design archives
Dec
23
2009
Lost and Found
This week we bought the illustrated children's book Lost and Found as a gift for a friend's little boy. This evening, Rob came across the trailer for an animated short based on the book: (If you can't see the video...
This week we bought the illustrated children's book Lost and Found as a gift for a friend's little boy. This evening, Rob came across the trailer for an animated short based on the book: (If you can't see the video...
Sep
15
2009
F Is For Fail
I love this typographic animated short about the creative process by Brent Barson, posted to Vimeo: (If you can't see the video above, it's available on Vimeo.) (Link via Nelson.)...
I love this typographic animated short about the creative process by Brent Barson, posted to Vimeo: (If you can't see the video above, it's available on Vimeo.) (Link via Nelson.)...
May
5
2009
chart crazy
"Honey, this is the graphics department. We can make as many graphs and as many charts in as many colors on as many kinds of paper as you want." Last night's episode of How I Met Your Mother had a...
"Honey, this is the graphics department. We can make as many graphs and as many charts in as many colors on as many kinds of paper as you want." Last night's episode of How I Met Your Mother had a...
Apr
11
2009
'cause charts rule
An ode to charts and infographics from the PBS Kids show Sid the Science Kid: (Via Andrew DeVigal)...
An ode to charts and infographics from the PBS Kids show Sid the Science Kid: (Via Andrew DeVigal)...
Jun
6
2008
pretty pictures
Twitter outages annoy me far more than I'd like to admit -- yes, I've apparently become that attached to the service -- but at least they offer lovely stock illustrations on their error pages. The one at right, by Australia-based...
Twitter outages annoy me far more than I'd like to admit -- yes, I've apparently become that attached to the service -- but at least they offer lovely stock illustrations on their error pages. The one at right, by Australia-based...
Apr
8
2008
adventures in search: photoshop express
Adobe recently released a Web-based, stripped-down version of its popular Photoshop image editing software. Photoshop Express does well enough in the Google rankings, appearing first in the list of search results (under some excerpted news-related results for the keywords) for...
Adobe recently released a Web-based, stripped-down version of its popular Photoshop image editing software. Photoshop Express does well enough in the Google rankings, appearing first in the list of search results (under some excerpted news-related results for the keywords) for...
Mar
24
2008
photoshop find of the day: coloring the artboard
By default, the excess background behind a document in Photoshop is colored gray (#C0C0C0). It's a neutral enough medium gray, but sometimes a different color -- say, black -- would contrast better against your project of choice. A few...
By default, the excess background behind a document in Photoshop is colored gray (#C0C0C0). It's a neutral enough medium gray, but sometimes a different color -- say, black -- would contrast better against your project of choice. A few...
Mar
12
2008
testing out the google chart api
Google recently released a tool that allows users to quickly create impressively clean dynamic charts and graphs. I played around with it a bit this morning and found it super-easy to use. For example, check out these charts of last...
Google recently released a tool that allows users to quickly create impressively clean dynamic charts and graphs. I played around with it a bit this morning and found it super-easy to use. For example, check out these charts of last...
Feb
21
2008
photo of the day: must to call for
Spotted at 25th and K streets in D.C. This may be one of the most poorly-designed signs I've seen in some time. Why would you want the key instructions -- "Push Button" -- smaller than everything else? And what...
Spotted at 25th and K streets in D.C. This may be one of the most poorly-designed signs I've seen in some time. Why would you want the key instructions -- "Push Button" -- smaller than everything else? And what...
Feb
20
2008
transit map of the world
I came across the book Transit Maps of the World at the National Gallery last November and was instantly (geekily) enamored of it and its large collection of (as the name implies) public transit (train, subway, etc.) maps --...
I came across the book Transit Maps of the World at the National Gallery last November and was instantly (geekily) enamored of it and its large collection of (as the name implies) public transit (train, subway, etc.) maps --...
Feb
1
2008
political caricatures
Illustrator John Kascht has a really cool series of videos about his caricatures of presidential candidates on washingtonpost.com. Kascht talks about the process he goes through in creating a caricature and his impressions of the candidates. Here's one about Rudy...
Illustrator John Kascht has a really cool series of videos about his caricatures of presidential candidates on washingtonpost.com. Kascht talks about the process he goes through in creating a caricature and his impressions of the candidates. Here's one about Rudy...
Jan
27
2008
interface niceties
I've noticed an interesting bug with Google Calendar when entering new events. When I create an event, Google Calendar tries to take what I've typed and turn it into a new calendar item. Usually, it's pretty smart. However, when an...
I've noticed an interesting bug with Google Calendar when entering new events. When I create an event, Google Calendar tries to take what I've typed and turn it into a new calendar item. Usually, it's pretty smart. However, when an...
Jan
16
2008
vote uncommitted
Rob picked me up from work last night, and on the way home we chatted a bit about the night's primary results. In the Michigan Democratic primary, 40 percent of the vote went to "Uncommitted" -- something that prompted Rob...
Rob picked me up from work last night, and on the way home we chatted a bit about the night's primary results. In the Michigan Democratic primary, 40 percent of the vote went to "Uncommitted" -- something that prompted Rob...
Nov
14
2007
msnbc redesign
MSNBC.com just launched a redesign this week, including some personalization / customization functionality on the homepage. From a purely design perspective, though, I like the new look. It's clean, there's a clear visual hierarchy and they've done a lot...
MSNBC.com just launched a redesign this week, including some personalization / customization functionality on the homepage. From a purely design perspective, though, I like the new look. It's clean, there's a clear visual hierarchy and they've done a lot...
Oct
18
2007
colors
It's not quite as mesmerizing as their earlier bouncing balls ad, but this new Sony Bravia ad with plasticine bunnies is really well-done: (If you can't see the video above, it's available on YouTube.) According to Wikipedia, this ad only...
It's not quite as mesmerizing as their earlier bouncing balls ad, but this new Sony Bravia ad with plasticine bunnies is really well-done: (If you can't see the video above, it's available on YouTube.) According to Wikipedia, this ad only...
Oct
11
2007
photo of the day: mr. brooks
Words can't express the utter adorableness of these little handmade felt owls by Lauren Alane. Mini Barn Owl may have some new friends one of these days. (Link found via the Flickr Blog.)...
Words can't express the utter adorableness of these little handmade felt owls by Lauren Alane. Mini Barn Owl may have some new friends one of these days. (Link found via the Flickr Blog.)...
Sep
25
2007
it's gotta scream "awesome"
It's a constant challenge on content-heavy sites to balance the twin goals of promoting new content and offering a clean user experience, devoid of extraneous clutter. If someone has put a ton of work into a new feature that users...
It's a constant challenge on content-heavy sites to balance the twin goals of promoting new content and offering a clean user experience, devoid of extraneous clutter. If someone has put a ton of work into a new feature that users...
Sep
19
2007
chicago 2016
Chicago has unveiled a new logo for its bid to host the 2016 Olympics: The original logo had to be scrapped because it violated the International Olympic Committee's rules against bid cities' logos including Olympic-related imagery, such as the rings...
Chicago has unveiled a new logo for its bid to host the 2016 Olympics: The original logo had to be scrapped because it violated the International Olympic Committee's rules against bid cities' logos including Olympic-related imagery, such as the rings...
Sep
9
2007
lovebirds
Best wishes to Doug and Mele, who are getting married today (and, it should be noted, had the most creative wedding invitations I've seen, in the form of origami birds on custom-printed paper). Updated, 11:02 p.m. - Photos from...
Best wishes to Doug and Mele, who are getting married today (and, it should be noted, had the most creative wedding invitations I've seen, in the form of origami birds on custom-printed paper). Updated, 11:02 p.m. - Photos from...
