This has to be one of the most amazing instances of using flash for a web site that I have seen. Not only is it unique by having up to a 1080p video displayed in a large window for an intro to the site, but then it has a really creative transition to go from video to the flash site. And the actual part that is amazing to me involving flash, is very cool and unique interface. Give it a look, it's pretty cool!
I came across a web site today that made me realize something of importance. Try not to create a creepy feeling that someone is staring you down. As I was using this web site, reading information. No matter how hard I was trying to focus on the content of the web site, the creepy man just kept being ... we..... creepy. This post may seem pointless on the surface. But what is the point of a web site, to either attract people to a certain media or service, and or to provide information about a certain media or service. One of the things you do not want your web site achieving is making your customers leave the page. So it's always important to pay attention to the content you add to your web site. Paying attention for overall form, content, and keeping an eye out for unintended symbolism. For instance, if you were creating a web site that would have a target market in china, it might not be a good thing to be selling green hats. This is known for a woman who cheats on her husband or boyfriend. Random example, but I think it works. ;)
In conclusion, you always want to be aware of the content and meaning that might arise from it and be conscious of your target audience.
Second tip of the day: Don't wear a green hat in China, unless of course you want some extra attention.
I have always loved googles custom images they have incorporating their logo and a certain holiday / day in memory of a specific event or person. I don't know, I just think I'm a little shocked that this one flew. Maybe I'm being too picky or critical, but I think this logo is one of the worst(probably the only bad one) that has been done, from a design perspective. So to be fair, it is for a phony holiday anyway (as I think you should not have to have a holiday to show your love for someone plus, I know it's a holiday for women to relish in, but I am a dude so naturally I am apposed to pastel frilly things of the feminine variety).
But looking at it now with constructive criticism applied as apposed to personal tastes, it just pretty much looks like they hired a 5'th grader to come up with some valentines christmas vomit design to impress their detention instructor.
Gavin out.
...Looking forward to tomorrows design google.
Connect with Ben:
This has to be one of the top sites I have seen for use of creativity. It's not all that complicated, but the concept is very cool.
If you have payed attention to the recent addition to Adobes product line-up, CS5. You may know of the many mind blowing features, such as Photoshop CS5's "content-aware" tool. Where you can completely remove objects in photographs and images. Not only perfectly selecting and removing the item, but also filling in the background with imagery that didn't exist there in the first place, all with a few clicks. This feature might come in handy if you only a few clicks before your court hearing you need to remove some incriminating evidence from some security camera stills which you paid your uncle nancy to get a hold of. If features like this makes you wish you still had the receipt for your CS4 suite, here is a tid-bit that might give you some temporary closure.
A few days ago I was working in Photoshop, and I saw in the edit menu "Content-Aware Scale". This baffled me because I had only heard about these amazing "content-aware" features announced for CS5. Then I am wishfully thinking, (ah, my long awaited honorary gift from Adobe for spending over half a grand on a software suite has arrived, and in the form of a convenient update with all the latest and greatest CS5 features. Hmmm.... second thought, I don't think the world has become so generous over night). So then I immediately went to google to search for information on why the NRA doesn't support Hillary Clinton, which then brought me back to the "content-aware" tool, which then brought me to The Russel Brown Show. I have always thought of Russel Brown as a very talented Tutorialist/Graphic Designer who talks to you like your grandmother did when you were 30 years old and she would pinch your cheeks and force you to eat Bugles. In this supplied video, Russel Brown shows the MIND-BLOWING capabilities of this content-aware scale feature, such as being able to select certain details to be protected from scaling, while you drastically change the rest of the image to your liking without much work at all. Hopefully you will enjoy this golden nugget as much as I did! :)
I could not believe some of the things people are able to create with gradient mesh. I can't imagine how long it would take to do some of these things. I wonder if it would be easier to model in 3d programs, ha. Enjoy these amazing examples in a blog post by Vandelay Design.
What an amazing web site... Everything from the background video playing while all these other fun things are going on, to just even the transitions between his portfolio gallery and the individual portfolio pieces.
Some people say that music is just distracting to designers portfolio's. I personally love it. It adds just as much dimension to one's portfolio viewing experience as does the score to a motion picture.
Now even though (at the time of this posting) The site is said to be under constrution, this is such an amazing animation for a web site! You could sit there, watch, and admire this incredible design forever. Not to mention that I don't think I've seen any flash animations where it has an effect of looking like a traditionally animated cartoon. So cool!
What a cool video. If you haven't seen this substance called ferro fluid, it is some pretty cool stuff. A search for it on youtube will get you many more crazy videos of what can be done with the stuff. While I believe it's original purpose was to move various fluids in space craft from one place to another, here on earth it at least can serve the purpose of making really pretty, and crazy looking structures based on magnetic waves. Enjoy!
- Gavin
So I was doing some designing e-learning with online tutorials, and I I found this crazy cool portfolio web site of Paul Trani who does online tutorials for adobe/lynda.com I think this just may be one of the coolest sites in terms of interactivity and design. Very well done.
I'm sure it's always a good sign if someone (like me) has the thought after seeing cool web sites "I have got to learn this!" :D
