New York Web Design

Saratoga Springs’ Special Tour

David — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:40:40 +0000

“Health, Horses and History”, a petite woman boasts as she explained the reasons why she recently sold her Atlantic City beach side apartment to move here. Every visit to Saratoga Springs (New York) seems to share a bit more interesting view of itself.

Spa City is Saratoga Springs. Within the Capital District of upstate New York, its history is rich with stories of famous regulars including dignitaries dating back for hundreds of years. But its rich history is not what attracts me. My interests have always been visual. It’s not even the popular horse racing or all the colorful regalia that follows close behind. Gambling never has been entertaining for me especially since the odds are always against the wager, unless of course the fix is in.

Life healing springs which can be found spouting from fountains everywhere is this city’s name sake and are special considering their origin. And the parks! The talents of Frederick Law Olmsted helped create Congress Park which threads itself through the city. It provides a sanctuary in a metropolis like its larger sister, Central Park in Manhattan. It also was a swampy low land before Central Park’s architect transformed it.

There’s also a lively art scene. Yaddo, an 400 acre artist colony, has hosted thousands of well-known artists since the purchase of the land in 1881. It was in 1900 that venture capitalist Spencer Trask created the artist’s retreat as a gift to his wife after the death of their children.

What alway seems to leave awe and a place in my memory are the homes and residences along Broadway and the residential areas that surround the business district. For one thing the street (Broadway) is wide with older trees shading the sidewalks. The planning that went into this part of Broadway seemed to purposefully encourage interaction between neighbors. It would be hard not to say “Hey, Mr. Wilson”, because walking the sidewalk places you practically in his front lawn. Dennis the Menace and the nostaglic family values which were pervasive in 60s television comes to mind as I stroll this wondeful street.

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How to modify WordPress Themes - Part#1: Overview of Parts

David — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:20:16 +0000

Blogging needn’t be visually boring. Beneath WordPress’ deceptively simple layout lies the ability to create a sophisticated blog design. WordPress basic theme structure is built to be powerful. In a 3 Part Series, I’ll walk you through the basic theme modifications needed to make your blog rock!

WordPress Theme Structure

There are two (2) basic parts of every WordPress page which includes the XHTML page and the CSS (Cascading Style Sheet). At minimum, there are three (3) basic building blocks of the WordPress XHTML theme page; HEADER, CONTENT, and FOOTER. Topmost is the HEADER which contains the beginning of your XHTML page coding; the <DOCTYPE> declaration, <TITLE>, <HEAD>, <BODY> and the first bit of coding which comprises the top of your new WordPress blog. These page parts are visible to the world though in the backend lies the WordPress template system that is extremely simple, bringing the building blocks together to assemble the complete page.

Templates, Tags and Queries

WordPress templates are like containers which when assembled build a completed page. Each WordPress template contains PHP syntax which can accomplish a number of important functions. The XHTML coding is interwoven within the PHP templates which uses WordPress’ powerful core functions to display a dynamic blog, chock full of useful information for your readers. These functions are implemented via “tags” which retrieve various information including data from the WordPress server’s MySQL database. There are many different tags (or shortcuts) which can be used to display anything as simple as the current time or a complex condition based data. In addition to the myriad of template tags, custom select queries can used to pull specific data recordsets and custom fields from your posts. With the risk of getting into the many intricacies of variables, conditional statements, and functions, I’ll keep it simple.

CSS for Stylish Blogs

Cascading Style Sheet design plays an important role for how your WordPress blog looks. While the templates control the overall content and functional aspects of your blog, the CSS gives you full control over the aesthetics of your website’s User Interface. Both the frontend and admin areas are CSS dependent, so you can even change the way the administrative sections appear. Using style sheets you can make the default theme look entirely different, changing virtually every aspect of its appearance. So, if the templates are like containers, then the CSS is the packaging with the fancy wrapping and bow. There are a number of excellent “real time” CSS editors available to help familiarize you with proper CSS coding. Check out Stylizer and CSSfly livedit to start with. You’ll be a style sheet designer in no time!

Backup Before In Case You Break

Backup the original file/s before your start editing: Before you change any template file, remember to either backup the entire theme folder that you have decided to edit, or create individual backups of the files you’ve edited. For instance if you decide to edit the index.php file, then rename the original file as index.php~ [index.orig, indexBK.php] or anything you wish. This way, if you break the coding in the new index.php file you can always restore the original file. There is no reason not to make backups and you’ll be very thankful you did when the inevitable “error” appears.

