Design news | Apr 03
A new Creative Behavior issue is out! With an interview with James Turner, an illustrator from Toronto with a background in multimedia and design.
A new article is available: Eye candy* it's role in communication design illustrated by talented Edvin Lee. Literally feed your eyes!
Studio SOI is an animation studio which uses a simple metaphorical line art design for their site.
Don't miss the demo reel and the short pickle films!
New Design Forte recipient: Happyvirus. How to indulge on fabulous eye candy! Nevermindus the index which is a minimalist lineart - expect to be surprised when you see the first image.
I suspected that it was going to be some sort of magazine and I really like the liner: *It is not toys*
Well I will respect that but what I discovered is a brillant and immersive experience and what flash storyboarding can be about! It's like slipping in to a mesmerizing environment.
The attention to details and how exquisitely subtle the movements on the screen - I just kept on reloading the pages to make sure I had taken in all that was available to see. No redundancy - pure creativity and the photography is outstanding.
ndlr: (Careful there are some login only areas just scroll through the next pages)
Awesome graphic work! Innovative visual layout and lots of planning on how each pages takes advantage of visual real estate. Sheer, pure, enjoyable eye candy!
This is a visual treasure! Go indulge!
Couch culture since 1996? Interesting concept for a chillout club called le café abstrait in Hamburg. Resident DJ is a designer too. From the Abstrait network love the look of the cd sleeves and the consistency of the branding from events to labels: *abstrait music* - *le classique abstrait*. Congrats Raphaël!
Massively refined products design signed Eva Solo. Talent extraordinaire!
Well*Vetted issue #8 is out! Welcome to ventilate as a new member and thanks to createonline.co.uk (retired) for past contributions.
Untold is a newly designed hang out to discuss gender, technology and design; complete with event listings, featured designers, and forums!
Rarely do something like this - but both the debut site and (upcoming) album of RNDM//// are standing out from the noise, sort of speaking. Nicely mixed shades of Coldplay, early Moody Blues and beatlesque touch especially in the chorus seasoned with grungy/garage feel... promising band. I want the album :)
Peter Hoey's Pacific Coin Op Studio reminds me of cartoon style design of long ago, circa Mickey Mouse first edition. The quality his illustrations lays in his attention to details and rendering the editorial messages.
An extraordinary interior design flash based project brought to you by Zanotta. It's happening right now! Download the .pdf file to see more of this fab concept.
Directly from France a new company >LR2A & Company shows their stuff with an impressive list of delivered projects.
How will the web be won? By talent strong and upcoming students, like Greg Lutze from Corporate.Americana, who already have invested themselves by participating in community as well as commercial projects while learning the trade!
Beautiful retro illustrations for an upcoming project: Daring Planet
Update your bookmark for: Macromedia - Showcase / It seems like the Macromedia WWWhat Awards is no longer.
Monochrome explorative construction? MotionTheory.
The folks at Were Here forums have had quite some rough time since the site was down a little while ago. Why not read the true story and the good news as well!
This is a precious site that tailor fits Deborah Caperton jewelry perfectly!
Ready to embark on a spacial voyage? Check ONIROS Galaxy segments and how participants are displayed.
Some wear their name like high couture outfits and HUGE does it with style! Closet full of projects.
Nice redesign for Newmedia which uses inverted shadow personas to set the stage for each sections. Original concept!
IconTown was started in 1996 and is an ingenious community project whereas a town is built using pixel based design. Browse the districts and click on a house to meet the owner!
Apple Shares Fall Over Universal Talks by Duncan Martell
“The company, known for its stylish and sleek Macintosh personal computers, already has reportedly been working on an online music distribution service that would simplify the legal sale and downloading of music over the Internet and has made digital entertainment a centerpiece of its strategy.”
Get your share of *FM LOVE* now! Funkymonkey is reborn with an original nav system.
Consistency and originality of artist conceptual abilities and signature for Elliott Golden illustration*
More evidence that Google is not a search engine company via Jason Kottke
“Danny Sullivan, who edits SearchEngineWatch.com, estimates that Google, with about 100,000 advertisers, is a several-hundred-million-dollar business. He may be guessing low.
The newly revived search site Ask Jeeves, which carries ads from Google and pockets a portion of the fees, forecasts revenues of about $100 million this year. It operates around 13 million searches per day, compared with Google's 200 million.
It's impossible to do a direct comparison, but Google clearly could be a $1 billion company soon.”
