T H E R E ’ S A RT I N T H E E X P E R I E N C E
T O K Y. C O M
TOKY Branding + Design offers expertise in interactive design, branding, advertising, and print design that is recognized internationally.
Working with arts and cultural institutions is our passion.
We understand the desires and challenges, and the strategies and tactics necessary to make these organizations vital elements of their communities.
We recognize that museums must constantly adapt to remain relevant in an online world. We partner with our clients to create online experiences that are truly visitor-focused, innovative, interactive, and educational.
The British Lion, Alvin Langdon Coburn
T H E A RT O F T H E P H O T O G R AV U R E – O N L I N E M U S E U M
Photogravure has played an essential role in the origin and evolution of photography. Its history is inextricably intertwined with the earliest discoveries and pursuits of the medium. Veteran photographer Mark Katzman’s passion for the
“When I came to TOKY with the fantasy of a website that
photogravure printmaking process was ignited the first time he saw an original photogravure. Since that day,
could convey the beauty, depth and importance of photogravure, I was ready
he has been on a mission to learn and share all he
to settle. But the TOKY
can about photogravure. Mark selected TOKY to
the design of the site, both
design a comprehensive website. His priority was to reveal a story he believes has been untold until now.
team pushed. They pushed aesthetically and functionally, and brought vision and passion to the project. I netted a site that exceeded my wildest dreams.
Photogravure.com is the first and only online museum of photogravure. It is a unique and extensive overview
“The site has been incredibly effective in generating awareness of Photogravure and is
of photogravure and a resource to aid in the study
acknowledged by many of
of this all but forgotten art. The website not only
photographic historians,
celebrates the beauty and history of the photogravure process, but also highlights the important role it has played in shaping the history of photography.
the world’s most prestigious academics and institutions. “But, for me, awards and nods are not the benchmark of a great design. Rather, does the design withstand the test of time? Now, almost four years later (light years in the web environment), I can say with confidence, that the site not only has withstood the test of time, but it keeps getting better and better.” Mark Katzman
PROJECT
The Art of the Photogravure site houses more than 5,000 scans of original images in TOKY’s easy-to-use, custom database. Each image is described for both expert and novice collectors in wellconsidered detail. The site is the nexus point for the growing community of collectors. The blog attached to the site was critical to maintaining the spirit of discovery and community needed to preserve these images.
AWARDS
Communications Arts Web Watch Feature, Site of the Week
MoOM Permanent Collection – Museum of Online Museums
TED
“100 Websites You Should Know and Use”
pdn
Photo District News Magazine Design Award
Annual Design Show Honoree
photogravure.com
St. Louis Addy Award TM
Image courtesy of The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts
T H E P U L I T Z E R F O U N D AT I O N F O R T H E A RT S
The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts is one of the preeminent arts organozations dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of art and architecture in the United States. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao
“We began the relationship with TOKY at a time when
Ando, the Pulitzer presents changing exhibitions and a variety of programming involving the visual, literary, and performing arts.
the Pulitzer was redefining itself as an institution. TOKY overhauled our main website, which through the design and navigation, reflected our mission to be both a laboratory and a sanctuary
The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts wanted to renew and reflect its mission to be a sanctuary to visitors and strengthen its connection to the
to our visitors. “Beyond winning numerous awards, this redesign helped usher in a new focus for
community. TOKY was selected to redesign their long-standing website and to bring the external face into alignment with the groundbreaking work done inside the Foundation.
the Pulitzer, one based on innovation and a connection with our community. “The Pulitzer is now in another phase of growth, and will rely on TOKY’s creativity and competence to
The consistent combination of innovative execution
once again guide us through
and elegantly minimal design has distilled the
for our institution.”
essence of the Pulitzer into a brand identity unlike
Matthias Waschek,
anything else in the world.
this important turning point
Executive Director
PROJECT
The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts website allows visitors to choose their own navigation style. An undulating, dimensional “string” attracts those with tastes that lean toward the experimental while a standard navigation bar is undeviating. With TOKY’s custom content management system, curators and Foundation staff can easily update exhibition information, events, and programs.
AWARDS
Webby Honoree 2007
Communications Arts Site of the Week
Annual Design Show Honoree
St. Louis Addy Award TM
www.pulitzerarts.org
“No one does single-shows-in-space websites better than the Pulitzer (witness: Dan Flavin, Water) and I wouldn’t miss a one of ‘em.
