2009-01-29
Old Town,
Here We Come!
Our old offices were getting very cramped for space and it was about time we did something about it. Eager to move in with our new friends at strange I ways, we packed up all our gear and headed over to Old Town, Stockholm's charming medieval city core. Our new address is Bredgränd 5, right around the corner from the Royal Castle. It's a curious setting for a modern IT company, but we quite enjoy the dichotomy. Feel free to drop by for a cup of joe if you're in the neighbourhood!
2009-01-22
Great
Scott!
According to Wikipedia, "Great Scott!" is "an exclamation of surprise or amazement", apparently dating back to the American Civil War and originally referring to General Winfield Scott. Here at Houdini, it also refers to our new colleague and collaborator Scott Lakey at Crew TV. Scott is an extraordinarily experienced and skilled video producer with an international pedigree and tons of very impressive productions to his credit. We're very happy to be working with him and hope you will be, too.
2009-01-16
We're worthy.
Credit worthy!
We're proud to announce that Houdini have been awarded the rating "highest credit worthiness" by UC, the leading business and credit information agency in Sweden. This rating calculates the probability of a company becoming insolvent within the coming 12 months and is thus a measure of the financial health of a company. In these troubled financial times, it feels extra nice to know we're in good shape to tough it out.
2009-01-12
Johan #2
reports for duty
Things are getting rather busy at Houdini. So busy that we needed to staff up on the project management side, or things could get ugly quick. Enter Johan Lundin, entrepreneurial project manager and general good guy with his eyes on the ball at all times. Johan will coordinate our teams, ensure that projects meet with client approval and are delivered in a timely fashion.
2008-12-12
It's that time
of year again...
Which time is that, you may ask? Why, the time of deadlines snowstorms and frantic giftshopping of course! A time we old-fashionedly used to refer to as "Christmas", but which has now transmogrified into a religion-neutral occurrence known as "The Holidays". At Houdini, we cheerfully say "Ho Ho Ho" to all our dear clients and collaborators, and wish you all a wonderful, wintery time. See you in 2009!
2008-12-01
New year,
new ideas?
As times get increasingly tougher and the belt gets tightened yet another notch, we understand that for most of our clients, 2009 will be a year when cost-efficiency is king. Together with ur new collaborator Strangeways, we therefore wish to invite all our clients to a creative workshop where we look ahead to the new year and help you get the most bang for your marketing buck. Lunch is on us! Choose any date between January 13-15th, 20-22nd and 27-29th.
2008-11-28
For rent: 80 sqm
of coziness
It's time we faced it: we have outgrown our cozy Kungsholmen digs for quite some time now. With our eyes on the swanky Old Town offices we plan to share with close collaborator Strangeways, it's time we got the hell outta Dodge and found someone to take over our Garvargatan contract. So if you're searching for a cozy space for 4-5 people (approx 80 sqm), complete with kitchen, bathroom, built-in safe and a gorgeous outdoor patio, look no further.
2008-11-24
Transport
yourself...
...over to The Transport World, the engrossing virtual place for everyone interested in a career in the transport trades. Houdini developed this immersive virtual environment for TYA, the Vocational Training and Working Environment Council, to get those youngsters planning for a future career behind the wheel of a truck, or perhaps inside a hangar or on a loading dock. Explore the Transport World and all shall be revealed!
2008-11-19
Salutations Strangeways!
Collaboration is one of those funny things - when it works, it just comes naturally, and almost makes it appear as if nothing has changed. Which is exactly how it was with Houdini and Strangeways, our new collaboration partner. We can't say exactly when it started or how it happened, it just did. But we CAN tell you, we can't see it ending any time soon. We're excited to see where this could take us - together we'll definitely be a force to reckon with.
2008-11-06
Migration in
motion
Together with long-time collaborator Heimore, Houdini have secured a bid to create an online information platform for regional Stockholm political authority Länsstyrelsen, and their ongoing project to welcome immigrants and refugees to the Stockholm region. The assignment revolves around creating a useful and informative website, an appealing design and printed information material. We are also looking to add streaming video to the mix.
2008-11-01
Dressed to
the 9:s
For us Houdinites, Halloween means much more than trick-or-treating and remembering loved ones who have passed away. It is also a time to dress up and and celebrate, for on this very day in the year 1999, our company was brought into the world. It's been a blast, but we have to confess at this point, some nine years later, it is starting to become somewhat difficult to blow out all those candles on the birthday cake...
2008-10-30
Sought by
the police
National Swedish police authority Rikspolisstyrelsen have put their trust in Houdini to develop a platform for web-based e-learning, and to produce the first three online courses for said platform. Parts of the platform will be created in Flash and integrated with the client's LMS (Learning Management System), while other parts will consist of a template-based Adobe Captivate solution, to enable the client's educators to produce their own material.
2008-09-03
Do the iShake!
Houdini tech wiz Johan Lavenius barely even waited to take his brand new iPhone 3G out of the box before he posted his first iPhone app in the App Store. "Shake PWD" is a nifty little password generator, where all you have to do to enhance your security is to give the phone a shake, and it gives you a new, randomized password.
2008-08-18
Rest insured
It's official, we've gone and bagged us a Big Fish. One of the US insurance giants, who for contractual reasons must remain nameless, are relying on Houdini to get DVDs out to their agents nationwide. We'll be in charge of DVD-authoring, menu design and packaging. And - hopefully - more to come!
2008-08-01
Green and global
After a long string of campaign websites, we are happy to say that we are once again working with DHL. Our signature on one of those pesky Non-Disclosure Agreeements prohibits us from revealing anything about this project for the moment, but rest assured - you will be the first to know more about it once we're done.
2008-06-27
Iconic design
For most people, July means sunshine, vacation and hanging out at the beach. For us though, it usually means work. This year, work came in the shape of 200 Windows style icons. We were asked to do interface design for new client Teleopti and gladly accepted. The beach is overrated anyhow.
2008-04-30
Good luck Gitta!
