Web Design Blog - Web Designer Ramblings

Web Designer Ramblings - Photo of the Day

2009-07-02T22:55:00.000-07:00

Today's Web Designer Ramblings Photo of the Day is one of the first photos I shot after becoming rather serious about photography. It is a photo of beautiful flowers found at the Rio Grande Botanic Garden in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Oddly enough, I was testing a classic Minolta X-700 film SLR camera and this is a shot from that test roll. However, it is by far the most popular image I have ever captured.

I will be selling high quality prints of some of my favorite photos of the past five years. Web design has been the perfect adjunct to my photography pastime. The skills necessary for my occupation as a web designer has been a valuable asset for my photography. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos as they are added to the newest section of my web design portfolio: A Web Designer's Photos

A Web Makeover in Progress

2009-07-01T22:05:00.000-07:00

We are still in the process of doing a redesign of our web design portfolio! That is why you will see about half of the pages still have the old design. Since we are doing the redesign, we decided to review each page and update each web page manually, checking for bad links, updating images and content, so that the site is as up-to-date, error free, and relevant as possible.

I am exploring the potential of creating web design that is elegantly simple in coding yet visually sophisticated. All of the content pages, in fact the entire website is pure CSS, free of javascript, ajax, etc. and only one image is used for the layout design. This, hopefully,produces simply coded pages that both please the viewer and search engines. So far so good!

Tables Vs. CSS based Web Design

2009-07-01T02:28:00.000-07:00

I am often tickled by the misconceptions surrounding the use of tables in web design vs more current CSS based positioning of web page elements. Both approaches can produce elegant designs. However, some have expressed a concern that using a tables-based web design may cause the website to become obsolete at some point in the near future. This is not true. All web browsers must support every form of html no matter how ancient. Backwards compatibility is essential for serving the widest possible audience on the web. That will not change anytime soon.

I have never been a proponent of using the most current technology simply because it is the most current. I use what I know works best for the project at hand. I currently design websites that may use either CSS based positioning or tables. My main concern, frankly, is making sure the web design serves both the needs of the viewer and the requirements of search engines. How do the search engines view the tables vs css debate? Well, the source has spoken! The video below provides Google's answer (by way of Matt Cutts, Google spokesman) to the question: "Are CSS-based layouts better than tables for SEO?" If you are the current owner of a tables-based website you may find their response . . . well . . . comforting!

Don Peterson, Newark1 Web Design Portfolio & Guide

Notes on a Web Design Makeover

2009-06-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I am well along on the first web design makeover on my web design portfolio and guide in over six years. The design is more colorful, and graphics intensive. Yet the coding is very efficient. I wanted to prove to myself and others that an attractive web design could be achieved with an economy of code and graphics. It supports my belief that simple and stylish can be synonymous.

On the home page, only one graphic is used for the design layout. Text is placed within the design with CSS. I have finally abandoned my beloved table based layout! I used the overflow feature to generate an automatic scrolling effect for lengthy text in the bottom paragraph of text on the home page. I think this is a pretty nifty feature that allows my layout to feel very clean and spare while housing a few paragraphs of text.

Let me know your thoughts on the makeover. Is it a hot or a miss? thanks!

We Are Re-Designing Our Site!

2009-06-12T03:09:00.001-07:00

This web design makeover has been long overdue, some would argue . . . After clinging to the last web design of newark1.com for more than six years, we have decided to do a renovation. It will not be easy. The homepage has been completed (see above) using 100% standards compliant CSS/XHTML. The resulting code is much cleaner, and the graphics are simpler. Gone is the need to cut graphics up into slices that are fed into tables based layouts.

The conversion of the content pages will take longer. I will need to edit each of more than 300 pages by hand to update the code and design. So you will not see changes to those pages as quickly.

What I find gratifying is the advancement in my personal skills when comparing the old and new design. I've grown as a designer, and still have quite a bit of fun developing a new web design. Enough writing for now . . . time to get back to work!

Costa Rica Vacation Rentals Web Design

2009-06-02T04:50:00.000-07:00

We recently completed the web design along with some upgrades to the Costa Rica Vacation Rentals website. This company was chosen by top travel magazine Conde Nast as the top Costa Rica Villa Rental Specialist four years in a row. We created a web design that underscored the professionalism of the company along with an appealing introduction to the attractions of Costa Rica. We invite you to pay them a visit!

Civil . . . By Design

2009-05-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

The dictionary defines civil as: adhering to the norms of polite social intercourse; not deficient in common courtesy. We live in a culture where a lack of civility is becoming the norm in so many mediums. Graphic and web design often mimics television in promoting the belief that what shocks sells. So-called reality TV routinely glorifies incivil conduct. Even the profanity laced slogan t-shirts worn by many today reflect a disrespectful view of bystanders doomed to view them.