“Best of all: The Pulitzer folks manage to get across the feeling of seeing art in Ando’s remarkable space. Who else would provide day-long, time-lapse, naturallight-only stills of the installation?”
Tyler Green, Modern Art Notes
Since the successful debut of the
The catalogue sites virtually transport the
PulitzerArts.org main website, TOKY has
audience to the galleries by showcasing
created a series of additional catalogue
the art exactly as it is exhibited in their
sites, blogs and kiosks, as well as identity,
world-famous facility.
print materials, logos, and photography for each of the museum’s exhibitions.
HIROSHI SUGIMOTO PHOTOGRAPHS OF JOE
PROJECT
Photos are presented in context with the spiral Serra piece, “Joe.” Visitors may view the images alongside video interviews with the artist or the words of Jonathan Safran Foer, whose poem about an “average Joe” experiencing the circular passage of time echoes, without directly referencing, the sculpture. AWARDS
Regional Addy Award, St. Louis Addy Award TM
TM
sugimoto.pulitzerarts.org
PORTRAIT/HOMAGE/EMBODIMENT
Annual Design Show Honoree
PROJECT
Due to the extensive nature of this exhibit, TOKY was faced with challenges on many levels. Our solution organized the content by artist and by the location of the works in the galleries (one in 360˚ view), while keeping the content search-engine friendly. Visitors gain a deeper understanding of the artist’s approach from numerous quotes provided on a secondary level of content.
portrait.pulitzerarts.org
WATER
water.pulitzerarts.org
PROJECT
This site was the first of the TOKY-designed catalogue sites to use extensive time-lapse photography. In addition to the site, TOKY created a logo, the exhibition catalogue and print advertising.
AWARDS
Webby Honoree 2008
PROPOSED LOGO FOR THE EXHIBITION
Judges Choice in “Really Good Logos Explained,” published in “Logo Lounge 5” (Rockport Books)
Annual Design Show Honoree
PROJECT
FLAVIN CONSTRUCTED LIGHT
The site features axonometric drawings of the Pulitzer, and provides the location of several pieces in the context of the architecture. It includes never-before released audio interviews of the artist and 360˚ video walk-throughs of the galleries. The navigation bar mirrors the changing versions of the exhibit’s colorful tubes of light. TOKY developed custom branding that extends from the website to the exhibition catalogue, and across print advertising, multiple collateral pieces and an email newsletter.
AWARDS
Webby Honoree 2009
National Award, Inclusion in the National Design Archives, 365 Book and Permanent Collection at the Denver Art Museum
Annual Design Show Honoree
National Addy Award, Regional Addy Award, St. Louis Addy Award TM
TM
TM
flavin.pulitzerarts.org
National Addy
THE LIGHT PROJECT
PROJECT
Visitors to this site “meet” and connect with each artist through video interviews and video blogs, which TOKY created. The video blogs give visitors a glimpse into the artists’ activities from installation through opening, and provide a first-hand look at people’s reactions as they experience the show. In addition to the site, TOKY created an identity system with graphics and photography for the exhibition catalogue, print advertising, collateral pieces and an email newsletter.
AWARDS
National Award, Inclusion in the National Design Archives, 365 Book and Permanent Collection at the Denver Art Museum
Annual Design Show Honoree
National Addy Award, Regional Addy Award, St. Louis Addy Award TM
TM
TM
lightproject.pulitzerarts.org
Photography by Geoff Story, TOKY’s Associate Creative Director/Photographer
STAGING OLD MASTERS
STAGING OLD MASTERS FORMER PRISONERS PERFORM AT THE PULITZER
STAGING OLD MASTERS FORMER PRISONERS PERFORM AT THE PULITZER
Photography by Geoff Story, TOKY’s Associate Creative Director/Photographer
IDEAL [DIS-]PLACEMENTS – OLD MASTERS AT THE PULITZER
PROJECT
With a goal of increasing community engagement, TOKY created a website, a kiosk, and interactive video interviews through which visitors could submit questions directly to the curators. For the companion show, “Staging Old Masters,” TOKY’s Associate Creative Director/Photographer, Geoff Story shot portraits of ex-prisoners to market events presented by the Pulitzer in collaboration with a local theatre company. TOKY created the exhibition catalogue, print advertising, collateral pieces and an email newsletter.