Houdini scriptwriter and usability expert Gitta Wilén is not someone to trifle with. Especially if you happen to be standng in her way this upcoming weekend. You see, she's on her way to the national championships in Naginata, a Japanese martial art involving the particularly aggressive wielding of a highly intimidating pole weapon. We just wanted to wish Gitta good luck and give her a well intended kick in the behind, for good measure. We hope she kicks some serious butt and gets back in one piece
2008-04-25
Keep truckin'
If you happen to be out and about in Sweden on your vacation this summer and see a huge eighteen-wheeler, striped with TYA graphics saying "Bli Yrkesförare Nu!", you can tell your friends you know who designed it - Houdini! TYA, the national Swedish association for the transport trades, is taking their student recruitment campaign on the road - a campaign for which Houdini have been producing websites during the past year. Interested in a career in the transport trade? Keep looking out for that truck, it's coming your way!
2008-04-25
April digest
April was a busy month for us at Houdini, but we still managed to squeeze in a few little things that might not really warrant a full news blurb. So let us sum them up quickly: we did a small banner ad campaign for Nackademin, to encourage students to apply to their 3D- and IT-programs. We also did a series of trade show rollups for TYA and Sensus (yes indeedy - we do print work at Houdini as well!) and are currently servicing Pilot Pen with brochure production work. So does this mean we're becoming a traditional ad agency? Nope, but we like to help out if we can, even if clients are asking for things we don't typically do.
2008-04-23
Chicago crunch
If you've been reading this news column regularly, you may already know we are incorporated in the US of A. Perhaps you're wondering what's going on "over there"? Well, rest assured, we definitively haven't been idle.The past months have seen projects initiated for a diverse number of clients, such as Marketing Alternatives (a marketing fulfillment agency), Chicago Hauntings (one of Chicago's premier guided tour companies), Pete Luongo Photo (legendary motorsport photographer) and a campaign website for a big upcoming summer event, The S:t Mary Pork & Corn Roast. If you're curious, the work will as always be presented in the portfolio.
2008-04-21
Let us manage
your website!
Houdini have long been content to simply create and/or promote our clients' websites. But now the demand for editorial web services have gotten too big for us to ignore. So we are now also managing websites, editing and updating according to the highest journalistic standards. Get in touch with us and let us explain why outsourcing your web makes a lot of sense!
2008-04-16
Wooden CEO caught on video
New client Sveaskog, Swedens largest forest owner and wholly owned by the Swedish State, came to AV-Poolen and Houdini with an interesting challenge: how to communicate strategic goals and key processes internally? We suggested an online video interview with the Sveaskog CEO, and went straight to work producing it. Expect results in the portfolio shortly!
2008-03-10
SWECO share-
holders shot
SWECO, the leading engineering, environmental technology and architecture consultancy in the Nordic region, decided that Internet distributed video was the best platform to reach out with a briefing on what was said at the annual shareholder's meeting. They chose AVC AV-Lab and Houdini to carry out the post-production work and adapt the footage for the company website.
2008-03-18
A Creature of
the Past?
Our by now rather voluminous new media experience is something we get to apply in practice in our daily work at Houdini. But sometimes that experience comes out in written form as well, such as in this trade mag article we just wrote about the future prospects of the web agency biz. Want to read it? We'd love to hear what you think about it.
2008-02-11
The Flash-
tastic 2
Not only are Houdini involved in overall program management at the Nackademin school of new media, we also handle specific courses from time to time. So when the educational call to action came last time, fellow techies Johan Lavenius and newbie Christian Ekberg pooled their intellectual resources together and set off for Nackademin to teach the youngsters something about Flash and Actionscript programming.
2008-02-10
OKQ8 -
it's a gas!
Major Swedish gasoline company OKQ8, a chain with over 750 stations, turned to Houdini to teach its gas station/convenience store attendants the noble art of upselling. We hired actors to play out little educational skits, showing how to handle customers and promote extra purchases. The resulting video footage is now being processed and will appear in a portfolio near you very soon.
2008-02-01
S.A.T.S.
slamdunk
Scandinavian gym chain S.A.T.S. is increasingly relying on video to tell their story these days, especially when it comes to internal communication. They returned to Houdini and asked us to produce a film that would communicate corporate values and encourage all their employees to set goals for themselves and strive for perfection. In short: to show the company's commitment to development and self-fulfillment.
2008-02-01
Double
Internship
Being involved in the Nackademin new media school has its perks - we attract the attention of many talented students looking for a place to do their internships. The past few months, we've been fortunate to have fellow students Marie Lambertsson and Magnus Grönberg with us. We have to say, not only are these guys talented and very useful - they even teach us a few things in return! And, hrm, they also lower our median age substantially...
2008-01-28
Trouble in Thailand
You gotta hand it to our new colleague Jonas - he is not one to back down from a challenge! When long-time client and travel agency Temaresor called and needed someone to go to Thailand and shoot a documentary, Jonas immediately volounteered and packed his bags. And the challenge didn't end there. After a few days of shooting, our DV-camera just up and died, right there on the spot. But that didn't stop Jonas. He promptly took a cab to the Bangkok airport and did what any tourist would have done: he bought a little hand-held camera and kept shooting! The camera was duty-free as well, so not only did he fulfill his mission - he saved money too!
2008-01-17
Internet World
R Us
Each month, Scandinavian trade mag Internet World issues a challenge called "the Dream Assignment". The web agency chosen for the challenge gets to select a website to redesign and it all comes out in the shape of a nice, usually quite inspiring article. For the #1 issue of 2008, Houdini were asked to pick a site we would like to redesign and elaborate on our choice. We chose Skansen, a famous outdoor museum and tourist landmark in Stockholm. And from the looks of it, we may even get to produce the site - Skansen got in touch immedtately and expressed a strong interest. Keep watching this space and we'll keep you updated.
2008-01-16
Cheers
Christian!
After long and difficult search, we finally found a new Flash virtuoso in Christian Ekberg, who joins the company after having impressed us with his nimble actionscript programming. We found a possible source for this talent: Christian happens to be an avid downhill skier. Perhaps some of those quick-footed, well-balanced slalom maneuvers have rubbed off on his programming? Christian learned his chops at Blekinge Tekniska Högskola but, being the ambitious guy that he is, he wasn't satisfied with what he learned and kept honing his Actionscript skills. At Houdini, we're happy to reap the fruits of this quest for perfection.
2008-01-04
Jonas
joins!
