RTG became Rainbow Studios, and until it was acquired in 2001 by THQ, one of the world’s largest video game development companies.
The success of this effort, along with my work at Rainbow — in graphic design, copy & script writing, and directing the production of software programs, videos and computer animations — fueled my rapid ascent through its ranks, to my final position as Creative Director, within fourteen months. RTG/RMG’s CEO described my tenure as follows:
“As Creative Director of this firm… Jon has distinguished himself through his superlative performance. It has been my pleasure to work directly with Jon, and observe firsthand the dedication and perseverance he brings to every project. He possesses enormous energy, talent and is extraordinarily gifted. Jon has been a valued member of the Rainbow ‘team,’ whose contribution to our efforts has been significant.”
– Earl Jarred, Chief Executive Officer, Rainbow Technology/Multimedia Group (see letter here)
Below are several of the computer animation sequences that I designed and directed the production of, for use in the opening and closing sequences for RTG/RMG/Rainbow Japan presentations, software demos, etc.:
(3) A partial listing of Rainbow projects on which I provided creative leadership
(a) 3D animation design and/or directorial credits
(b) Multimedia software development: Graphic design, copy/script writing and/or direction
(c) Corporate documentaries
(a) 3D animation design and/or directorial credits
- Sharp Electronics: “Future Lab”: In addition to writing the scripts for, and designing the production (detail in Section 3b), I was tasked with designing and directing a series of 3D animation sequences for this major educational presentation. Project profile here.
- Juliana’s Tokyo Live: I designed the storyboard for, and directed the production of this animated sequence for a new “American Bandstand”-style weekly TV show in Japan. The client wanted to seethe letters of “Juliana’s” dancing on a stage. Project profile here.
- Japanese Racing Association: I designed the storyboard for a short animation sequence for outdoor displays at new, elite horse racing events in Japan. Project profile here.
- Kibun: “The Birth Of Marine”: I designed the storyboard for, and directed the production of this short sequence for a Japanese TV commercial to promote an artificial crab meat product. The client wanted to see the Kibun package “being born out of the water.” Project profile here.
- Japan Industrial Journal: “Scientific Instruments Show Japan – Mapping Kiosk”: I designed the storyboard for this complex animated introduction & screen saver for this interactive kiosk, in which various technologies morphing into each other. Project profile here.
- “Softwind, Ltd.: “The Next Generation of Water-Pumping Windmills”: I designed and directed the production of a series of 3D animation sequences for this designer-builder of advanced windmills. Project profile here.
See a compilation of these and other 3D animations I designed and/or directed the production of, in this short demo:
(b) Multimedia software development: Graphic design, copy/script writing and/or direction
Sharp Electronics: “FUTURE LAB”: I wrote, designed and directed the production of major elements of this comprehensive, multi-lingual interactive educational program, one of the largest educational presentations ever created for the Japanese market, was delivered via touch-screen kiosks in the public gallery of Sharp’s new Tokyo world headquarters. “FUTURE LAB” profiled the origins, present state of, and futures of a broad range of technologies. It featured a live-action actor, portraying the legendary scientist Francis Bacon, walking through a museum-like “gallery” of pioneers in science & technology, whose inventions “come to life” through 3D-animation. The interface was based on Bacon’s imagined island of “Bensalem,” where scientists and inventors could freely work and explore nature’s mysteries. Produced by Rainbow Multimedia Group, Rainbow Japan, and Knowledge Farm (Japan). Project profile here. Scripts and storyboards: Part 1, Part 2.
Lodgistix-HMS: “Training Support Package”: LHMS, at the time one of the world’s largest developers of hotel reservationing and property management software, sought to become the first in its industry to deliver all training and support materials for its products via CD-ROM. I wrote the narrative scripts for, designed and directed the production of this 10-lesson multimedia training program, developed to provide entry-level reservation agents throughout the world with a detailed knowledge of LHMS’ new “Lanmark” software, via interactive tutorials and simulations. Features include a 3D-animated game-show host, “Cool Ray Tube,” who guides the user through humorous test modules. Produced by Rainbow Multimedia Group. Project profile here.
“The power of our program far surpasses any training product I have ever seen. The comprehensive quality of the creative consulting, script writing and storyboard design services that Rainbow provided to us was fundamental to creating training materials that brought our program concepts to life, and made the learning process fun and efficient. Congratulations on a job well done.” – John Picardi, Chief Operating Officer, Lodgistix-HMS
Touch Technology International: “Showtime Express – Mall Kiosk”: Touch Technology, Inc. (TTI) was a Scottsdale, AZ-based developer of proprietary public-access transaction systems, which sought to develop a prototype point-of-purchase event ticketing kiosk. I began by designing logos for both TTI (here) and Showtime Express (here), and the storyboard for a multimedia software for the prototype kiosk. The purpose of the demo was to show how users select, via detailed mapping visualizations, specific seats at sporting and entertainment events, then pay for and receive printed tickets. Project profile here.
Japan Industrial Journal: “Scientific Instruments Show Japan – Mapping Kiosk”: I wrote, designed and directed the production of this touch-screen kiosk software program, which was developed to enable attendees at this large international trade show to search for exhibitors by classification, and print out detailed maps of same. Features include a complex animated introduction & screen saver, with various technologies morphing into each other. See project profile and animation storyboard here.
(c) Corporate documentaries
“Wallace Co., Inc: The Road to the Baldrige”: Wallace Co., Inc., was a small supplier of products for the petrochemical industry in Houston, TX, was facing bankruptcy. Wallace was able to save itself by applying the principles of Total Quality Management. Wallace then applied itself to the demanding criteria of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which is presented each year by the President of the United States. I had the privilege of writing, designing and directing the production of the 12:05 documentary video that profiles Wallace’s inspiring journey. Project profile here. This was my debut corporate documentary.
“(This documentary) is the highlight of every presentation… (I) believe in the quotation that, ‘Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.’ That you do so well!”
– Michael Spiess, Executive Vice President, Wallace Co., Inc.
Mississippi Power & Light: “Quality Action Teams”: After the success of my first video documentary for the American Productivity & Quality Center, “Wallace Co., Inc: The Road to the Baldrige” (above), Rainbow Multimedia Group was retained to develop another film – this time, for a subsidiary of Southeast energy giant Entergy. The purpose of the film was to show how MP&L streamlined one aspect of its construction and repair operations, through the application of Total Quality Management procedures. I wrote the script for this training documentary, then directed the production of the film in Jackson, Mississippi. Project profile here.
“Thank you and your crew for a wonderful product, and for the manner in which you went about creating that product. It has been extremely refreshing to work with a vendor who is able to meet schedule, stay within budget, and remain responsive to our requests.”
– Steve Lee, Senior Facilitator, Total Quality Improvement Coordinator, Mississippi Power & Light
SOFTWIND, Ltd. Promotional Video: SWL was a renewable-energy technology engineering firm that developed a new type of water-pumping wind machine, that possesses unparalleled performance characteristics. I was commissioned to design and direct the production of 3D visualizations and animations for SWL’s global marketing program, and an anticipated patent conflict, to illustrate the unique components of its windmill, and how it is assembled and operates, develop an updated version of its corporate logo, and writing the narrative script for a video and interactive CD presentation. Project profile here.
“The animation storyboards and key visualizations you designed were exactly what we needed… to explain our unique windmill technology, how it is assembled, and how and why it works, regardless of language and cultural barriers.”
– William Welch, Vice President, SOFTWIND