Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with design

Ask the Design Hivemind

scrim — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:48:57 -0800

Does anyone have any experience with or opinions on Room and Board or CB2 as sofa merchants? Specifically, I'm interested in the Westwood sofa from Room and Board, and the Avec sofa from CB2.

For years, I heard nothing but good things about Room and Board, but recently I've seen a number of negative reviews, especially about their lower-end sofas, of which the Westwood is definitely one. Meanwhile, what I've heard about CB2 is positive, but I've heard much less.

I live too far away from a major city to actually try any of these before I buy, and I unfortunately need a new sofa pretty badly (if anyone has any tips for a different sofa of the same style that they love, I'd be glad to hear them).

Help me find a new Pixelsurgeon-ish site!

aqueousdan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:10:42 -0800

Looking for a site that aggregates sites to do with character design, typography, cute craft, flash interfaces, 3d goodness, crazy news and general cool stuff in the vein of the now defunct Pixelsurgeon. Oh how I miss Pixelsurgeon :( There were a few similar sites around at the time (around 2002 ish) that I really cannot remember but pixelsurgeon was by far the best of the lot. It pushed me to design my own stuff and I loved it for that. If such a thing doesnt exist anymore please feel free to post your own sites that fall into these categories... my current whim is cute stuff made from felt but I can feel a Zbrush modelling frenzy coming on or maybe some kind of 3d tank design :D

You own a Web Design biz, how would you advertise?

livin4u — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:02:56 -0800

You own a Web Design biz, how would you advertise? Until now it has been entirely word-of-mouth. Hey, I do Web Design and until now all business has come from word of mouth. Never did advertising for it.
What would you suggest doing to attract more clients.

Thanks for your time and input :)

Where can I find attractive powered speakers?

bryanlacksfocus — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:13:21 -0800

Does anyone know of any attractive powered speakers? Ones that look like they belong on a bookshelf and not next to a PC? I'm looking for speakers to put in my living room that I would beam music to through an Airport Express. It could be one speaker or a pair, but they should be powered and stand-alone—I don't have room for a "system" with a separate amplifier. I don't need a radio, CD player, or iPod dock—just a power switch, a volume knob, and one audio input jack. The only powered speakers I'm finding are designed for use with a computer and are, in my opinion, unforgivably ugly—at least for use outside a computer workstation. I'm hoping to find something simple and modern with straight, clean lines—possibly a cousin to this Tivoli or this GenevaSound radio or the wooden-cased (non-powered) speakers our parents had in the 70s.

With everyone doing so much from their computers these days, it seems like these ought to exist! Have you come across any? Any ideas are appreciated!

Need recommendation on FLASH program

hellodonna — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 08:42:23 -0800

I am looking for a program that will easily allow me to create a Flash banner. All I want is to create a banner that has about 4 images fading in and out and some animated text over top. I should think this would be super easy but I am trying to find a software program to do it and I am coming up with either stuff that's way too complex or software that can't do it. Do you know of any program that would help me? (It doesn't need to be free, I can spend up to 100 USD on it).

"Straitjackets help me think"?

suedehead — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 02:54:35 -0800

Is there a quote by an architect or designer about how the constraints make the project? I'm looking for a quote by an architect or designer about how the constraints are helpful, rather than harmful, to the creative process. I know it's a common thought, but I'm looking for an actual quote by an actual person. Thanks!

What would I do without you guys, really?

