[Sigia-l] Summary: Best Practices in Web-Based Configurator Design

David Mendels dmendels at macromedia.com
Wed Mar 17 16:37:28 EST 2004 

Hello,

You may also want to look at the Feb 2 Brief by Forrester titled "Trilogy's
X Internet Play" that focused on new configurator solutions from Trilogy
using Macromedia Flash.

This is an area of focus of us at Macromedia and one of the principal use
cases for our upcoming product for building and deploying Rich Internet
Applications, Flex (www.macromedia.com/software/flex)

If you are interested here are a few examples of many different kinds of
configurators on the web today...I can't cliam they all exhibit best
practices, but there are many impressive examples.



1.	CedarWorks Playsets
<http://www.cedarworks.com/cedardesigner/index.php>  - Build your own
backyard playset 
2.	Trek Bikes <http://projectone.trekbikes.com/index.asp>  - Build your
own race, mountain or combo bike 
3.	Banner Engineering <http://www.bannerengineering.com/iSelect/>  -
on-line catalog 
4.	German moible phone service providers - Vodafone
<http://213.144.21.57/handyfinder.html> , ePlus
<http://www.eplus.de/handys/4/4_0/4_0_konfigurator.asp> , T-Mobile
<http://www.t-mobile.de/handyfinder/1,5156,,00.html>  
5.	Tractor Supply Company
<http://www.mytscstore.com/detail.asp?pcID=5&LearnID=38>  - find the best
riding mower for you 
6.	L.L. Bean
<http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=
3071&catalogId=1&storeId=1&feat=ln> - design your perfect bedding color
combinations 
7.	FootJoy "MyJoys" Customizer <http://www.footjoy.com/myjoys/>  - make
your own golf shoes 
8.	Benjamin Moore
<http://www.benjaminmoore.com/wrapper_pcv.asp?L=owner&K=intproj&N=intproj>
- paint your own room on-line (requires SW purchase) 
9.	Jordan's Furniture <http://www.jordans.com/roomplanner.asp>  -
arragne your new furniture before you take it home 
10.	American Airlines <http://www.mileagemaximizer.com/index.htm>  -
maximize your frequent flyer miles 
11.	Freitag <http://www.freitag.ch//f-cut> - customize your messanger
bag from used truck tarps 
12.	Neuedge Custom Color Selector
<http://www.neuedgesports.com/colorselector.asp>  - Create a custom uniform 
13.	Roux Virtual Salon <http://rouxblue.com/select_model.asp>  - pick
your hair style and color 
14.	M&M Colorworks
<http://www.colorworks.com/mixer.asp?UID=2002120913021548&GEN5=>  - Build
your own bag of M&M candies 
15.	Pearl Drum Corporation <http://www.pearldrum.com/dreamkit/>  - Build
(and play) your dream drum kit 
16.	Christensen Arms <http://www.christensenarms.com/>  - Build your own
rifle 
17.	Panasonic UK
<http://www.panasonic.co.uk/my-cinema-at-home/showroom.asp>  - Build Home
Cinema System then view it in 3D 
18.	ENKI Microtubes <http://www.enki-microtubes.com/eng/profilo.htm#>  -
Special tubes and microtubes for the electronic, chemical, automotive,
aerospace and pharmaceutical industry. 
19.	Sony Wega <http://www.sony.com.hk/Electronics/theatre/> - design
your home theatre 
20.	Fox River Direct <http://www.foxriverdirect.com/>  - Configure your
paper order 
21.	Monopoly <http://uk.mymonopoly.com/links.html>  - Build your own
Monopoly game board 
22.	Leaf Race Ware <http://www.leafracewear.com/buildsuit.htm>  - Build
your own racing suit 
23.	Hummer <http://www.hummer.com/hummerjsp/h2/build/index.jsp>   -
Build and price your own Hummer SUV 
24.	Better Homes & Gardens
<http://www.bhg.com/bhg/file.jhtml?item=/dswmedia/index&temp=yes>  - Arrange
a room 
25.	Ready-To-Bed <http://www.readytobed.com/configurator/makebed.html>
- make your bed with sheets, duvet, etc. 
26.	Moen <http://www.moen.com/Consumer/Products/DYO/index.cfm>  - design
