Posts filed under 'Just for Fun'
The results are in from this week’s (it was more like two weeks) poll.
Companies that blog are:
1. more open to client concerns than most (60% agreed with this)
2. more trustworthy than other businesses (no one agreed with this)
3. are just the same as other businesses (40% agreed with this)
So there you have it, at least some people believe that a company that blogs is more receptive to their feedback.
This Week’s Poll
The best Web sites:
1. Don’t make me wait.
2. use animation, audio, and video. Speed is secondary.
Please vote! I’ll tally the results next week.
March 5th, 2006
UC Berkeley generously allows designers and those interested in new media to download its classroom podcasts free of charge at their Web site.
Of special interest to me, Web designer that I am, is Art 23 - Foundations of American Cyberculture. This course covers the basics of what makes up the psychology of the Web. Very, very interesting. This is a great way to keep learning after college.
February 22nd, 2006
This is a cool tool that takes any image and converts it to SVG outlining it with words that you input. An example using my logo is here.
read more | digg story
February 17th, 2006
I want to dispel myths that some people may believe about Web designers. If you don’t recognize these myths, it could be because I’m the only one who ever believed them. I can only speak for myself!
- Web designers are super creative types who see visions, dream dreams, and make remarkable designs appear out of thin air.
Rebuttal: Web designers must have the ability to hear their client’s requests, goals, and personality through verbal and nonverbal communication and translate it into a tangible design. This is not magic, but a process based on careful thought, improvisation, and client feedback.
- Web designers are super smart.
Rebuttal: Again, I can only speak for myself! I’m certainly smart enough to add and subtract, but I am human and make mistakes from time to time.
There is no substitute for feedback from a client. Questions that challenge a designer’s assumptions can be extremely helpful to the process. Try asking, “Why did you make the logo that size?” or “What message do you think that color scheme sends?” etc. Non-designers need do little more than ask questions and offer direction to get an above average design from an attentive designer.
- Web designers can’t take criticism.
Rebuttal: Perhaps there’s some truth here. At my company, which is myself and any sub-contractors needed, we work hard to take a non-defensive posture. Depending how sleep deprived I am, my ability to respond with class may be diminished. However, constructive criticism is the lifeblood of good design. Good designers know this, and treat criticism with respect - even if it hurts.
I hope the lighthearted tone of this post comes through. I enjoy working on design projects and the give and take that it requires.
February 15th, 2006
Ok, just for fun. No heavy stuff here. Browsing the blogosphere, I found a link for the Worth 1000 If Canadians Ruled Contest.
There are some funny Photoshop experiments here.
February 11th, 2006
I have been doing quite a bit of reading lately regarding the effectiveness of blogging lately and am doing some very informal research. To determine blog readers’ attitudes about the quality of information on Web logs and their motivation for researching the blogosphere, I’ve posted a poll in my blog’s sidebar.
Just for fun, take the poll and view the results.
February 6th, 2006
Ok. Here’s the moment of truth. I don’t subscribe to cable.
There are 2 channels that come in well enough to be watched in my home - none of them sports channels. This is not a real problem as TV sports are not a priority here. Hard to believe I know.
I thought I would make an exception and watch the superbowl online this year. However, my research so far has yeilded nothing. I can listen to the superbowl on real.com, but something is missing. 
The superbowl is a visual experience. There are ways to watch the ads that will be featured … but I want to watch the whole spectacle.
I also do not have TiVo or a digital TV, so I’m limited to streaming on one of my PCs.
Any advice? Yeah, it’s too late for this year …
February 4th, 2006
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