Information is Beautiful!

A book on infographics called 'The Visual Miscellaneum,' a source for inspiration for my web design project!


http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/2009/the-visual-miscellaneum/

The Power of Tumblr - Blogger Watch Out!

I’ve just been looking through Nisa Aris’ work and noticed at the bottom of her website, she has a link to her Tumblr site! Since the start of my Multimedia course at Nottingham Trent University, I’ve always been using Google’s Blogger but now, after spotting Tumblr (and liking it a lot!) I think I’m going to convert to Tumblr soon.

Looking through Nisa Aris’ sites I really like the way her designs (her portfolio and Tumblr page) compliment each other, which is done by keeping a constant theme through these sites. In light of this, I hope to re-design my website, blog and twitter page so that I can keep a uniformity in my style and a familiarity within my brand ‘City&Wool.’

Website Wireframe

Here is a quick wireframe for my Speakers Corner web design project -

Main points for index page -

• Clean & simple design (Similar to http://purplerockscissors.com/)
• Good use of large photos/images (Within the events highlights)
  
• Simple to navigate (Navigation at top right)
  
• Use of Javascript elements within the site
• Key information displayed on right hand side (Opening times, telephone, email)
  
• Easy to contact/network with Speakers Corner (news/twitter feed)

Points to consider -

• Band/DJ profiles (Links to their sites - good use of networking)
• Speakers Corner to be considered as a brand? tag line?
• Link their Twitter feed to the site to keep up to date with events

CSS
http://csszengarden.com/

Seminar 2 - Design Exercise 2, Research & Development Task

Building - Structure - Environment

Ideas...
Ysgol Bod Alaw - My old primary school
Oriel Mostyn Gallery - A gallery in Llandudno, North Wales
Victoria Pier - The Pier in my town of Colwyn Bay
Mase Studios - Recording studio that I used to use with my band

Speakers Corner
'A bar on the corner of Penrhyn and Abergele roads in Colwyn Bay (just west of The Central pub), Speakers Corner offers a wide selection of smoothies, coffees, juices and alcoholic drinks, as well as cakes & hot ciabattas, art exhibitions and an eclectic mix of great bands of an evening.

It is the place to be for alternative thinkers and smoothie drinkers; as well as lovers of music, art and all things entertaining, enlightening and filmed.'

Source - http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=6985007077

Speakers Corner Facebook Group - http://www.facebook.com/Speakers.NorthWales

Interesting websites I've just spotted -
http://www.wireframe.co.za/
http://eng.designerbreak.com/2009/tutorial/wireframes-and-concept-planning-a-website/
http://hello.hotgloo.net/index.html
http://www.frieze.com/magazine/

3 Examples of Websites Updated by the Users

Craigslist - http://nottingham.craigslist.co.uk/

Craigslist is a collection of local classified adds and forums which are community moderated, and largely free. You can find jobs, housing, goods, services, romance, local activities or advice.

It has a simple, 'no-frills' design and is reasonably easy to use however can be overwhelming at first.

Abduzeedo - http://abduzeedo.com/

'Abduzeedo is a collection of visual inspiration and useful tutorials. There are all sorts of articles for those who want to look for inspiration. Also you will find very useful tutorials for the most used applications out there, with a special selection of Photoshop Tutorials and Illustrator Tutorials. One of the goals of Abduzeedo is to be an open channel to the design community, encouraging feedback. The Daily Inspiration is a proof of that, everybody can send images that inspired them so we can share with the community.'

I regularly use Abduzeedo to look for inspiration for my projects. I find its simple design makes it easy to navigate and I like their use of large images to pull you into reading each articles. I also enjoy the fact its always changing due to the ability for anyone to update it.

VectorArt - http://www.vectorart.org/

VectorArt is a collection free vector illustration for file download. It allows users to upload their own vector files to the site an catalogs them in a clear and neat manner. I find using vectors can be very helpful in designing anything from websites to poster.

Good Morning Internet!

This morning, after a good weekend, I turned on my laptop to catch up with the world of design! I regularly check various design blogs, for example -

• SpoonGraphics
  http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/

• Line25
  http://www.line25.com/

• Web Designer Wall
  http://www.webdesignerwall.com/

• Abducted by Design
  http://abduzeedo.com/

..and while checking out the last link, the Abducted by Design site, I spotted an article 'Best of the Week #87' (http://abduzeedo.com/best-week-87) This is a round up of all design related stuff that's happened in the week.

While browsing, I spotted a few interesting articles...

The first link is an article about a new iPhone application called 'iDriver.' This application allows you to drive a car with your iPhone! ...Yes its true! Check out this video of it in action -



http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/16/view/7891/idriver-iphone-remote-controlled-car.html

The second link that caught my attention was this one...

This is a truly unique web experience! Using your webcam and microphone, you navigate the site buy moving your hands to highlight different areas of the site. To move to different pages all you have to do is say 'home,' 'about' or 'music.' Its a brilliant example of interactive design because your interacting with the site in a different and some what enjoyable way. My only suggestion is to make sure no ones about when your shouting 'home!' at your laptop screen.. this could be viewed as slightly wired. Follow the link to try it out for yourself -

http://hundertmarkblog.de/because-clickin-is-so-90s-navigation-durch-mikro-und-webcam/

My final link is to a new Facebook UI designed by Australian designer Barton Smith. In redesigning the Facebook UI, with it’s 'streamlined, structured and linear interface' it's more 'comprehendible, enhancing the user experience and absorbability of content.'

