I posted a new web design project on my portfolio site. We just launched the site this week. You can check it out here.
--- National Community Church's lead pastor Mark Batterson recently published his third book Primal + asked Bittersweet Creative Group to design + develop a microsite to go with it. I designed a layout which, upon site reveal, would immediately evoke an earthy, dark + mysterious mood, but juxtaposed the luminous warm tones + textures from the cover design to help bring light to the composition. ---
We've all heard it before. Your friend is explaining his really weird dream, going on and on about all this random stuff and right when he gets to the good part it abruptly ends with ". . .and then I woke up."
Boy, that was fun. :) Mila asked if I could hand-letter a birthday message on her gift for her niece who is turning the big 2. I haven't used chalk in ages + have forgotten how unruly it can be while trying to draw curves. Not bad for not having to erase anything... Well, I did have to have a second try at the bottom-left flower. :)
I realize that this treatment of using type as illustration is not 100% type, but you have to agree that it is beautifully executed. The concept behind the design is just muy fabuloso. Helps that it is a depiction of Thom Yorke—one of my favourite musicians that have stood the test of time.
After a long, dark slumber, the Grammys may be waking up. The tiny gramophone awards have suffered a steady decline in interest (last year's broadcast was second to only 2006's all-time ratings low), but this year's surprisingly aware nominees-- Lil Wayne, M.I.A., Radiohead, Kanye, T.I.-- and an admittedly eye-catching ad campaign are poised to prevent more dismal numbers for the February 8 telecast. ... Part of Grammy's "Celebrate the Music That Made Us" campaign, the ad is made up of the names of songs that have influenced Mr. Yorke over the years, including Björk's "Unravel" (web-famously covered by Radiohead), David Bowie ("Ashes to Ashes") and Liars ("The Wrong Coat for You Mt. Heart Attack"). Grammy gets to use Thom; Thom gets to promote Liars song names. An even trade!
It's not just for the focally-challenged anymore...
If you haven't yet noticed, trends regarding type size on the web have been reversing in the last few years. We used to think bigger type looks juvenile + that smaller displayed better—for example, setting body copy to Arial 11px, or even using tiny bitmap/pixel fonts in Flash-based sites—especially because our browsers didn't allow for much back in the day of tiny 640 x 480 screen resolutions. Not to mention, using smaller text to be able to establish hierarchy between headings, sub-headings, body copy, + disclaimer notes on top of keeping important content "above the fold". Project after project we've tried to push smaller, "cleaner", pleasing-to-the-grid type to our clients + yet have always been requested to go bigger for legibility's sake.
"Can we see it bigger than Verdana 11px?"
If designed properly, using 14-16px type for main content doesn't seem to look so "clown-sized" these days. The NYTimes.com has been using this on their articles for awhile now. It's a trend that seems to be more the norm to help improve online readability, to cause less strain to the eye, + to help some of us avoid from having to use the key command shortcut 'COMMAND/CTRL +' times three to zoom into our browser content. It helps that the commonly used screen resolution is leaning more towards at least 950px of usable width to accommodate a type size closer to our browser's default type size, which is set to 16px.
Check out the case study by Oliver Reichenstein mentioned within the blog article link below. The visual comparison really puts it into better perspective. Also, read the comments following the article for other points of view. Something worth thinking about when considering layout options for a new website project.
Really, the moral of the story is: Use big type for good, not evil.
Relative Readability Why go so big on type? There's a short answer and a long answer...
Me + the mister are staying put during this year's Christmas holiday. Sure, I may get homesick missing my family + friends, but I am more than pleased + excited to have much needed rest + relaxation time with J. :)))
Who knows why it took Google this long to give Gmail users the option of customizing the default look of their online email interface, but I'm glad they finally came around. They've got all sorts of colour palette themes to please almost every individual as well as more elaborate landscape + illustration themes.
One theme to highlight would be the "Terminal" theme simply because it is an ode to the nerdery + successfully taps into certain users' nostalgia. But, I see it more as a quick 10-second chuckle, + then I'm over it. Because if you actually chose that as your theme you would have the hardest time reading your mail. Unless you enjoy hurting your eyes with #00ff00 type.
With some of the themes like "Mountain", you can also customize by country +/or region. These themes change during the day based on the location information you provide to Gmail to correctly time these changes with your local sunrise, sunset, and/or weather.
Of course, I just had to choose the "Ninja" theme for my interface. I mean, how could I not? While viewing in Ninja theme mode, the star icons are replaced with ninja stars! Ninja stars! Can't go wrong with that.
Quite embarrassing considering folks like apple.com are guilty of this. At least it's an easy fix if we just pay attention to the little details. Plus, who really sets their browser's default bgcolor to anything but white anyway?
In any event, it really should be part of our so-called "best practices" regardless if you think this is a big deal or not. Read more back + forth here.
+++ GROUP INFO_ Underwear showing (web design) Websites that forgot to specify a background color.
It's surprising how many web designers forget to specify a background color. To check for this, set your browser's default background color to magenta, or something equally piquant. Then visit websites. You may be surprised.
Oded Ezer's homage to Milton Glaser's I ❤ NY logo "This 70x100 cm poster is a homage to Milton Glaser, whose famous I ❤ NY logo is one of the things that stuck into my mind forever. Glaser's design is simple and direct, and I felt it will be still recognisable even if I will make it more complicated"
Oddest choice of decor I've ever seen in PB's product line.
I'm a little late in re-posting this, but I figured there's no better time than now since it is the first day of October. Pricey $tuff to get for just a once-a-year event, but if you entertain peeps on an annual basis then I guess it would be a good investment... or if you just like the flava of goth in your very own home. :) I do have to say they are done pretty well—not much of the cheese factor involved.
Hmmm... So, is this what they mean by reinventing your business?
Credit goes to invisiblecreature for blogging items that make me want to re-post their blog entries over + over again. I'm so original! But, wutev. I see it as spreadin' the word.
This is my journal. I am a full-time interactive designer + freelance photographer with immense love + respect for art, travel, food, technology, + music. Back in 2000, when I first began writing my musings online the content was solely based on my life experiences. Over the years I've meandered from writing on the introspective side + found myself expressing various thoughts, ideas, + interests through photography-inspired posts with little to no narrative. Though, when I tend to think aloud I share them on Twitter. The entry style may have changed, but this site still serves as my chronological journal of random occurrences, introspective or not.
I love{ sketching, design, photography, good typography, XHTML, CSS, constant education, staying current, being with the mister, family, preserving social ties, respect, islands, all things music, plucking guitar strings, sushi, henna mehndi art, photo booths, house hunting, Zumba dance, Body Pump, video games, road trips, rice, spicy food, nature wandering }
Of course, I just had to choose the "Ninja" theme for my interface. I mean, how could I not? While viewing in Ninja theme mode, the star icons are replaced with ninja stars! Ninja stars! Can't go wrong with that.
Feeed me, Seymour. 
