Dec 03
Survey - What would you like to read…
2004 at 12.58 am posted by Veerle Pieters
Not that I suffer from a writers’ block… But just curious and wondering, if you could choose which article I should write, what would it be? Well… except for a CSS tutorial, because I know about 80% will ask me to. And maybe I will some day since I’ve learned a lot myself from it.
Apart from another CSS tutorial what would you like to read here? Just let me know, try to be as specific as possible. This way I know the course I’m currently sailing is the right one. Not always easy to find the right balance to give my readers the stuff they like. Just wondering if the direction I going for lately is good. It’s been more and more about design and less CSS. You would help me a great deal and you will do yourself a favor, so go ahead and make us both pleased ;-) Thanks!
39served
1
Zen Web Design: tap into your inner designer
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You’re on the right course: I’ve really enjoyed your recent design-related articles (the logo redesign, photoshop tutorial, even the office space photo submission).
To be more specific, I wouldn’t necessarily want more software-use articles, but more design theory: colour use, typography, influences, history, etc.. People’s (and your) specific experiences and history designing. Examples are always great, showing why a certain design doesn’t work and why another really does.
I echo a recent sentiment that’s been going around: we’ve got a pretty good base of CSS blogs and info out there. I need a break, or rather, some balance.
3
I have to agree with Jeff. There are a lot of css resources out there. Ofcourse, new or interesting tips on that subject are always welcome.
But there are not so much resources out there (or I haven’t found them yet) about what makes a design a good one. I eg, can recognize a good design when I see one. But I can’t say what makes the design good. So that makes it difficult to make one myself.
An example of this is your post about css layouts, more specifically part 2. Therein you explain the color principles you use (eg variations on a colour plus a contrasting one). I’ve applied this principle to a site of me and the look has improved tremendously, something I would have only got after much trial and error (and after getting there nog be able to tell why it looks good).
4
Yeah I like your “new direction” too.
I particularly enjoyed your recent tutorials on illustrator and your design tips. There are a lot of CSS blogs around and it’s no harm for you to broaden the scope of your blog to include a few of your other design talents.
I can only echo Jeff’s and Koen’s sentiments…
continue in the direction your going and let your blog evolve naturally.
5
Totally agree with the others. There’s a lot of writing about css. It would be difficult to write something that adds something usefull to what’s allready out there, on sites like positioniseverything.net. Off course, something new is allways welcome.
Your writings about design are really interesting and helpfull (.. for me at least). So more of that would be nice.
6
You surely attracted a lot of lost designers out there with your CSS tutorials. I loved specially your CSS resources which I use as a backup. And the color scheme page I use it constantly. The thing is some books are too boring or too technical. You give your personal touch, and that’s a compliment.
But besides I got to read some out of this world articles like the “bicycle on square wheeles” and of course those incredible travels you do.
It’s for me like my window for recreation, every time I feel some stress falling on my shoulders.
And the best of all is that we have the chance to give some opinions, good or not so good. And have a respond right away.
Thanks again you are doing great! :))
7
Hi Veerle! First of all, what you’ve written so far is great! But what I’d like to as for is to see more stuff on design (like Jeff said on the first post!)
I’ve very much enjoyed what you’ve said so far on the logo design and challange of creating the website for the company!! : )
8
I have to agree with most of the previous comments. I have really enjoyed your designing a site in CSS series, but more than anything else your series lately about design is what i found the most interesting.
I keep coming back wanting more.
Few designers out there actually go into the theory as you have…
9
Three words: design… design…design.
Keep up the VERY good work.
Cheers!
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i have to agree with everyone else; the recent design-focused writing has been great.
it seems that the ever-growing css-blog community is becoming quite redundant, and while they are certainly a useful resource, it often feels like they are all writing about the same thing or writing about each other. as someone who does both print and web design, i am always happy to see someone focus on design principles or process or something that can be applied to both worlds.
i think you have achieved a good balance of tutorials and process/theory articles. very good work.
