When I’m working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.
—R. Buckminster Fuller (via Involution and Forty)
Archive for the “Design” Category
Beauty in Design
Designing Websites for the iPhone
What makes designing for the iPhone, or the mobile platform, any different than designing for the traditional web browser? We took two key factors into account when designing the iPhone version of the Drawbackwards website:
1. Context - It’s a smartphone. Let them email and call. Make that prominent.
2. Space - The screen size is limited. […]
The Power of Ugly Visual Design
Ugly visual design has it’s place. I like it best when it’s contrasted with good design, to accentuate it’s ugliness..or to elevate what’s good. Good visual design has purpose, it’s aesthetically pleasing and is a technical blend of type, color, image, concept and layout.
You are probably already waiting to ask: but what is good and […]
Apple TV: Ultimate Interface Simplicity
Want to rent a movie? How about an interface that only shows a selection of movies and allows you to move them around, sort them and rent for immediate playback? No descriptions or buttons to get in the way until you have selected what you want..the movies themselves are the buttons. With Apple’s software upgrade […]
Strategic Outsourcing
If you need specialized legal advice you go to an expert lawyer on that specialty. When you need web design you go to a web designer or web design firm. If you need strategic thinking on a core competency not provided in-house or you need a new opinion, you outsource strategically.
Does outsourcing mean you have […]
Work Backwards
Want to reverse-engineer your success? Working backwards from your desired outcome to your starting point can be the answer to building an effective strategy.
One of your goals may be to increase sales leads through your website. To do that, you will need a few things: (1) a reason for someone to fill out a contact […]
Design Trends: Death of the Static Interface
The ways that you interact with information and services are changing quickly. Devices and websites are tailoring their design, layout and interaction for you. We are getting to a place where anything you interact with wants to take care of you and customize itself to present you with what is most useful and most relevant […]
Rules for a Successful Project
A new year is always a great time to reflect on what’s working and where we are headed. Whether building our own products and services or collaborating with clients, there are a few rules we are committed to that consistently set our projects up for success. Here’s to an incredible 2008 for you and all […]
Build Conviction
Why is our brand color red?
What is our purpose in doing this?
What is the reason this design exists?
What is our end goal?
What is the desired outcome?
Defining purpose and reason bake conviction into your design and business. It’s your reason for being, it’s the purpose for the actions you are taking. Conviction allows design ideas to […]
Get Results by Thinking Backwards
How do you get real results? How do you know where to begin? It all starts with an end goal to achieve.
US President John F. Kennedy knew how to draw backwards: he started with the desired outcome of landing a man on the moon and bringing him back safely to Earth. NASA scientists took over […]