Monday, 20 May 2013

My 10/10 website

If I knew how to write code, I would be designing websites just like this one:

http://www.numero10.ch/fr/home/



I really like how this site moves. I like the layered effect of the actual movemnt. The style of the graphics definately adds to the experience. The typography used is in keeping with the site, it is all just brilliant.

Note: This is not as impressive as it should be, if you are viewing it via a hand-held device like an iPhone or iPad. For maximum viewing pleasure please view this website on a desktop or laptop computer.

I do absolutely love this website. 10/10

Sunday, 19 May 2013

Single Page Websites

From my research I am discovereing that there seems to be a trend to having website, which fit onto a long single continus page. The navigation works as normal, but it simple "jumps" to an anchor point on the same page. I will investigate if this design layout is for me.

Sample Sites using the single page layout:

Wit Creative


CSS Piffle

IndoFolio


After investigating this style of website, I found that I wasn't really comfortable designing and building one long HTML webpage. I still like the multipage website layout. So I am not going to be building a single page website for this project. But I think I will want to build one in the future, I just need to find the right sort of web site for this type of design.

Links:

One Page Love
http://onepagelove.com/
Creative Techniques for Single-Page Websites,
http://webdesignledger.com/tips/creative-techniques-for-single-page-websites

21 Inspiring Single Page Websites | Inspiration
http://webdesignledger.com/inspiration/21-inspiring-single-page-websites

50 Creative and Inspirational Single Page Websites
http://www.onextrapixel.com/2012/12/13/50-creative-and-inspirational-single-page-websites/

Best Single Page Websites
http://www.awwwards.com/websites/single-page/

Saturday, 18 May 2013

Website Colour - If I want to add some

I had better make a quick post about website colour. I have just mentioned 3 white sites, but if wanted to design with colour in mind. I would definitely use the following two websites for referencing, and inspiration.

I am sure there are more websites out there to help in colour theory, but these two sites would be my first visits.

1. Adobe Kuler: https://kuler.adobe.com/‎



Sample Screen Shot
Source: http://i.imgur.com/ipWtR.png


2. Color Scheme Designer 3: http://colorschemedesigner.com/





Sample Screen Shot
Source: http://0.tqn.com/d/create/1/0/g/3/A/-/Color-Scheme-Designer-3---Google-Chrome-2011-04-12-11-54-15.png



Friday, 17 May 2013

The 3 White Sites

Today I was given 3 URLs form a fellow class-mate. They are websites from 3 Different artists. They all seem to have the same "white" website look. I am naming this blog post the "The 3 White Sites".

Site 1: http://motherbird.com.au/
Site 2: http://afom.com.au/
Site 3: http://olegdou.com/

These sites all function perfectly, and due to their "clutter free" interface, they definately place emphasis on the content within the site, which is good thing.

I am beginning to accpet the fact the designing trend for websites in 2013. I'm still not LOVING it, but I am accpeting it.

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Shopping Cart - I need one for my website

It is obvious, that if I need to sell things from my website, that I need a shopping cart. The shopping cart I need for my website needs to handle digital content, and deliver them to the customer in an instant manner. I am not interested in emailing them myself, at a time after the customer has purchased them. I would like the customer to be "instantly gratified" with an automatic download, upon successful completion of the transaction.

But how do I add a shopping cart to my website?

After some research, I think I will be using e-Junkie as my shopping cart. The reason is, that e-Junkie has no setup fees, no transaction fees, and no bandwidth fees, they are also compatible with Paypal, which I am huge fan of.

I would also like to host my digital content on the shopping carts web servers, just as a form of security. I am a little fearful of being "hacked" and having customer details and my content stolen. I would rather use a more secure server than what I would be using to host my site.

Note: I am assuming that the shopping cart site would have very high security. Hmm..maybe I shouldn't make this assumption.

Here are just some of e-Junkie's features, which I really like (you can find out more features on e-Junkies website):
  • No pop-ups! Works "inside" your own page.
  • No scripts to install! Just paste our simple HTML button code.
  • Supports discount/coupon codes.
  • Works on all browsers and on iPhone.
E-Junkie 

 Links:

Shopping Cart Software Review 2013
http://shopping-cart-review.toptenreviews.com/

Shopping cart —PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/shopping-cart

18 Great Shopping Carts to Power Your Online Store
http://www.sitepoint.com/shopping-cart-solutions/

35+ Online Shopping Cart Solutions for Your Business
http://mashable.com/2008/10/08/shopping-cart-solutions/

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Basic Ready-to-Use CSS Styles

Here is just another quick little link I found today, which want to include in my blog.


Basic Ready-to-Use CSS Styles: http://tympanus.net/Tutorials/BasicReadyToUseCSSStyles/

Monday, 13 May 2013

CSS Trickery - Actually just some cool CSS

In my recent research phase into Image sliders, I uncovered a world of CSS tips and tricks. I want to document these CSS tricks/tips, for my reference just in case I want to use them in my website.

Links to the CSS trickery that I like



http://tympanus.net/Tutorials/ElasticSlideshow/index.html - I might be able to use this as my navigation.



http://tympanus.net/Tutorials/BlurMenu/index5.html - Oh I REALLY like this one. - Blur Menu.


Sunday, 12 May 2013

Image Sliders

Today I am looking at image sliders.

Some use Javascript, others use CSS only.

The CSS only image sliders, initially appear to be the easiest to use and I have looked into this a little more.

The major problem, that I have found with the CSS code for the slider, is that the back-button on the browser does not instantly go back to the previous page, but instead goes back to the previous image of the image slide. This is not a good thing, especially if you have viewed many images, and the the back button then appears not to work.

A few solutions to this, is to "navigate" away from this page using a navigation system, rather than the back button.

Some Image Sliders - CSS Only


http://tympanus.net/Tutorials/CSS3Lightbox/index.html

http://tympanus.net/Tutorials/CSS3FullscreenSlideshow/index4.html - A CSS-only slideshow for background images

http://tympanus.net/Tutorials/CircleNavigationEffect/ - Nice. I can see myself using this one.


Some Image Sliders - JScript etc

http://tympanus.net/Tutorials/ItemBlur/  - uses CSS and JQuery. I like this for a navigation system.

Tuesday, 7 May 2013

This is my Style of website - Is it dated?

I am looking at the new trend of websites, and I am not feeling the love. I am also looking at websites where I do feel the love, but they seem to be dated.

Here are some images of the websites I like. They seem to grungy and/or quirky

Note: The links may be broken, as these websites maybe out of date.






Note: Here is a link to an online tutorial to the kind of website style i like: http://psd-files.com/blog/how-to-create-a-vintage-photoshop-file/

Here are some images of the websites which are more modern - 2013 style. Not liking these very much.




Build-Windows

Hmm...I think I need to compromise.

This might be a compromise:


Creative Mass” a Stunning One-Paged Website Template (PSD)
http://inspiredcore.com/freebie-creative-mass-a-stunning-one-paged-website-template-psd

This is a template, but I do like the look of it. It definately is not grungy like the "older" websites I like. I am a little bit unsure which way to go. I may even decide to just go with the current trend and simply accept the fact that this is how websites are being designed these days.

Note: http://inspiredcore.com/ - The actual Inspired Core website is kind of cool too. It is white though.


Links:

10 Web Design Trends for 2013
http://www.awwwards.com/10-web-design-trends-for-2013.html

35 Modern Metro Style Designs For Inspiration
http://www.101webdesigns.com/2013/03/metro-style-designs/
Colour trends in web design for 2013

15 Web Design Trends for 2013
http://www.slideshare.net/davidleeking/15-web-design-trends-for-2013