Sometimes the "Contacts" page gets updated more frequently than this news page... What can we say - we've been frightfully busy the past few months. So let's recap and welcome the latest addition to the Houdini contact page: Jonas Thorén! Jonas is an established and accomplished artist who uses both the paintbrush, the camera and the computer to express himself. This multi-tasking talent comes in extremely handy at Houdini, for we are nothing if not versatile! Jonas will help out with video production and 3D but, most importantly, he will be our main man at Nackademin, school for future new media professionals, from now on. He will also tutor the students in Maya.
2008-01-02
Here´s looking
at you, kid!
At Houdini we´re busy practicing writing "2008" and looking back at one of the most successful years in Houdini´s history. We´re eagerly looking forward to the coming year, and what better way to start it off by wishing all of you a happy new year? So from all of us at Houdini, to all of you out there on the Internet and beyond, a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2008-01-02
A new year,
a new chair?
Hot on the heels of one of our best years ever, we want to remind you that we're looking to add to our roster of skilled and talented individuals! We´re looking for a versatile production manager, a Flash developer with an eye for both code and graphics and a programmer with a flair for both front- and back-end. Think you´ve got what it takes?
2007-12-14
Don´t be a
stranger, Lena!
After spending another year with the crew at Houdini, Lena Dolata, illustrator extraordinaire, is now making plans for exciting new projects at the cutting edge of entertainment! Sadly that means that she´ll no longer be sitting at our office at Kungsholmstorg, Stockholm, Sweden. But hey, don´t be a stranger, Lena!
2007-11-15
Head out on
the highway...
Are you longing for the open road? Well, if you´re planning to go to school in Sweden you can always look into what professional driving vocational training is available at the new website of TYA, www.yrkesforare.se. Houdini took the wheel, fired up the engine and delivered the web site.
2007-11-01
Another year
bites the dust!
Clearing the cobwebs covering our office calendar, we just realized that today it´s been eight years since Houdini started, the 1st of November 1999. Funny, it seems like yesterday. We´d like to think we´re older and wiser if only that didn´t sound so boring and stodgy... Oh well, here´s to another eight - at least!
2007-10-15
Time to get down
to 3Business
We were clearly doing something right with the previously produced 3Music and 3Mobile TV guides (see newsitem 2007-07-09) because the client just returned and asked us to give their business services the same treatment. We´re recharging those Flash batteries and starting up!
2007-10-14
What´s in
your toolbox?
Does your toolbox contain the right tools for landing a job at Houdini? If you think it does, give us a call right this minute! We´re looking for a versatile production manager, a Flash developer with an eye for both code and graphics and a programmer with a flair for both front- and back-end. Think you´ve got what it takes?
2007-10-01
Learn
To Earn
Brazilian hardwood flooring manufacturer BR-111, the largest in South America, are launching a retail bonus program called Learn To Earn. As part of this program, Houdini have been hired to produce an educational Flash-based video training module to help retail sales people maximize their sales.
2007-09-04
TYA targeting
teenagers
In representing the transport trades, Houdini client TYA works to inform teenagers about the tranport trades as a viable career option. One big goal that has been on the horizon for a long time is the creation of a common website for all the different professions covered by TYA. Houdini has been put in charge of developing this website, tentatively called Yrkesvärlden – The Vocational World.
2007-08-24
Hi there,
Hannes!
As our video production business is starting to really take off, we finally realized we had to staff up or get completely buried in work. Video production- and After Effects wiz Hannes Hagstrand was a godsend. Hannes, a veteran of more than 10 years and a true video powerhouse with his own production business, has not been idle since we hired him. Expect to see results in the portfolio!
2007-08-20
TYA training
tribulations
Long-time client TYA (the national Swedish association for the transport trades) have one major thing on their agenda: training. The transport trades employ thousands of people whose daily work can sometimes be quite hazardous. And Houdini is here to train those people in how to improve safety conditions in their workplace. This time around, we´re zeroing in on crane operators.
2007-08-15
Feel the burn
with S.A.T.S.
Leading Nordic fitness chain S.A.T.S. are no strangers to using video for both corporate and marketing purposes. Houdini are excited to announced that S.A.T.S. chose us to capture their vibrant, energetic corporate culture. We´re already in the proverbial starting blocks, ready to sweat it out in the video studio. Who knows, perhaps this assignment will turn us all into fitness fanatics?
Dial 3
for 3G
Innovative 3G mobile operator 3 (part of international telecom giant Hutchison-Whampoa) are launching powerful new mobile music- and TV-services and contacted Houdini to produce Flash-based streaming video guides to all the new features. We opened up the BIG toolbox and got cracking. Who needs a vacation anyway? The results are coming to a portfolio near you any day now.
2007-07-01
Talk
to
Tom!
As part of our efforts to launch Houdini in the US, we´ve enlisted the services of business developer extraordinaire Tom Stahler. Tom´s mission will be to put us in front of as many prospective clients and collaborators as possible. Keep watching this space if you´re interested in getting an update on how it´s going!
2007-06-31
Houdini
International
We´re very proud to announce that Houdini are now officially incorporated in the US of A. The latest addition to the Houdini group is humbly called Houdini International LLC and was registered with the Illinois state authorities on June 31st of 2007. Interested in what Houdini´s US branch can do for you? E-mail us or call us on (773) 598-8860.
2007-05-19
Greetings
Gitta!
It´s almost a bit redundant at this point to introduce our latest recruit, multi-talented scriptwriter and usability expert Gitta Wilén, since she´s been with the company for quite some time now. But we don´t want to be unfair - especially since she could seriously kick our butts with her considerable martial arts skills...
2007-04-05
Easter
approaching
We can hear the chirping of perky little yellow chickens and the hop-hop-hopping of the Easter Bunny around the corner. Easter is here! There are eggs to be boiled and mounds of Easter-candy to be devoured. Therefore, the Houdini offices will be closed from April 5th through 8th.
2007-04-01
Baste Seter
in memoriam
It is with deep sadness we´ve received the news of the passing of Baste Seter, father of Houdini founder Magnus Seter. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Seter family and thank clients and collaborators in advance for your understanding.