11
Ok, not that I want to run with the crowd here.. really, I had made up my mind on what I was going to say before I clicked on the comment link. I think you should talk about design. In specific, I would love to see an article on color theory… and not just the old high-level glazed over crap… I mean exactly how you find color complements, what is a triad and how can you mathmatically find the triad, what does contrast have to do with color, how to come up with ideal color palletes/schemes, etc. Get in depth. The more in-depth the better.
12
Your Illustrator tutorials are wondeful. Keep ‘em coming.
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I keep coming back to your site for the CSS, but I am also drawn to the design stuff as well. As I’m new to positioning with CSS, I’d like more on that, but I’m more than happy to see more design stuff while I use the grounding I received on your recent CSS tutorial.
So; more design thoughts is the way to go, I reckon.
Also; I used to go to renderosity.com a lot when I was more into 3D work (too busy these days) and they used to have tutorials followed by a challenge for visitors to submit ..... just a thought ..
Steve
lazymouse
14
Do an article on logo design or color schemes! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. Thank you.
15
Wow, lots of people want color. That would be nice, but I’d also be interested in app specific posts along the lines of photoshop and illustrator projects. Maybe combine the two… color theory and pallete tips in PS?
16
I would like a tutorial on color schemes. I am always stumped it seems at first. I would like to know your process in laying out a website. Do you use an artist color wheel, or browse around, to you have a page with multiple combinations that you refrence…. and I guess the moods you try to set with colors.
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Hi Veerle!
I really would like to read an article on logo design for instance. How do you go about. How do you prepare for such things?
Other question i’d like to see answered are:
- how do you choose the color(s) for an particular logo?
- how do you start with the design?
- where do you go to for inspiration?
- what do you do when you’ve got zero inspiration, but the deadline is approaching fast?
- what do you think wich elements are necessary to make a logo a good one?
Well hopefully this is detailed enough. I’m really curious what your gameplan is in such matters.
Keep up the great tuts and articles. I enjoy them immensly.
18
Your page has been a godsend to me. Design is very important, always.
Alas, many design firms are expecting their designers to “branch out” into the programming arena. I was often asked if I knew PHP (or XML).
Could one kindly direct me to a blogger who is into PHP?
19
In your previous post you’ve mentioned you love vibrant colors. An artikel why you like those vibrant colors, and how your daylie live with those colors reflects in your designs. What’s your zen and philosophy about colors?
20
I say Photoshop tips and tricks. What’s a great way to do something? What saves you time?, How do you start a layout?, etc. It could be quite interesting since there are so many ways to do one type of thing in Photoshop. We could all share how we do things too. :)
21
Hi Veerle
Ditto on what everyone else is saying… great articles thus far.
I would however be very interested in your thoughts, advise and experiences with the “Business” of graphic design… proposal writing, job/client management techniques, marketing etc. Sounds boring I know but as a Freelance designer it is something none of us can escape and not all of us are especially successfull at. You on the other hand seem to be doing very well :-)
22
I enjoy your design articles the most, but must admit that I come for the morsels of music, too. How about writing about music and its influence on design (or vice versa).
By the way, loved the Tiesto review from a few weeks ago. He’ll be here in Charlotte in a week. Got my tix and can’t wait!
23
Hi All, the direction I’m heading lately confirms that I’m doing not so bad. Graphic design in general, print or web (and new media too), is my daily activity and is what I know most about from experience. Just like some of you mentioned, there are already a lot of good blogs out there about CSS, but writing about design in general and about my design experiences adds value to my blog. You have given me really good ideas here and I really thank you for that. I’ve already made a list of ideas for new articles. When something comes to mind I write it down in a note book and some of your ideas were already mentioned in my list. Now my list is starting to get impressively long :-)
It’s not that because I’ve written the above that this post is closed for comments, so all new ideas are still welcome. After all my blog will be around for a while :-)
24
Although I love reading about CSS design, I’d like to see more about general design concepts. Mostly about color theory. What makes things x number of colors work together, what are the current color using trends in design.
Also, what makes for good design? How do you come up with a design that matches what your client’s product/service.