Some do have talents one wish would have: the etrema project is definitely one such. Just to make my point - take time to review their portfolio book. Elegant, stylish and all around inspiring design.
Just found this *Idea Jotter* perfect as a client hand_out or to distribute massively around the studio or creative folks around you or as a b-gift (seems it can be customized too)! The questions are smart and exactly what needs to be remembered when you have this flashing moment of inspiration... Now, why didn't I think about something like this before???
Kevin redesigned his site Airgid (check the little right side handlrs to have a layer display over area) and there are 2 projects worth visiting: the Justice for everybody for Amnesty international and the Anatomy of a Refugee camp he did for CBC.
Laszlo Kovacs is the kind of illustrator that carries the most enigmatic conceptual process, using very minimal strokes to express the most.
The random dot experiment by mouse movements on imagedrome.
Well it seems that the *soksok.jp* issue is a widely practice of mirorring sites to be displayed on hand-held devices which include links (within site content) and ads to porn sites.
-> //pack.soksok.jp/y/.bch5/
Also - there is NO original link provided and these don't work like a search engine whereas they *cache* the pages without adding content to it - soksok adds content (links) to cached sites.
When using a search engine, if you choose, you can acccess the search result *page/site* directly instead of reading the *cached* page; thus no rerouting of content nor traffic is done.
Search engines don't display cached sites as for example: netdiver.google.com. On soksok.jp, netdiver is //pack.soksok.jp/y/.bch5/
Just drop a search on Google with soksok.jp and see how many results you get and how more and more people are awaneking to this.
The debate concerning content syndication through devices that CAN'T tell the user to discriminate between the *service* provider from the *content* provider is I guess just beginning.
Because a company has the mean to mediate content via a technology doesn't grant them permission to alter or associate their *profit* processes with the content made available to their users and it certainly does not grant them a license to associate unknowing content providers to these.
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ndlr: other articles for reference on same topic.
Blogger Complains of Japanese Site Mirroring and that thousands of sites are so!
Ben Hammersley.com: soksoksoksok.
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via: Matt Haughey
Morguefile is an inactive or post production material reference file. This morgue file contains high resolution stock photography images free for either corporate or private use.
The purpose of this site is to provide artist, illustrators, designers and educators raw reference material.
Google Inks Amazon to Comprehensive Search Deal by Pamela Parker
“Google sewed up an agreement to provide paid links and Web search on Amazon.com's popular e-commerce site, claiming yet another big traffic source in the hotly competitive paid search space.”
Finding the right users by Peter Merholz
Adaptive Path has prepared a sample screener to download which you can modify to suit your needs.
An interesting inside look at Alberto Meda, one interesting aspect is that he prefers to work alone and refuses commissions on the basis of pursuing less superficial relationships with his clients.
August 2009: How Google beat Amazon and Ebay to the Semantic Web? by Paul Ford.
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ndlr: Are you interested in learning about the Semantic web and what it means? This work of fiction is not a technical article nor is it exactly infant formula. Be prepared to chew a bit intellectually but also have a good basic introduction to this topic.
Design for Web Accessibility 1.0 / e-book
This program teaches you how to html code for greater web accessibility by the disabled. It gives code examples for table headers, alt-tags, and other html elements. This is a totally free product, given to help people code for greater web accessibility. Note: Because this ebook is in its own viewer, it is NOT web accessible."
Stop by this visual pixel feast on *****J-STATION.
A mix of top notch pixel design and fabulous interface yet with a low-key feel for PhotoCase an image stock resource. Check the Offtopic area for a clever sitemap.
How a logo was born? Don't miss this in-depth tutorial: The process of redesigning a logo by Kristof Saelen
The MTM Conversation With Steve Champeon by Brian Alvey. Though definitely known as a backend geek, Champeon expresses insights like:
“It’s always easier to be critical than creative...
For many, the question of whether the site is maintainable is a far more important issue, as that’s the place they’ll spend the most money over the years. So I don’t have a lot of patience with visual design prima donnas these days, especially if they can’t grasp that they’re just a part of the team, and that they have no grounds to justify making a site harder to make, harder to maintain, harder to use, and so forth, just so they can have a nice portfolio piece. It’s silly, and it is incredibly unprofessional.”
Another pixel based site Motifdesign shows it's stuff with smart little interactive vignettes. Don't miss the Plush: Branding an event! Very beautiful and creative work!
The cutest character ever for a big-time talented animator/illustrator on Vivagraphics.