Sep
5
2007
design nerdity at the movies
Design blogger swissmiss pointed out earlier this week that someone took the intro and closing credits from the movie Stranger Than Fiction and posted them to YouTube. I adored all the little infographics that popped up during the introduction of...
Design blogger swissmiss pointed out earlier this week that someone took the intro and closing credits from the movie Stranger Than Fiction and posted them to YouTube. I adored all the little infographics that popped up during the introduction of...
Aug
23
2007
pants on fire
I'm generally not a huge fan of animated gifs -- except when they're done well. And this "Pants on Fire" graphic, part of the "Truth-o-Meter" at PolitiFact.com, is near-genius. I love the attitude and sheer ballsiness of it -- especially...
I'm generally not a huge fan of animated gifs -- except when they're done well. And this "Pants on Fire" graphic, part of the "Truth-o-Meter" at PolitiFact.com, is near-genius. I love the attitude and sheer ballsiness of it -- especially...
Jul
27
2007
form help
The other day, Rob sent me an invitation to join the Django-based file / information-sharing site Pownce. I thought their sign-up form was really well done, with instructive contextual help bubbles that pop up for each item on the form...
The other day, Rob sent me an invitation to join the Django-based file / information-sharing site Pownce. I thought their sign-up form was really well done, with instructive contextual help bubbles that pop up for each item on the form...
Jul
19
2007
newspaper web site redesigns
Three newspaper Web sites have launched or previewed redesigns recently: MaineToday.com this month launched a redesign homepage. (Pointed out on Poynter's Online-News listerv.) The Baltimore Sun this week introduced a new look. The design is pretty clean and straightforward, and...
Three newspaper Web sites have launched or previewed redesigns recently: MaineToday.com this month launched a redesign homepage. (Pointed out on Poynter's Online-News listerv.) The Baltimore Sun this week introduced a new look. The design is pretty clean and straightforward, and...
logorama
Yesterday, while reheating leftovers for lunch, the logo for the Capital Area Food Bank caught my eye. My office is holding a food drive this month, and there are large donation bins on every floor. While I certainly can't quibble...
Yesterday, while reheating leftovers for lunch, the logo for the Capital Area Food Bank caught my eye. My office is holding a food drive this month, and there are large donation bins on every floor. While I certainly can't quibble...
Jul
12
2007
embedded fonts
I've come up against a bit of a CSS design quandary. A colleague today suggested that, in lieu of using a graphic for "designed" text, we could use the @font-face CSS rule to embed a non-Web standard font into a...
I've come up against a bit of a CSS design quandary. A colleague today suggested that, in lieu of using a graphic for "designed" text, we could use the @font-face CSS rule to embed a non-Web standard font into a...
Jun
20
2007
a love / hate relationship
When I first saw the documentary Helvetica at SXSW, I was given an "I Hate Helvetica" mini-button, which I affixed to the front pocket of my purse. On Saturday, I was able to complete the set, picking up an...
When I first saw the documentary Helvetica at SXSW, I was given an "I Hate Helvetica" mini-button, which I affixed to the front pocket of my purse. On Saturday, I was able to complete the set, picking up an...
Jun
3
2007
women in art
I stumbled across a neat video on YouTube this morning: Someone took a series of famous portraits of women in Western art from the past 500 years and morphed them together. It's rather mesmerizing. ...
I stumbled across a neat video on YouTube this morning: Someone took a series of famous portraits of women in Western art from the past 500 years and morphed them together. It's rather mesmerizing. ...
Jun
1
2007
cnn beta
CNN.com recently debuted a beta version of their forthcoming redesign, and the more I click through it, the more I like it. It's beautifully lean -- clean, simple, easy to navigate and not weighted down by a ton of extraneous...
CNN.com recently debuted a beta version of their forthcoming redesign, and the more I click through it, the more I like it. It's beautifully lean -- clean, simple, easy to navigate and not weighted down by a ton of extraneous...
May
9
2007
i hate helvetica
Looking at my traffic logs, I noticed that today I've gotten a surprising amount of traffic from people searching for the phrase "I hate Helvetica" on Google. They all land on my post from March about the SXSW premiere of...
Looking at my traffic logs, I noticed that today I've gotten a surprising amount of traffic from people searching for the phrase "I hate Helvetica" on Google. They all land on my post from March about the SXSW premiere of...
May
4
2007
cannibal sea
(Photo by bluetypewriter.) Back in January, Rob and I saw Camera Obscura and The Essex Green play at the 9:30 Club in D.C. At the time, I saw this awesome t-shirt and waffled about whether or not to get...
(Photo by bluetypewriter.) Back in January, Rob and I saw Camera Obscura and The Essex Green play at the 9:30 Club in D.C. At the time, I saw this awesome t-shirt and waffled about whether or not to get...
May
3
2007
subliminal advertising
Dari just passed on this video. A rather fascinating experiment: (If you can't see the video embedded above, it's available on YouTube.)...
Dari just passed on this video. A rather fascinating experiment: (If you can't see the video embedded above, it's available on YouTube.)...
Apr
27
2007
metro art
This past Saturday, Rob and I took a cool tour of public art at local Metro stations, offered as part of a weekend-long event called WalkingTown DC. It was a great opportunity to check out stations I wouldn't normally...
This past Saturday, Rob and I took a cool tour of public art at local Metro stations, offered as part of a weekend-long event called WalkingTown DC. It was a great opportunity to check out stations I wouldn't normally...
hazard
Rob passed along what's become my new favorite font of the moment. Warning Tables features lots of different warning signs, including a couple of my favorite Stick Figures in Peril. Speaking of SFiP, part of me feels like this shirt...
Rob passed along what's become my new favorite font of the moment. Warning Tables features lots of different warning signs, including a couple of my favorite Stick Figures in Peril. Speaking of SFiP, part of me feels like this shirt...
Apr
21
2007
design nerd alert
According to the documentary's Web site, Helvetica will be screened in the D.C. area June 12-17 during the AFI Silverdocs film festival in Silver Spring, Md. I can't find any more detailed information, but I'd imagine that it'll be forthcoming...
According to the documentary's Web site, Helvetica will be screened in the D.C. area June 12-17 during the AFI Silverdocs film festival in Silver Spring, Md. I can't find any more detailed information, but I'd imagine that it'll be forthcoming...
Mar
14
2007
helvetica
As expected, I ended up passing up the Will Wright keynote in favor of font nerdity. And I'm really glad I did, because Helvetica was great. (Even though I do hear that Wright's demo of his upcoming game Spore was...
As expected, I ended up passing up the Will Wright keynote in favor of font nerdity. And I'm really glad I did, because Helvetica was great. (Even though I do hear that Wright's demo of his upcoming game Spore was...
Mar
11
2007
momentary heartbreak
Rob just told me about a crucial time conflict: Will Wright's keynote speech on Tuesday overlaps with the screening of the typeface documentary Helvetica. Wright created all the Sim games (Sim City, Sim Earth, etc.), including my favorite, The Sims....
Rob just told me about a crucial time conflict: Will Wright's keynote speech on Tuesday overlaps with the screening of the typeface documentary Helvetica. Wright created all the Sim games (Sim City, Sim Earth, etc.), including my favorite, The Sims....
Mar
10
2007
under the sea
I love the Interactive Playpen at SXSW. This year, in addition to Legos, they have coloring sheets. The Playpen has become a defacto mealtime meeting spot for our SXSW "posse," and while I waited for the rest of the...
I love the Interactive Playpen at SXSW. This year, in addition to Legos, they have coloring sheets. The Playpen has become a defacto mealtime meeting spot for our SXSW "posse," and while I waited for the rest of the...
design panels
Saturday was a pretty good day for design-related panels. Three were particularly good: A Decade of Style — I didn't necessarily learn anything new in this panel, in which four CSS gurus reminisced about ten years of CSS, but it...
