Archive for the ‘Graphic Design’ Category

Today we find ourselves at post number six in my Sources of Inspiration Series. I have rounded up another batch of great portfolios that are both inspirational and stylish. Be sure to check out the other inspirational portfolios via the related articles section below.

Note: This is not a series about the websites themselves. That said, enjoy the amazing work located within the portfolios below.

Recently I read the article The Future of the Creative Industry by Samantha Warren. This article has raised a point that I have been aware of for a while now. I know a number of recent grads or soon-to-be grads that are lacking an online portfolio. These individuals are both extremely talented and qualified for a position, however I am worried that they may go overlooked amongst their competition because of their lack of a portfolio. Most of these fledgling designers have been convinced that PDF samples are adequate, and that is exactly what they are. However the current trends in our industry demand more than just the status quo.

This is something that is really starting to bug me. It seems like every web shop under the sun has been touting their ability to provide standards complaint valid HTML and CSS. But I ask you so what and who cares? I fully believe in the benefits of standards complaint and valid HTML / CSS but why do so many people use it as a selling point?

Earlier today I was tipped off by a Positive Space reader to an article that sitepoint recently published. If you have been following Positive Space for a while, then you undoubtedly know that I have a problem with both spec work and 99designs (previously sitepoint contests). However most recently the minds behind sitepoint have stooped to a new low. I say this because the article “Design Contests Made Me A Better Designer” that was recently published is nothing more than a piece of propaganda literature.

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.