What is TCPA? It stands for Trusted Computing Platform Alliance. Why does that concern us? Read on:
The long term result will be that it will be impossible to use hardware and software that's not approved by the TCPA. Presumably there will be high costs to get this certification and that these would be too much for little and mid-range companies. Therefore open-source and freeware would be condemned to die, because without such a certification the software will simply not work. In the long term only the big companies would survive and could control the market as they would like.
This is NOT a button!!! Use smart CSS to create buttons without any images! Hats off to Marek Prokop.
Naive and poetic, just luv the art of Miki Amano who uses collage like ainting with strong chromatics. She is a new powagirrrl!
LOVE within us a debut digital book is launched! Beautiful and inspiring!
Love Within Us joins creators in making something magical, something that brings positive emotions, even if it's only for one day. What we *are* trying to do is bring a moment of happiness, inspiration, and love to all those that visit Scene 360.
Please visit the Editors' Picks for work that warranted special mention. Detailed information about the book's concept, selection criteria, and full artist index can be found in the book itself.
The Mozilla suite (the browser, mail, chat, etc.) will no longer be pursued: A new roadmap by Brendan Eich and David Hyatt
Major Roadmap Update Centers Around Phoenix, Thunderbird; 1.4 Branch to Replace 1.0; Changes Planned for Module Ownership Model by Alex Bishop (via Craig Saila)
Another multi-talented/disciplinary designer, MIKISRAOUL is stamping a personal vision on every project on his site.
Researchers Lure Wi-Fi Hackers by Ed Sutherland
“The ease of setting up a wireless networking using 802.11-based technology is mirrored by the effortless way hackers, snoopers and the just-curious can detect, enter and use Wi-Fi networks used by corporations, coffee shops and your corner neighbor.
...How does a honeypot work? It essentially is a closed system with no valid users and no purpose beyond presenting an attractive target for intruders. Hidden beneath a deceptively open computer are layers of systems to detect, track and log the movements of intrusion attempts. Data collected is then used to refine security protocols and head off future attacks.”
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ndlr: read also:
The Public Internet project and comments on the NYC (WIFI) initiative:
“The Internet Outreach Initiative". the goal? to start building wireless networks in Harlem and giving refurbished computers to the kids so they can access the network for school work and general knowledge... forget gentrification, i say build the community up from within...”
It may crash your system but after all these years chaotic // broadband assault is still going strong!
T-Mobile unveils video-messaging service by Dawn Kawamoto
“The latest push by companies to pack more features into wireless handsets.”
Why Danger Is Messing Up Their Developer Program by Mike Masnick
“...like any carrier, wants to have control over what the end user can do so that they can charge them for everything.
...The prediction here is that Danger is going to wilt away because it lost its chance to really get the developer community on its side.”
New cellular company, new number--still by Ben Charny
“Wireless telephone carriers on Tuesday were given another year to make it possible for their customers to keep the same phone number, even if they switch to a competitor.”
Eureka! We must introduce them to the primary sources! (RTFM: A Guide to Online Research) by Steve Champeon.
Must read article to understand what the World Wide Web Consortium + Internet Engineering Task Force + European Computer Manufacturers Association do/work on and how it impacts each of us in our profession.
This is a splendid pixel based portfolio site for ISO50. Projects displayed are done with intense attention to details.
The art of reality, capturing life's moments through photojournalism is one that Melissa Lyttle has brought to a new level of excellence.
Marko Karppinen did an interesting exercise which was to tested the W3C.org members' sites to see which were validating. Read the results he compiled.
Are some clients using OFF2K sending you documents full of tag garbage in their html docs? There is a small utility available to clean it up here.
Encryption backers brace for new threats via CNN.
“As drafted, the latest proposal would apply only to individuals who willfully and knowingly use encryption to commit a federal felony.
But critics worry that the language could cover almost all conduct online as encryption gets incorporated in Web browsers for e-commerce, virtual private networks for telecommuters and other day-to-day applications.”
PayPal charged with breaking Patriot Act by Dawn Kawamoto
“A U.S. Attorney's office has alleged that PayPal violated laws regarding the processing of online gambling payments, and is asking parent company eBay to hand over nine months of the gambling-related earnings in settlement.”
Cool sista flash site for Floetry whereas the flow of line design shapes around the next picture.
Lots of imagination, polyvalence and design experience displayed on Neuart.
A User-Centered Approach to Selling Information Architecture by Jeff Lash
“The bottom line is that no one wants a Web site. A Web site is just a way to help someone get whatever it is that they really want...
...Almost all of the time, people want things that will lead to increased revenue or decreased cost. Having a Web site, and having information architecture involved in that Web site, is just a means to an end.”
