20 Useful & Nicely Designed Web Applications
My Clippings November 3rd, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
We need to be inspired to be in style. All of us are looking to give the website the edge to make it one in a million. We look for the style that allows the website to speak for itself, because a picture is tantamount to a million words. Last but not the least, it is always the first impression that leaves a touch; sometimes it might even metamorph in to first love.
Here we have showing you the top 20 designs that have inspired us; we are sharing the web app designs that have made the difference; we have been eclectic with an esoteric collection.
1) Reinvigorate
A tool to track real time traffic to your web with many features including heat sensing
2) Moodstream
A powerful tool to find you the images, footage or audio you are looking for.
3) Mailchimp
A powerful tools to manage your subscribers list, design HTML email campaigns and track and analyze email campaigns.
4) Blinksale
A very useful and easy to use tool to build and track invoices
5) GoodBarry
A complete tool for ecommerce, email marketing, CRM and analatycs
6) Wufoo
A must have, HTML form builder tool
7) Campaign monitor
Everything a designer needs to manage the subscriber emails
8 ) Kontain
A social media platform to promote your brand
9) Active collab
A powerful project management and collaboration tool
10) Proworkflow
A tool to manage your projects online
11) Aviary
A tool to create logos, webtemplates, filters and more .
12) Basecamp
A webbased project collaboration tool
13) Kuler
Explore, create and share color themes here
14) Emberapp
Best way to share your design inspiration with the world using emberapp
15) Freshbooks
Fastest way to track time and invoice your clients
16) Carbonmade
Easy way to display and manage your portfolio online
17) Notable
Easiest way for teams to provide feedback on websites
18) Evernote
Save your ideas and things you like for free on your desktop
19) Hotelmap
Get connected to each London hotel’s own reservation system
Related posts:
Tags: Build, cli, css, email, Google, Guideline, IO, ma, man, Photo, way, XP
20 Useful & Nicely Designed Web Applications
My Clippings November 2nd, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
We need to be inspired to be in style. All of us are looking to give the website the edge to make it one in a million. We look for the style that allows the website to speak for itself, because a picture is tantamount to a million words. Last but not the least, it is always the first impression that leaves a touch; sometimes it might even metamorph in to first love.
Here we have showing you the top 20 designs that have inspired us; we are sharing the web app designs that have made the difference; we have been eclectic with an esoteric collection.
1) Reinvigorate
A tool to track real time traffic to your web with many features including heat sensing
2) Moodstream
A powerful tool to find you the images, footage or audio you are looking for.
3) Mailchimp
A powerful tools to manage your subscribers list, design HTML email campaigns and track and analyze email campaigns.
4) Blinksale
A very useful and easy to use tool to build and track invoices
5) GoodBarry
A complete tool for ecommerce, email marketing, CRM and analatycs
6) Wufoo
A must have, HTML form builder tool
7) Campaign monitor
Everything a designer needs to manage the subscriber emails
8 ) Kontain
A social media platform to promote your brand
9) Active collab
A powerful project management and collaboration tool
10) Proworkflow
A tool to manage your projects online
11) Aviary
A tool to create logos, webtemplates, filters and more .
12) Basecamp
A webbased project collaboration tool
13) Kuler
Explore, create and share color themes here
14) Emberapp
Best way to share your design inspiration with the world using emberapp
15) Freshbooks
Fastest way to track time and invoice your clients
16) Carbonmade
Easy way to display and manage your portfolio online
17) Notable
Easiest way for teams to provide feedback on websites
18) Evernote
Save your ideas and things you like for free on your desktop
19) Hotelmap
Get connected to each London hotel’s own reservation system
Related posts:Tags: Build, cli, css, email, Google, Guideline, IO, ma, man, Photo, way, XP
Showcase of Designs Optimized for iPhone
My Clippings September 27th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
   
|
Over the last couple of years, mobile devices have managed to gain mainstream popularity. With iPhone, making mobile Web applications finally usable by broad masses, web design can now be applied to mobile applications as well. In this post we are focusing on designs that are specifically optimized for mobile devices, in particular iPhone.
