Redd Horrocks has written an article up for UX Booth about the Amazon Kindle and its MASS ERADICATION OF PRINT. Well, perhaps that’s over-exaggerating a bit. Hit the jump for some highlights from the article and my thoughts on the issue. Read the rest of this entry »
Nate over at Vossome wrote up an article about two favorite topics of the industry: spec work, and the economy. He goes over the problems a business can run in to by utilizing these services (craftsmanship, originality, etc.), and suggests some solutions for dealing with it.
While it’s a good article, I am prone to doubt that anyone but designers will read it (but then again: I don’t know a ton about his reader base). I think we can all agree spec work is evil, but the truth is that we will need to educate both the designers and the clients if we ever hope to see change in this area. Anyone know of any sites/organizations trying to do such a thing?
This is so much cooler than giving your boss a verbal two weeks warning. Today’s inspiration lesson: play up your strengths, be creative, go retro.
Anyone know any more about this? I would love to know more about how it went over. Best of luck, Farbs.
via ThinkGeek
Smashing Apps put up an article detailing 9 Free Online Tools that might be of help to designers. These range from free file hosting/transfer (up to 5GBs!) to free billing and time tracking to a free web conferencing app that lets you share your desktop, chat, talk and more without any download. Check out the full list, and if you use any other free web apps that you think might be “hot stuff,” post them in the comments!
Web Designer Wall has posted a collection of 80 websites that utilize large background images (not included, understandably: strawdogdesign.com). I’m definitely partial to the sites that can get away with one large image with type on it instead of one large image with a web page on top of it…but to each his own.
Meet Steve Stevenson, a web designer without a resume. Steve Stevenson is the fictional web designer from the brains of the UK-based Safety Goat. Smashing Design has posted a great write-up and critique on the various resumes created for Steve. While other industries can sometimes get away with a fancy Comic Sans resume printed up in Word, a designers resume can often be the first piece of the portfolio it’s attached to.
Apparently Just Creative Design couldn’t be troubled to round this list of 99 Graphic Design Resources up to an even 100…but don’t let that trouble you! A great list of resources for everything from development to type to showcases. Check it out, bookmark it, use it.
Diego Silvério (via Cloroflot) shows off some great concept furniture based on Tetris. Just…don’t actually form a Tetris or a man shows up to reclaim the entire structure, and you’re left with a handful of points.
Also, apparently one enterprising citizen of Vancouver, BC, pressed by these tough economic times, is offering Tetris lessons.
After completing Tetris Fundamentals, you will have:
• the ability to identify and maneuver all 7 Tetriminoes, as well as their major uses
• an understanding of how to achieve back to back Tetrises
• learned to optimize your use of basic features and techniques such as hard drops and wall kicks, as well as making the most out of holds and block preview (these features may not be native to all versions of Tetris)
• watched me play Tetris for 45 minutes• gained the confidence to play Tetris by yourself or against friends, strangers, and family members
The Wall Street Journal has posted a story about Vincent Connare, the man who birthed Comic Sans. The article is an interesting summary mostly on the widespread use of Comic Sans and a bit of history on the creation of the typeface (for example, Comic Sans was partly inspired by both The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen). It’s a fascinating read and contains gems such as:
“If you love it, you don’t know much about typography,” Mr. Connare says. But, he adds, “if you hate it, you really don’t know much about typography, either, and you should get another hobby.”
Am I the only one who would really like some clarification on that? Apparently if one reads twixt the leading: if you’re ambivalent towards Comic Sans you’re an ace typographer?
But by far my favorite bit of the article would have to be when it mentions that, “[Connare] used Sans (short for sans-serif) because most of the lettering, except for the uppercase I, doesn’t have serifs, the small features at the end of strokes.” Could I still call something an airplane race around the world if one solitary boat took part in it? I don’t know. Welcome to the shade of grey known as Comic Sans.
Freelance Folder has created a list of 42 Questions Every Freelancer Should Ask Their Client. It covers everything from company background (What is your typical customer like?) to work agreement questions (What is the budget for this project?…which is always important to ask).
What do you think of the list? Any other questions that should be asked? TO THE COMMENTS!
Straw Dog Design is a hub for designer and blue sky day-dreamer Josiah DePaoli. It contains a blog, and a link to a portfolio and resume (you can find those above under "My Stuff"). It will change your life. For more info about this site, check out my About page.