Keep Good Records

Comment your changes: When you start hacking one of WordPress’ default themes (WordPress Classic or WordPress Default), remember to always comment the changes you’ve made. Commenting (or recording notes) of changes are important in troubleshooting; So that when you return to that template or style sheet you’ll know what you’re mucked with and then you can revert back to the original if necessary.

Coming Next…

In the rest of this series, I’ll show you how to make edits to major parts of a WordPress theme to customize it for you. We’ll take a closer look at the parts of a WordPress Theme. Before you know it, you’ll be making adjustments to themes like a pro!

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Web Banners, newspaper, and magazine ads for EARTH DAY

David — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:11:29 +0000

Earth Day and advertising goes together well. It could be criticized as just a blatant attempt to capatilize on the newest trend. In this case, Mother Earth Storehouse is actively involved with promoting “green” businesses. For the past 30 years they have sold organic, locally produced and fair trade products whose manufacturers are dedicated to responsible Earth practices. What is more important; talking about the need for respect and responsible stewardship of the Earth or actually making the endeavor a mission? Because it’s only possible to achieve the goals of Earth Day when you make it possible to make a living doing so.

Below is the Earth Day advertising campaign that I designed for Mother Earth Storehouse. Though the title has been used before, Mother Earth Storehouse actually puts their money where their mouths are, everyday of the week.

Earth Day is more relevant today with the importance of caring for our planet. Wise stewardship of Mother Earth translates into better health, quality of life and survival of our species. So, it only made sense that Mother Earth Storehouse in the Hudson Valley of New York wanted to emphasize Earth Day as the focus for their April’s Web and print campaign. Although Earth Day is officially on April 22, 2009 it really should be all year around! “Make Everyday Earth Day” is the message that this locally owned health food store decided upon, since it says it best.

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Firefox Tee-Shirt Design

David — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:54:01 +0000

FF_logo_contest2, originally uploaded by newyorkwebdesign.

Firefox developers recently called for entries to the T-Shirt design contest that introduced their version #3 release. The T-Shirt design pictured was one of several designs I proposed, though it was my favorite. The concept should be obvious: portraying the new Firefox 3.0 having “Fast and Furious” speed.

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Usability: left navigation or right?

dave — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:51:47 +0000

Is a right focused Web layout more intuitive for the masses? I guess I’m just a right-leaning lefty in search of the truth. On route to the annual “Learning and The Brain” conference, I ponder this weighty cerebral question.

Left-Brain, Right-Brain

Without hesitation, I always begin the basic structure of Web page design with the primary navigation on the right sidebar. It’s always been that way, since anything else just didn’t feel right. I’ve given that fact very little thought over the past 10 years. However, the need for self-examination seemed more relevant today as I started off to Cambridge Mass on what was a very cold November afternoon. It’s usually a 3 hour trip, so I had plenty of time for introspection, especially since I was traveling to the annual “Learning and The Brain” conference. I jotted down the reasons why I think a right sided navigation is more intuitive on the backside of a Google Maps printout. And, with that scrap of paper I traveled into the psyche of left or right navigation.

Left Brain - Right Brain

The speakers that were scheduled for the three-day event included scholars, authors, professors and educators in the “heady” field of psychology and psychoanalysis. Where better to analyze the dynamic that lie deep within my subconscious than experts in the field? This year’s “Meeting of the Minds” was extra special since it had the most attendees ever, with over 2000 reservations and several dozen highly respected speakers. All of whom would pontificate and cajole the very essence of the “left brain, right brain” question.

The insight I came away with at the end of my first day of lectures, is that the professional programmer (left brain) has a sequential way of looking at the parts to obtain a result. Programmers have to to be able to comprehend the highly complicated coding necessary to create today’s interactive Web applications. While the designer (right brain) is a more fluid thinker, whose decisions are based on visual cues. What better way to explain why websites created by programmers look vastly different from those created by designers.

Note that this is my own personal discovery and not a scientifically proven fact. By no means do I claim to be a researcher or brain surgeon.

The Answer: Print Design?

I’m not a brain surgeon, though I have been a professional graphic designer for over 20 years, so the following observation is worth including. Should Web design navigation emulate print design? Why do I choose to structure my Web pages with a right-sided navigation menu instead of the long established left-side? In fact there was a study performed by Kingsbury and Andre in 2004 which concluded, Navigation: Left is Best. In their analysis they use L.L. Bean as the “TLL” (Top - Left - Left Navigation Pattern) which their shoppers prefer. I checked out their Web interface today and I don’t see a left OR right navigation model. Maybe L.L. Bean’s Web marketing department has abandoned this study, since they’ve since replaced their Web interface for a newer, more intuitive interface design. Could it be that their customers respond favorably to the new design by spending more coin?