2007-03-23
Have HD-cam,
will travel
What do you say when a client asks you to fly to Lanzarote to shoot a travel documentary? Well, if you´re commando movie-maker André Gottfridsson, you definitely don´t say no! Which is why, as we´re writing this, he´s sweating over his trusted HD-camera in the equatorial sun on behalf of client Fritidsresor.
2007-03-19
Let us
illustrate
High quality illustration and animation has been a cornerstone in Houdini´s business since the founding of the company in 1999. So we thought it was about time we showed off our illustration chops. Hence the most recent addition to our online portfolio, dedicated exclusively to the noble art of illustration.
2007-03-12
ERG
is the
ticket
Our year-long involvement with ticketing system developers ERG is culminating as you´re reading this, with the roll-out of an educational strategy to tie-in with the implementation of a new infrastructure and smart card ticketing solution for Stockholm regional public transportation company SL. Houdini brought our extensive pedagogical expertise to the table.
2007-03-06
Ach
du Liber
eLearning
We´re excited to announce that we´re currently in talks with Liber, part of major European educational publisher Wolters Kluwer, to adapt multimedia material for the web, and also to produce new material in the future. This is another part of Houdini´s ongoing effort to strengthen our presence in the field of eLearning, a discipline that has been central to Houdinis approach to digital communication.
2007-02-27
Blue
pill or
red pill ?
While our latest Tech Data sales campaign, Pirates of the Mediterranean, is still up and running, we picked up a little bonus assignment. Tech Data are preparing for an IT security seminar and asked Houdini to help out with a concept, microsite and printed collateral. We were, as always, happy to oblige. The concept, we can reveal in strict confidentiality, is based on The Matrix.
2007-02-06
Architecture
online
Prominent Stockholm architect firm Öberg Arkitekter is next in line to be Houdini-fied. We´re hard at work developing a portfolio website for them and believe the results, as always, will be something to feast your eyes on.
So is there one of those "under construction" sites for me to look at while I´m waiting?>
2007-02-01
Houdini
on
Montrose Avenue
As of today, Houdini are officially established in Chicago, US-of-A. We just moved into a great office on Montrose Avenue, on the north side of town. Call us! The number is 773-598 8860, if you´re calling from the US that is. Calling from Sweden? Try 08-519 710 60.
Invite yourself to come have a look-see - we´ll make you a mean cappuccino!>
2007-01-24
Shooting
Audi-o-video
Flash-based video on the Net is really getting going - like a souped-up Audi R8! Which, incidentally (no, it was TOTALLY incidental, promise!,) we were just hired to produce a promotional launch video for. We´ve got our HD cam ready and revved up!
2007-01-10
Ikea
become
Houdini-fied
It´s not a huge assignment by any means but we´re very happy about it anyhow, and very proud to be able to add Ikea to our list of illustrious clients. We´re producing a microsite for Ikea´s line of home safety products, Patrull. Don´t worry, we´ll make sure you won´t need an Allen wrench to use the site...
2007-01-01
High-flying plans for TYA
Now it can be told: our next assignment for TYA, the client with the less-than-handy unabbreviated name The Vocational Training and Working Environment Council (Transport Trades), will be a promotional website for youngsters wanting to become airplane mechanics.
Sounds totally fly - let me know when you´re finished with it>
2006-12-23
Hot
diggety
fidgets!
We´ve just started working on our very first American assignment: a website for a stylish brand of children´s room accessories: Digits in Fidgets, produced by Houston-based company Pierrot´s Alphabet and surely soon to be featured in every interior design mag on the planet... To begin with, we´re creating a Flash-based site hopefully as stylish as the products. Later, we will also equip the site with a full e-commerce solution to make sure these cool products get distributed as far and as frequently as possible. Do you have a kid´s birthday coming up? Look no further for the perfect gift!
2006-12-21
Shiver
me
timbers!
Christmas time is usually startup time for Tech Data sales campaigns here at Houdini and this year is no exception - we´ve just signed on for a seventh consecutive campaign site, to support a sales competition among IT product retailers buying from Tech Data. The concept for this new campaign will be "Pirates of the Caribbean", a theme tied in with the upcoming premier of the third installment in thepopular Johnny Depp pirate movie series. We do love them pirates so we´ll be pulling out all the stops to create something very special. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!
Arrrr matey, ye gots to tell us more 'bout that tharr pyrate campaign!>
2006-12-19
Sensus
working
overtime
To manage the mad rush to finish all this year´s study programs for new client Sensus, an adult educational association, we had to pile together all of our collective faculties - rest assured that we had not just one or two but in fact 1-2-3-4-5 senses working overtime! Under the expert supervision of Sensus design veteran Magnus Häglund, we all contributed and got everything ready for printing just in time before Xmas. Want to know how everything turned out? Visit Sensus and order a study program and you can see for yourself! Who knows, maybe you´ll even feel like taking a few courses?
That 1-2-3-4-5 part seems familiar somehow... What does it mean?>
2006-12-11
Glögg
is
served
Magnficent Stockholm restaurant Baguz was the location for our combined 7th anniversary and Xmas shindig, a cozy little event shared with a good number of friends among colleagues and clients alike. We celebrated with glögg and exquisite snack food and a brilliant storytelling lecture by good friend and ace comic book artist Patrik Norrman. Wish you were there? You should!
Make sure
not to miss
the next event!>
Show me the way to Baguz, I´m hungry!>
What about that lecture - any chance of catching it some other time?>
2006-10-31
Seven
is the
magic number
October 31st 2006 marks the 7th anniversary of Houdini. Even though magician extraordinaire Harry Houdini, who incidentally passed away on this very date some 81 years ago, definitely didn´t put his faith in luck or in numerology, we still have a feeling that seven really IS the magic number. Why? Try this trick:
1. Think of any whole number less than 700.
2. Get a calculator and divide your number by 7.
3. Add up the first six digits that appear after the decimal point. If you got no decimals, try again from the top with a different number.
4. E-mail Harry using the link below to see if he´s managed to divine your number.
Harry, what´s the magic number?>
2006-10-13
The
more,
the merrier
We´ve enjoyed the company of esteemed colleague and stellar programmer Andrea Backström for a little while now. Andrea´s helped us out with some Action Script programming in a couple of Flash projects and as always, the result is top notch.
