David Marks ~ Interaction Designer

Channel Five, Poker

Friday 10th November, 2006

» www.five.tv/poker
» Mirrored backup

Lead Designer
Designed with Darran Simpson (Art Director), for Digit.

The Channel Five poker website was won in a pitch that included the broadcaster's regular web agency Lateral. The website explains the basic principals of poker, as well as housing games we designed, competitions, and generally letting you keep in touch with the show.

This was a great website to lead as it also required arranging and running a photo shoot with a cast of models. I had never been involved in a photo shoot before and this was an invaluable experience.

The Concept
You become a character, arriving in a darkened room where a game of poker is being played with five other people. The lighting is very low so it is hard to see anybody in detail, with shadows cast across their faces, and the green tint of the playing table up-lighting them. The five players accompanying you at the table represent the five other sections of the site. Depending on which of the cards you click, you travel to a different player and see the table from their point of view. At this point, the cards they are holding become the sub-navigation to the site. In the background you can see the other players and your empty seat, cards & chips.