The End of Keyboards: A Question of “When?”
On Wikipedia, the definition of a keyboard is a “typewriter-style device, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches”. In an age where technology is seemingly magical in its state of advancement, our beloved peripheral is starting to feel more like a relic than a modern input device.
As attached as I am to keyboards, I have clear vision to the light at the end of the tunnel. With the prevalence of pen inputs, touch screens, voice commands and other new ways of using technology, its time for us all to admit; The keyboard era is coming to an end.
April 17th, 2013 Posted in Business
Data Driven Design: A Simple Primer
Web apps are becoming ever-more prevalent on the internet. Some may argue that they are simply more complicated websites. Regardless of their definition; what happens when you are designing for large amounts of constantly fluctuating data?
There are a few examples of data driven interfaces and they all have to handle a lot of varied data that is constantly changing. The most common are admin areas and analytic dashboards. The data can take many forms; graphs, charts, tables or text. Each can be displayed in a variety of different ways depending on the context and meaning you are trying to convey with the data. One thing to remember is that you can rarely be sure of the length or amount of data you need to cater for; so think simple to start…
April 15th, 2013 Posted in Graphics, Layouts
Focal Point: Intelligent Cropping of Responsive Images
The practice of implementing responsive images is still in its infancy. We’ve seen a lot of ideas and suggestions for how it should be done and we’re bound to see a lot more.
Today we’re going to look at a fascinating little framework that allows you to not only automatically resize your images when the viewport changes, but also crop the images with a specific important focal point in mind. Amazingly enough, it does all this with pure CSS. Read on to see how it works.
April 12th, 2013 Posted in CSS
Design a Business Card That Won’t Get Thrown Away
It’s an almost unavoidable part of doing business – the business card. While more people are beginning to ditch traditional paper cards for digital counterparts, the business card is still an integral part of doing business. Cards are almost as commonplace as the handshake.
So what makes your card stand out from the pack? How can you design a card that won’t get thrown away minutes after the meeting? Let’s delve into some suggestions and tips today.
April 10th, 2013 Posted in Business
Helpful HTML Form Feedback With CSS3 Transitions
Designers may have noticed an ever-increasing use of CSS3 transition properties. Website interfaces have been dramatically improved with custom animation styles, all without the need for JavaScript (when used sensibly, of course!)
In this tutorial I want to demonstrate how we can build animation effects in HTML5 input fields. I’ll be designing a simple contact form with a couple of fields and a textarea. Using the CSS3 :valid pseudo class it is easier than ever to customize text inputs. Check out my live demo example to get an idea of what the final product looks like.
Mobile First Design: Why It’s Great and Why It Sucks
Historically, most web designers and their clients have approached the desktop side of any project first, while leaving the mobile part as a secondary goal that gets accomplished later. Even with the rise of responsive design, many of us begin with the “full size” site and work our way down.
There’s a growing trend in the industry though to flip this workflow on its head and actually begin with mobile considerations and then work up to a larger desktop version. Why would you ever approach a project this way? What are some of the pros and cons of this strategy? Read on to find out!
April 5th, 2013 Posted in CSS
What’s the Deal With Em and Rem?
With all the talk about designing for responsive websites, two little words keep cropping up – em and rem. But what are they?
Em and rem, along with pixels, are units and methods to measure and resize type. Em and rem are relative, rather than static, units and are being used more and more for responsive web design schemes. Let’s dive into this concept today and explain things a little more clearly!
April 4th, 2013 Posted in Typography
Design Dilemma: Why a Contract Is Always Necessary!
Join us as we delve into our first “Design Dilemma”, helping to answer your questions, queries and concerns about the murky world of design…
Jody L. Writes: I have a simple logo project that should have taken a week and because of changes and indecision on the part of the client, it became two months of hell. Now the client is refusing to pay for changes. I delivered the logo and the client has already printed it. I don’t have a contract or anything. What can I do to get paid the full amount and for the changes?
April 2nd, 2013 Posted in Design Dilemma
Don’t Be a Pansy: Great Design Is About Making Decisions
What sets the great designers apart from the good ones? What goes wrong when a project with so much potential turns into something lackluster and subpar?
Decisions decisions decisions. Great designers recognize the key decisions that have the ability to make their projects special and have the courage to make those decisions. Read on to see how.
March 28th, 2013 Posted in Business
How to Creatively Market Yourself as a Designer
Sometimes it seems like every time you jump online, you read about a talented new designer who’s making it big with their latest project. There are a lot of wonderful designers out there, and the constant showcasing of others’ skills makes it feel all the more like you’re lost in the crowd. It’s not enough anymore to have a solid portfolio and work experience; if you really want to stand out in today’s market, going the extra mile in marketing yourself can make all the difference in landing the perfect job, or getting some great freelance projects going.
When you’re considering all the ways that you could market yourself, the most important thing to take into account is how much of a time commitment you can realistically make. Don’t overstretch yourself with a daily blog entry or illustration unless you think you’ll be able to do a great job on it. There are many different levels of requirement for projects that can make a difference in your career; choose what works for you.
March 27th, 2013 Posted in Business