We realized we like having company so much we decided to invite another dear old friend and colleague: Lena Dolata, virtuoso 3D-animator and illustrator, who has worked with us during two previous periods. She´s will be sitting here for a year before moving on to other challenges.
So what about you? Bored with your own company, tired of sitting all alone in your office, talking to yourself? Why not give us a call? We´ve got a cozy office, our tables are big and adjust electronically AND we still have those snazzy Aeron chairs. To paraphrase Humphrey Bogart: this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
2006-09-25
Instantly
interactive
If you happened to be in our neck of the woods in late September and walked around Kungsholmen - our part of Stockholm - you might have become first-hand witness to a curious sight: commando filmmaking Gottfridsson-style.
You see, our dear CEO is not only the head of the company, he is also a one-man movie production company. And recently, he´s been running around town with our brand new HD camera, carrying it mounted on its tripod, ready to shoot in an instant.
So what´s up? Well, you´ll be able to see the results in a little while but we can tell you this much: it´s going to be action-packed, it´s going to be interactive and it´s going to be streaming video in Flash. If André can only say those magic words "That´s a wrap" and get down to editing all that footage...
2006-09-05
Blistering
Banco
banner bonanza
Our good friends over at Trackster - the friendly RM-agency - called in a bit of a frenzy. Two separate campaign sites, and banners to go with them, for long-time client Banco had to be whipped out in less than three weeks. Could we do this? Why, of course! We rolled up our collective sleeves, knuckled down and got to work immediately.
Banco needed two separate campaign sites for two different investment packages: Banco Trygg, which consists of the three investment funds Garantifonden, Banco Hedge and Penningmarknad Plus; and Banco BRIC, which covers the new high-risk investment territories of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
We produced two campaign sites and a smattering of banners to go with them, without hardly even breaking a sweat.
2006-07-25
Destination:
Dubai
Numbers don´t lie: we´ve just signed on for a sixth consecutive Tech Data sales campaign, so we clearly must be doing something right! This time, TechData have asked us to provide the web support for a sales competition where first prize is a trip to Dubai, all expenses paid! We´re excited of course, but to be completely honest, we´re also kinda bummed out that we can´t take part in the actual competition ourselves...
2006-07-24
Presenting:
Peter!
After six years in the business, we know recruitment can sometimes be really hard – but sometimes it´s as easy as a walk in the park. Like when graphic design and Flash ace Peter Johansson sent us his portfolio. There wasn´t much to think about really – we asked Peter to sign on the dotted line, and he did! So now we have a home-base designer too, to complement our wayward Chicago-based art director (see below).
2006-07-11
No
fretting over
sports betting
Daytime Media House provides expert services in sports betting, offering a rich plethora of both analytical and media products for betting companies as well as TV networks and publishers. Houdini just signed a deal with DMH where we will produce an interactive tool for live sports reporting, mainly soccer and hockey. The tool will of course be developed in Flash, and connected to DMH:s back-end system.
2006-06-12
Johan
joins!
We´re admittedly picky about accepting interns at Houdini. For an internship to be truly worthwhile to both the intern and the company, it needs to be treated more or less as a proper employment. This means when we DO occasionally accept interns, we´re probably going to hire them eventually. And intern Johan Lavenius, programming whiz kid from Nackademin, didn´t disappoint us. Which is why he is now upgrading to employee.
2006-06-02
Go
west
old man!
The call of the west eventually turned out to be too strong for Houdini founder and art director Jerker Sojdelius. He´ll spend the summer in Chicago and who knows – by the time he returns, there might even be a Houdini office established over there. Keep checking this space!
2006-05-22
Oh
Mia
oh my
We promise, there will be no more amateurish attempts on our part to try and emulate the skills of a project manager. We need a real pro. Luckily, Mia Arnell – sharp-witted, straight-shooting PM from the realm of educational video production – was available and interested, so we hired her. Just like that.
2006-05-14
Prof. Harrison´s lecturama pt 2
Our dear colleague Nikko Harrison hardly even had time to sit down after his return to the office from his last lecture, before there was another phone call urging him out on further scholastic adventures. This time, it´s Nackademin who are in need of his Flash expertise.
2006-05-07
No
less than
Heimore!
There´s this cool little IT consultancy called Heimore. They´re friends of ours. And they´re damn good, too. So when Heimore CEO Anders Andersson called to ask if we could help them out with a little Java expertise, we didn´t have to think twice. This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
2006-05-03
Prof. Harrison´s lecturama pt 1
New recruit Nikko Harrison had barely even set foot inside the Houdini office before his services were urgently called for – as a lecturer! For a few days, Nikko will take on the students at Södertörns Högskola. The topic? Why, Flash of course! That is what Nikko knows best.
2006-05-02
Ergonomics
in
the driving seat
As part of our strategic push back into eLearning, Houdini have signed an agreement with TYA (The Vocational Training and Working Environment Council (Transport Trades)) to produce the first in a series of online courses in ergonomics for people employed in the transportation business.
2006-04-05
In
the
Nikk-o’ time
It´s not often that we spend hours and hours checking out the portfolio of a prospective employee, but when Nikko Harrison sent us the link to his "Space Academy" game, we simply couldn´t help ourselves. And when we saw his CV, well, there was no point in dilly-dallying. Welcome, Nikko!
2006-04-30
Gotland
is
our land
There has always been great love at Houdini for the island of Gotland, a small chunk of limestone in the middle of the Baltic Sea. And now, thanks to the recruitment of ace designer and illustrator Magnus Häglund, based in Björkanderska Magasinet in Visby harbour, we are proud to announce that we now have a Gotland branch!
2006-04-01
Two
out,
two in
We´re sad to report the parting of ways between Houdini and techies Torgil Hellman and Tomas Isby. But at the same time, we´re elated to announce that the reinforcements have arrived in the shape of seasoned IT veterans Anders Thyberg and Niclas Ahlstrand. Welcome, guys! You´ve been sorely missed.
2006-03-29
3Com
preferred
supplier
If there´s an extra bounce in our step these days, it´s because we´ve been chosen Preferred Supplier by Fortune 500 giant 3Com. We will be helping the Nordic branch of 3Com with their marketing and will take part in their partner solution, Marketing Store.