Saturday was a pretty good day for design-related panels. Three were particularly good: A Decade of Style — I didn't necessarily learn anything new in this panel, in which four CSS gurus reminisced about ten years of CSS, but it...
random observations
I'll second Rob's observation that Arial Rounded (see above) seems to be the It Font of the moment. Hopefully it's just a temporary diversion. I'd hate to think that MySpace is actually inspiring a design trend. Another observation: Until...
I'll second Rob's observation that Arial Rounded (see above) seems to be the It Font of the moment. Hopefully it's just a temporary diversion. I'd hate to think that MySpace is actually inspiring a design trend. Another observation: Until...
Feb
20
2007
quote of the day: ideas
"I could never have thought of all these things in a million years, and here's the secret that is no secret at all: I didn't have to. One of the great advantages to designing book covers is that you don't...
"I could never have thought of all these things in a million years, and here's the secret that is no secret at all: I didn't have to. One of the great advantages to designing book covers is that you don't...
Feb
17
2007
roadblock
For the past few weeks, I've been dealing with a particularly painful case of designer's block. I pride myself on being able to turn out good work fairly quickly. But when I can't produce -- when my brain's not...
For the past few weeks, I've been dealing with a particularly painful case of designer's block. I pride myself on being able to turn out good work fairly quickly. But when I can't produce -- when my brain's not...
Jan
11
2007
parent hacks
The other day, while reading a blog about, I think, personal finance, I came across a badge for a parenting Web site whose text made me giggle: I hack my kids.parenthacks.com So, of course, I had to check it out....
The other day, while reading a blog about, I think, personal finance, I came across a badge for a parenting Web site whose text made me giggle: I hack my kids.parenthacks.com So, of course, I had to check it out....
Dec
8
2006
district map
I recently converted a Post-produced map of all the congressional districts across the United States into something usable (and easily manipulated) in Flash. Here, I use it to display 2006 midterm election results.
I recently converted a Post-produced map of all the congressional districts across the United States into something usable (and easily manipulated) in Flash. Here, I use it to display 2006 midterm election results.
Dec
5
2006
whee for wii
I had a chance to play with a friend's new Nintendo Wii this evening, and boy is it fun. It's a rare thing that I just have fun with a game. We played Wii Sports, sampling the boxing, baseball and...
I had a chance to play with a friend's new Nintendo Wii this evening, and boy is it fun. It's a rare thing that I just have fun with a game. We played Wii Sports, sampling the boxing, baseball and...
Dec
2
2006
top fonts
Signal vs. Noise points out a 2004 study of popular typefaces used by American newspapers. The Poynter suite topped the list. We use quite that font quite a lot at the Post and at post.com -- particularly Poynter Bold Condensed,...
Signal vs. Noise points out a 2004 study of popular typefaces used by American newspapers. The Poynter suite topped the list. We use quite that font quite a lot at the Post and at post.com -- particularly Poynter Bold Condensed,...
Nov
22
2006
quote of the day: wasted
Rob spent some time this evening going through a couple boxes of random papers. On occasion, he would hold a document up and ask if I felt it was worthy of saving. Sometimes, our snobbier judgments about design elements tipped...
Rob spent some time this evening going through a couple boxes of random papers. On occasion, he would hold a document up and ask if I felt it was worthy of saving. Sometimes, our snobbier judgments about design elements tipped...
Nov
19
2006
what i'm reading now: interface culture
I've been doing a lot more reading since I started taking the Metro to work every day. In my mind, this can only be a good thing. Right now, I'm reading Interface Culture: How New Technology Transforms the Way We...
I've been doing a lot more reading since I started taking the Metro to work every day. In my mind, this can only be a good thing. Right now, I'm reading Interface Culture: How New Technology Transforms the Way We...
Nov
17
2006
ghost map indeed
I just finished reading The Ghost Map, Steven Johnson's recent book about a 1854 cholera outbreak in London and the research that led to a scientific breakthrough in discovering the origins of the disease (contaminated water) -- as well as...
I just finished reading The Ghost Map, Steven Johnson's recent book about a 1854 cholera outbreak in London and the research that led to a scientific breakthrough in discovering the origins of the disease (contaminated water) -- as well as...
Nov
15
2006
in a flash? hardly
I've been working on a graphic off and on for the past week, and it's just killing me. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the graphic itself or what I plan on doing with it. But Flash has...
I've been working on a graphic off and on for the past week, and it's just killing me. I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the graphic itself or what I plan on doing with it. But Flash has...
Sep
26
2006
random designy notes
Ragged Right: The New York Times is making a subtle design differentiation between news and opinion content, reports the New York Observer: As of Sept. 20 ... The Times has instituted a sweeping but subtle redesign, to emphasize the difference...
Ragged Right: The New York Times is making a subtle design differentiation between news and opinion content, reports the New York Observer: As of Sept. 20 ... The Times has instituted a sweeping but subtle redesign, to emphasize the difference...
Sep
22
2006
ohio river ramble
The Ohio River Ramble is a road trip through nine congressional districts along the Ohio River Valley, in which two reporters and a videographer report back on the prevailing political winds in those areas.
The Ohio River Ramble is a road trip through nine congressional districts along the Ohio River Valley, in which two reporters and a videographer report back on the prevailing political winds in those areas.
Sep
8
2006
a case for accessibility
There was a federal court ruling out of California this week in a case about Web accessibility that bears watching. A retailer can be sued for making its Web site inaccessible to the blind, a federal judge in San Francisco...
There was a federal court ruling out of California this week in a case about Web accessibility that bears watching. A retailer can be sued for making its Web site inaccessible to the blind, a federal judge in San Francisco...
Sep
5
2006
sndies
Two projects that I worked on last year were awarded a bronze in the 2006 SND.ies Best of New Media competition, sponsored by the Society for News Design.
Two projects that I worked on last year were awarded a bronze in the 2006 SND.ies Best of New Media competition, sponsored by the Society for News Design.
a seated bow
One of the men who designed the chair I'm sitting on died last week. Bill Stumpf co-created the Aeron chair, which became a hallmark of cutting-edge office furniture during the dotcom boom. Stumpf died last week at the age of...
One of the men who designed the chair I'm sitting on died last week. Bill Stumpf co-created the Aeron chair, which became a hallmark of cutting-edge office furniture during the dotcom boom. Stumpf died last week at the age of...
Aug
10
2006
now hiring
We're looking to add another designer to the News Design team here at washingtonpost.com. If you have a passion for news and a gift for design, consider giving it a look... News Designer We are currently seeking a skilled designer...
We're looking to add another designer to the News Design team here at washingtonpost.com. If you have a passion for news and a gift for design, consider giving it a look... News Designer We are currently seeking a skilled designer...
Aug
9
2006
panel picker
The organizers of next year's SXSW Interactive are looking for some input on the many conference panel proposals they've received. There are some interesting proposals in the mix, including one about programmer-journalists, a ten-year CSS retrospective by guru Eric Meyer...
The organizers of next year's SXSW Interactive are looking for some input on the many conference panel proposals they've received. There are some interesting proposals in the mix, including one about programmer-journalists, a ten-year CSS retrospective by guru Eric Meyer...
Jul
18
2006
following the conflict
This afternoon, we launched an interactive map/multimedia feature on washingtonpost.com that takes a different approach to telling the story of what's going on right now in Israel and Lebanon. The map highlights the day's flashpoints and summarizes key developments (with...
This afternoon, we launched an interactive map/multimedia feature on washingtonpost.com that takes a different approach to telling the story of what's going on right now in Israel and Lebanon. The map highlights the day's flashpoints and summarizes key developments (with...
