I’ve been using Skype more lately – aside from being the easiest way to turn long-distance conversations into podcasts it’s a decent instant messaging tool. My favorite part of Skype’s IM tool is the smiley button. Its placement in the border between the chat pane and the compose box always makes it look like the [...]
I’ve never ventured out on Black Friday. In fact, as I get older, the more I despise Xmas. Or at least America’s version of it. But I do have kids, and it’s hard to deny a child a toy that they really want. Our 4 year old wanted a drum set for xmas. We did [...]
The Less is More concept to application/UI development has been around for a long time and–on the web–has gotten a bit more press lately with the whole ‘web 2.0′ (blech) trend to simplify tasks and interfaces. I agree with this. Even I fall into the trap of overdesigning the functionality of my applications. Yesterday, I, [...]
Whenever the topic of accessibility comes up amongst web designers, there’s always a few who insist on seeing some numbers. The argument usually consists of ‘why should I do X to accomodate the small insignificant group Y’. Of course, this fails to take into consideration the fact that accessibility isn’t specifically about accomodating some minority [...]
I read through Jakob Nielsen’s Weblog Usability: The Top Ten Design Mistakes. As someone with a couple of weblogs, I only agree with two of his “mistakes”. The rest of them have valid, strategic uses. No Author BiographiesSure, a general “I like puppies and long walks on the beach, I dislike mean people” is useful. [...]
This is a handy list of all the shortcuts to getting to an actual human when calling companies’ support lines. This page needs more publicity and more entries. Spread the word. Some of my favorites (with my commentary in paranthesis): Cingular For faster service, press the option that you are looking to close your account, [...]
Hello mrs. meyers . Being an advocate for making peoples lives a little less stressful, less complicated, enabling the average user to get whatever task they need accomplished in the least amount of time, I am singing the praises of Mrs. Meyers Clean Day products. Yes, these are household cleaning products – but my god [...]
It’s been mentioned everywhere, but, in case you missed it, A List Apart just redesigned. A nice look. And completely arrogant. Yes, they’ve decided that their site is so immensly important that I should close all my windows and hide my bookmarks pane and maximize my browser so I can bask in the glow of [...]
Jonathan Snook has launched a new web site: fontsmack.com. Fontsmack is a repository of read-to-go sIFR files. sIFR files are small flash files that can be uses with the Scalable Inman Flash REplacement method of providing an (almost) completely accessible method for using custom fonts on your web page headers and headlines. Jonathan, a web [...]
I recently stumbled across RISD’s online store (via speakup). What’s unique about this store is that it only sells products that have been created by RISD alumni. It’s a great way to not only showcase alumni talent, but to visually and immediately explain the broad concept of design and the value of a degree from [...]