My 2 cents.
I can see why there’s been some dissapointment about the iPad; especially after all the hype. Rumours have circled the web in a misty torrent of completely unprecedented speculation for months, only to be crushed by what initially seemed as a rather overhyped, mediocre product.
No multitasking! No 3G except the most expensive model! [...]
In this month’s Computer Arts, a particular quote from an inspiring interview with legendary designer Milton Glaser stood out to me:
“I find a lot of students beginning to resent the computer as too powerful to use without thinking. They now describe it the same way; they say, “Before I start to do anything, I make notes and sketches and draw because otherwise the computer dominates everything I do”.”
Although I believe he’s more likely referring to graphic design as opposed to web interfaces, it’s an important point to consider. Personally I never open Photoshop before scrawling away, pencil on paper. It’s a faster medium on which to lay my ideas and visions as they appear in my mind, without the distractions of colour, typography, design trends and the concern of “How it will work – Flash, AJAX? Scroll right, fade in? Pop-up or slide down?”. It’s just my ideas, the pencil and the paper.
I’ve never been able to draw in the slightest. It’s a flaw I’ve always been ashamaed of. I tell people I’m a designer but can barely draw a cartoon dog. Thus I never used to touch physical drawing tools – I’d hop straight into Fireworks or Photoshop and practically will the design into existence. It took me quite a while, too long really, to realise the ignorant error of this approach. As powerful as computer-based design tools are, they do indeed seem to impose a certain level of conformity, structure and precision that’s simply not natural
On another tangent – does computer design software make us lazy? I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve persuaded designs in my head in Photoshop, but stumbled upon a particular brush set, font or shape that ‘does the job’, and as opposed to persuing the vision in mind, I’ve simply settled for ‘nice’, but second best, because it was handed to me on a plate by the click of a mouse.
As per usual I may sound like I’m exaggerating the issue, but it’s certainly something worth considering. Do you feel that your designs, whether they be website layouts, application interfaces, banners and posters, branding etc. are in anyway influenced not just by experience, design understanding, trends and client briefs; but by the software you use?
I’ve never known an office get so excited over… a phone!
It is of course July 11th – iPhone 2nd Generation launch day. This being Manchester, England – it’s miserable and wet and there are no iPhone parties or crowds of hungry gadget lovers camping and clamoring outside the Apple Store. However, there is a buzz [...]
I’m not one to make extravagant statements like the above… am I? Look, I’ve given the Xbox 360 a chance. In February I had to make a tough decision between getting a PS3 or Xbox, the Wii didn’t even enter my mind. I say it was a tough decision, I was actually at a GAME [...]
As of Friday the 4th July, involving an excited dash to the Apple Store after work; I am now the proud owner of a super-duper 24″ iMac!
And how much better life seems now I have this glossy, huge display before my eyes. There are no poor people, no war or famine, no natural disasters, no [...]
Well, my Monday morning trawl through the internet to find any interesting news or revelations in the web world has been delivered only a backwards look at the news of last week. So, suffice to say I don’t have any clever inside information or sneak previews to part with (do I ever?).
So, I will, like [...]
A couple of months ago I wrote an article, which I now realise to have been rather out-of-date, about the Amazon Kindle. I received a polite email from a visitor regarding further possibilities that the Kindle offers, and would like to share these with you.
”Hack Your Kindle: 100+ Tips, Resources, and Tutorials to Get More [...]
It’s here! Not that I knew it was coming. The reason I’m so excited about this product that no-one else seems to have heard about is because I’ve been predicting it and hoping for it for years. Now unless I’ve been living under a rock – I’ve not yet encountered an electronic book. We’ve had [...]
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