So, why should the Web be any different?

Coming from the realm of advertising design, I’ve always worked from left to right. Let’s examine one of our society’s most popular past time: scanning local newspapers’ “Society Pages” for a glimpse of the civilized class. I admit it, I do sometimes envy their huge fortunes and fabulous good looks. The “Le clan Cunningham Au Chateau” article is a very effective way to garner favor from them, appealing to their egos. Newspapers, have used positioning, placement and coverage for many years to appeal to their readers and advertisers. So, why should the Web be any different?

As the modern day “investor class”, whose fortunes have lessened recently, could have benefited from better Web usability. As the remaining doom days of 2008 come to an end, I can’t help wondering is a right-sided navigation could have kept millions of investors from losing their life savings? Could a more intuitive Web interface have kept our economy from collapsing? The day trader may have been able to react more quickly to the falling market if only E-Trade’s navigation was more intuitive.

Evolving Web Design

A not-so-subtle Ug used a heavy method of coaxing his favor. The methods of persuasion used by today’s Web are far more sophisticated and far more nuanced. Like many national newspapers, we are all reluctant to change. Maybe that’s the reason why the Web has managed to grab a significant share of traditional print’s market. Immediately after the Web became commercially viable, research and statistical organizations began measuring user response. Web Trends was one of those pioneering companies that wanted to sell this valuable data to advertisers. Now there is Google Analytics which offers the regular Web developer access to a powerful suite of tools which can measure the user’s reaction to changes you make to your interface design and accessibility.

Don’t be an Ug.

There are many differences that exist between the Web user, not to mention sex, age, origin, politics and affluence. The way we shop (and search) for goodies on the Internet need to be a serious consideration when preparing your Web user interface. The world is becoming more sophisticated, so changing your Web design with accessibility and usability in mind is a must!

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Web Tools for Web Designers : Part 1

dave — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:28:59 +0000

Web design tools for those lazy, yet very inquisitive Web designers that actually do want to learn by doing. The truly good tools that aren’t just revenue builders for the folks hosting them are few and far between. Here are some of those few that I have stumbled upon either by accident or in search of the magic Online Generator, Web Design Widget, Time-Saving Web Tool or by following the breadcrumb left by a professional SEO expert. Some of them I’ve tested myself while others are far too intriguing not to include in this list:

The Yahoo Grid Builder- Part the Yahoo! User Interface Library (YUI)

DOM

DHTML

AJAX

2. Web Color Combinations Tester and Palettes via ColorCombos.com which offers the user the ability to visualize different color schemes and ten test them alongside each other.

Advanced (or just cool) Web Apps for WordPress WordPress
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I don’t need no stinkin’ business cards

David — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:25:27 +0000

I don’t need no stinkin’ business cards

Well of course you do. If you’re in serious business person, you need a well-designed business card. Like the Bandito responding to Bogart in Treasure of Sierra Madres, there a lot of folks that refuse to give much thought to their business card design.

The sad fact is that there are a lot of stinky business cards being used to represent a lot of very talented professionals. If you want to be taken seriously, you have to consider your business card as an essential advertising tool. Here are some essential design tips for basic business card design:

Avoid dark colored papers and card stock:

2. Paper stock is important: Spend a little more for a quality paper. There is myriad of manufactured paper stocks to choose from which vary in their hues, textures and strengths. Choose a stock that can hold the ink and has a substantive feel.

3. The finished size should be small enough to fit in a wallet: Don’t get too fancy with your business card sizes. If it’s too big it won’t be very portable and if it’s too small, it will get lost, visually and literally.

4. Stick to one (or at the most two) font styles: Keep the visual noise to a minimum. The more fonts you use the more difficult it is too read. Besides, it may look as though you are a bit indecisive.

5. Steer clear of tacky clipart, as well as copyrighted artwork: There’s nothing worse that clipart that looks like clipart. Instead, use a photograph or hire an illustrator to create a unique image that will set you apart from the rest.

6. Be descriptive with your business card’s text: Cute slogans are for huge corporations with the money needed to advertise nationally. Use a simple tagline or a list to describe your services or products.

7. Remember to include your name, company, address, telephone, cell phone and website address: Don’t get in a hurry and pass around a mock-up of your new business card design to friends and clients to get their feedback. Remember, everyone is a critic so don’t get offended by negative or overly critical comments.

