Arranged Delirium

If you work with Adobe software, your already checking out Layers Magazine. It full of tutorials though that might be helpful to folks learning how to complete specific tasks. Sine I do most of my work in Photoshop, I find myself frequently referencing the section on InDesign to look up a technique when I’m working on a project in that software. For the DVD cover assignment in New Media, this might prove to be a particularly valuable resource…

I’m frequently talking in class about what a designer can count on, and what’s out of our control. In web development, fonts are a good example. Even as you specify fonts, you cannot necessarily assume that the viewer’s machine has those font installed. Or, that they will render similarly - particularly given the differences of platform and browser. I think the image below from a post at The Small Wave makes the differences clear. Both of these render form the same code, but obviously appear different:

Now I know that some will argue that I’m just trying to applaud the Mac here - but I’m really not trying to do that. This is all about being able to see the fact that fonts render differently on different machines and/or browsers.

Understanding CSS for layout means understanding the Box Model. Students in ITL 370 are struggling a bit with this, so I’m providing here a link to some additional information. I covered the basics in class, but this article regarding CSS positioning is really useful if you are trying to wrap your brain around it.

This Associated Press article regarding ABC News coverage of the Toyota recall should make clear the power of video on shaping our opinion and understandings. It should also prove indicative of the dangers of shoddy journalism. It a good example of what we are always talking about in New Media: how visuals shape our understanding of the world, through both intentional means and unintentional decodings. This is the very reason why it’s important to pay attention to details when crafting new media content.

It’s not enough to practice web development - you also need to keep up with the changing elements of design and the trends in the field. I read about web design every day, and I find myself frequently heading back to a couple of valuable resources:

A List Apart - I’ve been reading this one for years. Its a regular column referencing current issues in web development and it also has a number of incredibly useful and well written tutorials if you are just learning how to code. Its been around and relevant for years. Interestingly enough there is a recent article regarding the HTML 5 vs. Flash debate I’ve been discussing recently…

Smashing Magazine - This site covers a broader range of topics, but does a good job of representing a diverse range of interests. More recently, they have covered topics of interest including writing an effective cover letter and they’ve also provided a showcase of academic web sites.

Perhaps I should add to the list. There are a number of valuable sites regularly covering web design. Which one do you find most useful?