Jul
11
2006
overlay
Speaking of the New York Times, I really liked one of the graphics they ran today with the story about a man who possibly blew up his home/office building to prevent his soon-to-be-ex-wife from profiting from it in the pending...
Speaking of the New York Times, I really liked one of the graphics they ran today with the story about a man who possibly blew up his home/office building to prevent his soon-to-be-ex-wife from profiting from it in the pending...
Jul
9
2006
photo of the day: army of spider-men
This photo was taken this past March at South by Southwest Interactive, and it's been -- by far -- the most popular photo I've ever posted to Flickr. At the conference, a group had set up an "Interactive Playpen"...
This photo was taken this past March at South by Southwest Interactive, and it's been -- by far -- the most popular photo I've ever posted to Flickr. At the conference, a group had set up an "Interactive Playpen"...
Jun
15
2006
soccer brand
German designer Erik Spiekermann doesn't have very many nice things to say about the branding for this year's World Cup. First, there are too many messages. The original brief was: we've got to fit Germany in there, then 2006, then...
German designer Erik Spiekermann doesn't have very many nice things to say about the branding for this year's World Cup. First, there are too many messages. The original brief was: we've got to fit Germany in there, then 2006, then...
Apr
3
2006
random things that bring me joy
In no particular order... Animated favorites due on DVD this year: The Venture Bros.: Season One (coming out May 30, according to Amazon.com), Animaniacs: Volume One and Pinky and the Brain (July 25) and maybe even (SPOON!) The Tick. 16...
In no particular order... Animated favorites due on DVD this year: The Venture Bros.: Season One (coming out May 30, according to Amazon.com), Animaniacs: Volume One and Pinky and the Brain (July 25) and maybe even (SPOON!) The Tick. 16...
Mar
2
2006
ff06: day three
I'm a little behind in my recapping... My "monolith" moment of the day came in John Davey's Flash/MySQL session, where he demonstrated how to hook Flash up to a MySQL database using PHP as an intermediary. It was actually more...
I'm a little behind in my recapping... My "monolith" moment of the day came in John Davey's Flash/MySQL session, where he demonstrated how to hook Flash up to a MySQL database using PHP as an intermediary. It was actually more...
ff06: flash film festival
Thanks to last night's Flash Film Festival, I'm now the proud owner of a Flash Forward-branded kazoo. Meanwhile, 16 design groups were the proud winners of large orange rubber arrows recognition of their work from the festival judging panel. There...
Thanks to last night's Flash Film Festival, I'm now the proud owner of a Flash Forward-branded kazoo. Meanwhile, 16 design groups were the proud winners of large orange rubber arrows recognition of their work from the festival judging panel. There...
Feb
9
2006
all colbert, all the time
The "truthiness teller" is popping up all over the place these days. Stephen Colbert, host of Daily Show spin-off The Colbert Report, has been getting a ton of press lately, including a profile featured on the cover of this week's...
The "truthiness teller" is popping up all over the place these days. Stephen Colbert, host of Daily Show spin-off The Colbert Report, has been getting a ton of press lately, including a profile featured on the cover of this week's...
Feb
5
2006
super bowl sundae
Forget the game: For me, Super Bowl Sunday is all about the new commercials. Sadly, I wasn't very impressed by the majority of the ads. (Disclaimer: I started watching at about 6:30 p.m., so I missed all the pre-game stuff.)...
Forget the game: For me, Super Bowl Sunday is all about the new commercials. Sadly, I wasn't very impressed by the majority of the ads. (Disclaimer: I started watching at about 6:30 p.m., so I missed all the pre-game stuff.)...
Feb
2
2006
wired
I have to say, I love the cover of this month's issue of Wired magazine. Last weekend, I walked down to Whole Foods to get some veggies to go with dinner, and, while waiting in the checkout aisle, I spotted...
I have to say, I love the cover of this month's issue of Wired magazine. Last weekend, I walked down to Whole Foods to get some veggies to go with dinner, and, while waiting in the checkout aisle, I spotted...
Jan
20
2006
creativity on speed
I meant to post this back in early December, but apparently never hit "publish" ... Signals vs. Noise pointed out a really interesting blog post by Kathy Sierra. This passage in particular describes, in a way I've never been able...
I meant to post this back in early December, but apparently never hit "publish" ... Signals vs. Noise pointed out a really interesting blog post by Kathy Sierra. This passage in particular describes, in a way I've never been able...
Jan
11
2006
judge a book by its cover
Covers is a cool weblog/gallery featuring well-designed covers for current popular books. It's a nice collection of interesting book covers, and the subtle mouseover effect on the thumbnails is rather nifty. It's interesting to read the comments -- like this...
Covers is a cool weblog/gallery featuring well-designed covers for current popular books. It's a nice collection of interesting book covers, and the subtle mouseover effect on the thumbnails is rather nifty. It's interesting to read the comments -- like this...
kawaii science
The New York Times ran an interesting story last week about the science of "cuteness" -- that ineffable quality that makes people "awww" and coo and generally melt in the presence of it. ("The Cute Factor" - 01/03/06) Cute cues...
The New York Times ran an interesting story last week about the science of "cuteness" -- that ineffable quality that makes people "awww" and coo and generally melt in the presence of it. ("The Cute Factor" - 01/03/06) Cute cues...
Jan
10
2006
enlarge photo
I came across a cool CSS/JavaScript-based technique for layering an image on top of the existing browser window -- sort of like a pop-up window, but without the pop-up -- called Lightbox JS. It's deceptively simple, and, as used in...
I came across a cool CSS/JavaScript-based technique for layering an image on top of the existing browser window -- sort of like a pop-up window, but without the pop-up -- called Lightbox JS. It's deceptively simple, and, as used in...
Dec
21
2005
here comes the gunk
So much for simplicity. The New York Times reported yesterday that, as part of its new deal with AOL, Google may start experimenting with graphical ads, a departure from its trademark text-only look. (" AOL Coaxes Google to Try Busier...
So much for simplicity. The New York Times reported yesterday that, as part of its new deal with AOL, Google may start experimenting with graphical ads, a departure from its trademark text-only look. (" AOL Coaxes Google to Try Busier...
Dec
19
2005
yuletide
Random holiday-related tidbits... You know those mailings from charities that you get with the address labels pre-printed with your information on them, along with a solicitation for your information? Not a particularly efficient way of raising money, reports the St....
Random holiday-related tidbits... You know those mailings from charities that you get with the address labels pre-printed with your information on them, along with a solicitation for your information? Not a particularly efficient way of raising money, reports the St....
Dec
14
2005
education of a web designer
I went with a coworker to a student portfolio review today at a local arts college, and I was struck by the balance of professional interests: a lot of print designers and illustrators, a few animators and one Web...
I went with a coworker to a student portfolio review today at a local arts college, and I was struck by the balance of professional interests: a lot of print designers and illustrators, a few animators and one Web...
Dec
9
2005
birth of macrodobia
Monday morning brought an awesome Macromedia site of the day, featuring an interactive kitchens site from IKEA with nifty Matrix-like 360-degree freeze-frame images. Monday also brought some changes to the Macromedia Web site, following the completion of its merger...
Monday morning brought an awesome Macromedia site of the day, featuring an interactive kitchens site from IKEA with nifty Matrix-like 360-degree freeze-frame images. Monday also brought some changes to the Macromedia Web site, following the completion of its merger...
pieces of flair
The Washington Post had an interesting feature yesterday about the evolving decor of T.G.I. Friday's and Ruby Tuesday and the networks of people who supply the kitch that adorns the restaurants' walls. Since the dawn of the shopping-mall era, people...