Bageena — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:31:30 -0800

My friends and I are starting an artist collective in Phoenix, Arizona and we desperately need help thinking of a name. Can you help? Short explanation; I myself am an artist with, you know, the paper and the pencil and occasionally, some ink or acrylic or something. I have three friends that are photographers, another friend who's a painter, two friends who are musicians, and a few others who might also join. What we've decided we'd like to do is start a community blog where we all write individually what we're doing to try and break into the mainstream or just get our work seen. The main site will show all of our posts, broken down by individual members, along with a sort of swarm cloud that shows how often each artist works with the others.
Anyways, we've got a ton of great ideas already and we're excited to get a move on it, but we're stuck at what seems to be the first effing step! We need a name for our little community. We don't have a lot in common except that we all work normal 9-5 jobs outside of our passions for our individual work, we are all artists of one sort or another, and we all live in Phoenix, Arizona. I'm trying to think of names that are reminiscent of the desert or of Phoenix. I sort of like the idea of something ancient and awesome sounding. Really though, we're open to anything. I'd list the links to our websites so you could actually see our styles and who we 'are', so to speak, but I think that'd be a little too self-linky for me. So yeah - if your really that curious, you can look in my bio and I think there's a link there to my personal work.
So yes, I leave it once again to the most clever people I know to help me hop a hurdle in my life. Thanks Mefites!

Slideshow like a pro!

milkdropcoronet — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:06:50 -0800

Multimedia Journalism Filter: How do you make a New York Times-style photo slideshow? Is there an easy way to make photo essays? I like the simplicity of the NYT slideshows (see example here): they keep it simple with just a photo and a short caption against a black background.

I've Googled a few programs but many of them don't have the storytelling aspect that the NYT design does (clear navigation options, the ability to add text/narrative). Photo programs like iPhoto or Flickr don't have the caption option (that I've seen). And of course a free program is preferred. I'm no web whiz, so minimal technical know-how also preferred (i.e. no plug-ins or coding please)

If anyone's had success making narrative photo essays (image + text) let me know what programs you recommend! Many thanks.

PS The NYT has a "Teaching and Learning About Journalism" education section online, but I couldn't find any technical/production information.

How do I get my graphics to look like this?

geoff. — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:46:50 -0800

How do I make pretty lines like Style.org's The Strouhal Number in Cruising Flight. The lines themselves, like the oscillating flight path and the angled lines in "Amplitude perpendicular to the angle of attack" seem just perfect. Is there a good workflow or template to recreate this in Illustrator or Photoshop? I'm more familiar with Photoshop, but whenever I try to use the line tool, my lines come out all crazy. There doesn't seem to be a way to enforce the mathematical precision the Style.org's line get.

The NYT does this all the time, and they can't be going from mathematica -> illustrator for everything. There must be a toolkit or library of pre-made Tufte objects.

Specifically I'm trying to map some workflows and the content is abstract and more comparable to the NYT graphic than the bird in flight.

Stop my tee's from cracking up!

Thrillhouse — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:10:30 -0800

How do keep the design on my tee shirts from cracking over time? I have several tee's with designs on them. Some flat designs, some are raised ink (or whatever) where you can feel the texture of the design on the shirt. All of them begin to crack and some of them start peeling after just a few weeks or months. How do I keep this from happening? I want my tee's to look good longer, not like they're falling apart because the design is wearing out before the shirt does.

Where can I find funky, fascinating wallpaper for my apartment?

chinese_fashion — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:58:00 -0800

Where can I find funky, fascinating wallpaper for my apartment? I just moved into a new apartment, and I'm really excited to deck it out. I'm looking for cool, fascinating wallpaper for one accent wall. I don't mind paying a bit for it - if I have to look at it every single day, I want to love it.

My tastes tend towards the baroque, ornate, somewhat psychedelic even. I've seen stuff here and here that I really liked. This and this also are in line with my tastes, though I don't want the place to bee too much of a kitschy horrorshow. Quirky for the sake of quirky wears thin pretty quick.

I'm discovering that this is much more of a process -- a lot of web images can't really replicate the look and feel of actual samples, so I'm looking for more to choose from.

Do any of you have any suggestions for places to look?

Thanks so much ...

Is it common for corporate websites to have targeted, orphan pages when no other capabilities exist?

stormpooper — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:01:07 -0800

Is it common (or even good practice) to use a corporate website to post targeted orphan pages because there isn't another solution? Ready to scream. We treat our public facing, corporate site like junk. Our IT capabilities and platforms can't give us what we need or our password protected, internal site is such a @#$# that no one wants to use it. So they use our 3rd party hosted site to post everything and their brother with the excuse of "well we don't have options".

