HDTV Central

The co-owner of Hi-Tech Companies, Brian Mack, approached ERA404 about his idea for a portal for HD enthusiasts.The final result was implemented into a Design Standards Manual (DSM) and outfitted for further usage on the Web. Upon completion of the identity, the founders of HDTV Central commissioned ERA404 to continue development of the portal.

The initial launch included localized television programming when users enter their zip codes, rapidly growing forums, news culled from dozens of different sources and feeds, and a fully operational shopping cart for the purchase of HDTV systems and accessories.

“I’ve been very pleased with the work ERA404 has done for us. They’ve helped us align our corporate identity ubiquitously through all our materials.”

IT Services Manager
Hi-Tech Companies

Beautiful Children

Author Charles Bock, hired ERA404 to design and develop the web site for his first book, Beautiful Children. The site features seven sections named after the main characters in his novel, that give way to music, videos, artwork, links, blurbs, reviews, message boards, guestbooks, forums, chats and a host of other information about the book and author.

After launching the site, ERA404 created a promotional site (www.slinkyfoxvideo.com) and video—a supposed interview between a teenage runaway and an adult film director—and surreptitiously disseminated it among the web. The video grew virally, reaching thousands of new readers, taking down the site twice and helping the author remain on The New York Times Bestseller list. The video was picked up on Adrants and Gawker leading Hamilton Nolan to call it “truly forward-thinking strategic marketing.”

“Truly forward-thinking strategic marketing.”

Hamilton Nolan
Gawker

Big Beach

The managing partners of Big Beach, Marc Turtletaub, Peter Saraf and Jeb Brody, contacted ERA404 about designing the corporate web presence for their production company, Big Beach. The site features their hero logo animation as an introduction (produced by an independent firm), movies, music, bios and information in a serene, flowing interface reminiscent of their Maui office and namesake, Big Beach. Seagulls soar, waves crash and menu items tumble in this unique and soothing navigation.

“ERA404 has the kind of enormous talent that more than matches their endless enthusiasm. They were able to create something that was coherent, smart, and fun—something we’re proud to have represent us—and they did it quickly and with a love for what they do.”

Jeb Brody, Partner
Big Beach

Michelle Rago “Signature Weddings”

Michelle Rago, NYC-based Weddings and Events planner, hired ERA404 to conceptualize a book to showcase her design process for destination weddings. (Signature Weddings – Creating a Day Uniquely Your Own, Gotham Books 2007). The 230-page book was featured in Modern Bride, The Knot and Martha Stewart Weddings, as well as numerous industry publications and television promotions.

Major League Baseball

David Klinkowize, Senior Compositor at CreativeGroup.TV contacted ERA404 about collaborating on the concepting, design and execution of the Major League Baseball packaging for ESPN. The project consisted of heavily art-directed metropolitan imagery, rendered as high-resolution stills for animation and composite in Autodesk Smoke.

The campaign also featured a custom billboard element for projecting tune-in, sponsor logos, and team names. Imagery was also used in a 2-page full color spread in ESPN magazine, to announce the graphic campaign and baseball season.

The Unnamed, by Joshua Ferris

Little Brown and Company imprint, Reagan Arthur Books, selected ERA404 to design the site for their inaugural release, The Unnamed, by Joshua Ferris. The site features 35 original sound-bytes of mysterious diseases, tracked onto original footage from a Grand Central Terminal security video feed. Fans of Mr. Ferris may also learn about the book, author, and read excerpts, press, praise, watch trailers, listen to audio interviews and follow a host of links by the author.