Global Network Navigator (GNN) was the first commercial web publication and the first web site to offer clickable advertisements.
My job at GNN was as the assistant manager of a ten person production team while also working on the home page design team, the advertising design & production team, and designing and coding content feature pages. Here I designed and produced some of the first advertising banners ever to appear on a web site.
GNN gave me the opportunity to work with some of the smartest and kindest people I have ever worked with. They were pioneers who were both brilliant and humble – something special. Pei taught me how to create java animation advertisements while Abbie taught me how to code web pages with the vi editor. My boss, Mo, was inspirational and fair – and fun to have a beer with on Friday nights. And Steve who photographed every British band in his previous career. And Myra. And Emily. And Eloy. And Lutzka. And Andi. I remember learning and laughing so much at this job. And feeling so grateful to be making $28,000 a year (more than my age! amazing!).
It was devastating when AOL realized GNN was in direct competition to AOL now that the public was not satisfied with the safe, walled environment AOL offered. GNN ceased operations in 1996 and I moved onto the next start up.
