Interactive

Apple, Good Design, Interactive, Links

Apple Envy

February 24, 2009, 12:51 AM

When us designers start off designing a home page, we invariably create at least one variation that’s based on the Apple.com home page: a large hero graphic and three or four smaller promo tiles below that. That basic framework that Apple perfected is essentially a reference design.

However, their pioneering is more than just skin deep. Spoonfed Design has a pretty good analysis on why Apple.com is so great.

I think it’s a testament to the quality of work that comes out of Cupertino that most of their designs, whether it’s product, OS UI, advertising, print or online is held as the reference standard. Having worked at Apple, I can assure you that seemingly simple and elegant design (product shot with a headline set in Apple Myriad on a white background) is not as easy as it seems. Besides, what other company can you name that has sparked such design trends such as colored plastic, gel-like buttons, and glassy navigation tabs?

Usability Analysis of Apple.com: Why is it so Good?

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Interactive, Media, Print

Gray Lady with a Jetpack

February 16, 2009, 08:10 AM

Print is dying. With the recent shutterings of Domino, Craft, Cottage Living and a slew of magazines, and the layoffs at various newspapers, print is dying. That’s why it’s important for newspapers and magazines to reinvent themselves and make them relevant again in the 21st century.

That is why I love that the New York Times is innovating. With their special interactive story features to T Magazine to their Fashion Week collection browser, they are embracing the print killer and creating new opportunities for readers to engage with the news, and for advertisers to speak to their audiences.

The New York Times latest endeavor is a public beta of sorts, along the same vain as some Google products, and is called Article Skimmer. It basically takes the articles and lays it out in a nice, neat, easy-to-skim grid. It’s not Flash, just DHTML, and it’s quite lovely.

(via NYTimes.com First Look Blog)

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About

Although he has been designing since the seventh grade, Roger Wong officially began his design career in 1995. He is currently a creative director at PJA Advertising + Marketing in San Francisco.

This site is an outlet for his musings on design, advertising and culture.