For example, they want to post a Flash Xmas card on the site as an orphan page. They say they can't do it as an ecard since we don't have a service (or that's their excuse). They can't use the internal site for some weird reason--I'm guessing they don't want to send a link and have someone type in their password to see it.

Where I came from (web agencies and a major credit card company), this was unheard of. Either you have the capabilities or you figure out another way. Our site gets 99% negative feedback from users. We can't get a redesign done since senior management doesn't get it. And this site is always "hey just post an orphan page" because they hate IT.

My manager says her company (small assoc) did this all the time. I worked on top brand sites (even if they were crappy) and we didn't do this.

Any good resources where I can show her that she's wrong? Her argument is if they don't have capabilities and it's temporary, who cares? My argument is "sure, keep degrading the site in the name of we can't upgrade our capabilities."

Can I hire someone to create a Paper Source-like image?

semacd — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:00:10 -0800

I want to copy the Paper Source feel for my wedding font and motif. How can I do that? A few related questions here. #1. I like the font the Paper Source uses in their own ads and informational materials. Can anyone suggest where I could download a similar font? (Bonus points for free.) I've been searching but don't even really know what category of fonts that would fall under. #2. I want to pay an artist to make me a custom motif that has the feel of the paper source dragonfly (but ours would be a totally different image) in the sense that it looks sort of rough and imperfect like a stamp or maybe a woodcutting. I want to be able to use that little custom motif on my invitations, program, website, welcome packet, etc. So (a) where should I advertise for that project and (b) how much should I pay and (c) how should I describe it? I already hired one graphic artist but he has been creating pretty/cutesy obviously computer-generated motifs that remind me of clipart and it's really not the look I'm after.

Whats with this poster?

breadfruit — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:32:49 -0800

Why are film posters longer than they are wide? This seems like a fairly universal rule thats rarely broken.

Film itself is wider than long which adds to the confusion.

Help.

Quark Problems

aburd — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:58:21 -0800

My mom is a graphic designer and uses Quark. She just switched from a PowerPC based Macbook Pro to an Intel based MacBook Pro. Using the new Macbook Pro, she can't seem to open the Quark files she created using the old MacBook pro. It produces an error saying something about the processor. Is there a nice program for converting such files? I don't know much about Quark or design software but please let me know if I am skipping some obvious detail. I want to get her this software for Christmas so I can't be too obvious but I can probably get some details out of her without being too obvious.

What do you think of "Words Like Notes"?

jlhopes — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:08:32 -0800

I have tentatively given my freelance editing and design business the name Words Like Notes. What do you think of it? I am creating a name and website for my freelance editing and print layout/design business. I would like to have a name that is not just my name, but which covers the different types of work I do (editing, writing, layout, and some translation) and gives a sense of the style I aim for - light and refined, yet professional.

The name I have been going with is Words Like Notes. I like the sound of it, but I realize that it is not a straightforward name, and I'm concerned that it will just confuse people.

What is your reaction to the name? Does it convey anything? Does it turn you off? Do you have any suggestions regarding how to use the name, or modify it, or replace it altogether? Thanks!

Printer for fashion company

ChloeMills — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:35:20 -0800

Need help figuring out best option for a printer for a fashion company. We currently use the basic Epson Large Format printers that cost between $300 - $500. However we keep having to replace them every year or so. I guess they have sponges that fill up and then you need get them professionally replaced.

I know at past companies we had one with replaceable sponges. However those seem to cost a lot more. How long are those meant to last. Does anyone have good suggestions for ones to use.

I'd say on average we print 30 pages a day, but during busy times it could be more than 100.

I don't know if laser, inkjet or dye printer is best.
We mostly printer on Matte Photo paper, plain copy paper and occasionally card stock. We rarely if ever print on Glossy photo paper.

