brewed
When comics went online, we brought the punchlines — and the panic button.
The Brief
United Media asked us to create the flagship Dilbert Zone—a web home that captured Scott Adams’s cubicle satire and invited fans to play, not just read.
What We Built
- Panic Button: One click swapped the site for a believable spreadsheet—perfect cover when the Pointy-Haired Boss appeared.
- Funny Stuff Hub: Catbert’s anti-career advice, “List of the Day,” games, and other procrastination-friendly diversions.
- Interactive Audio/Animation: Keyboard-triggered gags and sounds—think Peanuts-style cues on reboot and Red Baron crashes when emptying the trash.
- Dilbert Store: Commerce managed (of course) by Dogbert.
Tone & Design
Loud, colorful, and unapologetically cartoonish UI that mirrored Dilbert’s absurd office world. Navigation was chunky and playful, with hand-drawn labels and punchline-first microcopy.
Press & Cultural Moment
Our launch sparked national coverage. The Wall Street Journal quoted our tongue-in-cheek disclaimer for the Financial Pages:
“While we think anyone who takes financial advice from comic strip characters gets what they deserve, our lawyers insist we tell you….”
Partners
- Client: United Media
- Creator: Scott Adams (Dilbert)
- Sponsor: Microsoft
Result: A playful, deeply interactive destination that let fans experience Dilbert’s world—with jokes you could hear, and a spreadsheet you could hide behind.