Eric Karjaluoto

Interaction design, art direction, web design

smashLAB is an interactive services firm that creates meaningful, memorable and easy to manage digital experiences. Our diverse clients in the private and public sector appreciate our pragmatic and sometimes unorthodox approach. smashLAB is a privately held firm located in Vancouver's historic Gastown. Since its inception in 2000 we have offered a wide range of design services, from identity to advertising. Today, smashLAB focuses solely on their key strength: interaction design.

Eric Karjaluoto (http://www.erickarjaluoto.com) is a Canadian designer, based in Vancouver, who is passionate about ideas and experience. He grew up enamored with creativity and business, which led him to study at the Emily Carr Institute. He worked as a painter (http://www.karjaluoto.com) prior to focusing on design.

He now guides creative at smashLAB (http://www.smashlab.com), where he has been a partner since 2000. As the firm's Creative Director he fosters an atmosphere of pragmatism and design-focused thinking. He has directed a number of projects for start-ups and national organizations, including MDA, Northern BC Tourism, CN, and Canadian Heritage.

He is particularly interested in creating work that builds a dialogue with viewers and engages them in experiences. His work at smashLAB has been recognized by HOW Magazine, Applied Arts, Lotus Awards, Rockport Press, and Graphis, and has been featured in: Desktop Magazine (Australia), PingMag (Japan) and Behance. He has presented at events for groups including the AIGA, New Media BC, and VIDfest.

In 2007, he spearheaded Design Can Change (http://www.designcanchange.org), an effort to unite designers to address climate change. Eric is a professional member of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada and writes about design at ideasonideas.

Eric is particularly excited about smashLAB's latest effort, MakeFive (http://www.makefive.com).