Web Design
CSSOff
Recently, Unmatched Style sponsored some "Friendly Markup Fisticuffs" where they issued design files to whoever wanted to compete, and the competitors would have two weeks to create a website using only their brains and their computers. The rules were pretty straightforward: one page only necessary, all external libraries (jQuery, et al.) had to be included, and your submission had to run locally. Otherwise, go nuts.
The judges would then review your work and score it based on code (cleanliness, semantics, and validation); user experience (respect for design, good choice points, interactions); and support (modern browsers, legacy browsers, size of project, resource optimization). In the judges hands rests the responsibility of deciding one grand prize winner, 2 second place winners, 2 third place winners, and 20 runners-up.
The magic of User Interface Design
There are three things that make me feel like I succeeded as a web designer:
1. The user knew the purpose of the site
2. He or she found the information they were looking for
3. They loved it so much that they alerted the masses through their social networks of this so called 'said' site. (Hey @Jimmy! Check out this awesome site that sold me insurance and looked hip to the jive!)
Mobile App or Mobile Site?
App vs Site is synonymous with Apple vs Google - there is no clear winner and they each have compelling points. However, in today's 'Smart Phone' frenzied environment, many organizations want an App strictly because their competitor has one... or so they can show it off to their friends. Instead of blindly spending money to catch the mobile tsunami, take a moment to absorb this awesome infographic and ponder which is really better for your USERS (yes, not you... your users).
![Mobile App vs Mobile Site [INFOGRAPHIC]](http://blog.centresource.com/wordpress/../wp-content/uploads/2011/08/mobile-app-business-lg.jpg "mobile-app-v-site-infographic")
See full size image here.
Thanks to BuySellAds for the great info.
Rails and MacRabbit's CSSEdit
Just a real quick tip for other Rails developers out there who enjoy the benefits of MacRabbit's excellent software CSSEdit. Due to the fact that Rails applies a timestamp to every asset (stylesheet, javascript, and/or image) included in a view via the appropriate helper in order to allow the user to use the Expires header with said asset (full explanation here), and because CSSEdit overrides stylesheets based on the full URL including the query string, attempting to use the CSSEdit override functionality with a default Rails installation is nigh-impossible. Here's how to get around it:
What I learned in my time at Centresource
In a melodramatic attempt to close up my time here at Centresource, I figured I would reflect on some lessons learned...
As a manager, you set the weather.
Why won't iPad owners shut up about how awesome it is??? [Analysis]
Business Insider surveyed 850 readers to deep dive iPad usage, its effect on other devices, and how people view tablets in a world of iPad domination. You can view the entire article here.
Here is my analysis of the results & how they represent larger trends in the industry:
* 30% of iPad owners have purchased 1 or more additional iPads
Most likely, this represents the 'me too' factor that may occur in multi-person households. Once a person gets an iPad, other household members want a device for themselves. It could also represent a desire for more ubiquitous access throughout the house. I believe this trend will continue
Rebranding Your Logo
I recently stumbled upon a collection of retro black and white logos that included an RCA logo that somehow instantly took me back to my childhood happy place full of movies like 'The Goonies', 'Stand By Me' and 'Sixteen Candles'. If you've ever taken a marketing class, one of the core fundamentals that our professors taught was the importance of a logo.
A logo design is the most important and cost effect effective element of branding.
How to Make Great Websites for Less
Our good friends at .Net Magazine recently published a great article detailing 15 ways to keep costs down while making great websites. One of our developers, Travis Roberts, was included in the piece with his insight on a competitive tool for project management:
"If paying is a deal-breaker, then Travis Roberts, developer for centresource, recommends Redmine, which has “great version control integration,' "
We love collaborating with .Net Magazine and look forward to more in the future!
Check out the entire article here.
Web Fonts: The best thing since sliced bread!
You might have noticed from my previous posts that I really love fonts. When I crossed over from a strictly print designer to a web designer, a part of me was crushed when I learned I had a limited amount of fonts I could use. Then...Google Web Fonts came to my rescue! I can now design with more freedom and break away from the Georgia/Helvetica mold that we're all so used to. For example, look at these web-safe beauties:
Fifty and Fifty
Today I would like to bring a little bit of art into your world by looking at our country through graphic design. Fifty designers from fifty different states have constructed a project called 'Fifty and Fifty'. The concept of this project is that each designer will illustrate their historic state motto by adding their own creative and modern spin to the design.
The project began in Nov of 2010 and is almost complete. Here are few examples of my favorite designs thus far...the Texas design *almost* makes me want to go to Texas. I'm still holding out for Tennessee and will purchase one immediately!