Though iPhone’s Safari browser is able to render any website just like you would see it on a desktop browser, the available screen area is much smaller than in common “classic” displays. This poses a new challenge for designers and developers who now can reach millions of users that use mobile Web. Websites that are specifically optimized for the iPhone utilize the screen to the fullest extent, and use less bandwidth (which is necessary, because the connectivity is not always optimal).
The iPhone browsing experience is quite different than the regular browsing experience. The buttons and hyperlinks have to be bigger because our fingers are not as sharp as the mouse pointer. Optimizing a website for iPhone is not rocket science. It’s the same HTML, CSS and JavaScript that you already know. The only major difference is the screen size.
In the showcase below we present some of the interesting, interactive and beautiful designs that are optimized for the iPhone. You will also learn about some handy tools that will help you optimize your website for the iPhone.
Also consider our previous articles:
- How to Create Your First iPhone Application
- iPhone Apps Design Mistakes: Over-Blown Visuals
- 100 (Really) Beautiful iPhone Wallpapers
1. News / Entertainment
Sevnth Sin
The unique navigation makes this site very interactive. Nice concept, nice colors.
Blip.tv
Perfectly suits the theme: video entertainment! Clean and clear typography.
NBC
The YouTube-style design makes it very easy to navigate and find shows.
Zinio
That’s a kit of magazines, all one-touch away!
Spin The Bottle
A simple bottle spinning game. Good use of graphics.
Daily Wallpaper
Similar to Zinio, but 2 thumbnails in a row make it more easy to navigate around.
AOL Horoscopes
Very well designed for a horoscope site. Matching color scheme throughout.
Related posts:
Tags: Apple, Build, css, Food, Google, Guideline, Information, IO, ISO, Javascript, ma, man, Photo, php, quick, script, Shopping, video, Wallpaper, way, WordPress, XP
10 Useful Usability Findings and Guidelines
My Clippings September 26th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
   
|
Everyone would agree that usability is an important aspect of Web design. Whether you’re working on a portfolio website, online store or Web app, making your pages easy and enjoyable for your visitors to use is key. Many studies have been done over the years on various aspects of Web and interface design, and the findings are valuable in helping us improve our work. Here are 10 useful usability findings and guidelines that may help you improve the user experience on your websites.
Form Labels Work Best Above The Field
A study by UX Matters found that the ideal position for labels in forms is above the fields. On many forms, labels are put to the left of the fields, creating a two-column layout; while this looks good, it’s not the easiest layout to use. Why is that? Because forms are generally vertically oriented; i.e. users fill the form from top to bottom. Users scan the form downwards as they go along. And following the label to the field below is easier than finding the field to the right of the label.
Tumblr features a simple and elegant sign-up form that adheres to UX Matter’s recommendation.
Positioning labels on the left also poses another problem: do you left-align or right-align the labels? Left-aligning makes the form scannable but disconnects the labels from the fields, making it difficult to see which label applies to which field. Right-aligning does the reverses: it makes for a good-looking but less scannable form. Labels above fields work best in most circumstances. The study also found that labels should not be bold, although this recommendation is not conclusive.
Users Focus On Faces
People instinctively notice other people right away when they come into view. On Web pages, we tend to focus on people’s faces and eyes, which gives marketers a good technique for attracting attention. But our attraction to people’s faces and eyes is only the beginning; it turns out we actually glance in the direction the person in the image is looking in.
Eye-tracking heat map of a baby looking directly at us, from the UsableWorld study.
And now the baby is looking at the content. Notice the increase in people looking at the headline and text.
Tags: advertising, Apple, Build, cli, email, flash, Google, Guideline, Information, IO, ma, man, Microsoft, nano, php, quick, Shopping, video, way, XP
Back-to-School With 40 Excellent Adobe Illustrator Tutorials
My Clippings September 23rd, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from Google Starred
   
|
Learning is a process which continues throughout the life of an artist, graphic designer, and illustrator. Along the way, designers find the task of mastering Adobe Illustrator a large obstacle which requires practice and experience in using the vector-based application. Practice comes in the form of tutorials, which offer tips, tricks, and artistic styles from other designers who have mastered certain techniques based on their experience.
