I’ve just returned from Seattle where I met with 6 other bloggers and Getty Images, the world’s largest stock photography company. It was my first opportunity like this since launching my blog in January. Describing the guest list as “humbling” would be an understatement.

Robert Scoble - PodTech.net, Buzz Bruggeman - Buzznovations, Marshall Kirkpatrick - TechCrunch, Thomas Hawk - Thomas Hawk’s Digital Connection, Kristopher Tate - Zooomr and Latthanapon “Ponzi” Indharasophang - Lockergnome

A huge “thank you” to Getty Images and Edelman PR for including me.

It was awesome.

From the schedule, I’d expected to be spending some real time with my sleeves rolled up, checking out some of the exciting initiatives Getty currently has under development. The day turned out to be a little more “press-junkety” and a little less “hands on testing” than I’d anticipated. Getting to provide feedback at this level to a company whose… ...(more)

Congratulations to Web Superhero - Veerle Pieters and the other winners of the ExpressionEngine Shootout! (I am SUCH a giant Fanclub!)

If you’re thinking of designing your own site, you must check out this post on her recent blog redesign. I think we can all agree, no one saw this coming. Unbelievable talent!!!

I’m also completely stunned (and proud) to have made the top ten. I need to thank friend and web developer Anna Brown who taught me everything I know about EE, and who contributed in some capacity to 2 sites among the top 30 Shootout winners.

Download the ExpressionEngine Core now for FREE!

It’s official. I’m a designer who blogs. No, really. Check it out here.

Cat Morley (founder of Katz-i International Web & Graphic Design) maintains the most comprehensive list of people who share my particular disorder. Cat’s site is a clearing house for fabulous content about design, creativity, life as a freelancer, CSS, web standards, accessibility and new media.

I’ve already ordered my copy of CSS Mastery, and am gearing up to climb Mt. XML. If you’re interested in learning how to make the internet better, you should be reading these blogs:

Cameron Moll | Authentic Boredom
Author, new media specialist and CSS mogul.

Jason Santa Maria
Designer, writer, photographer, soldier of fortune and CSS guru.

Jeffery Zeldman
Design, usability and standards samurai.

...(more)

Boris Artzybasheff’s Jan 10, 1964 Time magazine cover featuring a geodesic Buckminster Fuller.

Among the South by Southwest 2006 Web Award Finalists is a web site featuring Time magazine cover art (portraits specifically) of many of the last century’s most influential people in sports, media, civil rights, politics, entertainment and technology. The navigation gets a little annoying, but the artwork is well worth the effort. The exhibit is only part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

From the NPG website:
“The portraits displayed in this site represent the compelling variety of personalities and art that have distinguished Time covers for more than three-quarters of a century. Heroes and rogues, queens and presidents, popes and pop stars, singers and athletes - all have been ensconced, in one form or fashion, within Time’s trademark red border.”

Mac fans should be sure to check out the… ...(more)

The best web design tip I’ve read all week: “In design, if you don’t know why you’re putting something somewhere you’re likely making a mistake.”

Andy Rutledge does a terrific job examining Google’s interface from a design and architectural perspective. His solution, in my opinion, makes Google’s home page cleaner, more usable and less visually anemic. Using Google’s home page to make a point - a page that consists of so few elements to begin with - makes the design principles he cites easy to follow.

“If an element of the layout serves no specific purpose or if the visual or spacial properties of any element are chosen for no particular reason the result will be bad design. Don’t do that.” Words to live by!

Doing things right 80% of the time simply hands your competition a 20% window of opportunity. Thinking about design and usability on this finite level is what separates good home pages from great ones - good designers from great ones.… ...(more)

If you like having lots of bulky source books that collect dust and bow your bookshelves, then AIGA’s new online Design Archive is not for you. Gone are the days marking page after page with sticky notes, and wondering “who’s got Volume 25?”

In addition to being wicked fast, AIGA’s new Design Archive provides over 1,300 design samples of identity systems, corporate communications design, typography, package design, etc… Each piece includes in depth project information, and a truly amazing zoom feature. Members can create and manage their own lightbox of images. You can also email each piece to a friend (or yourself) right from the site.

Who needs this? Advertising agencies, freelance creatives, and in house art departments can all benefit from a little fresh perspective and inspiration from time to time. How much does it cost? This is the best part. Absolutely nothing. AIGA’s online membership and Design Archives are totally free.

So now what to do with all that empty shelf… ...(more)

I recently visited Milwaukee (home) for the first time in 4 years. Two of the more remarkable things I saw were the Rembrandt Exhibition - housed by - Santiago Calatrava’s Burke Brise Soleil, the new addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum. Well, new since the last time I’d been there.

Entering the exhibit was a little like stepping off the bridge of the Starship Enterprise and into 1640’s Netherlands. A wild juxtaposition of innovation, and anachronism. Two masters intertwined, yet separated by over three and a half centuries. While the Rembrandt Exhibition has since ended, I’d highly recommend visiting the museum if only to see the new wing.

This exhibit in April looks pretty terrific too: Masters of American Comics.