Partner Article

Corporation Pop launches app to share Manchester’s artistic view of WW1

Corporation Pop has developed an app to share images, music and videos from Manchester digital arts project Poppy, which commemorates 100 years since the First World War.

Poppy is running in libraries across Greater Manchester, where local community groups work with artists to create poems, spoken word, visual stories, music, video and audio based artwork that reflects their contemporary and conceptual view of WW1. Corporation Pop was commissioned by Lets Go Global to develop an app that would share these digital stories.

On http://mypoppy.co.uk/app/ each piece of artwork is represented by a red or white poppy, which floats organically across the screen. Each poppy will grow over time and when the story is shared through social media - the more shares via Facebook or Twitter a project receives directly affects how big the poppy will grow.

Dan Taylor, creative director at Corporation Pop said: “After researching the behaviour of plant growth and naturally occurring patterns we created a computed algorithm to animate the poppies, ensuring the movement appears as organic and fluid as possible. As a result, they don’t all move in the same way or simply bounce off the edge of the screen. Much like poppies moving in the wind, they appear to roam free, growing over time and with interaction.

“Ease of use was central to the development of the app. It works across all digital devices without the need to download, and each video, soundbite or visual is easily shared through social media.”

Karen Shannon, Director, Lets Go Global added: “Corporation Pop has been a pleasure to work with. We came to them with a vision of a creative app that exhibits people’s artwork, with poppies that flourish and grow as they’re viewed. We’re really excited by the finished app, and the website. They’re a fantastic way to explore the Poppy project, and a beautiful tribute to the First World War.”

http://mypoppy.co.uk/app/ is a JavaScript web application that uses HTML5 canvas element. Corporation Pop also developed the project’s website mypoppy.co.uk

Poppy is a partnership led by Trafford Council, between Stockport, Manchester, Salford Library Services, Imperial War Museum North and Ordsall Hall Salford. Lets Go Global are creative producers.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Corporation Pop .