From these tutorials, a designer can polish their skillsets on a variety of topics which will strengthen their own artwork. Sometimes a simple tutorial has tips which may have been overlooked based on the subject of the tutorial. By looking past the subjects of the tutorials, an endless array of learning opportunities exist. Essentially, the tutorials become not only a teacher but a “class” which a designer can repeat as often as necessary to refine their skills.
This post presents 40 excellent simple to complex Illustrator tutorials and presents the overall techniques of each tutorial, summarized in a brief overview. The purpose is to pick and choose among the tutorials based on the areas that need improvment. Whether a seasoned professional or a designer just starting out, these Illustrator tutorials offer a way to brush up on one’s skills.
Illustrator Tutorials
Gradient Mesh Bell Pepper Tutorial
- Use multiple smaller Meshes to create a realistic object
- Learn to use the Eyedropper Tool (I) to sample colors from a reference photo
How to create a Television Icon
- Using Offset Path on an object
- Learn to use Gradients to create surface texture and depth
- Create a reflection using an Opacity Mask
Working with 3D Objects and Transparencies to Make a Vector Cola Bottle Design
- Learn to “cut” up an image in Pathfinder and use the pieces in 3D Revolve to create solid objects
- Map art (symbols) onto a 3D object
Create a Stylish Colorful Text Effect in Illustrator
- Learn to use Offset Stroke on text
- Apply a Pattern Swatch to text
Illustrate a Malevolent Skull in 8 Steps
- Working with a sketch and outlining with the Pen Tool (P)
- Use Outline/Preview modes during design process
- How to use the Reflect Tool (O) to save time
Tags: Google, Guideline, IO, ISO, OSX, Photo, php, video, Vista, way, wind, WordPress, XP
How to Create Your First iPhone Application
My Clippings August 11th, 2009 by System
Automatically pulled from My Clippings on NewsGator Online
  
|
What if you had a nickle for every time you heard: "I have the perfect idea for a great application!"? It’s the buzz on the street. The iPhone has created unprecedented excitement and innovation from people both inside and outside the software development community. Still for those outside the development world, the process is a bit of a mystery.
This how-to guide is supposed to walk you through the steps to make your idea for an iPhone app a reality. This post presents various ideas, techniques, tips, and resources that may come in handy if you are planning on creating your first iPhone application.
We also discuss UI design and marketing techniques in our upcoming Smashing Book ($23.90 $29.90, available worldwide). Pre-order now and save 20% off the price!
1. Have an idea – a Good Idea
How do you know if your idea is a good one? The first step is to even care if your idea is solid; and the second step is to answer the question does it have at least one of the indicators of success?
 |
Does your app solve a unique problem? Before the light bulb was invented, somebody had to shout out “Man, reading by candlelight sucks!” Figure out what sucks, and how your app can make the life of its user more comfortable. |
 |
Does the app serve a specific niche? Though there aren’t any stats on the App Store search, the usage of applications is certainly growing with the explosion of App Store inventory. Find a niche with ardent fans (pet lovers, for example) and create an app that caters to a specific audience. |
 |
Does it make people laugh? This is a no-brainer. If you can come up with something funny, you are definitely on the right track and your idea may be the golden one. Heck, I hit a red “do not press” button for 5 minutes yesterday. |
 |
Are you building a better wheel? Are there existing successful apps that lack significant feature enhancements? Don’t be satisfied with just a wine list, give sommeliers a way to talk to their fans! |
 |
Will the app be highly interactive? Let’s face it, most of us have the attention span of a flea. Successful games and utilities engage the user by requiring action! |
Tags: Apple, Build, Funny, Google, Guideline, Information, IO, Mac, mailto, Photo, php, video, way, XP