Important factors for us:
-Longevity. It needs to last long a long time. It's a long and frustrating process when we have to buy new printers because we have to rematch all our color standards which takes a long time.
-Wide range of color. It's important that we can get a pretty wide range of color to match our fabric color standards.
-Color consistency is very important for the same reasons
-Cost - in the past we spent $400 on printers - so I have to show that a more expensive printer will be cost efficient.
-Switching paper - ease. We are constantly switching the size and type of paper we use. So that has to be fairly easy.

Any pointers, suggestions are greatly appreciated. I really don't know what our best option would be!

Sorry, no matches for the tag graphic design books across MetaFilter‽

Mr. Anthropomorphism — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:19:17 -0800

What are the essential books on the topic of the objective qualities of effective graphic design? I am particularly interested in web design, but anything that pertains to the underlying principles of design and the interplay of aesthetics and content would, I think, benefit me.

I'm not so much after a gallery of "wow, look how easy this is for the masters" but more of a manual that bears re-reading and referencing.

I don't have a mint to spend, but if I could maybe have at least one each regarding layout, color, and typography, I think I would benefit hugely.

Seeking clicking mechanism or design...

pallen123 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:21:02 -0800

What kind of small toys or devices click when you rotate them forwards and backwards? Seeking mechanism or design... I’m trying to help a friend design a small toy and she needs a mechanism that will click in very small increments as she rotates a small (1 inch diameter) dial that turns 360 degrees on its axis. She needs the dial to click precisely as it turns clockwise and counterclockwise in smallish increments. I was thinking a fishing reel mechanism might work, but that just allows turning in one direction. Then I thought a ratchet wrench mechanism might work, but that also turns in just one direction (and I’m not sure how the inside of a ratchet wrench works either). Can anyone think of existing toys or devices that have a clicking mechanism that freely rotate? Novel solutions? Suggestions? Thank you!

Brand me

b33j — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:37:49 -0800

What is that I'm doing? Tag my business. I’ve been working freelance for a couple of years while I finished my degree doing a variety of tasks for academics (4 or 5) who work in the field of Education. Some of the things I’ve done have been to create logos for various groups, diagrams and illustrations for lesson plans and books, some photography,animations, presentations, formatting of material for publishing, transcription, managing an international journal and formatting it, creating databases and entering all the data, as well as analysing it (lightly – I’m no expert in statistics) and producing all graphs and reports.

Now that I’ve finished my degree, I want to increase my clientele. I think I can make a go of this because I turned over around $30K at about 14 hours a week. I have a domain which is my own name and the word design. I hope to launch my website (with a blog -thanks metafilter for earlier advice) in January. I’m working on a design for my business card. My current clients will probably forward my details onto their mailing groups if I ask them – I just need one last thing. What do I do and what’s a good tag line? I would have thought “academic support” except that that phrase tends to mean helping students to survive university. I tested the tagline “the whole package” on one of my current clients, and she was aghast, but couldn’t exactly say why.

So, to summarise my business card, for example...

b33jdesign
~~Academic Support~~ (?)
~~The whole package~~ (?)
w: www.b33jdesign.com
e: jr@b33jdesign.com
p: xxx xxxx xxx

Related

Need recommendations on automated checkout and download

arniec — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:38:25 -0800

I need recommendations for a web host and software to allow people to purchase digital downloads using Paypal, etc. (think Rifftrax or eBooks, etc.) I want to have a web site where I can make electronic things available for purchase. Be it software packages, MP3 podcasts, or eBooks, I want to have an automated checkout and download system where people can pay and then immediately download the item they've paid for. Credit card purchasing is a must.

In my research I've come across DigiVendor Pro at http://www.idevspot.com/DigiVendorPro.php and the software is very cheap (in price), and security and reliability is a must for me so I'm not afraid to spend more if it means a more robust, secure solution.

Has anyone done this and can they recommend a good package for me?