2006-03-28
Going environ-mental
Houdini´s strategic partnership with IT giant WM-data has already paid off – together, we just won a major public bid for a web-based learning solution about environmental issues. The client is Stockholm Stad and the goal is to teach high school students about sustainable development.
2006-03-10
eLearning
taking off
When Houdini first started out, eLearning represented probably close to half our business. Over the years, we´ve drifted away from this particular discipline, but we´re happy to say we´re once more giving it a serious go – and so far, it´s looking really good!
2006-03-01
StarShine
Legacy
Scriptwriter Magnus Seter managed to find time in his busy schedule for cranking out dialogue for the upcoming computer game "StarShine Legacy", by Swedish developer Hidden Dinosaur. Although not a huge undertaking on Magnus´ behalf, we welcome any opportunity we can find to stay involved in game design.
2006-02-23
CAP
& Design
yet again
IDG design mag CAP & Design came calling again to ask us analyze and evaluate Swedish news sites. Jerker rose to the challenge and enlisted the help of friend and colleague Jakob Westman. The result was published in issue #4 of CAP & Design.
2006-02-13
Money
in
the Banco
Together with our old friends at the esteemed RM-agency Trackster, we´ve created a spiffy, educational campaign site to explain the benefits of setting aside money for your retirement in Garantifonden. The solution features streaming Flash video courtesy of Qbrick.
2006--02-10
Rescapists
caught on paper
After getting his feet wet in comic book scriptwriting with an episode of "The Phantom" last year, Magnus has now taken the plunge and created a comic all his own: "The Rescapists". Well, OK, his co-creator Patrik Norrman (("Bacon & Egg") did have a rather substantial part in it too...
2006-01-30
Read
online,
pay with SMS
Ever been annoyed to find your favourite comic book all sold out at the news stand? Well, we´ve got the solution to that! Together with comic book artists Jonas Darnell ("Herman Hedning"), Patrik Norrman ("Bacon & Egg") and Mikael Grahn ("Illustrerad Djävulskap") and mobile tech gurus IMS, Houdini developed a site where you can read your comics online and pay through your cellphone!
2006-01-23
Fast,
faster,
Fast Quiz
Yes indeedy, it´s Tech Data time again for Houdini! This time, IT product distributor Tech Data asked Houdini to continue spinning the wheel that was set in motion with the quiz show spoof Flashback last summer. The new quiz game will be called Fast Quiz, a concept involving trivia questions about the biggest IT product brands in the Tech Data portfolio.
2005-12-07
Merry merry, happy happy!
We´ve gathered that it is no longer considered to be politically correct to wish someone a Merry Christmas. Apparently, there are other religions that have entirely different holidays and who find Christmas offensive - who´d have thought, huh? So anyway, in the spirit of cultural understanding, from all of us to all of you: a merry merry and a happy happy!
2005-12-07
Day-o!
Vi-daaay-o!
With video tycoon André Gottfridsson at the helm, Houdini are steering with daring and great resolve into the uncharted waters of moving images on the web. So far, we can see assignments for Banco, SKF, Temaresor, EKA Chemicals, Ericsson and Grand Hotel on the horizon. We´re getting our nets ready for the big catch.
2005-11-01
New
king
of the hill
It didn´t take new guy André very long to impress us. In fact, he´s impressed us so much we´ve decided to hand him the keys to the executive washroom. So from today, Houdini are proud to announce a brand new CEO: André Gottfridsson! Former CEO Jerker Sojdelius steps down to focus on more creative endeavors. ”I´m excited”, says André. ”There´s a tremendous potential here and I´m going to make sure we fulfil it”.
2005-10-31
Happy
Houdini
Halloween!
For those of you who aren´t familiar with the Houdini mythology, the 31st of October means something much more than Halloween - it is also the birthdate of the company Houdini and, coincidentally, the anniversary of famed magician Harry Houdini´s death. Apparently, there´s a seance held in his memory every year to see if he will reach out from the other side, but to us at the company that bears his name, Harry is always present - at least in spirit.
2005-10-24
Pilot Pen
pilot project
We finally got around to making something out of all those countless lunch conversations we´ve had with our esteemed tenants Information Mediasystem, knowledgeable in the field of mobile payment solutions. The first result of this collaboration is a slick little refill shop for pen manufacturer Pilot Pen that will help them manage their ongoing client support needs at a sustainable level.
2005-10-17
Isby in da Warehouse
We haven´t seen much of our dear colleague Tomas Isby recently. But that´s because he´s been busy elsewhere - at inWarehouse to be more precise. Tomas is building a web-based point-of-sales system, to be tied into the inWarehouse e-commerce solution already in development. So why would an e-tailer like inWarehouse need an in-store system you might ask? Why, because they´re opening a cool little store-slash-showroom on posh Birger Jarlsgatan in Stockholm.
2005-10-13
The
Spa Who
Loves Us
Ever heard of Bad Blumau? It´s a way cool spa in southern Austria, designed by visionary artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000). We sent our agent 007 Gottfridsson down there to do a videoshoot, documenting a conference arranged by Stockholms Specialresor for major Swedish bank FöreningsSparbanken. The result will be aired in Flash video format in a portfolio near you very soon.
2005-10-06
Consulted
by
consultants
It´s not an everyday occurrence that we are invited by a major Swedish IT consultancy to partner with them. So when WM-data called to discuss a strategic collaboration, we were positively thrilled. Of course, it helps that some of the Houdini people are former WM-data employees. Time will tell what will come out of this partnership, but there is no denying there is chemistry between us. We think WM-data will find use for the Houdini pizzazz and we in turn could definitely use their extensive knowledge base.
2005-09-28
Interactive
illusions
True to form, it didn´t take scriptwriter Magnus Seter very long to come up with a brilliant topic for a brand new lecture and then take it out on the road. So far, he´s talked about the illusionary nature of interactivity on three separate occasions in Örebro and Karlskoga. One of these days, we´re going to have to get him to commit this lecture to video, for the whole world to see.
2005-09-06
Micro marketing machine
Curtesy of strategic genious Torgil Hellman, we´ve signed yet another deal in the world of IT-product distribution. Our task this time is to help Fortune 500 company Ingram Micro sharpen their marketing skills on the Swedish market. We´re in the process of building an interactive marketing tool (tentatively named Balthazar™) that will help Ingram Micro segment the Swedish market and pinpoint recipients, messages and channels for their marketing efforts.