The Washington Post had an interesting feature yesterday about the evolving decor of T.G.I. Friday's and Ruby Tuesday and the networks of people who supply the kitch that adorns the restaurants' walls. Since the dawn of the shopping-mall era, people...
Nov
29
2005
quotable: decisions, decisions
"Okay, which design offends you least?" - Rob, asking me to decide between two similarly priced types of Cheer laundry detergent, whose packaging has recently undergone an underwhelming redesign...
"Okay, which design offends you least?" - Rob, asking me to decide between two similarly priced types of Cheer laundry detergent, whose packaging has recently undergone an underwhelming redesign...
Nov
20
2005
joys of flash
Sometimes, getting a Flash piece to work requires a whole lot of voodoo. I don't mean "voodoo" in the "I'm really good at working my Flash magic" sense. I mean "voodoo" in the "banging my head against the desk because...
Sometimes, getting a Flash piece to work requires a whole lot of voodoo. I don't mean "voodoo" in the "I'm really good at working my Flash magic" sense. I mean "voodoo" in the "banging my head against the desk because...
Nov
17
2005
delayed launch
Someone told me today that a site I worked on more than four years ago finally launched recently. It was a nightmare of a site. The clients hated my initial comps and kept talking about how much they liked a...
Someone told me today that a site I worked on more than four years ago finally launched recently. It was a nightmare of a site. The clients hated my initial comps and kept talking about how much they liked a...
Nov
9
2005
bring me my graphics
Jon Stewart's former "incredible exploding title graphics" have claimed another victim: CNN's Anderson Cooper. Fishbowl NY observes: One interesting point: is it just me, or does the new 360 set look a lot like the Daily Show set? The funniest...
Jon Stewart's former "incredible exploding title graphics" have claimed another victim: CNN's Anderson Cooper. Fishbowl NY observes: One interesting point: is it just me, or does the new 360 set look a lot like the Daily Show set? The funniest...
Nov
7
2005
font bad
Here's a design movement I can get behind: bancomicsans.com. In 1995 Microsoft released the font Comic Sans originally designed for comic book style talk bubbles containing informational help text. Since that time the typeface has been used in countless contexts...
Here's a design movement I can get behind: bancomicsans.com. In 1995 Microsoft released the font Comic Sans originally designed for comic book style talk bubbles containing informational help text. Since that time the typeface has been used in countless contexts...
Nov
5
2005
random pop culture detritus
Apple has a trailer for the new movie version of The Producers. A movie based on a play based on a movie about a play. And it looks hilarious. A few weeks ago, the Coverville podcast featured an astonishingly good...
Apple has a trailer for the new movie version of The Producers. A movie based on a play based on a movie about a play. And it looks hilarious. A few weeks ago, the Coverville podcast featured an astonishingly good...
Oct
26
2005
before and after
Part of my job involves converting graphics from the paper for use on the Web. If a graphic "calls out" for interactivity -- for example, it tells a compelling story, or, as designed, the graphic works in print but not...
Part of my job involves converting graphics from the paper for use on the Web. If a graphic "calls out" for interactivity -- for example, it tells a compelling story, or, as designed, the graphic works in print but not...
Oct
18
2005
seen: job title
Awesome job title, seen in a job listing posted last Friday to an e-mail list I'm on: Hiring - CSS Ninja in Vancouver, BC And it carried through in the listing, too! Compensation for this position starts at: White Belt...
Awesome job title, seen in a job listing posted last Friday to an e-mail list I'm on: Hiring - CSS Ninja in Vancouver, BC And it carried through in the listing, too! Compensation for this position starts at: White Belt...
Oct
7
2005
creative inspiration
It's been out for a while now, but I finally took a look at the latest Communication Arts Interactive Annual today. I noticed at least two nods to excellent museum exhibits here in D.C. whose interactive kiosks were done by...
It's been out for a while now, but I finally took a look at the latest Communication Arts Interactive Annual today. I noticed at least two nods to excellent museum exhibits here in D.C. whose interactive kiosks were done by...
Sep
27
2005
adventures in multimedia
Doing research / inspiration-gathering for an upcoming project, I went looking for sites that do interesting things with design and video. Some of the highlights: Churchill and the Great Republic - An online exhibit for the Library of Congress. Yet...
Doing research / inspiration-gathering for an upcoming project, I went looking for sites that do interesting things with design and video. Some of the highlights: Churchill and the Great Republic - An online exhibit for the Library of Congress. Yet...
Sep
25
2005
guitarmania
One of my recent freelance projects just went live on Friday. Guitarmania is a public art project sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona and Fender, featuring 10-foot-tall Stratocaster guitars that have been decorated by local artists and...
One of my recent freelance projects just went live on Friday. Guitarmania is a public art project sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona and Fender, featuring 10-foot-tall Stratocaster guitars that have been decorated by local artists and...
Sep
22
2005
mapping new orleans
Rob's volleyball friend Brody, a cartographer, is off on an intriguing adventure: He's flying out to New Orleans to make maps. He's set up a blog to chronicle his trip. You all have probably heard the news, and if not,...
Rob's volleyball friend Brody, a cartographer, is off on an intriguing adventure: He's flying out to New Orleans to make maps. He's set up a blog to chronicle his trip. You all have probably heard the news, and if not,...
Sep
12
2005
cooking on the grid
CookingForEngineers.com has a really unique approach to displaying a recipe in condensed form. I've never seen anything like it before ... but I actually like it -- it's very logical. (Thanks to Shawn for the link.)...
CookingForEngineers.com has a really unique approach to displaying a recipe in condensed form. I've never seen anything like it before ... but I actually like it -- it's very logical. (Thanks to Shawn for the link.)...
Sep
9
2005
mac users need not apply
Ars Technica reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in its infinite wisdom, made its online application for disaster relief accessible only to users of Internet Explorer 6, effectively blocking out (or at least putting up some sizeable roadblocks for)...
Ars Technica reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in its infinite wisdom, made its online application for disaster relief accessible only to users of Internet Explorer 6, effectively blocking out (or at least putting up some sizeable roadblocks for)...
Aug
22
2005
user experience
I signed up for Day One of Adaptive Path's User Experience Week 2005, spurred on mainly by the promise of lots of talk about new trends in web development ("Web 2.0") and a case study of Flickr. In the end,...
I signed up for Day One of Adaptive Path's User Experience Week 2005, spurred on mainly by the promise of lots of talk about new trends in web development ("Web 2.0") and a case study of Flickr. In the end,...
Aug
17
2005
silver surfer
BBC News uses a novel term to describe older Internet users: silver surfers. It's a cute play on words, particularly if you're a comic book aficionado. I'd never heard the term used with respect to a particular online demographic before,...
BBC News uses a novel term to describe older Internet users: silver surfers. It's a cute play on words, particularly if you're a comic book aficionado. I'd never heard the term used with respect to a particular online demographic before,...
Aug
4
2005
hindsight, foresight
An intern at work today asked to sit in as I put together a Flash graphic for a project she's working on. The graphic mainly consisted of adapting a graphic I'd put together two weeks earlier, so I spent a...
An intern at work today asked to sit in as I put together a Flash graphic for a project she's working on. The graphic mainly consisted of adapting a graphic I'd put together two weeks earlier, so I spent a...
Jul
27
2005
diamond shopping
Amazon has launched a very visual approach to buying diamonds, with an AJAX-powered application that allows users to narrow or expand their search selections via a series of sliders and instantly (without reloading the page) see how many diamonds match...
Amazon has launched a very visual approach to buying diamonds, with an AJAX-powered application that allows users to narrow or expand their search selections via a series of sliders and instantly (without reloading the page) see how many diamonds match...
