Web Design in this New Era

I have be doing a lot of web design stuff of late. Mainly after I remade my personal website.
I have also been reading a lot about leaving skeuomorphic behind and designing in browser to encourage responsive design.

Here's the pinch though. I don't think we should leave the photoshop behind. I found styling straight off incredibly constraining. Maybe it's because I am a novice, but there is something to be said about completing an entire mockup to make sure all the elements work together.

Code is  very top-to-bottom approach, where photoshop really makes you consider the entire flow. That being said if someone can make a photoshop-browser merge app I am in!

As to skeuomorphic design. I still think it has its place. I am learning more by making a fictional restaurant's website. Let me tell you that skeuomorphic really helps sell that realness of a physical place. Let me first  say I'm not talking over the top "texture" but some subtle shadows help a lot. I worry flat design is limiting web design in that 3rd dimension.

Any way just an opinion.

The Power of Monday.

For your possibilities, for a fresh start, for your new regime.
Monday's always have the bad rap, the end of the weekend, the end of fun.
What of the things it can bring.
New news.
Something found.
A sense of beginning.


Don't frown on Monday.
It's the beginning of something beautiful.
Embrace Monday, it's a fresh slate, it's wonder, it's undiscovered.


The Power of Monday.


Here's a video to get you discovering:

Goodbye Mr. Creator.

So I am on a "pinning" binge on some tumblr blogs and I feel bad. This whole reblog thing really brings to light the disposability of the creator in these work. What has happened to attribution?
I know http://www.curatorscode.org/ exists but tools need to be integrated into the net to allow an uploaded image to be tracked to its original creator.
I believe people have the right to share cool things they find but I do believe the creator should get some acknowledgment.
Imgur is the worst of this. User are even stripping the connection link to the original source. 
We should really evolve our sharing. People are talented and they should be congratulated on that fact not forgotten.

PressPausePlay: Welcome to the new creativity.

PressPausePlay from House of Radon on Vimeo.

PressPausePlay is an amazing documentary well worth watching. It catalogues the changes for artist from new technology. The main thing I took away from it is that nowadays everyone feels like an artist. Everyone has a laptop, has software has the net to gain the knowledge. Its all attainable. The barrier has been broken down, the mystic of art creation is gone. Now what we are left with is talent. For me I some times feel crushed by the weight of all this creation. Every where people are creating full feature films, full albums and amazing work with almost nothing.

Technology is no longer the hoop to jump through. We are left with people having to learn the true skills behind art. No more “How does this camera work?” but “How does this story work?”.
Its and exciting and scary time, for all of us. Progress moves fast. Its hard to be heard through the cacophony of voice begging for attention, pleading for redemption.  

Live Fast, Yell Louder, Die Smiling, Repost.

Wade

Night Photography

Tell me

What kind of posts do you guys like? Videos ie reposts or do you like my tech/gadget, essentials posts? Let me know, seriously.


W

Essentials: Headphones

Essential: Headphones


Being a total music junkie like most people I think it is often overlooked what a pair of half decent headphones can do. For me my pick is Sennheiser CX-300, they are not that expensive at $60-$80. At that price point you get a much better sound quality than stupid headphones that come stock with most music devices.


Wrap: Better headphones make a difference.

My New Addiction

We Are Wolves - Paloma

Listen

Learn History and Be Amazed

Who knew history could be so fun to learn about. Well these two ladies who run this podcast certainly make history fun. Since finding this podcast I have worked through the backlog of them which is at least 300 eps long. 


I have learnt just so much. And this podcast isn't the boring history it's the really interesting stuff that as the name suggests they don't teach you in history class.


Some of my favourite eps are:

• Bloodwork
• Bluebeard
• Who is DB Cooper

Wrap: Learn the real gritty history of humanity.


Check it out:
iTunes Download or CastRoller

A Song to Make You Smile

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Home: Listen & Buy

I can't help but feel happy when listening to this.