I occasionally listen to the Diane Rehm radio show on NPR and continue to be impressed with the persistent civility that she exercises in interviewing a broad range of guests. That civility is a marked and refreshing contrast to most of what talk radio offers. Far too much of talk radio is barely disguised hate speech that spews bias and prejudice rather than reasonable discourse. If you have not had a chance to hear the Dianne Rehm show you may find it refreshing for its lack of strident, abusive dialog. Sadly, she is part of a rare breed in the entertainment industry!

China's Buick LaCrosse Is Cooler Than Ours!

2009-05-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

Design is a highly subjective thing. With that in mind, I was a bit surprised to hear in the news recently that GM Buicks are among the most popular cars in China. What do they see in the design of this vehicle? Well, there is a good reason why it is so popular . . . The Chinese Buicks look much nicer than ours! See if you agree by making the comparision here of the new LaCrosse model.

Good Taste In Web Design

2009-05-08T04:00:00.000-07:00

Good taste has been defined as the the human ability to judge what is beautiful, good and proper. In a culture where the ability to shock and outrage is considered a legitimate marketing tool, good taste is being challenged. This applies to web design as well. We are currently writing an article regarding the place of good taste in web design, and why it makes good business sense. We would like your thoughts on the matter, and would like to include them in the article. We will appreciate hearing your observations and opinions. Leave use a comment!

Cool Self - Promotion Tools for Web Designers

2009-05-02T02:46:00.000-07:00

Self -promotion is like oil for the engine when it comes to new business development by web design creatives like myself. I saw something today that reminded me of a great application for MOO cards, a very stylish form of online card printing that can be used in concert with images uploaded to Flickr.

Neil Mccullough the illustrator genius behind Hand Drawn Creative uses Moo cards for self promotion (see image). He exploits quite nicely Moo's ability to print many different images in an small order of cards. For example, on a low cost 50 card order he can have up to 50 different images printed. Cool! Neil's stylish illustrations works quite well on these cards and make for great conversation pieces when printed.

Because most of my clients are long-distance, I rarely have a need for business cards. However, it will be nice to have a small order of full-color cards using my photography and web design for those occasions when I need to network locally. I'm getting Moo cards!

Web Design: Content Management For The Masses

2009-05-01T08:16:00.001-07:00

Web designers have never enjoyed more software bargains than now. This is particularly true when it comes to our tools of the trade. A scant four or five years ago, a bare-bones Content Management System (CMS) would have cost upwards of $5,000. Now, sophisticated blog platforms such as Wordpress can easily accomodate the needs of enterprise level online publishing.

Having this low-cost CMS is a great way to offer small businesses the same powerful tools used by larger businesses. In our web design studio, we can offer more powerful and flexible web design and development options to even small businesses on a tight budget. With the well supported plug-in modularity of Wordpress, we can quickly upgrade the application while bypassing the cost of custom programming.

Wordpress is now more user-friendly than ever with a beautifully redesigned administration interface in Wordpress 2.7 (see video above). This allows web developers to help new clients easily master the platform for managing their content. Combine this ease-of-use with solid support from third-party developers and the best price in the business (free) and you have what must now be considered the web developer's killer app!

Wordpress is the premiere solution for Content Management on a budget!

Web Design - Time For A Redesign?

2009-04-30T04:12:00.000-07:00

One of the toughest questions I face at present is whether or not to redesign my own web design portfolio. Our portfolio has undergone three major web design evolutions in the ten years we have been in business. The first two redesigns occurred in the first four years of business. The current design has been online for the longest period of time, close to six years. It has been the web design that seen us through our company's greatest period of growth and success. Is it time to change?

I am not of the school that believes that a website must conform to all the latest tech "buzzwords" to be successful. The best web design is design that communicates best. Our success is proof of that. We want to keep our ability to communicate clearly and simply through any renovation our website may undergo.

In the coming weeks I will be playing with ideas for our redesign. Should we do a refresh of our current design or go for an entirely new look . . . Change is diffficult! What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Living A Long and Happy Life

2009-04-26T23:41:00.000-07:00

I found a recent article on a near centenarian in Japan quite interesting. At the age of 97 years, Shigeaki Hinohara is one of the world's longest-serving physicians and educators. Always willing to try new things, he has published around 150 books since his 75th birthday, including one "Living Long, Living Good" that has sold more than 1.2 million copies. The advice he offers on living a long and happy life is not revolutionary, yet focuses on keys to happiness that are often overlooked in western culture.

For example, his common sense advice to avoid being unduly concerned about amassing material things runs counter to the western ideals of financial "success" and happiness. However, it does reflect the wisdom found in the Bible which states that "Those who are determined to be rich . . . stab themselves all over with many pains." - 1 Timothy 6:9,10.

