Posts Tagged ‘design’

Becoming a Web Designer

Recently, someone emailed me asking for advice about how to start a career as a web designer. After taking some time to organize my thoughts on the subject, I thought I’d share them here.

What I love about the web design field is that it doesn’t require any special certifications, formal education or any other traditional qualifiers. Everyone who has ever decided to start a career as a web designer has probably taken a different path to get there. The route I followed to get where I am today is unique to my life choices and circumstances. So it would be ridiculous to say that there is a preferred path or that one way will work better than another.

The great thing about it all is this: you get to choose the path! However you get there, here are some tips that might help along the way. Read the rest of this entry →

4 Design Elements Behind a Good Call to Action

Simple, straightforward tips on how to design a good call to action. Great stuff.

Independent Study Proves Effectiveness of Rosetta Stone Software

Research: Independent Study Proves Effectiveness of Rosetta Stone Software | Rosetta Stone.

Cool stuff from Rosetta Stone – it really does work!

Complete Beginner’s Guide to Interaction Design

The folks over at UX Booth have put together a synopsis of what I do for a living. Good stuff.

Vital Tips For Good Logo Design

Nice little article from Smashing Magazine.

The Consummate Web Designer

Excellent article from the fine folks at Unit Interactive. I thought this was particularly on point:

Beyond Photoshop or Dreamweaver, the most consequential resource for a web designer is the intimate working knowledge and understanding of the web’s constraints that can only come from developing front-end code.

Rethinking The Fold

Recently I assembled some thoughts regarding The Fold and what we (anyone involved in publishing websites) should do about it. Enjoy!

Foundation Fireworks

Cover of Foundation FireworksLast year I had the good fortune of writing a book called Foundation Fireworks CS4 about the graphics creation software Adobe Fireworks, a subject near and dear to my heart. The book is finally published and I’m long overdue in posting something here to promote it. Read the rest of this entry →

iPhone Scrunge Wallpaper Set

While working on a project recently, I created a background pattern that I really liked. I liked it so much I made it a full-sized desktop background for my iMac and my Macbook Pro.

Scrunge Wallpaper Set

I also really wanted to put it on my iPhone, so I modified it just a bit and created a handful of color variations that can be used as iPhone wallpapers. I’ve packaged them together and offer them here for you – a free download.

Enjoy!

(btw: Scrunge = scroll + grunge. Just in case you were wondering.)

Gradient Grunge Wallpaper

What follows results from the convergence of three serendipitous occurrences: 1) the desire for a new desktop background, 2) the revelation of the Gradient Grunge style and 3) the discovery of Wordle.

banner announcing gradient grunge wallpapers

Read the rest of this entry →