thoughts on pixels

I’ve had this idea of ‘thinking in pencil’ for a long time. The notion that one’s thoughts, opinions and ideas can shift and grow based on the information at hand, on any given day, at any given moment. Every new experience, sight and sound informs you as a person, an artist and as a designer. That commitment to exploration and the ability to admit and even embrace being wrong is one of the aspects of my own personality that I strive to improve every day. It makes me a better designer, a better manager, a better partner to clients - and a better person.

I try to focus on things relevant to web professionals, designers and other creative thinkers. Not always a successful endeavor, but variation keeps things interesting at least.

Hillman Curtis' MTIV, Designing with Web Standards book club discussion

Submitted by jpamental on
Topics:  design accessibility usability user experience

I've been trying to keep up a good habit: reading more about not just what I do, but about other creative disciplines. Having heard Hillman Curtis speak at the FOWD conference on election day, I'd put his MTIV book on my 'wish list' on Amazon. I hadn't worked my way down to it but got a prompt from someone in the office, saying it was an absolute must. So I picked it up and couldn't put it down. I read through it over a weekend and it has made a huge impression on me, and given me a huge refresh in the inspiration department.

drupal, the image module and the alt tag.

Submitted by jpamental on
Topics:  accessibility usability drupal development user experience

After seeing how much attention my last post on Drupal and accessibility got, and how much time we've been spending with it I realized that we've developed something really worth sharing: a lot of experience with Drupal and accessibility, and a bag of tricks and good practices to go along with it. So I've decided to write more on the topic and hopefully develop a resource for others struggling with the same issues.

FOWD: Hillman Curtis presentation

Submitted by jpamental on
Topics:  design

At the Future of Web Design conference last month in NYC, one of the presenters was Hillman Curtis. There were a number of amazing presentations (Carsonified) does an amazing job - there really were no ‘throw-aways’), but his stood out for a really important reason: inspiration.

future of web design followup: part 1

Submitted by jpamental on
Topics:  design accessibility usability development

Well, the FOWD conference was last week and I have to say that it was absolutely the best (work-related) two days I've spent in a long time. Everything about it was just fantastic (apart from leaving at 4:30am on Monday to get to the workshops starting at 9). Workshops with Paul Boag and Armin Vit were great, lunch in between with Paul Boag, Steve Smith and Dan Mall was really nice as well. Tuesday's conference was just packed with great presentations, and the after-party (and the 'in-between-the-conference-and-afterparty' stop at the bar next door) was a blast.

future of web design conference

Submitted by jpamental on
Topics:  design

I'm on my way to NYC to go the Future of Web Design conference. I'm attending workshops today with Paul Boag and Armin Vit - two people I have huge respect for in the web design world. They should be really great, and the lineup of speakers for the conference tomorrow is amazing.

farewell to a wonderful friend and teacher

Submitted by jpamental on

[img_assist|nid=37|title=Our little Gina|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=140|height=187]We lost a family member this week, and we're all a bit lost ourselves. Gina, a wonderful furry companion who's been with me for about 10 years and came with me in to my family's life just under 5 years ago, passed away this week. She had developed a tumor in her lung and while we tried surgery it was to no avail. I spent time with her Thursday night and although it seemed she was recovering well, we got a call a little after midnight letting us know she had slipped away.

interaction vs. interface design discussion

Submitted by jpamental on
Topics:  design interaction design user interface design

There are some great threads of discussion occurring on the IxDA.org site. One of them is an exploration of the difference between interface and interaction design. In understanding the difference and how to communicate it to peers, clients and students, the discussion turned to education and I'm reposting here what seemed like a relevant post on the topic.

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on inspiration

Submitted by jpamental on
Topics:  design

In going through the process of ‘re-imagining’ the (add)ventures web site I’ve been thinking a lot about inspiration lately. What is it, how to find it, why is it so fleeting? Some of the answers I’ve come across is stagnation and inversion. I think that all artists can tend to get too focused on their own work, their own medium, their own subject matter area - and forget to look out at the larger world around them. I know that when I think about web design too much it’s really easy to get jaded. Just how many ways can you put links on a page?

Must-read post on CSS

Submitted by jpamental on
Topics:  design development

I found this post referenced in the Boagworld podcast, and I have to say it's just a must for anyone involved in website design and development. No matter how well you know CSS, or how little you work with it for that matter - this has some really great insight and advice. Very well written and documented. Natalie Downe, of Clearleft gave this presentation at BarCamp London 5.

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