Another attitude he espouses is the idea of lifelong work. He has never "retired" and continues to work 18 hour days as a volunteer, contributing to the good of society. This gives his life meaning, and a focus on contributing to the good of others, two additional factors that can enhance longevity.

I found the article about him in the online edition of the Japan Times quite interesting. You may enjoy it as well. Read it here.

Winning Charities - Web Design

2009-04-25T09:55:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give you a peek at our newest web design: Winning Charities - Charity Fundraising Consultants. Our client provides charity fund-raising consulting for not-for-profit hospitals and other large institutions. This web design has a warm human touch that is emphasized by the photgraphy used throughout the website. We completed this project in record time, and our client could not be happier!

The New Leaders In Electric Car Production?

2009-04-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

We live in turbulent times. This is particularly evident in the world economy where the winners and losers change from day to day. Today's New York Times contained an article on a plan by Chinese leaders to turn their country into one of the leading producers of hybrid and all-electric vehicles within three years, and make it the world leader in electric cars and buses after that.

They are tackling the challenge with "the same tools that helped it speed industrialization and put on the Olympics: immense amounts of energy, money and people." They have over 5,000 auto engineers and an equal number of battery engineers devoted to making all-electric vehicles a reality. Could they become the world leader in the next generation of automobiles?

Walking To School . . .

2009-03-28T09:42:00.000-07:00

As a child growing up in a borough of New York City, I walked to school during my junior high and high school tenures, even though the walk was about 2 miles each way on the average. I preferred to spend the money my parents gave me for the bus on a daily pack of chocolate & peanut butter Yodels (remember those) and small carton of milk. Long walks are a joy to me, and is a practice I've carried into my adult life. I am certain that this lifelong practice has been a great contributor to my good health.

New York City is a walker's paradise. However, since my move to the southwestern US, it has been more of a challenge to walk daily as the cities here are generally not pedestrian friendly. Sidewalks are typically empty, and public transportation scarce. Everybody drives, and the obesity rates in this area are a reflection of that.

With that in mind, I was delighted to read a story in the International section of the March 27, 2009 New York Times about a city in Italy where school bus routes to ten elementary schools are being replaced with walking routes. Former bus drivers and volunteers escort the children by foot to school each morning along the former bus routes. The change was made to combat growing childhood obesity rates and car emission pollution. What a wonderful idea! Developing a habit of walking can provide long-term health benefits and reduces pollution. I am certain many of our cities can benefit from similar programs as well.

A Possible Fifth Force?

2009-03-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has taken a course in physics is familiar with the Four Fundamental Forces of Nature. These are the four forces responsible for all the properties and changes affecting matter. They are gravity, electromagnetism, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force. There is an amazing degree of fine-tuning in these forces that make possible the existence of our sun, and our planet with its life-sustaining properties. Some scientists believe that the fine-tuning of these forces give evidence of an intelligent designer.

Well, researchers are now considering the possibility of a possible fifth force that effects the universe's structure formation. Read the story here. The existence of a finely tuned fifth force that is involved in the formation of the universe again suggests a deliberate order and intelligence behind it all. How could chaos or mere chance create five finely-tuned forces that work in precise concert to make life possible?

Can There Be Design Without A Designer?

2009-03-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

Some scientists now offer a counterargument to Darwin's Theory of Evolution, known as intelligent design, or ID—asserting that design in creation is firmly supported by biology, mathematics, and common sense. They seek to include discussion of this idea in the science curriculum in schools. The so-called evolution wars are raging mainly in the United States, but similar trends are reported in England, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Serbia, and Turkey.
Where there is intelligent design, there must be a designer. Wouldn't you agree? I look at this species of "rainbow" jellyfish recently discovered near the Australian island of Tasmania (see photo above) and see marvelous evidence of intelligent design. Can such marvelous design exist without a designer?

Few scientists are willing to publicly discuss the existence of creation's designer. You can appreciate, though, that it is futile to try to evade the question of the designer. How could the explanation involving design in the universe and of life itself be complete if the existence and identity of the designer were concealed or not even considered?

Visit National Geographic for more info on the discovery of the new species of jellyfish.

Reducing Pollution the Old-fashioned Way!

2009-03-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

I ran across an extraordinary item in the news that shows a common-sense approach to reducing the use of polluting fossil fuels. Imagine a modern cargo ship pulled by a giant sail! This updated application of an age-old technology has been shown to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The kite, 1,000 feet [300 m] in the air, harnesses the wind, allowing the captain to throttle back the ship’s engine. A 1,722-square-foot [160 sq m] [8 by 20 meters] kite recently helped to power a cargo vessel across the Atlantic. It provided fuel saving of 10-35% per day on its maiden transatlantic voyage. Read more on this story here. The developer's website can be accessed here.

