Design news | Oct 03
Do you know VoIP (voice-over-IP) and 802.11 wireless? Who needs the phone company? Combining two hot technologies makes telcos seem so 1998.
Nowadays most designers craft typographic design using software. Nonetheless, even if it remains an almost infinite field for visual explorations, to be good at this, requires a lot of dedicated work and obsession for details not forgetting a constant dose of experimentation.
Motype xtreme fluency in typographic design is netdiver new design forte recipient.
Typography I learned in the days of Lettraset when glued fonts were transferred directly on comps.
Mind you in those days, to be creative meant superposing different fonts to generate funky effects, was a time consuming activity. If you messed - you could not CTRL+Z - you had to start all over again.
If you did not set the letters with the exact spacing... using scotch tape or an exacto knife you would attempt to remove it. Sometimes messing it all up beyond repair.
Nowadays most designers craft typographic design using software. Nonetheless, even if it remains an almost infinite field for visual explorations, to be good at this, requires a lot of dedicated work and obsession for details not forgetting a constant dose of experimentation.
That was a little intro to one of my fav areas of design in order to introduce Simona Schmid. She shows such dedication, talent, passion. Without doubt she developed a personal and xtremely proficient style using typefonts in her designs projects that range from cd-sleeves to posters to brand naming.
Her visual layouts are very strong and though she has a recognizable signature, they are neither boring nor repetitive.
There is consistency yet diversity. Hey, even her domain name Motype reveals much about her core interest!
Her elegant overlay of typographic design and mastery of space useage with well selected fonts + fonts + fonts are then incorporated in the grid to become superb + original designs.
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Proud x2 = also a powagirrrl!
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Site designed by Emeriti
All freshen up! A list of portfolios sites recently updated.
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/ altpickcom online portfolios
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/ Taran Z photography
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\ Angel Souto -> atmosphere
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/ 04.jp.org fonts + design
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/ ... [ r ] i o n . n u ... photography
It's called talent! I really like the small snapshots on one page showing the work of Stevo on .....dzialifornia!
Luv his logo!
Developers gripe about IE standards inaction by Paul Festa
“Web developers want to light a fire under Microsoft to get better standards support in the company's Internet Explorer browser, but they can't seem to spark a flame.”
Graphic Design for the 21st Century: 100 of the World's Best Graphic Designers by Charlotte Fiell, Peter Fiell
Present book + desktop companion. A must have reference!
Cellular Phone Company Gains by Thinking Small by Wayne Arnold and Carlos H. Conde
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ndlr: Follows up on Bridging the Digital divide article.
Get ready for an innovative navigational experiment on varan.redgraphic; click info box for directions!
Mark Simonson portfolio and studio work is all about designing fonts! Well done to show your stuff!
Good news DonadoniArt.com is back online.
One of Greenpeace's founders, Ben Metcalfe, dies at 83
“Greenpeace was founded in Canada in 1971. Since then they have opened offices in 27 countries across the globe and are represented at virtually every international environmental conference in the world. They do not solicit donations from corporations or governments, but rely on individual donors to fund our environmental campaigns.
There are more than 100,000 members in Canada and over 2.5 million members around the world.”
Years ago a friend of mine wrote a technology transfer doctorate thesis on the empowering promise technology could do to bolster and help distant communities in their daily activities from medical needs to agricultural tips and weather forecasts. This article shows how it is possible via cell phones:
Bridging the Digital Divide by Sarah Parkes
“Developing nations are using cheap and flexible cellular technology to connect rural areas and boost their economic development.”
Usability Is Next to Profitability by Jane Black
“Software companies have finally grasped the value of easy-to-fathom programs, and they're pouring resources into the task.”
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ndlr: This is an old article (Dec 02) but a good read as to why start learning how to design usable sites.
Patrick Griffiths has launched HTML Dog (!), which is a standards-focused HTML and CSS resource for beginners to advanced users.
It is very well done: well designed, good structure and navigation, standards complying code with accessibility features. Well written tutorials. Friendly tone.
Bubble v.1 uses a simple navigation that plays with their name for their site.
This is a well done project for The Lowry and a good example on how lots of information can be organized without being overwhelming.
Complete with virtual tours, schedule and comprehensive aeras of interest and beautiful pictures! Wish I was there!
Well what's new... grrr...Windows: More Flawed Than Ever.
An eclectic portfolio for • NABIS • that includes excellent websites, illlustrations, photography and sculptures. Must see.
One of the company that imo, has a compelling understanding of what new media is about has a freshly minted out new site. Now available INVIONI_v2.
Everything said in black & white for a cool concept and product. Duh about time... when I think of the stacked nightmare in my closets.
Guess they figured out we need MeBox!
Don't miss Kenneth Wong wonderful product shoots!
