Archive for June, 2008
Monday, June 30th, 2008
Graphic designers, web designers, artists, and photographers can all find something cool to enjoy at Scott Hansen’s website, ISO50. Not only are there great visual artistic examples, but the music playing on the site has also been created by Scott as well. I have to say that while I was writing this post, I was definitely “enjoying the groove” of his music. Smooth, mellow and relaxing are the first words that come to mind if I were asked to describe his music. Some of it kind of reminds me of the music from the future in the movie Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure (I’m dating myself here…aren’t I?!).
ISO50 is definitely a feast for the eyes and ears. Lots of retro style art, grunge, and other enjoyable genres. Take a few moments to visit his site and check out the pictures, logos, websites and everything else that he’s designed. He’s definitely a busy, yet successful designer!
Posted in Images/Photos, Layout/Design | No Comments »
Monday, June 30th, 2008
There are some really great looking “retro” style websites out there. How do you classify a site as retro? My opinion of what may cause a site to be labeled as retro is really pretty simple. It simply needs to remind me of advertising from really old magazines or television shows. Textures, colors, logo styles…stuff that resembles things that were in print 40, 50, 60+ years ago.
The MacTarnahan’s Brewing Company website is a prime example of what I consider a retro website. Its overall appearance is smooth and classic. It’s not shiny or glossy. It also uses really good, classic color combinations. Their website also matches their product packaging well too. This is something to remember as a web designer. Having a website that matches up well with a customers products or product packaging helps create an entire professional appearance that always scores well with the public.
Anyone else have some examples of great looking retro websites? Let me know!
For online marketing an excellent but simple web design is very important. If you are not a professional in web development then go for outsourcing website hosting.
Posted in Layout/Design, Logos | 2 Comments »
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
Hey Tim, I happen to stumble on this one this morning. I thought you’d get a kick out of it. Kind of cute. What do you think?
Source: http://community.mype.co.za/index.php/2006/10/
Posted in Logos | 4 Comments »
Friday, June 27th, 2008
A web host normally focuses on one or more of the following target groups. The beginner website owner who is in need of basic web hosting services; disk space, a domain name and bandwidth. Then there are the more advanced website owners who are in need of dedicated services and finally there are the online businesses. Neither of the mentioned groups is comparable with each other, but online businesses or ecommerce clients differ themselves, especially when it comes to customized services needed.
A smaller business web host client often relies solely on their partnered web host to manage a whole set of surrounding services for the ecommerce business to stay online and keep legally floating. And the need of small business web hosting is only getting larger. Smaller business web hosting Professional web hosting and ecommerce businesses hence go hand in hand and in its niche they are equally dependent on each other to profit and prosper. Used by smaller businesses online this web hosting niche contains of customized services and client-adapted price levels.
Bigger ecommerce businesses simply do not bother to outsource to other web hosts but often establish an in-house departments and servers to secure their online business. Advantages with small business web hosting Enrolling in a web hosting plan is the perfect option for smaller businesses since their needs often exceed what they know and can afford to do themselves. Small business web hosting is often thought to be the web hosting niche where customers get the most for their money’s worth.
Realizing the full service need of smaller online business, web hosts often include all assistive services that their client might need. Pre-installable scripts, software, templates, data bases, applications, SSL certificates and other features. Smaller business web hosting by Yahoo! As a response to the early increasing need of proper web hosting by smaller online business Yahoo offer web hosting to small businesses through Yahoo small business web hosting. Included services allow web hosting clients to get online, sell products, market their business, hire personnel and much more.
Posted in Other | No Comments »
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
I had a reader leave a comment on another post and decided to check out their website. While doing so, I found a page entitled, “Top 10 Reasons to Hire 3rd Eye Solutions.” This is a great page. It’s a combination mission statement and a great marketing page for their company.
My question to you is this; do you have this same type of information on your own web design services site? Are you straightforward and confident enough to list reasons as to why a potential client should enlist your services? If you are competent and confident in your skills, then you should consider creating a page to tell the world why your services are the best! Promoting your skills and services is not an egotistical approach to business…it’s a wise approach. Being confident in your craft and being willing to tell everyone is a powerful way to gain additional customers.
By the way, if you have such a page on your own site, please feel free to let me know. I would enjoy reading it. Thanks!
Posted in Other | 3 Comments »
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
TemplateMonster is putting on a lottery selebrating the 4th of July. They are also working the US 2008 Presidential Election into this event to make it funner.
There are two website templates that are up for election. Everyone that participates in the voting will be entered into a lottery after the election is over. Plus, everyone that votes will get a Free Patriotic Iconset, worth $50. Voting starts on June 26 and runs until July 9th.
What is the lottery prize you ask? See their website to find out. 
Click here to visit TemplateMonster 4th of July Lottery page.
Posted in Other | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
Quite a while back, I wrote an article and posted it here about The Long Tail and how it applies to web designers. I came across an article entitled, 5 Powerful Website Niches that are Here to Stay. I think this article is a great example of 5 niches that web designers can take advantage of as far as soliciting potential customers. In your local market, my suggestion would be to target businesses in these 5 industries and see what you may be able to do for them and their websites (or lack thereof).
Just some food for thought…
Posted in Other, Resources | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
As web designers, part of your duty is to properly advertise and market your own services. Sometimes you also are enlisted to advertise and create marketing concepts for your clients too. Because of this, I’m going to start featuring some “advertising inspiration” every once in a while. Whether the advertising is physical (billboards, magazine, promotional items) or it is web based, I think it can stimulate that creative process for us.
So, here’s the first installment. This is a group of creative advertisements featured at Toxel.com. I have a couple of favorites from this group. I like the Adidas ad. I also like the drunk driver’s parking space too. What’s your favorite from the list?
Posted in Other | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
While looking for another site today, I came across a link that took me to an awesome 3D site called Screenvader. With many of these kind of sites, it took me a minute to figure out the navigation. Of course, I spent some time playing around and watching the screen tracking my cursor (I fall for that one everytime, haha).
Anyhow, check out the site when you get a chance. In my opinion, it’s a great combination of simplicity in its appearance, yet it’s very advanced in its navigation and use of three dimensional effects.
Posted in Navigation/Menu | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 24th, 2008
For some more inspiration, here is a nice layout that is really “refreshing”. When this page opened up I was really impressed to see this. This design is perfectly ballanced out. The flowers illustration in the front is great, the little red hearts and the arrow pop and balance the page out with the red lettering on the right. The grays and the browns work great together. Also the glossy effect that spans across the information boxes. It’s a simple thing to do but what a ifference it makes. Little stripes detail in the heading boxes, the transparent feel of the info boxes is amazing.
Awesomely refreshing design!
See the site: http://www.newconcept.hu
Posted in Colors, Images/Photos, Layout/Design | 1 Comment »