Google Nails Copyright Infringers by Debra O'Neil-Mastaler
À lire sans faute: Trois pôles, trois angles d'analyse, pour saisir l'impact de la culture numérique sur notre société. Parcourez les pour découvrir les dossiers synthèse de Michel Cartier, chacun ayant été préparé avec la collaboration d'un réseau de veille international.
Pour avoir une idée de ce qui s'y brasse et maximiser vos brasse-méninges - commencer la lecture par:
Aider à bâtir la société du savoir suivi de La Rupture. Tous les pôles sont disponibles en version résumé, thématique ou lecture complète.
De plus n'hésitez pas à envoyer vos commentaires, l'auteur est à l'écoute.
Original design and nice flash animations for moskito Kommunikation.
Web speech effort gets Microsoft boost by Paul Festa
“...The forum, which until now took orders from the six founding members, will now recognize a "sponsor" membership class with voting rights on the board of directors, and "contributors" will be able to vote in the working groups. "Adopters" will not gain any voting rights, but will maintain access to materials the forum develops.
...SALT technology will be incorporated into the next version of the W3C's VoiceXML specification, the W3C said in January when it issued VoiceXML as a candidate recommendation.”
Food for thought _ reposted with the permission of Bill Volk from ZipProof, Inc.
“The skills needed to convince investors to part with $$$ may not be the skills required to run a sound business.
You'll never run out of stories of folks forking over $millions$ to idiots ... because the 'idiots' are charming, personable, convincing, and in all aspects of character ... the perfect con-men.
Part of this is a result of the greed of the investors. They want to hear the big story. They want to believe.”
Fresh line arts and excellent portfolio for seventyonelab.
Another explorative site using the mouse for interaction, some of the experiments are very interesting: metaphorical
The no war gallery on DMSTK is fabulous! I really like their manifesto as well. So true, that often designers are alone. Cheers to you!
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They have relocated their activities into one of the best design forum in Spanish language: DMSTK foros
Calif. Court to Rule if Ex-Worker May Spam Intel by Elinor Mills Abreu
“...that he had the right to send e-mails to up to 30,000 Intel Corp. employees criticizing the company for firing him.
...The Supreme Court hearing came after two lower courts ruled that Intel could legally prohibit Hamidi from flooding Intel workers with e-mails.
...If the court rules in favor of Intel every time a large company doesn't like the content of what someone says in an e-mail they're going to try to get an injunction.”
The Earth Pilgrim by Sacha Biyan is a moving photographic odissey. Beautiful pictures of remoted areas.
This is the kind of interface design breakthrough that validates hours of research. See the next generation flash site and how embedded 3D makes for a powerful interactive experience within a 2D surface: Yamsplayground
Appliance sites are getting better and better at presenting their products without overwhelming site visitors: NEFF is a good example.
Exploring this site proves to be a real challenge. Mix pixel design with unusual navigation and you get: [ >>C O L O R A M A << ]
Worth the stop - intriguing and minimalist, luv the logo: Le bureau des résistants.
Another rip_off of netdiver - this time they update the site at the same time I do. Also ripped is the link (from the index) to independentsday.org. Go figure why someone would do this?!?!?
Check for yourself as you are visiting the whats new page - visit the whats new page there as well - you should see this announcement! If anyone can help to resolve this, I would appreciate it.
An extraordinary visual voyage using top notch photography to display Strato Cucine products. Visit all areas.
The above site was designed by Group94 who have an important portfolio of projects that show in-depth knowledge of our trade.
Wanna know what the future web consultancy looks like? Check out INVIONI v.1 not just for the cool flash design, but how the content_rich filled to the brim is tied to mini-interactive vignettes that show in practice the 3 key principles of the company: a) attract b) inform c) invoke. Hats off!
Brian Alvey had a recent conversation with John Lenker, who is the president and author of the excellent Train of Thoughts (Designing the Effective Web Experience) book.
A well-built portfolio for Conduit Studios with an array of many different style of projects from SA with LUV!
This is a slick little flash site for dj Zak Shaker - you can even try it yourself in the remix link.
An Interview With Mike Davidson of ESPN (Part 1) by Eric A. Meyer
“ESPN.com, the online sister of the ESPN cable networks, serves up more than half a billion page views every month, so when the home page of the site dropped all layout tables in favor of structural markup and CSS-driven layout, the Web design community took notice.”
This is the page browsers 4.x and less see to incite them to upgrade.