25
I suspect, without seeing a link to it on your site, that you are using pMachine’s ExpressionEngine as the back end CMS for Veere’s blog. I wonder if you would be so kind as to share some of the ins and outs of EE, and any hints or tips that you may have uncovered.
26
@zanshin, actually I run pMachine (Pro version) but I’ve used Expression Engine for a project. I’m planning to migrate my blog to EE too, combined with a new design. But that’s for the future, somewhere next year. Writing about EE is already on my list, so you may expect an article about this soon.
27
How can you make a good image gallery?
Now, i use Javascript Image Gallery.
28
Definitely design and design programs.
Keep up the good work :)
29
Hi Veerle. I liked you css tutorial a lot. I learned a lot from it. Apt and to the point.
I even liked your Dj session photo shoot (however I’m not a Tiesto fan). It made me wonder if and how you did some tricks on the pics…
Photoshop tricks would be nice, as well as more design tips. Personally I learn the most from topics on how NOT to do things. Academical stuff is for (1000 pages and more) books to relate. You’re always doing a great job in avoiding those things. Fab job so far!
30
“Quote: What would you like to read about” - Veerle
How about - “How to write a tutorial” for those who know it, but don’t know how to say it ;)
That would make for interesting writing.
31
I’m a second voice with Simon for a little about your business side. Apparently, you’ve been pretty successful at building your company. It’s always a good story reading about the journey from hobby or student to entrepreneur. I liked the stuff on your work area, and would love to hear how you’ve gotten this far.
Yours is one of the first blogs I subscribed to and still one of my favorites, whatever you write about. Hope you keep it up, though I know how much time it can take away from the core business and design stuff!
32
@erwin, I swear, no tricks on those pics ;-) They look exactly how it was. Only… the people on the pictures THEY did magic tricks, after all it was a “MAGIK” night. That was the theme, so everything that night was about magic, and I can tell you it sure felt like it. But I’ll keep your tip in mind ;-) And yes, my motto is “keep it simple” and easy to understand.
@Dustin LOL! This is a nice one :-D
@dave, I’ll try to do my best to write about this too, but as someone pointed out, this can create delicate situations and I have to be careful what I write if I’m talking about “real” projects. Still I’ll keep this in mind, I’m sure that I can write some of my experiences without compromising things.
33
I for one wouldn’t mind an article on Expression Engine. I’m fooling around with pMachine pro now and I really like it for a blog or article-based site but from what I read EE is a different beast altogether.
It would be nice to hear from someone who has used the two to see what the differences are and just what EE is capable of.
Just a thought…
34
Hi, from a snowy Maine.
Veerle, thanks for teaching.
For the first time in my life, I got my very own, designed-from-scratch-no-template website. It is far from perfect and I am still changing things, but I am very thrilled with the experience of actually creating and publishing a website.
I learn so much from all your tutorials. Just keep doing what you are doing right now.
35
more graphic design and css tutorial, please.. :)
overall, i like reading all stuff in this website and i should thanks for that.
36
Maybe a article or two on the business side of web development, like for example getting new clients or (looking at your company web-site) how to get and work with international clients. Maybe also project management do’s and don’ts. It would be nice for people to share stuff like that, I think there ar many great designers in all corners of the globe but some really struggle with the business and management end of things.
Just my 2c.
_paul
37
Hi,
I hope I’m not late… :(
Master, I would like to see realistic drop shadows (partial backgrounds).
Couple of examples: Simplebits comments and Fiftyfoureleven comments.
Thankx in advance,
Arthur
38
Hi els, what a view you have there ;-) No snow here yet, it is cold though. BTW those tissues, are they in case you get emotional when sit behind your very nice iMac ? Just kidding of course :-D
Thanks everyone for the responses, and the compliments. If I have no inspiration (which is luckily hardly the case) I’ll come looking at this page ;-)
39
I have a blog going of a CSS tutorial for beginners from start to finish. Photoshop to CSS. It seems like some people on this blog are spent on the like, but nonetheless I enjoy veerles blog for CSS info.
http://Paul.mrbusiness.net
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