Microsoft Local Impact Map
The Local Impact Map shows the community-level, positive human and economic impacts of Microsoft's citizenship efforts around the globe.
Stimulant loves technology that tells a story and makes a difference, so we were especially thrilled when the Microsoft corporate citizenship team asked us to design and build the Microsoft Local Impact Map, which details hundreds of stories about the positive human and economic impacts Microsoft makes around the globe.
We used Microsoft’s own technologies, especially Silverlight and Deep Zoom, to create a map whose look and behavior keeps the focus on what matters most: the positive impact throughout the world made by the corporate citizenship and responsibility programs at Microsoft.
Working closely with representatives from Microsoft’s Corporate Affairs, Citizenship, Branding, Environment, and Research groups, the Local Impact Map evolved out of a need to have a central, public showcase for stories – text, video, and images – that communicated the broad reach of Microsoft’s programs.
We also implemented a feature called “snapshots,” which allows users to “bookmark” any state of the application, so that the content can be sequenced and used as a presentation tool.
We’d like to especially call attention to Microsoft’s willingness to expose this content in a UI that looks hand-drawn and slightly imperfect, reflecting those human attributes that make life wonderfully unpredictable and beautiful. It made the project a complete joy to work on, and we think it exposes a side of Microsoft – its brand and its people – that many people don’t often get to see.
Creating interaction beyond the computer.
From desktop to device, multi-touch to gestural, and portable to permanent, Stimulant creates magical multi-user experiences that bring people together.