So in a bit of a change of direction I’ve started to write articles for Creative Boom. It’s an online magazine centred around the creative industries. Go check out my first post here. I’ve also been beavering writing a few posts, taking photos and making videos for adventure blog high-8.
I have to say the blogging phenomenon hasn’t really enamoured me that much until recently. I think the blogosphere is a little more focussed now and forging a path as a credible medium in it’s own right. The initial swathe of pointless witterings that were abundant have subsided (mainly thanks to twitter and facebook). It is commonly accepted that just over 50% of created blogs are maintained which is all the better for those who are publishing usefull, interesting and inspirational articles.
Is this the year of Typography on the web? I certainly hope so. It would be nice to use more than 12 of the 1000’s of font’s I own. Fontdeck promises to host licensed and (mostly) free to use fonts that can be included in your site. Sounds good hopefully it will live up to the hype. In the meantime there is the slightly power hungry cufon which is effective but can be slow if over used. Typography on the web, bring it on…
My daughter who’s 3 has been getting quite good at painting and drawing. Her pre-conceptions of form, colour and technique are so unbridled she has an ability to simply create. The results are quite a revelation, the lack of schooling or influence means she can simply put marks on paper and enjoy it. If I try to direct her in anyway she tends to turn the picture into a great big mess with paint all over the place, swirling her hands around in it and generally making a stooshie. However when left on her own she constantly surprises me with exquisitely abstract and expressive pictures that some might argue parallel some of the most prolific modern artists. What I draw from this is that it is not always wise to plan or approach projects in a certain way, especially if you want something genuine and unique. As a graphic designer I am constantly given references to a certain visual style or a specific designer, this is all well and good but if projects are to take flight, become iconic and timeless I think a more free and naive approach is invaluable. As an adult it’s very difficult to achieve this state of mind, with the trappings of the modern world and constant inspiration at our fingertips the ability to create completely free of influence is very difficult. There is a lot to be said for sitting down with a piece of paper dipping your hands in it and swishing around on a piece of paper making a total burach. It almost always looks rubbish (and brown) but it is great fun. Try it (although having kids obviously make it seem more acceptable). I bet when you sit down to a long day in front of illustrator or photoshop you will find your creativity will be less formulaic and more rewarding and productive as a result.
So I installed Microsofts Internet Explorer 8, thought I should check out what challenges it will provide in designing web sites. They are varied and perhaps even more complicated than before. Although the browser has greater .css support (although not comprehensive) it throws up further obstacles through it’s convoluted compatibility mode. This is Microsoft’s token effort to accept standards but on their own terms. I think it is safe to say that many users are become more disillusioned with Microsoft’s pathetic attempts to maintain it’s monopoly, with many using other browsers and more so jumping ship altogether and using linux or mac operating systems. Please, I implore all explorer users to please download firefox. The web will always struggle to progress as long as users support this abhorrent application.
The possibilities in .css3 are fantastic and a real progression in function and aesthetics for the web. Check out these examples for proof. http://www.zurb.com/playground. With all the other browsers providing or in the process of implementing support for .css3 internet explorer is maintaining it’s status as the thorn in the side of web developers the world over.
So the bleak mid-winter is upon us today @ 17:47. The snow has arrived right on cue, the kids are hyper and we’re all short on vitamin D. The schmO has had a fine year, churning out some great work, getting into magazines (print and web), selling some art and generally bolstering the old reputation. I’ve got high hopes for what’s possible in 2010, there will definitely a move towards creating more art; there have been a few ideas on the back burner that are due for resurrection, plenty paint to be thrown at canvas and photos to be taken, embellished and printed. Not to mention all the graphics, print and websites that need creating. There are some good positive moves going on with the web with behavioural .css coming into play. Not to mention .html 4.0 and the ever expanding 3d capabilities of flash.
So here’s to all of you who have contributed to burgeoning success of schmO. May the bleak mid-winter be nae so bleak and we’ll get creating some new in the new. eh?
So a welcome return to Flash for me with this one http://www.treacherousorchestra.com. It’s great that the band decided to buck the trend for super useable, standardised web design. This site will not win any awards for use-ability with buttons along the bottom, confusing but authentic d-pad media player and vast amounts of space dedicated to vintage wallpaper and arcade machine facia. But hopefully it’s creative, stylised approach will prompt a renaissance in imaginative flash sites among the musical community. Although standards has helped progress the web greatly in the last year or so it’s noticeable that creativity and ingenuity has suffered as designers stick to the tried and tested idiot proofing that has become so wide spread. This site will be chalk and cheese and provoke reaction.
So the site has some neat little features. Flickr Photo gallery using the excellent flashr api. RSS news and gigs section which gives the band total control of updating the bulk of the site. Add to this a superb youtube player by avalonweb germany. A special thanks must go out to them for help with integration and their superb open source ethos. There are some extra zany features to be added to the site in the near future so keep checking back…
I had a few bugs initially with the usual suspect; Internet explorer. But I have managed to resolve all but one. Explorers chaching system can cause havoc with flash and there are some extremely intermittent problems with the browser re-scaling the movies. There is little I can do about it, refreshing the browser sorts it. When will microsoft give in and just accept that explorer is inferior to other free browsers and needs over hauled to follow standards. I managed to find a pals computer with Internet explorer 6 still installed on it, and it was depressive to use. Most of the sites I have designed in the last 2 years failed to work properly on it, and my own site schmo.biz didn’t even load. Please if you use Internet explorer what ever version please switch to Firefox, or one of the others you’re time on the web will be more secure and enjoyable. Plus no more ctrl alt deleting… For more info on how to get rid of this menace be sure to visit. http://www.bringdownie6.com/
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