Jul
15
2005
case study
Enticed by the focus on AJAX and user-generated content, I'm planning to go to Day One of Adaptive Path's User Experience Week here in D.C. next month. But I was even more jazzed when I read about an addition to...
Enticed by the focus on AJAX and user-generated content, I'm planning to go to Day One of Adaptive Path's User Experience Week here in D.C. next month. But I was even more jazzed when I read about an addition to...
Jul
13
2005
new digs
Catching up on my TV, I watched Monday's edition of The Daily Show last night. The show went on a brief hiatus last week in order to move to a new studio; Monday was the first taping on the new...
Catching up on my TV, I watched Monday's edition of The Daily Show last night. The show went on a brief hiatus last week in order to move to a new studio; Monday was the first taping on the new...
Jul
11
2005
ff05: day three wrap-up
The wifi in the hotel room died on me Friday night and was still out by the time I had to check out Saturday at noon. Yesterday was all about playing catch-up and getting ready for the week ahead, so...
The wifi in the hotel room died on me Friday night and was still out by the time I had to check out Saturday at noon. Yesterday was all about playing catch-up and getting ready for the week ahead, so...
Jul
8
2005
ff05: day two, part two
Internet connection has been dicey in the hotel room, so I'm playing catch-up now... Using a PC with a Mac OS X skin, Aral Balkan offered a spirited introduction to object-oriented programming, and offered the quote of the day: Polymorphism....
Internet connection has been dicey in the hotel room, so I'm playing catch-up now... Using a PC with a Mac OS X skin, Aral Balkan offered a spirited introduction to object-oriented programming, and offered the quote of the day: Polymorphism....
Jul
7
2005
ff05: day two
Day two of the Flash Forward conference in New York. The first session of the morning was the Macromedia keynote, which featured a stunning demo of the new Flash 8 Player and authoring environment. Lots of cool video and image...
Day two of the Flash Forward conference in New York. The first session of the morning was the Macromedia keynote, which featured a stunning demo of the new Flash 8 Player and authoring environment. Lots of cool video and image...
Jul
6
2005
ff05: day one
At the moment, I'm sitting in a conference room at the Flash Forward conference in New York. The current session is about object-oriented programming, which I'm pretty fuzzy on, but I want to learn more about. However, the presenter lost...
At the moment, I'm sitting in a conference room at the Flash Forward conference in New York. The current session is about object-oriented programming, which I'm pretty fuzzy on, but I want to learn more about. However, the presenter lost...
Jun
24
2005
typographical zoo
Cute site of the day: BemboZoo, a Flash-based site today that creates animals based on letterforms for every letter of the alphabet. For example, if you click on the letter "K," the word "Koala" appears, and then the letters that...
Cute site of the day: BemboZoo, a Flash-based site today that creates animals based on letterforms for every letter of the alphabet. For example, if you click on the letter "K," the word "Koala" appears, and then the letters that...
Jun
23
2005
working with your designer
Fast Company has an interesting article offering advice for non-designers (mainly, business and marketing types) in working with designers. ("Be Cooler by Design" - 06/05) One piece of advice in particular struck on one of my client "pet peeves:" People...
Fast Company has an interesting article offering advice for non-designers (mainly, business and marketing types) in working with designers. ("Be Cooler by Design" - 06/05) One piece of advice in particular struck on one of my client "pet peeves:" People...
type personified
Online type merchant FontShop.com has a fun little section on their site featuring user-submitted badges of themselves and their favorite typefaces. (Because I'm a sucker for penguins, I've borrowed a badge featuring one of the well-dressed birds, credited to Magnus...
Online type merchant FontShop.com has a fun little section on their site featuring user-submitted badges of themselves and their favorite typefaces. (Because I'm a sucker for penguins, I've borrowed a badge featuring one of the well-dressed birds, credited to Magnus...
Jun
18
2005
photo printing made not-so-easy
So much for technology making things easier. AP reports that some amateur photographers are being turned away from photo printing labs because their photos are too good. The problem: Copyright law requires photo labs to be on the lookout for...
So much for technology making things easier. AP reports that some amateur photographers are being turned away from photo printing labs because their photos are too good. The problem: Copyright law requires photo labs to be on the lookout for...
Jun
14
2005
skin of the times
I recently upgraded my copy of the NetNewsWire RSS reader to the 2.0 "lite" version, and was toying a bit with some of the new features. Among those new features that I discovered this evening: The display of the windowpane...
I recently upgraded my copy of the NetNewsWire RSS reader to the 2.0 "lite" version, and was toying a bit with some of the new features. Among those new features that I discovered this evening: The display of the windowpane...
Jun
9
2005
eppy eppy
washingtonpost.com won for "Best Overall Design of an Internet Service over 1 million" in the 2005 Editor and Publisher EPpy Awards, beating out azcentral.com and seattletimes.com. By strange coincidence, I worked on azcentral.com's fall 2004 site redesign just before I...
washingtonpost.com won for "Best Overall Design of an Internet Service over 1 million" in the 2005 Editor and Publisher EPpy Awards, beating out azcentral.com and seattletimes.com. By strange coincidence, I worked on azcentral.com's fall 2004 site redesign just before I...
Jun
7
2005
copycat
I followed a "Buy 1 Song, Get 5 Free" promotion link for MSN Music this morning, and was a bit surprised to see that the site was aping Apple's old glassy button style for its "buy" and "confirm" buttons --...
I followed a "Buy 1 Song, Get 5 Free" promotion link for MSN Music this morning, and was a bit surprised to see that the site was aping Apple's old glassy button style for its "buy" and "confirm" buttons --...
May
11
2005
photomat
Michaela pointed me toward Bowman Photos, a fantastic online photo gallery put together by Douglas Bowman (of design group Stopdesign). I'm impressed both by the very clean, attractive design and by the ingenius backend Bowman set up to make it...
Michaela pointed me toward Bowman Photos, a fantastic online photo gallery put together by Douglas Bowman (of design group Stopdesign). I'm impressed both by the very clean, attractive design and by the ingenius backend Bowman set up to make it...
May
10
2005
new times
Looks like it's been a busy week for the folks at Los Angeles Times Interactive: The online arm of the L.A. Times launched a redesign of latimes.com (screenshot) and entertainment guide CalendarLive (screenshot) and removed the paid subscription barrier for...
Looks like it's been a busy week for the folks at Los Angeles Times Interactive: The online arm of the L.A. Times launched a redesign of latimes.com (screenshot) and entertainment guide CalendarLive (screenshot) and removed the paid subscription barrier for...
May
5
2005
webby
The 2005 Webby Award winners have been announced, recognizing Web sites in genres from activism to personal sites. I was very happy to see that McSweeney's won for best copy / writing in voting by both the Webby judges and...
The 2005 Webby Award winners have been announced, recognizing Web sites in genres from activism to personal sites. I was very happy to see that McSweeney's won for best copy / writing in voting by both the Webby judges and...
May
4
2005
nyt: now stretchified
It looks like nytimes.com is rolling out a new article template this afternoon. And it's stretchy. Old article template | New article template I'm not really keen on the liquid layout, particularly at wide screen widths that stretch the story...
It looks like nytimes.com is rolling out a new article template this afternoon. And it's stretchy. Old article template | New article template I'm not really keen on the liquid layout, particularly at wide screen widths that stretch the story...
May
2
2005
the flyout flies away
MSNBC.com has dropped its "flyout" menu, where users could access sections and individual stories from the side navigation bar, in favor of something more static (but possibly more usable). An editor's note explains that the change had a lot to...
MSNBC.com has dropped its "flyout" menu, where users could access sections and individual stories from the side navigation bar, in favor of something more static (but possibly more usable). An editor's note explains that the change had a lot to...