James Craig, Rob Sartin and WAI-member (Web Accessibility Initiative), Jim Allan have written for Accessibility Internet Rally (AIR) the AIR Advanced Training Material, which is intended for all designers and webdev (don't let the title intimidate you).
In James' words:
“1. I wanted to spread the word about web accessibility in general. Semantic markup and CSS go hand-in-hand with accessibility and I wanted to show how those technologies (and more) are all interrelated.
2. I wanted to demonstrate the ability of CSS to restyle information based on use, hence the multiple stylesheets for presentation or web view.”
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ndlr: As you well know, the challenge ahead is to design sites that are both presentation separated from content as well as including standards and accessible features. I am dedicated to such and want to enthused the community towards the possibilities instead of the new learning curves, present limitations to overcome; prove me right, we thrive on challenges!
I have already done a couple of such sites for clients (so indeed clients can be convinced :) Pixeltable beta 2.5 is table_less css driven only and Afterchaos (use Mozilla and / or *TAB* through) is accessibility featured, css driven only; more on this soon.
New foundry on the block: { 2R V.03 }
Ciao Verisign Sitefinder <gulp> service!
“VeriSign will temporarily suspend web navigation service in order to continue to work with internet community towards a long-term implementation.”
Yeah... p.r.b.s. at best!
This is a beautiful Area Objetos for powagirrrl Renata Saules.
Preparing Websites with Active Content for Announced Browser Changes by Craig Goodman (Macromedia)
Following up on the Eolas patent suit here are a couple of links to what kind of impacts and what needs to be done in websites to be ready for the consequences:
Changes to the Default Handling of ActiveX Controls by Internet Explorer (from Microsoft)
Just call them prolific, in fact F23 is a marketing powerhouse with mmmarvelous imagery.
Excellent 3D illustrations from : FALL SUN.
Get Ready for IE Changes by Todd Dominey
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via: What do I know:
Creating the Best User Experience for Active Web Content
Authoring Websites for Compatibility with Internet Explorer for Windows FAQ
Arjen from streamedge.com is looking for freelance web designers located in Netherlands for upcoming projects. Proficiency in corporate websites and PHP/mysql - no flash required.
Use contact page to get in touch with him. Mention you saw this posted on netdiver.
ASTERIK (now TAXI) was a friendly design community created by a group of young, vibrant and forever-optimistic design-inspired individuals.
The team, which is composed of several creative brains from NYC, Sydney, London and Singapore.
Check *Explore Your Life* sponsored by... Volvo! They must be having big budget surplus since it's the 3rd submission I receive in ref with their company within 2 weeks. (1st submission - 2nd submission).
This flash site was also displayed a while ago. Cross branding or product placement is the new trend? Bridge built between a corporation and audience (read consumers)?
I am so thrilled! The past couple of years, well in fact since December '99, the lanslide credibility of our industry due to financial market manipulations and the explosion of the falsely valued dot com companies turned our industry into a thick smoke screened horizon.
But now... a new breath of fresh air is breezing through and clearing the way to a new media renaissance. Go ahead - forego powerlessness and express your talent!
An example of this sturdy determination is what Jennifer Gergen is attempting. Powagirrrl per excellence, she's got her game going and her talent well focussed.
In the same lineage, Daniel Sahlberg states he is a person who prefers to hide behind a camera... but how he does so truly conveys “warmth and honesty... and a moviesque” feel in all his pictures. Amazing!
FREISTIL | Architekten completed nice projects and the curvy lines support the definition of their name: free styling.
Seems like primary colors abound lately, meet The Consult design and art direction site.
Now how about all green? See Bump Networks with their own rendition on how to extend green to the fullest.
If you think red... was too harsh, wait till you see what 4M Technologies did.
You've got to see this site, period.
What I say about Clive Egginton photography is that lighting and contrast are excellent and some of the dance shots are incredibly beautiful - the movements were caught!
Listamatic: many options for CSS list from the excellent Maxdesign articles + tutorials section.
Paul's Slightspace displays extensive web development experience with particular concentration on Flash work and has contributed to many Flash related books! Love the design elegance you see in all projects! Awesome.
Cute + innocent drawings lead to an awesome studio with impressive projects: BonGolem.
A vast resource for PHP, Python, CSS, XML and general web development from Simon Willison.
Are you British? Another inspiration zone available: Best of British, a design community.
Impeccable projects for suibaku who were, just found out, part of the ESCALATE project under Habitat by Matthew Wearn!
Powagirrrl, Roya Jakoby is one of the founder of Retold WE DO DIGITAL style manifesto and you can see some of her explorations on girlfish
She is also lead designer of Untold.
The top illustration artists you can find at FrankSturgesReps makes for a complete how to and inspirational base.
