imagine. create. design.

Wow, how cool is that?! Ah…the impact of typography never ceases to amaze me…

Check out this Typographic Video by Evan Roth of The Graffiti Research Lab. “Brooklyn Go Hard” by Jay-Z, featuring Santogold.

I recently stumbled upon an excellent article on Digital Web Magazine, discussing How Environments, Real And Virtual, Influence Us. I have always believed in good, clean, simplistic design, both on the web and in my home life as well.

Yes folks, I hate clutter. Not only does it not serve any relevant purpose whatsoever, it makes things messy, takes away from valuable time and impedes organization. At home, I want to be able to find what I need in a reasonable amount of time and everything should have its own dedicated place within each room. The same concept applies to web design. A user should be able to easily find what they need online and every page should be properly organized to facilitate that.

In essence,

a cluttered website = a frustrated and unhappy user.

Needless to say, I was ecstatic to see such a creative and precise metaphor for simplistic design. The author did a fantastic job of illustrating the similarities of keeping a tidy home, to creating and maintaining a good, clean website.

And the picture was priceless…. Ah…serenity!

Anybody else interested in the “War Against Clutter?” Check out the article in its entirety, along with all the other amazing articles Digital Web Magazine has to offer. Together, we can combat messy sites.

Oh Typography, how do I love thee? If Fonts Were People…

Music can be very powerful. It can make you move, provide those wonderful nostalgic moments, intensify your workout, enhance your mood, inspire you in countless ways and there has even been speculation that music can provide a sort of “healing therapy.”

Ah…but what else can music do? Help you tap into your creativity.

Isn’t it amazing how cranking up that one particular tune can just make the work day so much better? For me, music is inspirational, puts me into that creative zone and increases productivity. My taste in music is comprised of an eclectic assortment of genres — I like just about anything.

What I’m Diggin’ Now…

Kaskade: Strobelite Seduction - I absolutely love this album; it’s truly one you can play from start to finish without skipping around. With his hypnotic house beats and the seductively smooth vocals, this album keeps me going all day long. *And yes, dancing all the while!*

Cut Copy: In Ghost Colors - Fantastic album for us 80’s junkies. Encompasses the whole “new-wave, 80’s electro” vibe we all crave so much. Somewhat like Depeche Mode, Morrissey/The Smiths all fused together with an absolutely fabulous electro twist.

Yoav: Charmed and Strange - Gotta love that indie! Great album with upbeat catchy tunes. Sort of like Jack Johnson meets Damien Rice, with a little pop/rock flavor thrown in the mix.

Thievery Corporation: The Mirror Conspiracy - Feeling ambient? Then this album’s for you. Excellent downbeat chill album with smooth beats.

New Young Pony Club: Fantastic Playroom - Yet another great blend of electro-pop with new wave flair.

Zero 7: iTunes Essentials - Oh yes, an entire album with all the best Zero 7 has to offer. Yet again, a wonderfully chill, downtempo album that even contains Sia’s enchanting song “Breathe me.”

So, what’s on your iPod?

Being a full-fledged Mac junkie, the June launch of Apple’s new iPhone absolutely intrigued me. A new handy dandy little gadget that I can get my hands on, and the hype seems to be ubiquitous. Not only a cell phone, but this multifaceted device provides internet access and your iPod tunes as well. Essentially, all your electronic needs can be met with this single fun contraption.

Apple hopes that this new device will revolutionize the phone market, just as the iPod did for mp3 players; so it appears that people are already buying into Apple’s plans by camping out awaiting to be one of the first to behold the new iPhone. And we as consumers just eat it up. As an American culture, we are never fully satisfied with the way things are — we all want our electronic toys to become smaller and even more compact than they already are, and with that we want to incessantly cram as many cool functions and features as physically possible. Yes, I am one of those guilty souls as well, but is the new iPhone craze becoming nothing more than a mindless popularity contest where the iPhone becomes a conversation piece? Are you the cool kid on the block if you are seen strutting along with your new iPhone?

Despite all this, I am still highly fascinated with the new gadget and am seriously contemplating the purchase; however, I am proceeding with caution until the craze has died. Why you ask? Here’s why…

Pros-

• VERY cool multimedia gadget!!!
• Great for business purposes, my e-mails go where I go.
• I can bring my music too? How cool is that?? All I need in one little device.

Cons-

• Only service provider is AT&T — do I really want to switch carriers? What a pain…
• The touchscreen seems cool on the surface, but will it have the same problems as the Chocolate did? Will all iPhone users mistakenly be calling the first person on their contact list due to a highly sensitive screen??
• Price, price, price. $500-$600 is a pretty hefty chunk of change to drop on a phone, considering most cell phones are typically under $200. Although, most phones don’t have all the neat features that the iPhone has…
• First generation gadget. Who know what problems might arise that will be improved and fixed by the second time the phone is released, just as with similar first generation gadgets.

Well, so there you have it. Sure, I drool at the sight and thought of owning this marvelous new toy, but I definitely approach with hesitation. Who knows, perhaps the emergence of the iPhone will mimic the VHS vs. Betamax war of the 80’s. Or I, will become the cool kid on the block….

So, after several months of designing, redesigning, playing with code, browser testing and an all around busy schedule….my site is finally up! As of today, California WebFX has finally launched! Well, “re-launched” that is… After a few months of the old version of California WebFX, I felt that the site was in dire need of a reconstructive facelift, so here it is and please enjoy! Take a look around, check it out and I always welcome feedback!

Until next time…..