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A Smooth Tune

Waldeck - Memories: Listen

Rain Rain Go Away

A handy little Chrome app that lets you know when its going to rain. You may say "ah just look out the window" but you would be quite surprised. Rain Alarm gives you prior warning. Imagine you are just about to step our for lunch and a little notification tells you it will rain in 10mins, it would give you warning to grab your umbrella or just avoid outside altogether.


Wrap: Rain Alarm, simple away to avoid getting wet.

Rain Alarm

Design Blogs

youaretheriver.com

My girlfriend has a incredibly sense of style. She is always finding the most amazing things.

If you want some elegant and clean style or fashion check out these incredibly blogs.

You Are The River

Black Eiffel

W.

Kindle for the love of books

I love to read. And this has changed that forever.

As a lover of reading I was thinking about buying a kindle. I had a few issues that I thought were a problem. One, how would I find the books I wanted? And would I actually use it.

The truth, since my girlfriend surprised me and bought me one is yes. It is simply amazing. 

Pros:

Cheap books: Books are much cheaper. About AUD$8 compared to instore prices of 20-30.

Availability: Book stores in Australia just keep closing. Its getting almost near impossible to find any books. Having the Amazon store kind of takes care of that. I am also incredibly impatient so being able to get any book I want in seconds is killer.

No more heavy books: In makes a difference when you don't have to lug a massive volume on the bus, or even laying in bed is just a pleasure.

Sharing: You can still share. There is a loaning service where you can pass books to other kindle accounts.

Syncing: You can have your books and bookmarks sync across your mobile devices and even your browser. Chrome has a Kindle app (Great for light reading in your lunch break).

Cons:

Damn Law: Since each country is bound by its own copyright law means that not all the books are going to be available. 

Flicking: Reference books are a problem or any time you need to quickly flick. 

Wrap: Kindle it, its worth the minimal $200 or so. And get yourself a case with a light. Win.

Buy a Kindle

Man Things: Bags

Welcome to Man Things, articles where I feel I should write about those essentials I think everyman should have. 


So here is an absolute must, a good satchel. I like most people resists purchasing expensive things, the thing is after 2 or 3 $100 mark satchels I had enough. They just break, don't fit what you need or just a poor design. 


This is my pick for a good satchel. Tumi Alpha Bravo Zip Top. Price is AUD$280.
This increased price was a put off for me for a long time but since purchasing it I am just so happy. It just works, its the perfect size and is waterproof. The design for me is what you are paying for. The pocket setup allows me to load all my gear in and not even notice its there.


Being any sort of professional it also helps a ton not walking into work with a grimy old gym bag.


Wrap: Spend the money, choose good materials and design. You use it ever damn day.


Tumi bags

Oh he actually blogs

Well lets try again. 

Move Bitch (Ukulele Cover)

Going Minimalistic

I have been going through a phase of a certain amount of de-teching. It's in an effort to clear some mental space for me to concentrate on my art.
I am a tech guy so still want my gadgets and my tech, so maybe the best way is to hide the stuff you don't need. I started with my phone. I removed all the apps that I don't use and the ones that distracted me. That means goodbye facebook and angry birds.

Second I streamlined my browser. A great tool for that is chrome extensions.

Minimalistic for gmail removes all unessential info including ads. A great help.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/oddhbkghjoccbljmagcgoklbfdjeiinb?hl=en

Minimalistic for facebook does much the same.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ahmiiblnmmnijkhboligioinfchkeagi?hl=en

I also removed a lot of peoples posts from my facebook wall. This streamlined my wall to things I wanted to see. Minimalist for facebook can also help with this.

As a whole I feel much less stressed. There is a lot of information out there and some of these tools can help you see only what you want. My suggestion is for everyone to give this a go.

Would anyone like to see a post about destressing and refocusing? I have some things that have really helped me lately and wouldn't mind sharing if people are interested.

Frank Sinatra - The Best Is Yet To Come (Original)

How amazing is Frank Sinatra. Its just so rare to find a voice and character like this any more.

Nujabes- Under The Hood (Specifics)