The beauty of the internet

This blog is about “the creative side of web design”. Not just about tips and techniques or rants against tables. We also talk about the organic, the subjective, the intrigiuing and the unexpected. Which brings me to Whiskerino.

The beauty of the internet is that it gives a voice and a face to every passion, every hobby, every weird aspect human endeavor. Like guys (I think they’re all guys…) who all committed to growing beards from November of last year, to February of this. A little weird, yeah, but also fun, and nice looking. I like the Edwardian graphics and typography, but I really like the sense of community that developed: a couple hundred people from all over took pictures, encouraged one another and became friends. That’s pretty cool.Maybe I’m biased, because I like growing a beard as much as the next guy (and maybe a little more), but this site makes me smile every time.

ADDY Awards

The ADDYs are coming, the ADDYs are coming!

Since last summer, I’ve been working as a co-chair for the 2008 Ad Club of West Michigan ADDY awards. As such, I’ve been busy with lots of meetings, e-mails and juggling of tasks. (You’re right, it sounds suspiciously like work.) However, one of the many cool things about the role is seeing a lot of really great work in a variety of media, including web and interactive. In fact, some of the best compelling work I ‘ve seen this year in the interactive categories. And all of the mixed media entries seemed to include web. I can’t mention exactly which pieces, because the actual awards ceremony is Thursday. I’ll try to weigh in with more comments and links on Friday.

Why big?

Welcome to Mindscape Creative, one of the illustrious blogs from Mindscape.  As we close out the year, it seems appropriate to look at one of the big trends in web design: making stuff big. From Basecamp to Mindmeister, sites all over the web are simplifying and cranking up the point size (even though we’re talking pixels and ems).  I have a couple ideas on why this is taking place. Sure, usability plays a major role, but I think there other factors at work. 

 Steve Jobs did it.

Well, actually it’s that pesky iPhone. By making web sites accessible (easy to get AT, as opposed to easy to USE) to a tiny (C’mon, 480×320 is tiny. Even the first Macs had a larger screen.) display, we need to strip down to the essentials.

Clients second the motion.

Frankly, I don’t much hear, “Gee, that type looks a bit horsey. Could you bring it down a little?” So, when we design a site with 30 pixel heads and 18 pixel copy, everybody’s happy. Well, almost everybody.