I.D. Magazine Website Reviews
Published from Nov. 1997 to Present

Betty Massaker invites you to join the online art world of Pixelmassaker.com. Promising a "journey into visualization and mind distortion", the site delivers with a collection of eclectic projects called "trips" ranging from one European's interactive photo excursions in Berlin to an extensive survey of Denmark's design sites. Featuring bright colors, grainy video feedback, and twisted photography, Pixelmassaker also extends its disk space to the masses by allowing individuals to both suggest and post their own URLs.

For web designer, James Tindall, the sheer amount of data is less important than manipulating that data into seamless interaction. Using squares, lines, dots, bitmap graphics and a wide assortment of sound clips, Tindall’s site features 70 visual experiments in timing, 3D space, simulated waves, and zoetrope animations of dancers, birds, and head-less silhouettes. By combining mathematical algorithms with simple forms, Tindall’s compositions ensure a unique experience for every user.

Comprised of animated desktop iconography, playful cartoons, mini-games, and MP3 sound experiments, NYC’s Mach 5 Design explodes onto the scene with v.3.2 of their award winning site. Working together, designers Gregory Kennedy (NYC) and Tomoko Takeue (Japan) showcase their joint obsession with video games and Japanese pop culture. Highlights include a "Screen Killer", networked adventures in TomoTomo land, and an upcoming version of Tetris entitled "Machtris". Cute and clickable, Mach 5 transforms the web into a visual playground.

Websurfing minimalists will have a field day with Redsmoke.com. Minus the growling vampire on the site’s opening screen, Redsmoke disproves the myth that text-based websites are outdated. This site’s oblique narrative style adds to it’s unique flavor. "Platters" professes a deep and intricate comic book story called "Litter" about a guy who finds a tape recorder and that plays some rabid techno while he skitters around in wheelchairs and coffins. With brilliantly executed animations using Flash, this site is a true champion of web obscurity.

The colorful robots that fill Light of Speed’s opening animation fall like radiation soaked snowflakes across a lucid blue background. Representation through simplistic means is the key feature to this futuristic themed site designed by NYC video/multimedia artist David Crawford. "The Experimental Files", with its eighteen pictogram animations featuring male/female bathroom symbols, ovals, and morphing fonts, acts as viewing space that substitutes spinning shapes for user interaction. Vector-based images of babies, planes, aliens, gas masks, DNA, and broken wine glasses permeate Crawford's visual plane, while a clock counts the seconds each visitor spends viewing the works. Finding harmony in simplicity, Light of Speed succeeds by asking its users to invent their own stories for the animations presented.

Created by Matthew V. Mento and designed by NYC web artist David Oppenheim (day-dream.com), Idiodyssey proves that online narratives can be both compelling and aesthetically beautiful. The site details the exploits of Mento and Eric Rosevar (e13.com) in their attempt to construct a giant helium-filled balloon made entirely of weather balloons and soccer nets to lift themselves over central park. Amid Oppenheim's scratchy imagery, super 8 gif animations, and brightly colored background images, Mento describes his relationship with Don Piccard, a 70 year old balloon jumper, who schools him on flying etiquette. Resembling an artist's cut and paste scrapbook of old photographs and autobiographical storytelling, Idiodyssey succeeds as a compelling narrative on gritty side of digital media.

Built as a homage to trash-pop culture, Superbad is another design driven site without a specific agenda. Flashing animated gifs combine with outrageous stories (such as "The Mystery of Monster Mountain (and Captain America)") to produce mind-numbing graphics that correlate only as they differentiate. Themes range from a 70's sunset kiss to the trunk of a Gremlin to the inside of a beehive.With no plug-ins required, Superbad spins a circuitous labyrinth of quick downloads and unique navigation.

With "On Display", Denmark's KALIBER10000 team unveils a unique brand of digital museum. Uncovering the hidden workplace of each designer, "On Display" features desktop backgrounds, patterns, and icon art by hundreds of computer-based artists. Some standouts include Ben Benjamin's (superbad.com) simplistic grey background desktop, Chaga-Signe Bruun (invaders.dk) black and white graffiti-style cartoons and the NYC based Mach 5 Design's 8-bit video game kids. The site also allows visitors to submit their desktops to the collection by filling out a simple description form.

-Jonah Brucker-Cohen