AWARDS
St. Louis Addy Award, Best of Show – Print, Special Award for Photography TM
oldmasters.pulitzerarts.org
Annual Design Show Honoree
PROJECT
URBAN ALCHEMY GORDON MATTA-CLARK
By placing Matta-Clark’s rough domestic “cuts” into the Pulitzer’s pristine architecture, visitors are challenged to consider the artist and the architect, and the social, political and geographical circumstances that give architecture its meaning. TOKY created a web catalogue to fuel further discussion featuring quotes from the architect and the artist positioned side-by-side. The site has a unique navigation system that slides left or right to reveal the artist’s work. The entire site scales to the size of the browser for ideal image quality.
AWARDS
Annual Design Show Honoree
mattaclark.pulitzerarts.org
TOKY created guerrilla marketing pieces silkscreened on repurposed building materials, print advertising, signage, and an invitation.
Image courtesy of Cahokia Mounds
C A H O K I A M O U N D S W O R L D H E R I TA G E M U S E U M A N D S I T E
Centuries before Columbus, a powerful culture arose on the floodplain of the Mississippi. These people built a sophisticated city of 20,000 inhabitants, which rivaled the largest cities in Europe at the time. They influenced other cultures and made significant advances in astronomy, agriculture, and economics.
“Cahokia Mounds is a World Heritage Site and deserved a website of the same stature.
And then, they disappeared. The fate of the Mississippian people and their great city remains a secret.
We feel this was attained with TOKY’s redesign of our site. “Researchers, educators, supporters and potential visitors can now find the information they need in
Their monumental public works have lasted for
a well organized and
centuries, and are now home to the Cahokia
pleasing, place.
Mounds Historic Site.
logical, while aesthetically
“We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the site including praises for
TOKY approached Site leaders and offered to help
the dramatic, interactive and
generate awareness for Cahokia Mounds and its
who can’t visit the Interpretive
museum. Before development began, we helped create a strategy for what was to become an extensive website.
educational aspects. Those Center and Site can now experience the mystery of the Mississippians online. “We are so grateful that TOKY shared their time and talent with our organization.” Leah Joyce Executive Director, Cahokia Mounds Museum Society
PROJECT
TOKY created a compelling narrative to engage visitors emotionally and intellectually in the fascinating story of the people of Cahokia Mounds. The audience can delve into the history and culture of Cahokia Mounds through interactive maps, storytelling, videos, and Flash animations. The website channels the audience into their area of interest with easy navigation.
AWARDS
cahokiamounds.org
Annual Design Show Honoree
Image courtesy of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
C O N T E M P O R A R Y A RT M U S E U M S T. L O U I S
The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis was founded in 1980 by a group of civic, cultural, and educational leaders to bring visual-arts programming and cultural activities into the core of St. Louis. In 2003, the Contemporary moved into St. Louis’ burgeoning arts district, Grand Center. The Museum is now one of the
Paul Ha, Executive Director
leading voices in the world of contemporary art. TOKY actively supports the museum and its mission to engage the community with the most relevant and innovative art. To establish their personality and enhance reach, TOKY developed a consistent look and positioning for the museum. TOKY expressed the museum’s artistic excellence and thought leadership with stylishly bold graphics, copy, and photography across multiple collateral pieces and web.
PROJECT
TOKY was selected to help increase awareness and to attract a broader audience for the Museum’s gala and auction events. Through TOKY’s work, the Museum now reaches across several demographics and enjoys strong event attendance. Our team develops extraordinary, custom branding for each event, ranging from identity systems to invitations, signage, video and auction-specific websites.
AWARDS
Annual Design Show Honoree
TOKY BRANDING + DESIGN
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Eric Thoelke President Creative Director 314.534.2000 ext.133 eric@toky.com Jay David Interactive Associate Creative Director 314.534.2000 ext.131 jay@toky.com
TOKY is a 25-person firm founded in 1997. We maintain one of the country’s leading interactive design teams that includes dedicated interactive technology developers. We have significant experience with both open source and commercial content management systems. In addition, we have developed our own user-friendly content management system. Our ability to facilitate multiphase website development projects is proven by the success of the hundreds of sites we’ve created for our clients.
T O K Y. C O M
STRATEGY + MESSAGING + PRINT + WEB DESIGN
3001 LOCUST STREET, ST.LOUIS, MO 63103
314 + 534.2000
INFO@TOKY.COM
WWW.TOKY.COM