Eolas says it would settle over IE by Paul Festa
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ndlr: So it seems that there's light at the end of the tunnel!
Read this FAQ on US Patent 5,838,906 and the W3C + mailing list.
Monocrafts* v 3.0 aka SURFACE.YUGOP is for all flash designers a repository of amazing actionscripting fx.
Creative Behavior just turned two and has a new issue out!
From design to music? Why not! That's the path Thom Collins chose. There are some loops to download to use in your projects.
Jeffrey and
I are co-founders (along with Sooz) of Independentsday.org which,
I am presently working on Phase III: rebirth! in coming months.
As such, we are strong supporters of the independent content publishers who (indeed) refuse to die and / or be silenced. We now need to unite on a campaign to make sure that some of our rights be upheld:
Compatibility of Weblogs and ISSN by Joe Clark. Please read it and propagate awareness + link.
Facts: last numbers are indicating that 90% of media is owned by a small conglomerate of huge corps.
Free press? Well there's about 10% left... and that's you and I... Us!!!
Retro feel for Handsome Media with a couple of interesting animations.
Alone with the Man in Black by Louisa Young
In reference with the necessity of being true to yourself. Thanks to Julie Graf who submitted this article.
Great read!
Check the about link and see how innovative a way to present content: it is really nuevo spaciale! Excellent illustration portfolio as well!
The makers of the Volvo XC90 flash extraordinaire just released their brand new site; 'nough said go see Forsman & Bodenfors!
Want some interesting brainshare with the likes of Toke Nygaard (k10k), Maurice Wright (Moluv) or Kirstin O'Loughlin (final.nu)???
Check JD Communications interview section.
Sam Dallyn has got a very-very small way of showing his quite impressive portfolio.
Guess what? Uncle Bill is going to get even deeper pockets.
Yesterday announcement was done that all M$ chat rooms will be closing down and requiring registering (with credit card) all this for the sake for security for teenagers. I agree completely that sexual predators must be debunked... but security will do nice ringing in their cash float.
Windows to Power ATMs in 2005 by Elisa Batista.
And today? How about 65% of ATMs in 2005 will run on Windows security flawed OS? Don't we know how easy it is to build virus... imagine that hackers deplete our bank account.
Why do I have a feeling that the more techno oriented we become, for all our human needs we will need to revert to the days of keeping our money in socks or under our mattresses???
You've got to read this article.
I certainly can appreciate a designer who is actively engaged in a cause close to his heart: try Revolutionary Creations.
The essays are worth reading as well. Hats off Teyowisonte!
The Ramifications of VeriSign's Wildcard Gambit by Jim Wagner
“Now e-mail with incorrect information is sent to VeriSign, which sends out its own bounce message, instead of the user's ISP.
For Web browsers, typing in the wrong URL now results in either a VeriSign-generated Web search page or a wait while the Web browser tries to negotiate the URL through the DNS wildcard policy.
The unintended consequences of VeriSign's decision were significant enough for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to issue a statement Friday, asking that VeriSign remove the DNS wildcard until its Security and Stability Advisory Committee had time to review the case.”
A word of caution is extended while surfing if you follow link to this site *coolestdesigns.com*.
Be aware that on top of pop-unders that will inundate your desktop, a request to install *Gator*, a backdoor intruder program, which if activated, is known to transfer information from your computer to who knows what / where.
If you're into bar codes - especially in color - projectmiso.net has got some... visually interesting way of using them.
Is it possible to produce a wiki that offers all the power of a wiki while at the same time looking like a regular website? by Matt Haughey, founder of Metafilter.
He did it and perhaps you would be interested in expanding on his orignal work?
Maurice Wright is an all around nice guy, founder / editor of Moluv's pick and peaks about Flash transitions in this interview.
Now comes in a pro flava with some of his actionscripts to download.
Standards don't necessarily have anything to do with being semantically correct by Jason Kottke
Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the welcome page on Bulb Studio! Expect the unexpected: the navigation with little squares?! We've seen this before but not like this one.
Brought to you now in flash: ISO50 - with same great projects.
Robert Penner is a freelance developer, details an approach to creating dynamic visuals in ActionScript.
In his book he covers fundamental elements of object-oriented programming, trigonometry, coordinate systems, vectors, and event-based programming, then explores motion, physics, color, and shapes.
Inksurge is a duo proclaiming themselves to be style broadcasters. That's pretty funky and I luv their witty edge.
While removing doubles from netdiver, I found sites that have been yummy updated:
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\ + [ t w i c e 2 ] + 4
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\ lefthandnav
A new directory is available X_pired which is dedicated to remembering sites and / or interface designs that are no longer online. This directory will grow since past versions of netdiver contain archived snapshots that will be recuperated.
These are provided for inspiration, please respect owners' copyright.