your own kitchen, spa, bath, faucet 
27.	Knoll A3 Office System <http://www.knoll.com/a3i/launch_flash.html>
- components or planning then click "launch" 
28.	Mini USA <http://www.miniusa.com/crm/load_mini.jsp>  - Build your
own 
29.	Timbuk2 Bags <http://www.timbuk2.com/byob/byob.html>  - Build your
own 
30.	Jenn Air Refrigerators
<http://www.jennair.com/ja/alaska/brand.jsp?cs=0&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes>  -
Personalize your Built-in Refrigerator 
31.	Yankee Candle Configurator
<http://www.yankeecandle.com/cgi-bin/ycbvp/cfg_index.jsp> - choose from 6
different types 
32.	Post production equipment
<http://www.ladigitalpost.net/configurator/>  - requires registration 
33.	Haworth Furniture <http://www.rtideas.com/flash/config/%20>  -
Design desk tools 
34.	Volkswagon <http://www.vwasia.com/start/visualiser/index.jsp>  -
Design your own 
35.	Pergo
<http://www.pergo.com/PergoDesign/US/US_Room_View/1,1033,USA,00.html>   -
Design wall, floor and cabinets 
36.	University of Southern California
<http://www.usc.edu/dept/admissions/undergrad/planner/index.html>  - Build
your curriculum 
37.	Tool Dock <http://www.tooldock.com/designyourshop.asp> - Design your
work shop 
38.	Doar Court Room Configurator <http://www.doar.com/>  - Upper right
hand link. Registration required 
39.	Monarch Interiors Room Designer
<http://www.monarchinteriors.com/roomdesignTEST.html>  - Design a room for
your house 
40.	Scotts <http://www.scotts.com/lawncare/interactiveTools.cfm>  - Lawn
products calculator 
41.	Simmons <http://www.simmons.com/designBed/default.cfm>  - Design a
bed 
42.	Copier Configurator
<http://www.olivettitecnost.com/cgi-bin2/flashconfig/index.asp>  - Configure
your D-COPIA copier 
43.	Bombay <http://www.asexpressedbyyou.com/>  - Design your own Martini
Glass 
44.	Jag X-Type
<http://www.jaguar.com.au/xtype/control.cfm?page=colour&pageID=15&menucat=5.
15&Level=2>  - choose colors, trim and wheels 
45.	ADiamondisforever
<http://www.adiamondisforever.com/design/dgallery.html>  - Design Gallery
search 
46.	Turner Classic Movies
<http://turnerclassicmovies.com/Schedule/Custom>  -  CUstomize your viewing 
47.	Boathouse Sports <http://www.boathouse.com/>  - Garment generator 
48.	Medeco
<http://macronet.macromedia.com/pr/%20%20http://www.medeco.com> - Cam lock
selector 
49.	BobVila.com Paint Designer
<http://macronet.macromedia.com/pr/%20http://www.bobvila.com/DesignTools/pai
ntv2.php>  - Paint you house different colors 
50.	Skyline Design <http://g.skydesign.com/flashOK.html>  - Glass
configurator 
51.	Bose
<https://secure-www2.bose.com/soundadvisor/default.asp?pers_from=sa_home>  -
Room Planner 
52.	FootJoy <http://www.footjoy.com/fj.asp?bhcp=1>  - Product Selector 
53.	CoversByU <http://www.coversbyu.com/> - Cell phone covers 
54.	Russell Athletics
<http://configurator.russellathletic.com/default.cfm?style=E8547CC>  -
Uniform configurator 
55.	Tiffany <http://macronet.macromedia.com/pr/www.tiffany.com>  -
Tiffany Style/Create a Table Setting 
56.	eBay <http://macronet.macromedia.com/pr/eBayemailconfigurator.shtm>
- Direct email configurator 
	
	-David
	
	> -----Original Message-----
	> From: sigia-l-admin at asis.org [mailto:sigia-l-admin at asis.org]
	> On Behalf Of Jodi Bollaert
	> Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 7:38 PM
	> To: sigia-l at asis.org
	> Subject: [Sigia-l] Summary: Best Practices in Web-Based
	> Configurator Design
	>
	> Greetings,
	>
	> Below is a summary of responses to my "Best Practices in
	> Web-based Configurator Design" post.  I've included responses
	> from other lists as well.  Thanks so much to all of you for
	> your input.

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