2005-08-15
Return
of
the Magnus
It´s been almost eighteen months since our good buddy Magnus Seter was last seen on the Houdini premises and we´ve really missed him. So that´s why we´re absolutely delighted to announce his return to the company! Once again, we´re equipped to deliver top-notch scripts, engaging stories, clever game design and a sharp eye for pedagogical and informative content. Make sure to schedule a meeting with Magnus if you want to put that unique Houdini spin on your e-learning projects!
2005-08-10
Flashback
from the 80:s
Once again, Houdini are proud and completely stoked to reveal yet another cool TechData sales campaign. We´re only in the early stages of this one but it´ll be something to behold for sure once it´s done. The theme for this one is Flashback and the campaign will be centered around a retro quiz show with a lot of fun questions from that most infamous of decades – the 1980:s! As usual, the playful external part of the campaign is combined with a very clever connection to the TechData e-commerce system that maximizes the usefulness of the solution.
2005-08-01
Aloha
André!
With the addition of seasoned communicator and video production veteran André Gottfridsson to the Houdini roster, we´re boldly moving into the exciting business of moving pictures. André will, together with project manager Mattias Gisgård, be in charge of a brand new business area that we´ve decided to call Houdini Productions. Look no further if you need quick, qualitative digital production of any kind for use on the Net, on DVDs or in mobile channels.
2005-06-30
Anybody bound for Gotland?
At long last, it´s time for vacation again! This year, we thought it´d be convenient if we all went on vacation at the same time, so we´ve decided to close the office during all of July. We have a sneaking suspicion one or two of us won´t be able to stay away that long, but at least one or two weeks of fun in the sun on Gotland is mandatory.
2005-06-08
Big,
bigger,
Big TV
Houdini are very excited to announce our recent signing with new TV-station Big TV. We will be involved in the launch of the new station and are making big plans for the launch website. It´ll be something really special! Sorry, we´re not allowed to divulge very much at the moment but keep checking this space.
2005-03-04
Meet
Mattias
A few years back, we worked with a neat little Flash agency called Play. We liked working with them and thought it would be nice to continue doing so, but sadly Play went belly-up in 2003. The talented Play people scattered and nothing came of our plans for continued collaboration. Then, two years later, we got a call from former Play founder and project manager Mattias Gisgård. Having spent the time since Play´s demise at web agency Slash X, Mattias was ready for something new. This time, the timing was just right and hooking up with Mattias wasa no-brainer. Keep checking this page and you´ll soon see why.
2005-03-01
Erik
enters
OK, perhaps we´re getting a bit carried away here, but we just recruited another escape artist - one that somewhat incredulously has actual circus merits! Erik Bergström, formerly of Jefferson Communication, enters Houdini having just recently worked as an IT coordinator for Cirkus Cirkör. And what better place for a circus artist to be doing his tricks than at Houdini? Erik adds a lot of very valuable strategic clout and will be heavily involved in Houdinis business process, both as a business developer and a project manager. Chances are, you´ll be hearing from him any day now.
2005-02-31
Monitors
for sale!
They´ve been good to us, our handsome blue-gray Apple monitors, and we´ve loved them very dearly. But our desks are getting dangerously cramped for space and we simply have to get with the flatscreen program. So if you fancy upgrading your boring old desktop with a stylish 17'' or 21'' blue-gray Apple monitor, it´s time to act now. They can be yours for a measly 500 bucks a piece (Swedish currency only!). Come pick them up at Garvargatan 11b - but make sure you have transportation. Not exactly pocket-sized, these damn old-school monitors...
2005-02-03
CAP
& Design
once more
Following up on the corporate website design evaluation we wrote for CAP & Design recently, we were asked to contribute to a similar article on online bank sites. We dug deep and came up with some serious stuff.
Want to read the entire bank website evaluation? Click here!>
2005-02-02
Developers,
we want you!
To quote Microsoft cueball CEO Steve Ballmer: "Developers, developers, developers, developers, developers, developers" etc etc. If you´re a talented back end system architect and/or programmer, drop us a line - and be quick about it. We´ve got things for you to do, right off the bat.
2005-02-02
Demo
server
down
During the upcoming week our inhouse demo server, which hosts our popular online portfolio, will be taken down for a major rehaul and will only sporadically be available. We apologize for this and ask you to please bear with us.
2005-02-01
Hellman
breaks out
Houdini have added yet another escape-artist to its roster of web developers: Torgil Hellman, illlustrious e-commerce specialist and business developer, will enhance Houdini´s back-end offer and hopefully create many new exciting business opportunities for us. Torgil joins Houdini from Tech Data, where he coordinated the development of their extensive e-commerce platform.
2005-01-11
Looking
good
2005 is already shaping up to be a very good year. How do we know? We just signed a major contract with leading Swedish e-commerce company inWarehouse. Houdini will be in charge of a major back-end systems development project set to improve the way inWarehouse conduct their e-business.
2005-01-10
Start
your
engines!
More than 30% of Tech Data´s selected customers changed their purchasing behaviour as a direct result of our recent TD Disc Golf campaign. So perhaps it´s no wonder we´re up for another project for Tech Data, this time set in the glorious world of formula racing. Get ready for TD Grand Prix!
2004-12-22
Merry
Xmas!
Yes, it´s true that we we enjoy doing what we do. Still, we really wouldn´t want to miss out on Xmas. Therefore, as of today the Houdini office is offically closed for the holidays. We will be back in business again on the 10th of January. Happy holidays, go easy on the julbord and we hope to see you next year!
2004-11-12
CAP & Design
times two
We´ve been featured in Swedish digital design mag CAP & Design again. Twice, actually. First, we were asked to evaluate and compare three major corporate websites (#8/04). Then, we were invited to perform jury duty in the Design Of The Year 2004 competition. (#10/04).
Want to read the entire corporate website evaluation? Click here!>
2004-08-16
The
disc is
thrown
With the runaway success of our Kickback campaign fresh in mind, Tech Data returned to Houdini with a brand new challenge. We´re to produce another state-of-the-art web game for a sales campaign. The theme? Disc Golf!
2004-07-01
Time
for
some RnR!