Apr
18
2005
buy, buy, buy
This was a bit of a shock to read this morning: Adobe to Buy Macromedia in $3.4 Billion Stock Deal By Terence Neilan Published: April 18, 2005 The document-design software company Adobe Systems Inc. said today that it had agreed...
This was a bit of a shock to read this morning: Adobe to Buy Macromedia in $3.4 Billion Stock Deal By Terence Neilan Published: April 18, 2005 The document-design software company Adobe Systems Inc. said today that it had agreed...
Feb
24
2005
daily ephemera
Continuing my new lazy habit of just listing my daily reading highlights as bullet points, rather than fleshed-out separate entries...
Continuing my new lazy habit of just listing my daily reading highlights as bullet points, rather than fleshed-out separate entries...
Jan
28
2005
paragons of design
The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) has on its Web site a fantastic showcase of good design, featuring its 2004 Year in Design winners. The featured work, which runs the gamut from brand identities to book covers, is great...
The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) has on its Web site a fantastic showcase of good design, featuring its 2004 Year in Design winners. The featured work, which runs the gamut from brand identities to book covers, is great...
Dec
13
2004
mixed messages
Ah, the language of color. Take, for example, the many meanings of the color yellow... "Live Strong" is a popular cancer research fundraising effort that has embraced yellow as its primary color. However, the St. Petersburg Times reports that some...
Ah, the language of color. Take, for example, the many meanings of the color yellow... "Live Strong" is a popular cancer research fundraising effort that has embraced yellow as its primary color. However, the St. Petersburg Times reports that some...
Dec
7
2004
minimal road rage
I came across a story in Wired today that just blows my mind. A possible new trend in road design: removing traffic signs, lights and other traffic flow cues to slow traffic and make roads more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly. ("Roads...
I came across a story in Wired today that just blows my mind. A possible new trend in road design: removing traffic signs, lights and other traffic flow cues to slow traffic and make roads more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly. ("Roads...
Dec
2
2004
quote of the day: work in progress
"Unfortunately, much of the Web is like an anthill built by ants on LSD." - Jakob Nielsen, in the Sept. 13, 2004, issue of his e-mail newsletter. ("The Need for Web Design Standards" - 09/13/04)...
"Unfortunately, much of the Web is like an anthill built by ants on LSD." - Jakob Nielsen, in the Sept. 13, 2004, issue of his e-mail newsletter. ("The Need for Web Design Standards" - 09/13/04)...
Nov
29
2004
red state, blue state
Ever since the election, there have been a ton of stories in the media about "red states vs. blue states," with regard to the results of the most recent presidential election and what the pundits and critics believe those results...
Ever since the election, there have been a ton of stories in the media about "red states vs. blue states," with regard to the results of the most recent presidential election and what the pundits and critics believe those results...
Nov
12
2004
heard: criminal design
From a coworker, on designers who commit egregious faux pas that deserve prosecution: "They should be taken to the design Hague."...
From a coworker, on designers who commit egregious faux pas that deserve prosecution: "They should be taken to the design Hague."...
Oct
29
2004
Oct
20
2004
color code
On a random design note, I really like the way the folks at roanoke.com have set up their left navigation bar. There are clear topic headers (with links related to the Roanoke Times, news content, classifieds, etc.), with clear sub-links...
On a random design note, I really like the way the folks at roanoke.com have set up their left navigation bar. There are clear topic headers (with links related to the Roanoke Times, news content, classifieds, etc.), with clear sub-links...
Sep
1
2004
Aug
21
2004
exploration
I've been considering a new hobby of late: letterpress, the art of printing type by hand using a press and block letters (like a mini-Gutenberg). The result more tangible than electronic work, and I think the hands-on nature of it...
I've been considering a new hobby of late: letterpress, the art of printing type by hand using a press and block letters (like a mini-Gutenberg). The result more tangible than electronic work, and I think the hands-on nature of it...
Jul
19
2004
walking back
This month also marks an important anniversary. Twenty-five years ago, Sony introduced the Walkman music player. (Knight Ridder/Tribune News: "July 1979: Walkman spawned a revolution" - 07/16/04) Twenty-five years ago this month, America tuned out. A midnight-blue-and-silver brick with astonishing...
This month also marks an important anniversary. Twenty-five years ago, Sony introduced the Walkman music player. (Knight Ridder/Tribune News: "July 1979: Walkman spawned a revolution" - 07/16/04) Twenty-five years ago this month, America tuned out. A midnight-blue-and-silver brick with astonishing...
type geekery
I'm a lightweight type geek. I like to impress (or annoy) friends and relatives by pointing out typefaces I recognize on signs, menus, commercials and the like. (I do the same with movie scores that have been repurposed for other...
I'm a lightweight type geek. I like to impress (or annoy) friends and relatives by pointing out typefaces I recognize on signs, menus, commercials and the like. (I do the same with movie scores that have been repurposed for other...
template
Blogger recently rolled out some fab new CSS/XHTML-based weblog templates, created with the help of Web usability group Adaptive Path. Jeffrey Zeldman and the folks at HappyCog contributed a few designs. Some of them are really spiffy. I wish Movable...
Blogger recently rolled out some fab new CSS/XHTML-based weblog templates, created with the help of Web usability group Adaptive Path. Jeffrey Zeldman and the folks at HappyCog contributed a few designs. Some of them are really spiffy. I wish Movable...
Jul
6
2004
money talks
Phillip Su, a developer who worked on Microsoft's Money product (1999 and 2001 releases), posted an interesting retrospective on Money's history and the various company priorities that came into play during its product development. The most fascinating detail: Early on,...
Phillip Su, a developer who worked on Microsoft's Money product (1999 and 2001 releases), posted an interesting retrospective on Money's history and the various company priorities that came into play during its product development. The most fascinating detail: Early on,...
Jun
29
2004
ikea-like
I got an e-mail this morning announcing the launch of CB2, apparently the new "young, urban hipster" offering from Crate and Barrel. While there's only one "live" store so far -- in Chicago, so I'll have to add it to...
I got an e-mail this morning announcing the launch of CB2, apparently the new "young, urban hipster" offering from Crate and Barrel. While there's only one "live" store so far -- in Chicago, so I'll have to add it to...
Jun
23
2004
design your ideal workspace
A poster to Slashdot yesterday posed a great question: How would you design an ideal office environment for, in this case, 40-45 employees of various disciplines? The responses thus far have been fascinating. In many replies, there was a definite...
A poster to Slashdot yesterday posed a great question: How would you design an ideal office environment for, in this case, 40-45 employees of various disciplines? The responses thus far have been fascinating. In many replies, there was a definite...
Jun
17
2004
user-centric newspaper design
Editor and Publisher today reports on the unique approach the Columbia Missourian took to its Sunday newspaper redesign. ("'Missourian' Opens Redesign to the Public" - 06/17/04) Instead of designing and "focus-grouping" the new design almost entirely in-house, the team behind...
Editor and Publisher today reports on the unique approach the Columbia Missourian took to its Sunday newspaper redesign. ("'Missourian' Opens Redesign to the Public" - 06/17/04) Instead of designing and "focus-grouping" the new design almost entirely in-house, the team behind...
Jun
15
2004
computers get interesting
Computer makers have finally, in the past couple years, begun to follow Apple's example of offering more aesthetically appealing computer hardware designs, to the point where now, according to a story in Business Week, the old "beige box" may be...
Computer makers have finally, in the past couple years, begun to follow Apple's example of offering more aesthetically appealing computer hardware designs, to the point where now, according to a story in Business Week, the old "beige box" may be...