8. If you don’t have a logo design, don’t try to fudge one: Take time a do your research before committing to logo design that is weak and unprofessional-looking. In the meantime, use a bold font or simple text. Then, when you get the cash you can invest in a professionally designed logo that you’ll use consistently in all your promotions.

9. If you’re not the creative design type: Keep It Simple!

Don’t give short shrift to could be the most important tool in your advertising arsenal: your business card design. It could make the difference between being one of the many business failure statistics or being one of the few that succeed in an increasingly competitive economy. Remember, you do need a business card, just not a stinkin’ one.

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Logo Design Tips

dave — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:20:14 +0000

Creating a professional image is one the most crucial steps to obtain new business. Coca-Cola™, IBM™, Microsoft™ and other successful corporations spent millions each year refining their brand. Research has proven that people want to associate themselves with brands that they think represent their own good taste.

Whether it’s for a auto repair shop or a nanotechnology firm in Silicon Valley, a logo design has to consist of several basic qualities:

Easy to Remember - The logic is obvious, though common mistakes in Basic Logo Design 101 can result in a image that no one will ever remember.
A Shape or Object - An effective logo is a shape or object and is never a typeface. The font used along with the logo design is an integral part, though it’s not the logo.
Distinctive Color and Contrast - The color selection is important. Choice of color is dependent on your audience, e.g. Toy Store = Bright and Cheerful, Industrial Supply = Bold and Serious, etc. and when choosing colors keep it to no more than two or three colors that have enough contrast between them that they are appreciable even when reproduced poorly.
Visual Symmetry - Depending on the type of business you’re in, most logos should have good weight distribution and visual symmetry.
Resize and Reuse - A wonderful design is only good if you can use it. So, keep it simple and avoid complex shapes or intricate lines.
Social Feedback - Post your new logo design online. e.g. Flicker. Start a Flicker account, upload your designs, then invite friends to comment.

Above all: keep it simple! When you finally decide on a logo design for your business, test out by creating mock-ups of it in use. For instance, place a copy of it in a newspaper ad design and in any other media examples to see what it will look like in various sizes and colors.

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Tourist Map Design takes a detour

dave — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:52:46 +0000

Several years ago, a local Hudson Valley business association asked if I would be interested in designing a map of its township with a listing of the business association’s membership and points of interest. The final map design would be a large accordion fold map that when laid flat (and unfolded) would measure 28” x 36”.The concept was a simple one that had been done ad nauseam so many times before.

We have all seen them, maps that acted as placemats with splattered Ketchup and coffee stained edges. It was another beautiful Hudson Valley morning and the business association president handed me samples of cartoon quality maps that featured businesses in the area. We sat sipping coffee at the local “Village Diner”. He showed me different examples of what he had in mind including the tissue quality map that lay under my silverware.

It was apparent that there were some budget constraints placed on the project as well as several folks that had their own vision of what the map should look like. My past experiences with business organizations and non-profits made me prepared for the political nature of Membership Boards.

However, I’m always eager to take on a challenge. My need for a design challenge ius no better illustrated by this particular project: the 2007 “Explore Saugerties” map design. As map projects go, the designer usually gets some sort of collateral support, in the way of text, images and the general map details. Not this time though. Unlike most, this map project became quite involved. As time progressed I realized I was on my own. In order to complete the project in a timely fashion, I proceeded with the design responsibilities I had contracted to perform, and in addition, ad sales, ad design, copy writing, photography, photo illustration and retouching and printing supervision.

In fact, I enjoyed the project so much that I designed and the 2008 map. What can I say, I love to see the New England countryside. The second time was a bit easier. To make it all worth while, both maps proved to be a huge success.

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Telephone Directory “Yellow Pages” Ad Designs

dave — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:27:28 +0000

What’s a Website design without the traditional print advertising to support it? Being in the creative advertising business for the past 28 years, I have seen (and designed) all sorts of print designs in every imaginable color, size and shape. These include;

Telephone Directory “Yellow Pages” Ads: Few businesses would imagine that a well thought out, designed and executed “Yellow Pages” ad will reel in many more inquiries and cost a lot less money. Take for instance the full-page “ego-boasting” lawyers ads that grace the many pages under the “Attorneys” section (as well as, inside cover and back covers) of just about every telephone directory in America. In larger cities like New York, a full page ad can cost upwards of $10,000.00 per month! An ad half that size can generate twice the qualified leads and cost half as much.

More to come…

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