This is a proven "green" technology that can be retrofitted to existing cargo ships. Good stuff!

The Hidden Cost of Electronic Media

2009-03-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed that the art of conversation is on the decline? Also, when is the last time you received (or sent) a well-written letter? Both penmanship and letter-writing are becoming lost arts. A good measure of our humanity is dying along with these inter-personal skills. The price paid for the convenience and lure of electronic media can be seen in the last nation on earth to introduce television.

For decades the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan resisted the lure of modern media. But after many inhabitants complained that they could not watch the 1998 World Cup soccer tournament, the government introduced television in 1999. Now people can view 40 channels and are already addicted to Hollywood movies and Indian soap operas, says a report from Bhutan. Instead of sitting together singing and talking as they used to, families gather to watch TV. One woman laments having little time for anything else anymore—including prayer. “Even though I spin my prayer wheel,” she said, “my mind is always on the TV,” reported the Qatar daily The Peninsula. “But what many fear is the rabid consumerism of much of the outside world. ‘Television and advertisements create desires [that] may not be satisfied given the economic situation of the people.’”

Does that sound familiar?

Web Designer Ramblings - Photo of the Day

2009-03-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

Today's Web Designer Ramblings Photo of the Day is from the Annual International Balloon Fiesta held in Albuquerque, New Mexico every October. It is a colorful and exciting event guaranteed to please any photographer!

Don't Eat So Fast!

2009-03-14T03:49:00.000-07:00

Eating fast seems to be a byproduct of modern western culture. We are on the run, and often eat quickly to meet demands on our time. However, that may be a major factor in excess weight gain. The people of Okinawa, Japan provide a lesson in this regard. They have the worlds highest concentration of centenarians (over 100 years of age) and are considered one of the healthiest cultures on earth.

The Okinawans have the habit of eating only until they are about 80 percent full. As a result, they rarely overeat. This helps avoid needless weight gain. In fact they have a term for it: "Hara Hachi Bu - eat until you are 80% full." It makes perfect sense. There’s about a 20-minute delay before the stomach tells the brain that it is full.

That simple practice leaves more energy for other activities, and contributes to more consistent weight control. And it may contribute to better overall health. In Okinawa, Heart Disease rates are 80% lower, and stroke rates lower than in the US. Cholesterol levels are typically under 180, homocystein levels are low and blood pressure at goal levels.

When older folks in Okinawa meet their children and grandchildren after a time apart, their greeting is likely to be, "Are you eating good food?" Eating healthy food and taking time to enjoy a meal is an Okinawan tradition with rich benefits. Do you think they are on to something?

One Good Chocolate Treat!

2009-03-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

I love chocolate. The real stuff . . . Dark chocolate with a rich cocoa taste. So imagine my surprise when trolling my local Dollar Store to discover an amazing treat from Belgium, Lu Petit Ecolier Extra Dark Chocolate Biscuits. A box of delicious cookies, each topped with a sumptuous slice of deep, dark Belgium chocolate! Delicious! This is real chocolate, 70% Cocoa! Taste one of these and you will never want to go back to the sugar-laden mystery chocolate treats that clog the local supermarket.

These cookies are not for the kids. They probably will not like them. These are grown-ups treats, perfect with a cup of good coffee or a favorite tea. If you have a Dollar Store near you, run there and grab a box or two of Lu Petit Ecolier Extra Dark Chocolate Biscuits while they are in stock. They are an obscene value at only a dollar per box! Lu makes premium quality cookies and tea biscuits, yet they are usually hard to find. These are worth the search!

A Masterpiece of Creation

2009-03-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

National Geographic has an article on the Pacific barreleye fish, with large green orb-like eyes set within a transparent dome head. The two tiny dots that appear to be eyes on the front of the dome are actually smell organs! This is the sort of thing that leaves you scratching your head in amazement! As a web designer, I know how challenging good design is, even in my relatively mundane task. By comparison, to see a creature like this, and not acknowledge the existence of highly intelligent designer behind it seems utterly senseless. This cannot be the product of blind chance as taught in the Theory of Evolution!

Enough of my venting . . . Click here to see the video of the marvelous transparent head fish on the National Geographic website!

A Smart, Anyone?

2009-03-06T21:20:00.000-08:00

The first time I saw the Smart Car was five years ago in Paris, France. In Paris, the Smart is très chic, and looks so fashionable parked near the Enfants Rouge while the stylish owner picks up a few things for breakfast. However, on New York's urban roadways they look more like a Pekingese lost in a world of Rottweilers. Something is lost in the translation.

Although they have received high safety ratings, I am still leery about matching a Smart against a bevy of SUV's on a busy city street. Frankly, I think a Honda Civic offers much more value for about the same price. However, I sure would love to drive a Smart in Paris . . .