Jeez, is it July already?! Oh well, we figure we´ve earned some RnR. It´s way too hot to be working anyhow… See you in August!
2004-06-29
Better Business branding
Business language training consultants BBi signed with Houdini to kickstart their brand strategy. We´ve started out with a new corporate identity and printed collateral. Of course, there´s eventually a website to be made as well.
2004-05-01
Where there´s a will, there´s a…
Houdini are currently involved in some serious development stuff with Swedish media guide company Waymaker, part of the Observer group. Exactly what we´re doing? Sorry, we´re not allowed to tell. Our lips are sealed.
2004-04-22
Tomas
in,
A-Com out
As of the 22nd of april, Houdini is a 100% independently owned company. Former 33% owner, advertising network A-Com, exits the company and Tomas Isby, senior developer and associate, enters.
2004-04-07
Fruit-flavored
e-commerce
Fruktbudet, Swedish logistics experts who deliver fresh fruit to thousands of Swedish companies every day, have assigned Houdini to the task of building a foundation for an ambitious back-end platform. With this project, Houdini delve deeper into the world of e-commerce.
2004-02-31
Magnus
has left
the building
After more than four years of immaculate scriptwriting and project management, one of the true mainstays of Houdini, founder Magnus Seter, has sadly left the company to pursue a writing career. An all around great guy who will be sorely missed. Keep in touch, buddy!
2004-02-12
It´s
Kickback
time
Fortune 500-company Tech Data have chosen Houdini to develop an online soccer game to tie in with a massive sales campaign during spring and summer. The game will be integrated with the Tech Data e-commerce platform and customers will receive bonus points matching their orders.
2004-01-13
Live
to learn
with Att Veta
E-learning publisher Att Veta came knocking on our door again. This time, we´ll be helping them produce a course about the European Union.
2003-12-20
Have
a merry
A-Com X-mas!
Once again, Houdini are proud developers of the traditional A-Com interactive xmas greeting! This time, we made it entirely out of gingerbread dough.
2003-12-19
Pay
to play
with Wallit
Online payment service provider Wallit is Houdini´s newest client. We have just wrapped the production of an online campaign for Wallit. More to come!
2003-11-11
Small
but
tantalizingly good
Well, that´s what Swedes say about little tasty tidbits anyway. And what better way to describe the microsite we just made for classy restaurant Saline?
2003-09-22
Long time coming!
OK OK, we admit it - we´ve been pathetically lazy. But now we´ve finally got around to redesigning our site. So what do you think? Pretty damn snazzy, eh?
2003-09-08
She´s back!
After a year in London, adding yet an impressive notch to her education, our friend Lena Dolata is back in Stockholm and with Houdini. Lena is going to be working with a very exciting Game Boy project and will also be travelling to and from London quite frequently.
2003-09-01
Wednesday is here
We´re happy to welcome Mats Gustafsson
and Wednesday
Relations to our cozy little office. Mats is an interesting CRM guy
with big plans (and we hope they include Houdini!).
2003-08-04
Rested
OK, the office is once again open for business. We´ve had a great three weeks of vacation and feel ready and roaring to go go go!
2003-05-12
Got any wild neighbours?
SSNC - The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation - want to take care of your wild neighbours. Well, OK, it´s not to do with the Joneses next door who put the stereo on full blast every friday night and sing along tunelessly to "Sweet Home Alabama" - it´s about the little rascals who populate our gardens. The animals that is! And SSNC want them to have their very own web game, which Houdini will develop.
2003-05-06
The
KaosPilots
have landed
"What do you really mean by "story consulting", asked four senior students at the Danish KaosPilot University. "Come over and we´ll show you" was our reply. And now they´re here! Martin, Craig, Rebecca and Kristoffer are in the process of cooking up an exam project based on the Houdini methodology.
2003-04-29
Jerker appears in CAP & Design
In the latest issue of Swedish design mag CAP & Design (4/2003), Jerker confesses to being a reactionary anti-upgrade geezer in the article "My desktop". Oh well, they say all publicity is good publicity...
2003-04-11
Secret,
mobile
and animated
Hussssh, don´t tell anyone, but we just delivered a series of as-of-yet secret MMS-animations for Sweden´s newest 3G operator. One of these days, they might just appear in YOUR cellphone!
Contact us to get a secret sneak peek>
2003-04-02
Spotlight
on CFF
oudini have signed an agreement with The Centre For Photography (CFF) to develop their new website. CFF are funded by The Swedish National Council for Cultural Affairs and represent the photographic arts through exhibitions, debate and member activities. In conjuncture with this project, Houdini will be assisted by Janne Händelin from The Royal Institute of Technology, who is doing his final exam project for CFF.
2003-03-19
C
what radio
can do
Erik wipes his forehead and delivers Houdinis first campaign project for national radio station Sveriges Radio and their experimental digital channel SRc.
2003-03-01
Workshops
R Us
It´s workshop season at Houdini. We´ve developed a number of creative workshops around the possibilities of storytelling in branding, education, PR and corporate communication for such diverse clients as Digital Vision, Sogeti and SSC.
2003-02-27
The Wallenberg Foundations
Houdini are in the middle of developing a brand new information website for Svensk Stiftelseförvaltning, who are administrating the Wallenberg family foundations - foundations that award scholarships and stipends for several hundred million crowns yearly.
2003-02-17
DHL
yet
again
It´s starting to become something of a tradition. Houdini just released a brand new campaign site for DHL and, as usual, there are travel tickets up for grabs. The scene is set for danes, fins, swedes and norwegians to step in and compete.
2003-02-01
New
owner,
new CEO
And so it can finally be announced: Houdini is now part of the PunktB network, and our new CEO Linus Gunnarson steps in through the door. We tip our collective hat to our former CEO Lotta Thiringer and greet Linus welcome!
2003-01-29
Radically
new
While in the process of moving, we thought we´d help our friends at Radical PR out and renovate their website.
2003-01-28
I
can´t believe...
it´s the Internet!!
ell, it finally happened. We got our Internet connection fixed! After almost three dull weeks of waiting. Oh yeah, we´ve moved too. The Houdini HQ is now located at Garvargatan 11b, close to Kungsholmstorg. It´s small but very cozy. And if you don´t believe us, drop by and check it out.