Wonderwall is interior design firm in Japan that not only has a pretty impressive portfolio of work, but their website is something of which I have never seen. The site bubbles and moves with every roll over on the front utilizing Flash and presents information and interactivity in a very refined yet fun way. As I’ve said before, I love Flash components that just work, and the Wonderwall site definately does just that.
This is amazing: Odosketch is a super great online sketching app that allows, well, you to sketch using a variety of brushes and colors. The brushes act sort of like pastel crayons and allow for some really awesome things. They also have a gallery of creations from other people, some of which are really, really awesome. And the best part is that you can watch them draw the sketch out on the screen.
What a super cool tool: Baseline is a web development kit that emphasizes, well, using the baseline to create clear and well-designed layouts. It’s free and gives you a ton of CSS and templates all ready to go, including forms and design on a strict grid. This super awesome idea was put together by ProjectUrbain, i.e. Stéphane Curzi, who is french? or at least keeps their site in French. ANYWAYS, check this one out for sure.
Take a look at who recently redesigned their site and the changes look amazing: BrandNew the blog that discusses idenity and well, branding, has put together quite the fancy redesign, moving everything to the center rather than the left, and incorporating some pretty awesome textures.
One of my most favorite things in the world are Flash elements that just simply do their job. Elements that can wow you with just the ultility of their design, the ease of use, the power of the simple functions. And most of all, I love when these things are free, downloadable, easy to maintain, and awesome.
Providing FREE and easily usable photo gallery viewers, these are the tops and do exactly what they should. In several styles to suit your photo/graphic needs, definitely make these apart of your life. I do a lot of maintance or fast creative development for the web, and I use these frequently, like for a photo gallery for work.
For your design enjoyment and inspiration, Smashing Magazine has 50 New Beautiful Blog Designs that really are, beautiful. Some are simple, some full of rich textures and collage elements, and some that gracefully achieve a pretty design. Check them out for sure!
PS: Additionally, most of these blogs serve to inspire or share on their own, for even more fun.
A dude from Google stood at Times Square and asked 50 people “what a browser?” Very few people knew the right answer. This puts a whole new perspective on internet users for me. I guess I’ve just always just been surrounded by people who at least new the basics of the internet, or at least the difference between an internet browser and a search engine. I never realized how little awareness people have of what programs they use.
idsgn is an awesome new blog that I found today, linked over at Brand New, and so far, so awesome! They have been running some great articles called “Know Your Type” about the origins and uses of some pretty awesome typefaces. This month, it’s Futura. The article is informative, very thuro and a fun read. Tim & Eric, Great Job! on this one. Definitely give it a read.
Paul Rand, who is probably my most favorite modern designer (well, apart from the Eames), left a legacy of work, theory, and methology that matches no other. He gracefully and bravely changed the way we think about idenity and design, advertising and convention. Basically, he’s the boss. He’s the Charles in Charge. (what?!)
Paul-Rand.com is a new and excellent site dedicated to the work and philosophy of Rand, with a huge gallery of work, biographies, lots of quotes, and links to stores across these old intenets where you can find first edition children’s book and old IBM packaging. It has everything. Everything Rand. Check it out!
