Pixel paint

Title: To-mah-to

I found this thing online after clicking on some links a few days ago. It's a pretty neat Jackson Pollock web paint thing. Anyway, this is a tomato that i tried to paint with that technique. I know it's probably supposed to be more abstract, but it's fun however way you want to use it.

The additional text wasn't there before the screen shot, so I guess it's programmed to show the signature. You can try it by visiting www.jacksonpollock.org, or clicking on the following link. DRIP TECHNIQUE

Because Redbull gives you wings.

Product placement? I think so.

Nuff said.

What I've learned so far

1. Film is still a young medium. Actually, I was pretty amazed when I realized that movies as I know them today has only been around a few years more than me. Before that time though, movies were vastly different from what they were before the 70s (Hitchcock and thriller movies exempted).

2. Understanding semiotics is very important in communication design. Certainly one can over think the meaning of things, but it's easier to defend your work if you have a rationale for it.

3. One person can make a lot of difference. This has been said before in class, but since Anonymous' demonstrations against Scientology over the last couple of months I could actually see how much one person can achieve by doing so little. (I will comment on a separate blog about the Anons later.)

4. Design is a field I may not be suited for after all.

10 things that make me happy

1. Watermelon
2. Mint chocolate chip ice cream
3. Painting
4. Reading a really good book
5. Being with friends
6. Spending time with my boyfriend
7. Silly conversations
8. Sleeping in
9. Holidays
10. Summer

Design is...

Design is a conversation expressed in various methods through the utilization of our individual senses or a combination of two or more. Like conversation, a design can be influenced from other sources, such as outside stimuli (previous design movements, music, fashion, etc.) or through internal reflection. Just like conversation, other people can respond to a piece of design as if there is an ongoing dialogue. In fashion for example, it can be said that the minimal design in clothing lacking embellishments such as the mini-skirt is a reflection of the popularity of sans serif typography. As a response someone could swing into the polar opposite of the clean simple designs and create a dirty disordered look. Of course there are other factors to consider other than just fashion and typography before stating that the current fashion trend was the result of those events.

Web design tips

10 Principles of Effective Web Design
There are some really useful points in this article. Kevin (interactive design instructor) said the same things and I thought that they are worth repeating. I hope you guys will also find it useful.

Here's a list of the headings to give you an idea what it's about.
1. Don’t make users think
2. Don’t squander users’ patience
3. Manage to focus users’ attention
4. Strive for feature exposure
5. Make use of effective writing
6. Strive for simplicity
7. Don’t be afraid of the white space
8. Communicate effectively with a “visible language”
9. Conventions are our friends
10. Test early, test often

Obviously the list doesn't mean much, so I encourage anyone interested in web design to visit the article.

Less is more

VS

Images by Denis Kortunov. The article can be found at this address.
http://turbomilk.com/truestories/cookbook/criticism/10-mistakes-in-icon-design/

Some useful advice on icon design. But the best thing about this article is the beginning.

"...apply a systematic approach to criticizing, make a numbered list and prepare illustrations, it will be regarded as a fully-fledged analysis!"
- Denis Kortunov

I better get started on my own list.