Our advanced systems detected you're trying to access porcupine colors by an old and deprecated browser like Internet Explorer 7 or even 6! This website uses some technologies which can't be detected from such an outdated software.
To me Expression Engine is a great tool but I understand that many people never had the chance to realize this. I won’t say much. I only want to add that you can find in the Pro Network some of the most important design agencies such as Happy Cog, Blue Flavor, Erskine Design, Mark Boulton and many more.
If you dare, refresh some times the central page of the Pro Network and you maybe see this logo among the ones I just mentioned.
I love Expression Engine because it’s flexible and at the same time powerful and solid. Each time I needed it it was there for me and I never worried whether I could cope with a project thanks to it.
This is what I write at the relevant page where our studio is presented. It is the plain truth.
Before I say anything about the book let me remind you that Mark Boulton is a Web designer who begun as a graphic one. Many graphic designers who want to design for the Web don’t get the difference and they think all they need to do is to transform a static layout for a magazine into a design for the Web. Boulton doesn’t think so. So we ‘re very lucky he wants to share with us such an interesting load of knowledge.
His book, 5 simple things - A Practical Guide to Designing for the Web, was impressive because he not only shares his view as a professional, experienced designer but he does it so smoothly, almost magically. I admire writers who select to be simple and stay away from showing off. Boulton could show off anytime, but he doesn’t.
The chapters
Introduction
Research & Ideas
Typography
Colors
Layout
Introduction is the only chapter not so strongly connected to design. In this one Boulton shares his story and how he started as a designer of a small company, he moved on and became a Senior Art Director in a big agency and how in the end decided to leave all behind and start with his own tiny design studio. I love this part of the book but I feel it is not properly connected with the following chapters. I ‘d like to learn more about Boulton’s thoughts on this but not in this book.
The next chapter, Research & Ideas was the less important as long as it regards me. It is good to see how a famous Web designer approaches his work, but I think every designer has his very own way. However I liked a lot the Brief section of the chapter.
The rest chapters cover what Boulton does best. I won’t say much about the Typography chapter. If you visit this website you must know I adore typography. I believe Boulton is simply one of the best in this area. The chapter was great.
Regarding the Color chapter I thought I have learned everything I needed to during my studies as a physicist. This is only partially true, because this book helped me start over from a different point of view. I love Boulton’s analysis on Hue, Saturation and Brightness along with the examples. By showing us certain examples of websites where a specific color scheme works well for each one of them is valuable, because it proves that good design leaves our ego out of the story.
The last chapter Layout is the best one. Grid design, the Rule of Thirds, the Looking Room, the use of negative space and most of all putting it all together in a real website. What more could you ask? This chapter is really fascinating. Boulton writes and illustrates the way a great dancer performs on a stage in front of a difficult audience. In the end he deserves out applause.
-Should I buy this book -Yes!
5 simple things - A Practical Guide to Designing for the Web is a book that worths every single cent (or should I say penny) your going to spend for it. It costs £12. Don’t download this book from a torrent. Don’t get it from a friend. Just buy it.
A few days ago I was asked why I stopped following a specific member of Twitter. I felt I needed to provide some explanation, but do I really need to do so?
Twitter-land is a free land people. I would never impose any specific use of Twitter. I couldn’t anyway. People go there to chat, to share links, to boost their job, to show off, you name it. I would never judge them. I just don’t care.
Thinking a lot might harm you. No, really. You are not obliged to do anything you don’t like. Do you want to share jokes? Do it. Do you feel you follow too many? Un-follow them. Do you hate re-tweeting? Go away. The world will keep turning around.
Since you asked (you didn’t actually, but it’s fine with me), I visit the Twitter-land to meet my ultra geeks companions, to follow their links and to smile. I don’t care who’s following whom and I don’t care who’s following me. I can’t be anyone but myself in there.
At the same time I love some clever wallpapers and some witty e-cards.
Did I provide you a decent answer dear Twitter fellow?
Of course your social Internet life impacts your Internet profile as well. If you un-follow a lot of people they might think you show off. If you tweet a lot you might gain more followers. And so on. So be prepared for the anonymous foggy feedback.
I always wanted to write something about Twitter but this post meant to be fun. Shit. Fine.
Do you still find me interesting? Here is my profile in Twitter. Wanna follow?
Before I say anything about the book let me remind you that Mark Boulton is a Web designer who begun as a graphic one. Many graphic designers who want to design for the Web don’t get the difference and they think all they need to do is to transform a static layout for a magazine into a design for the Web. Boulton doesn’t think so. So we ‘re very lucky he wants to share with us such an interesting load of knowledge.