(as an aside, I'm a programmer and web developer not afraid to get up to my elbows in code to implement or customize the solution. And yes I asked this question: http://ask.metafilter.com/120735/Need-a-store-thats-quick-and-cheap but this one is different as it's digital download automation, whereas the last one was shipping a physical product).

How to game my Google search results?

citron — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:59:42 -0800

What are some good IT-related, or editorial-related, blogs and sites on which to comment, so that if my name is Googled by potential employers, these comments will show in the search rankings? I'm not trying to get my name out there, what I'm trying to do is: kick some old and irrelevant Google search results down, so that relevant and current interests show up first. I'm doing copy editing work at the moment and have some background in web development, though my skills are not as sharp as they should be, and I'm trying to learn more. Ideally, early next year, I'd be searching for a job that requires more web editing and/or development.

But in today's job search process I'm well aware that potential employers will Google me, and while my social media profiles are professional and fine, I don't have much else that shows aside from a few arts section reviews I wrote for a college journal, years ago. They're not the worst thing in the world, but way too snarky, so I don't like them now and they probably don't present me in the best light. I'm embarrassed of the attitude I've had in the past, basically.

What are some sites I should be reading and commenting on now, just for talking shop? I need sites that would 1) be useful places to comment and ask questions about web development and design processes, user experience, social media, web editing and where I could comment under my own name, where comments are Google indexed & thus show up if someone Googles me? For instance, I used to read A List Apart religiously, but I am out of touch, the web moves so fast! There must be more sites to recommend like this. Thanks!

How to create online video classes?

jabo — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:36:36 -0800

I need advice in setting up secure, online video classes. A student would pay for the class, and then be directed to a streaming video that they would be able to watch (not download) for a length of time (say a week).

I could use any advice, resources, warnings or general musings on how to accomplish this. Existing software or hosting solutions also welcome. I know html and css but only just getting my little toenail wet with php. Finally, this would be for a small business with limited resources (i.e. cash).

Magratheans, anyone?

The otter lady — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:06:41 -0800

How do I discover what day/night and seasonal cycles are like on a hypothetical unusual planet? I would like to be able to find out how, given, say, an earth-sized globe, with, say, two suns, and four moons, and a retrograde orbit.... or, wait, suppose my world is flat, like Terry Pratchett's Discworld; how fast does a miniature sun have to orbit to give the impression of normal daytime? What if the world is a cube; what does sunrise look like? What if the world is like a ball where the top half spins clockwise and the bottom half spins in the opposite direction; how do days and nights appear? What about if our Earth spun around the east-west axis instead of around the North/south one? What about a Dyson sphere, or a ringworld like the one in Halo? Spinning or stable? How long is a day, a year, a season? What's the climate like? Etc.!!

I'm not so much interested in the physics of how such a thing could exist, as how it would appear to people living on it. Obviously a lot of magic or fudging could be involved, but if there's something cool like "night only comes once every hundred years" or "a day is about an hour long, so the sun seems to whip across the sky like a comet" I would like to know it.

Is there a computer simulation program that could maybe help with this, or perhaps a well-written book that could make some of this understandable to the layman? Ideally I would have a pet mad scientist whom I could say, “Design me a planet that's shaped like a donut and tell me how it works!”... any volunteers?

Bought a piece of land, about the build a house. Have some questions.

willy_dilly — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:53:56 -0800

Bought a piece of land, about the design a house. Have some questions regarding materials. I just bought a piece of land and is looking into doing a rough design of my own house with simple 3D software (probably Google Sketchup) and then handing it to an actual architect to plan out the more technical stuff. I always see in magazines of cabinets, wall panels, beams, and various parts of the interior/exterior with very unique wood finishing. What is a good place to source affordable, high quality wood to use as building materials? Same thing with metal and concrete. I want my home to have a mix of metal, concrete, and wood. What is a good place to source affordable and high quality building materials? Also, weather here is pretty hot and humid, anything I should watch out for in terms of choosing materials?