Archive for the ‘Graphic Design’ Category

Since I first started this series, the goal has been to showcase websites that did not feature the design conventions that have stereotypically accompanied web 2.0 sites. Since the beginning there have been some comments stating that web 2.0 is about the interactivity between users. I have always been aware of this however the goal was not to feature sites that necessarily were 2.0 but ones that did not “catch the trend.” That being said, I also have been challenged by some of the readers to find web 2.0 sites that do feature some amazing design.

When you are focusing on putting together an amazing book to land a great job, you will take any advice you can find. However, have you ever stopped to think about where that advice was coming from? Not all professionals are created equally, and the advice of some is not as valuable as that of others. I never really saw this as an issue when I was a student, until I witness first hand a situation that left me utterly disgusted.

Chances are that if you do web design in a smaller company or as a freelancer that you have had a project that required outside help in order to fulfill the client’s needs. Web design is an interesting field. Projects can range from mostly aesthetic to almost entirely mathematical. This wide range of demands that a project can take on means that being an expert in all facets of web design is impossible and you will eventually have to look outside your direct resources for expertise other than your own. This is where outsourcing naturally comes in, but at what cost?

I am happy to share the sixth installment of the Amazing Websites series. Originally when I started this series, the main concept was to showcase sites that were well designed, interesting, and most importantly did not look “2.0ish.” Luckily for us all the common traits that were shared amongst the majority of web 2.0 sites has begun to fade. This was the easiest time for me the assemble a list of sites so far. That being said, I am left contemplating where this series will go from here? If you have any ideas for the future of the series or just want to remark about the included sites (try to be positive please) then lets hear it in the comments below.

Many of you may have noticed that I redesigned the site. I have been hinting at a redesign for a number of months now, and I am very happy to finally reveal it to you all. After what has been an almost endless number of hours (or so it seemed) I have a number of new features and what I consider to be a drastically improved design. I am using this article to describe my process and the goals I hoped to achieve through the redesign.

There is a long standing ethical discussion in the design profession about whether designers should design for products or services that the designer does not believe in. The ultimate worst-case scenario is obviously the tobacco industry. While typically the discussion is based upon the power of design to evoke a perception that is contrary to the product’s true properties, I would like to discuss a different side of the situation. Those with the power to manage their own accounts have the ability to turn down work that is against their beliefs, however what about those designers who do not.

Ok I admit the title of this article may be a little misleading, however I am hard pressed to think of a better one (and I thought about it for a long time). What I am actually talking about is during the creative process. I no longer will be supplying my client’s with what they are expecting, and for a number of good reasons.

Web design may be a relatively new concentration in comparison to the other forms of design, however there are a number of things it shares in common with publication design. The long standing practices and theories of publication design can be applied to web design to help create more interesting and effective sites. By grasping these traits you can create sites that have an sophistication far superior than your competition.

Today we find ourselves at post number five in my Sources of Inspiration Series (Number One, Number Two, Number Three & Number Four). It has been a while since I have shared a collection of the insanely creative design portfolios that I have stumbled upon lately. Whether the work is commissioned or self initiated, each portfolio contains some of the most expressive and creative work I have found in a while.

Just as a side note: In the past I have received a number of negative comments regarding the websites themselves, and I will not be responding to any such comments. This is not a series about the sites, so if you do not like them then maybe this article is not for you. That said, enjoy the amazing work located within the portfolios below.

What I am about to explain is not a new problem however it is one that is rapidly expanding within the world of design. Technology has been a strong part of our disciplines for a long time, whether mechanical or digital. However, the lowered barrier to entry has developed allowed a number of untrained individuals into the market. This increased competition means that to separate ourselves from the services of others, we need to look above the software to gain the types of projects and clients we would like.

This however is not an easy task, it requires you or your firm to embrace the idea of “Being what matters most” at a core level. If a firm wants to really benefit from the mentality it must embrace it in all of its departments including sales, management, and design. Only then will the idea truly be effective.