Jun
14
2004
foxnews.com redesign
Poynter's Jim Romenesko pointed out this morning that FoxNews.com launched a site redesign today. According to a story in today's Wall Street Journal, the site was designed in-house, and with a strong interest in attracting high-profile advertisers. ("Fox News Redesigns...
Poynter's Jim Romenesko pointed out this morning that FoxNews.com launched a site redesign today. According to a story in today's Wall Street Journal, the site was designed in-house, and with a strong interest in attracting high-profile advertisers. ("Fox News Redesigns...
Jun
7
2004
dunny hop
First came the bulls and bears. Then came the donkeys and elephants. And the pandas. Now come the dunnys. The Visionaire Gallery in SoHo, NYC, is hosting "The Dunny Show," an exhibition of unusual takes on a series of bunny-like...
First came the bulls and bears. Then came the donkeys and elephants. And the pandas. Now come the dunnys. The Visionaire Gallery in SoHo, NYC, is hosting "The Dunny Show," an exhibition of unusual takes on a series of bunny-like...
aesthetic piracy
Bopping about the Web, I occasionally notice instances of design theft, as people repurpose graphics, page elements and -- at its most egregious -- entire site designs. There was a rather public example of the latter reported on in the...
Bopping about the Web, I occasionally notice instances of design theft, as people repurpose graphics, page elements and -- at its most egregious -- entire site designs. There was a rather public example of the latter reported on in the...
Jun
4
2004
title sequence
Following on yesterday's post, this month's issue of Wired has a story about Kyle Cooper, known for creating inventive movie title sequences. ("The Dark Genius of Kyle Cooper" - June 2004) Cooper, 41, specializes in crafting title sequences - the...
Following on yesterday's post, this month's issue of Wired has a story about Kyle Cooper, known for creating inventive movie title sequences. ("The Dark Genius of Kyle Cooper" - June 2004) Cooper, 41, specializes in crafting title sequences - the...
Jun
3
2004
cover story
The Onion A.V. Club has a great interview this week with book designer Chip Kidd, whose credits include (among tons of other things) the cover to Jurassic Park (which was also used for the movie poster and within the film...
The Onion A.V. Club has a great interview this week with book designer Chip Kidd, whose credits include (among tons of other things) the cover to Jurassic Park (which was also used for the movie poster and within the film...
Apr
25
2004
personal pantone color
Pantone has a "colorstrology" Birthday Color feature. Look up your birthdate and see "your" color. Mine, apparently, is "Slate Rose," and my personality traits are "dynamic," "dramatic" and "clever." Its description of me: You have a convincing and dramatic nature....
Pantone has a "colorstrology" Birthday Color feature. Look up your birthdate and see "your" color. Mine, apparently, is "Slate Rose," and my personality traits are "dynamic," "dramatic" and "clever." Its description of me: You have a convincing and dramatic nature....
Apr
11
2004
writing about design
I read plenty of weblogs about a variety of topics -- personal commentary and reflection, popular culture, technology, web design -- but until a few weeks ago, I'd been unable to find a blog with substantive discussion about design, in...
I read plenty of weblogs about a variety of topics -- personal commentary and reflection, popular culture, technology, web design -- but until a few weeks ago, I'd been unable to find a blog with substantive discussion about design, in...
Feb
19
2004
pass the remote
The New York Times has a fascinating article today about the design process that went into the TiVo remote control. ("Now Preening on the Coffee Table: The TiVo Remote Control" - 02/19/04) When Paul Newby, TiVo's director of consumer design,...
The New York Times has a fascinating article today about the design process that went into the TiVo remote control. ("Now Preening on the Coffee Table: The TiVo Remote Control" - 02/19/04) When Paul Newby, TiVo's director of consumer design,...
Feb
17
2004
rest in peace, webmonkey
Wired reported today that Webmonkey is shuttering its virtual doors. ("Webmonkey, RIP: 1996 – 2004" - 02/17/04) With its combination of quirky humor and plainspoken explanations, the tutorial site has been a fantastic reference for web developers for the past...
Wired reported today that Webmonkey is shuttering its virtual doors. ("Webmonkey, RIP: 1996 – 2004" - 02/17/04) With its combination of quirky humor and plainspoken explanations, the tutorial site has been a fantastic reference for web developers for the past...
Jan
7
2004
iDisappointment
Yesterday was the big Steve Jobs MacWorld keynote. As expected, Jobs announced a new Apple iPod: the iPod mini. It's cute, it's teeny and it comes in different colors ... but it's $249. The iPod mini has a 4GB capacity...
Yesterday was the big Steve Jobs MacWorld keynote. As expected, Jobs announced a new Apple iPod: the iPod mini. It's cute, it's teeny and it comes in different colors ... but it's $249. The iPod mini has a 4GB capacity...
Dec
23
2003
usability and design
E-Media Tidbits' Steve Outing mentions that Jakob Nielsen has published his list of the Top Ten Design Mistakes of 2003. Perhaps ironically, a number of the problems he points out -- such as over-descriptive ALT tags or too-small thumbnail images...
E-Media Tidbits' Steve Outing mentions that Jakob Nielsen has published his list of the Top Ten Design Mistakes of 2003. Perhaps ironically, a number of the problems he points out -- such as over-descriptive ALT tags or too-small thumbnail images...
under construction
Googling for something else, I found an amusing site listing various Web site "under construction" graphics, with "translations" of what they mean. If writing a simple web page is so difficult for me that I compare it to doing hard...
Googling for something else, I found an amusing site listing various Web site "under construction" graphics, with "translations" of what they mean. If writing a simple web page is so difficult for me that I compare it to doing hard...
Sep
29
2003
word of the day: suac
SUAC v. Acronym for "Shut Up and Color". How Marketing and Engineering departments often think (or wish) design should be done. The above acronym/definition comes from usability guru Jeffrey Veen, in an Apr. 25 post about corporate jargon. Rob saw...
SUAC v. Acronym for "Shut Up and Color". How Marketing and Engineering departments often think (or wish) design should be done. The above acronym/definition comes from usability guru Jeffrey Veen, in an Apr. 25 post about corporate jargon. Rob saw...
Jul
25
2003
behind the typeface
The promise. The sudden stardom. The fall from grace. The comeback. Learn about the storied history of Cooper Black...
The promise. The sudden stardom. The fall from grace. The comeback. Learn about the storied history of Cooper Black...
Feb
20
2003
news website redesigns
ESPN and BBC News both recently redesigned their web sites. ESPN's redesign applies mainly to its home page. The site is now pushing a new feature called "ESPN Motion," which integrates full-motion ESPN video clips into the page. The feature,...
ESPN and BBC News both recently redesigned their web sites. ESPN's redesign applies mainly to its home page. The site is now pushing a new feature called "ESPN Motion," which integrates full-motion ESPN video clips into the page. The feature,...
Feb
7
2003
page not found
I recently found one of the funniest 404 - Page Not Found pages I've ever seen. Ah, the musings of a sad, overworked, underappreciated webserver... A 404 page is what comes up in your browser when you try to load...
I recently found one of the funniest 404 - Page Not Found pages I've ever seen. Ah, the musings of a sad, overworked, underappreciated webserver... A 404 page is what comes up in your browser when you try to load...
Dec
18
2002
the language of type
As human societies have evolved, ideas and thoughts have been distilled and communicated via an oral language. Over time, this oral language has been further distilled into another symbolic form: the printed word. Discussion of this evolution often leaves out an important mediator between the printed word and the reader: the typeface.
As human societies have evolved, ideas and thoughts have been distilled and communicated via an oral language. Over time, this oral language has been further distilled into another symbolic form: the printed word. Discussion of this evolution often leaves out an important mediator between the printed word and the reader: the typeface.
![[Photo]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2612/4086303333_6985468b59_t.jpg)
