I went to jquery.com and read information about this new javascript library. jQuery is a new way to write javascript. According to the website instead of using 20 lines of code in a DOM javascript you would be down to about ten lines of code. Web coding has always been a weak for me. I really find to be time consuming and sometimes hard to read when I haven’t been around it and want to change a website. Just by reading how jQuery works, it sounds like it is a simpler easier way to go back and make changes in the code and requires less mark up, which to me I think is amazing. I haven’t heard the cons to this new javascript library, but by reading some of the article it sounds like you can do a lot more with it. For example, lets say you want to animate your text by having it slide in or out of the paragraph without seeing it, by using two lines of code, it would be possible. (look at jQuery examples for more features)
Today I visited the site, i love typography, it showed 15 great examples of typography. There were some websites I was familiar with (The Morning News and AIGA/NY) but the other ones I have not browsed before had some great use of type. I browsed upstartblogger and I was impressed with some of the typographic elements they used. For example the journal entry dates were laid out very nicely. It was visibly clear what day of the entry was in an organized fashion, but also in a creative manner. When I look for a blog, I like clean pages that shows off the entries without the distraction of a busy background or color. I also like easy to use navigation and archives. On the upstart blogger site the archives are easy to find and easy to read.
Another site that caught my eye wasFrieze Magazine It had easy, clean navigation and I like the use of serif and san serif font for headlines and body copy. It uses a contrast of color to help visual interest and helps point out important links/headlines/events. The division is also a strong key element in the website. For example in the page, shows, it shows the show names and where you can click to get more information (on the white background) as you scroll down, you will see a nude color box that is visible on each page (includes subscribing, publications, etc). This is a excellent way to put a good amount of content on the page without it looking cluttered and keeping it organized.
There are many things that typographic elements that can do to improve a website. A designer must be aware of several items that are well displayed in the 15 great examples of typography page.
I watched a online video that showed Khoi Vinh’s presentation he did at the National Design Conference. I really enjoyed Khoi’s presentation on control in the design world. With digital design, designers do not have complete control of the piece they have created. For example users can change the size of the font, cut out information, etc. In print design, the designer has more control how the piece is shown and you can not change the context of the piece as easily seen in the digital design world.One example I thought was interesting that Khoi brought up was the print version of a book and how little you could do to render the message it brought.
Even though the users have a good amount of control in digital design, I believe design now plays a huge part of the interactive setting compared to what it has been in the past. I do believe that design also goes hand and hand with the altering of information online. If we can work with the users and the manipulation as a design element in someway, I believe the message could be even stronger then some that are in print.
I would also like to add I like the fact he talked about Myspace as a negative outlook of how design works. I absolutely agree with his point of view. I believe the computer and its components already let users have a lot of control and I believe if you give them too much control it will be too overwhelming, and millions of glittery butterflies with comic sans banners will take over the world.
