Some big news in the typography and web venues, as Adobe and Typekit have partnered to bring some quality and classic typefaces like Garamond, Bickham, and Myriad among others, to the web. More about the story here.
Continue Reading
Out of the settling dust of the SXSW 2010 conference, this short video emerged on analyzing failures, with a skew to the web development industry. Some interesting opinions are shared. If I could toss my two cents into the ring, I certainly concur to varying degrees with all the speakers’ opinions. Greg Storey however, shared an interesting view on how poor communication can spiral into a failed project or relationship. I tend agree, communication may very well reside at the heart of whether a project or relationship succeeds. As humans, we’re incredibly complex individuals, and a good communicator can smooth out roads, demystify confusing situations, and pragmatically solve problems before they turn into failures.
mikep
Continue Reading
The video above is about a real-world effort by Wired magazine, to bring the media consumption of their publication into a web-print melting pot. It’s a very good view for web designers, developers, and print designers. It’s so engaging for the future conceptualization of web-print interactions that it spun off into the following discussion article.
Continue Reading
.Net Magazine was in touch recently, about contributing some design and editorial to a website makeover feature for publishing. I jumped on the opportunity, and the makeover appears in the December 2009 (Issue 196) .Net print edition. And while I’m sure you’d enjoy a peek at the editorial, I’ll venture to guess you’ve landed here to see some design. Let’s dig in and have a look.
In this work review we’re looking at HelpSpot, an automated help desk product by the folks at Userscape Inc. Amidst an overhaul on the HelpSpot app UI, the client was looking to develop a new marketing support website. The new site would be more contemporary, focused, and aligned to strengthen the HelpSpot sales pitch. Carefully crafted copy and testimonials represented a dually important aspect of the brand’s viability online, but the pressure was on to create a design platform that would equally carry its weight, and move the HelpSpot product forward.
I’d like to introduce a web development studio I’ve been collaborating with lately on a few projects. They’re Synergema, headed by president, Brandon Steiger, and headquartered in Thorndale, Pennsylvania, with satellite locations across North America.
It’s hard to resist a project when it’s work-meets-play. Sub-contracted through a Vancouver-based developer, the Euro Rail Hobbies & More project proved an exciting gig involving plenty of hobby rhetoric. As a once avid collector and builder of WW2 scaled model airplanes, I paid particular attention to era-specific products during information gathering.
It’s always refreshing to step away from the daily grind to pursue a personal project. My wife Sarah, and I, recently organized and hosted a neighbourhood patio party at our house. We both thought this would be a chance to get to know the neighbours better. Oh, and what a great opportunity design an invitation. : )
In the competitive niche of intranets, Vancouver-based ThoughtFarmer sees itself constantly adopting new technologies and UI methodologies to provide a quality intranet experience for clients like eHarmony. At the beginning of the year I was approached by the TF (ThoughtFarmer) gang to work on a makeover of their existing marketing website, and a new intranet UI template.
Here’s a project I worked on at the beginning of the year. It’s been sitting on the shelf since, and seeing it again with fresh eyes, thought it would be worth sharing. Plus, the event happens in September. ; ) The site design development gig was for the folks organizing an event known as Christian Web Conference, formerly GodBlogCon.
