Tag Archives: design

Centre Aligned List Items

Leave a reply

This post has come from a quick bit of experimentation, trying to centre align list items.

The design called for centerally aligned list item links, and there could be 3, 4, 5 or more links. Initially I was stumped as to how to create this effect. I had considered a left margin to create the illusion of centre aligning for each possible number, but I knew there was a better way. I’m always aiming for a solution that works in the older browsers too, and this includes IE6. I don’t know why I do it to myself, especially as it apparently only has less than a 5% market share nowadays.

Continue reading →

On ‘Magpie Designers’

Leave a reply

In an ever-changing web world, new technologies are constantly evolving. With the emergence of alternative font display systems, new CSS effects and the increased uptake on modern browsers, designers are using these new techniques more and more. Add this to a sprinkling of current design ‘trends’ such as the noise filter, and pixel perfect line details and it makes for some very similar looking websites.

It is inevitable then that these new and shiny capabilities will catch a web designer’s eye (especially after years of browser constraints) but are we turning our eagerness to use the latest styling techniques into a world of monotonous and similar designs?

Continue reading →

Site Refresh

2 Replies

So, things look a little different here!

After a long period of inactivity, due to a new job, and other things the site has sat a little dorment. I thought it was time for a change, and after many, many revisions I decided to finally design something. So, after a few hours of work this weekend – here it is.

I’m hoping to tidy a few things up over the next week, and I will follow that up with a more indepth blog on the designs that didn’t make it.

If you do notice something weird, feel free to post a comment. It hasn’t been browser tested, but bear in mind that things may look a little funky for the next few days.

Dribbble Invite Giveaway

Thanks to all submissions, but the two winners have now been chosen (See comments)

I have some very exclusive Dribbble invites – 2 to be exact.

If you haven’t heard of it before, Dribbble is a site which allows you to upload 400x300px previews of your design work. I have been hugely impressed with it so far, and invites are very elusive.

If you would like the opportunity of winning a Dribbble invite, please leave a comment (with an email address and website/twitter account) below, and later on I will choose the lucky two and contact them directly.

December 2009 Wallpaper

Leave a reply

december-2009-wallpaper-macbook-pro

Merry Christmas everybody! After a short delay due to a holiday, the December wallpaper is now live. The wallpaper is based on a present, complete with wrapping paper, ribbon and tag.

The tiling pattern is actually based on the Koch Snowflake. It’s mathematical basis allows it to be tiled in a number of ways, which can be seen on this Wolfram Alpha page.

I’m really excited with the possibilities 2010 brings, so expect more wallpapers, blogs and other goodies still in the pipeline.

Thanks for reading, I appreciate all the comments and tweets and wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Close Up

december-2009-wallpaper-close-up

I hope you like the wallpaper. If you have any feedback or messages, please do leave a comment below.

Download the Wallpaper

Book Review: Thinking with Type

2 Replies

Thinking with Type cover

After becoming increasingly interested in typography, I felt I needed a book that set out the fundamentals. After doing some research, I found Thinking with Type: A critical guide for designers, writers, editors and students.

This book is divided into three main sections, Letter, Text and Grid. Starting off with a little history lesson on letterforms, leading into the anatomy of type with great examples along the way. It then goes into more detail, covering spacing and alignment, followed by layouts and grids.

Continue reading →