a nice idea every day

http://www.aniceideaeveryday.com/

this design is so clean! all the information is right there! white gray and one color. it's the indexhibit web application that is free code for any person looking to put a web portfolio online. lean on personality but that's where the designer adds as much or little touch that they like. so good.

waterscape

obviously it's in french, but whatevs. this one's not:



apparently i am now obsessed with jacques cousteau.

"from birth, man carried the weight of gravity on his shoulders. he is bolted to the earth. but man has only to sink beneath the surface and he is free."

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& scuba sites are disastrous, as far as i can tell. plenty below, but no matter how deeply i googled i couldn't find one simple, clear, or appealing diving site. nobody seems to have taken up our idea of a lush underwater adventure/life aquatic/discovery channel documentary style. let's be the first.

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this is an exception, though. animated GIFS for the win.

chris glass

http://www.chrisglass.com/

this guy's personal blog has a lot a lot of information on it but is so well organized that it's actually a pleasure to surf through all those links below the header (unlike...most). and the tabs at the top are so effective for navigating through his life, i'd kill to manage to keep everything so compartmentalized without feeling restrained.

obamarama

http://www.johnmccainrecord.com/
http://www.keatingeconomics.com/

more examples of obama's camp using savvy design skills beyond just the basic message to appeal to audiences. these websites, with their black backgrounds and bold typography, succeeded at intimidating me enough to either a) think that mccain is doing terribly treacherous deeds or b) think that obama is using scare tactics really well. in either case it only makes me more disheartened about politics.

now go vote!

readings / question

designing interfaces

navigation: you have to do it to get where you're going, but it's dull. less is better, and so is having it all at your fingertips (especially on the web).

possibilities: signage, environmental clues, maps

suggestions:

turn common navigational paths into single groups; keep paths short!

80/20 rule: 80% most functional displayed, 20% hidden for extra clarity

clear entry points: most uses shown–more levels for specific tabs

global navigation: consistent set of links, direct from section to section, *looking for a restroom

hub & spoke: one way in, one way out; restrict workflow to force completion of task, *good for small-screened devices like phones

pyramid: link with back and next, *slideshows, * chapters

modal panel: one page, no navigation except go or stop, force user to complete; disrupts flow, *applications, *use in web is not too feasible currently

sequence map: all pages shown in order + "you are here," linear, *numbers or titles differentiate

breadcrumbs: *home>then here>then here>current place, parent pages to present, helpful when jumping deep into tree then back out again

annotated scrollbar: tool tips, skim entire sections, signposts

color-coded sections: which part page belongs to, subtle signpost, clear boundaries, not background but maybe trim, part of text

animated transition: smooth startling place changes, more physical, natural, *mac trans, quick and responsive

escape hatch: unique to non-linear media, direct route back to home or known place, safety

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recipe for a successful website

you need good content. there's no way around a website that's uninteresting.
fresh content is a must.
keep your message simple and to the point.
don't be afraid of making it subjective. trying to please everyone will water it down.

this short and sweet recipe suggestion is something i'll have to keep coming back to in this project, when i lose sight of the end goal and my ideal solution (which...i often do).

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i keep wondering how we can take this scuba site and order it in a way that makes sense while not being this simple global navigation approach. in preparation for throwing that idea out the window, maybe i'll take a poll: if you were going to a scuba site, what is the number one thing you'd be looking for?

kokoro & moi

http://www.kokoromoi.com/

i often have many navigational, usability, or load timing issues with flash sites, but this is one of the best i've seen in awhile. i keep trying to show people it but forget what it is called and how i even found it in the first place. so here we go (try resizing yr browser!). and it doesn't hurt that i like their work lots, too.

late nights

constructive criticism and brainstorming sessions might just be a necessary (evil). cc, your words are wonderful.

thinking:
what you see from across the room.
what you imagine with the phrases "too cool" and/vs. "whatever"
necessary and frivolous
reversing the common depiction in black and white (change)

i have to learn how to talk. maybe that sounds superficial, like talking yr way out of a bad design, but what about talking yr way through a good one?

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when i start being a mess just say, "hey. stop being a mess! figure it out!" nobody likes a pity party.