Facebook Facelift - Home & Profiles from wearetol on Vimeo.

I really like this new design due to its simplicity and cleanliness but is it too neat and tidy? I can't help but think it looks too business-like. Maybe to solve this problem the use of more colour in the design would improve it? But the big question is the whole Facebook community, would they warm to it?

http://www.aguynamedvernonmac.com/2009/10/17/facebook-facelift-by-barton-smith/

Web Applications and Interaction Design

Exercise
Read and comment on the following content in your online journal -

Dan Saffer: 'Interaction design is an applied art' August 13, 2008
http://www.designinterviews.com/interviews/interaction-design-is-an-applied-art

Joel Schafer: 'I'm into minimalistic clean design' January 15, 2008
http://www.designinterviews.com/interviews/599

My comments...

Dan Saffer Interview

Ive highlighted some points of interest in Dan's interview and will comment on each point -

Do you believe formal design education has more to offer than self-teaching?

'You need a (for lack of a better word) Master standing over you while you do your apprentice work.'

'All that being said, there is certainly value in learning things on your own ... You can read every book in the field and be a terrible designer. You have to practice it, live, preferably with a client and (eventually) with users.'

I agree with Dan's views on this question. It can be important to have a 'master' to teach you. Being taught by tutor or teacher helps you to develop your intake of information, helps you look at other points that you might not have seen and introduces you to new aspects that you might never known about before hand. Learning things on your own can also be useful. In my experience, being a self taught web designer, I like the controll that I have over how fast or slow I want to develop my skills, but can sometimes find it hard to have the drive to read up on things without being taught or shown it first.

Would you explain the difference between interface and user-centered design?

'Interface design is the physical expression of the interaction design: the skin over the muscles and bone. Interaction design says, 'We need a button to turn on the siren.' Interface design says, 'The button should be here and it should be red.' They are deeply intertwined, since you cannot have one without the other.'

Dan's explanation of Interaction Design and Interface Design has made it easier for me to note the differences between them both. Interface Design focuses more on aesthetics and apperance and Interaction Design focuses on what needs to happen/needs to be done.

What are the typical mistakes that interface design newbies encounter and how to avoid them?

'I'd say there are two mistakes that new designers make: one is not coming up with enough variations—or, more accurately, not being able to come up with more alternatives. Which is to say, falling in love with one direction and not being able to see others. Often, this is direction is something familiar, that the designer is comfortable with. It is hard to kill your babies, but sometimes you have to.

The second mistake is one of details and completeness. What separates a great designer from a good one is the ability to not only come up with great concepts but to also see those through down to small details. The details are hard; making sure every part of the products works well and works together into a pleasing whole is hard to do. Playing out what a concept means down to the details is an important skill to learn.'

Unfortunately for me, I have actually fallen into the first mistake on previous web design projects. Hopefully in actually acknowledging it in his interview it will help me to overcome this problem in future projects. Details are also important for me to work out in any and all designs. In working out details early on, it could ultimately save you time in your design process.

What is it you find most irritating and/or distracting while working?

'My own ignorance, lack of skills, or inability to grasp new concepts. My own limitations are always more frustrating than almost anything external. My work place is always cluttered, noisy, and chaotic. That doesn't bother me overmuch.'

In reading Dan's answer to this question, I find that I also feel the same about myself. My lack of skills and the inability to come up with new concepts has always played on my mind, but this only becomes a hinderance if you don't do anything about it. I personally, am always trying new things out to develop my skills and I'm now trying to look to different areas to find inspiration. An example of what Dan Saffer likes looking at is mechanical interfaces. I have also been recently inspired by 'Letterpool' to maybe create a collection of my own.. who knows maybe 'Letterham' (for Nottingham) will soon be popping up!

Joel Schafer's Interview

In 4 years Joel Schafer, from buying a html book in 1997, graduated as web & media producer in 2001 - A quick process! He states how important it is to always write down everything on paper before starting a project, which is something that I don't always follow. I prefer going straight on to computer to start creating ideas because I find my drawing skills can restrict my desgins - Maybe this can be an area to improve and develop? In reading about how he gets his images for his web designs he says its always good to know a good photographer! (A nice reference to networking as a designer) Joel says how web is going to develop it interactivity with 3d and movie clips. In reading this I wondered if I could design a 3D website. This would be a brilliant project to work on! So I started researching an found a flash webstie in 3D (http://www.lech.pl/) Trouble is I need to get myself some retro 3D glasses first! Wish me luck in finding some!

What have I been up to?

Over the past few weeks I've been increasing my web portfolio...

Firstly, I've completed a redesign of the Nottingham Trent Christian Union website ready for the new year at Trent...


Secondly, I've been (and still am) working on a redesign for GeoVista, a company that provides the best in intelligent borehole logging systems world wide...

Video Screens Hit Paper Magazines

A news article by BBC about video screens used in magazines!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8258307.stm

Here's a small Youtube demonstration of the small video screen working...

Julian Mullineux | Fine Art Photography

A website for a fine art photographer studying at Nottingham Trent called Julian Mullineux, now complete. A flash version of this website will soon be developed and uploaded too.

Julian Mullineux
http://www.julianmullineux.co.uk