Design Coming Full Circle
Posted by Chris | Filed under Design, Inner Thoughts
I’m not sure how or when it happened or who started it. I would blame M$ or Apple, but their websites aren’t the greatest. I’m thinking about blaming the French, just b/c it’s always easy to blame them.
I ran across this article about grid-based design and one line in particular caught my attention:
“Table layouts are great for grid designs. The markup itself reproduces a specific grid, and the tendency is for us to just fill up the boxes with the images, type, and interface elements that make up our design.”
[ Molly Holzschlag ]
bold is taken as is, but it
Clicking the link on her name took me to an article she wrote on A List Apart about Grid Design. Simply writing for ALA tells me that she knows what she’s talking about, so I’m not going to say she’s wrong. And, while I agree the grid design is clean and looks nice and is probably what I would use on a lot of projects, it amazes me that we’ve come full circle as designers. I got into web design fairly late in the game (it seems to me): ~2001 at the age of 19 or 20. Ever since, it has never been a job, but more of a passion or hobby. Back then, though, all I had was a pirated version of Dreamweaver and all I knew how to do was to draw tables in Dreamweaver’s WYSIWYG editor. But then, talking to a buddy who was also into design and subsequently being introduced to Stopdesign’s Douglas Bowman (not face-to-face, but my face to his website), I got into the world of tableless CSS. I’ve only been back to tables once since then and I don’t intend to go back ever.
However, the grid design almost seems to be begging us to come back to the tables. And I know tables aren’t gone forever, but wouldn’t it be great if they were. I used to be able to tell (and probably still can tell) which websites are made with MS Frontpage and which aren’t (most aren’t but Frontpage sites seem to just jump out and choke me). Frontpage has that same block, or grid, design to it. And again, this isn’t a bash on the grid design. It’s simply amazement that we go from tables to tableless to simulated tables.
Today’s grid designs are much more clean and neat and pleasing to the eye. But, theoretically, these designs could’ve been done very easily with tables. What’s next? Will Netscape make a huge comeback?
God 2.0
Posted by Chris | Filed under Design, Inner Thoughts, Religion, Standards, Technology
Wow. It’s been a while since either of us has written anything meaningful here. Yes, we love to brag about Trinity. I love to talk about nerdy stuff. Jen loves to avoid the blog whenever she can. Well, it’s good to be back.
Jen and I actually got to attend most of a church service this past Sunday (don’t judge, we are usually doing Kids’ Church). And during worship, a man in our church got up and started talking about obediance. He had something to say to the congregation and he felt that he wasn’t being obediant until he said it. Neither Jen nor I can really remember the whole point to his message, but what caught both of us was the obediance.
That got me thinking about what I should be obediant about and how I should use my gifts. We all have gifts, and we all need to use our gifts for the advancement of the Kingdom. We aren’t here to promote ourselves, our club, group, church, etc., but that’s a whole other topic. We’re here to use our gifts. I thought to myself, “Self.”
Self said, “Yes?”
“What are my gifts? What can I do to be obediant and reach the people for God?”
Self replied, “Well, you’re a nerd that is into computers. You know HTML, CSS, a little Flash, you know, nerd stuff. You’re fairly quiet, fairly inquisitive, a decent thinker. You’re really into technology, getting into politics and the news, but are still a conspiracy theorist to a point.”
“Okay, that’s a little random, but I generally agree with that,” said I.
“Why can’t you use technology to reach people? You could build websites for God and be all geeky for the Kingdom.”
“Good point, Self. I’m an okay designer though. What are all the good designers doing to promote God in their media?”
To me, it seems like when anyone tries to promote God through the Web (and most of any technologically advanced media), it comes out hoakey, cheesey, and irrelevent. This includes church web sites, businesses that promote religious artifacts and non-profits that promote the Kingdom. I have decided not to post any specific sites on which I would put the aforementioned labels. I believe that, even though I see them as cheesey and irrelevent, someone may find comfort and joy in them. I also do not wish to tear down brothers in Christ. Plus, I realize that many organizations cannot afford help in designing a Web site, so some poor secretary is sitting in front of her screen trying to sort through a WYSIWYG editor or trying to teach herself HTML from online searches. I would like to draw your attention to some of the better examples:
The guys over at Godbit.com have actually answered my question before I even asked it. From what I can tell, Godbit.com is the brainchild of Nathan Smith. I’ve been reading Nathan’s blog for about 6 months now. He is a talented designer/developer who loves the Lord and wants to see the Kingdom advanced. From his writings, I can’t tell what denomination he is, which is a big reason I like him so much. Godbit features many authors discussing ways to bring the Church into the 21st Century.
This is so common in fact, that the term “Christian” when associated with the Internet has become synonymous with “sub-par.” Without pointing fingers specifically, some of these practices include overuse of JavaScript, malformed (X)HTML, all-Flash websites, and over-dependence on tables for layout.
We realize that no one person can do everything well, and so we hope that through engaging in a community discussion, we can all learn from one another, and in so doing be like iron sharpening iron, spurring one another on to further understanding, and greater achievement.
While I don’t necessarily agree with the “all-Flash websites” (see: Origins Community), I love the job that they are doing. They are probably doing the best job in bringing the Church up to speed on web development, technology, and Spirituality. Their name says it all: Theology + Technology.
SacredSpace.ie could take a few lessons from Godbit.com in the way of design, but needs no help in the Annointing. Jen found SS somehow (not exactly sure), but it is a great site. They post a new prayer every day, actually they are always a few days ahead, and let you see a few days back (in case you missed one).
It’s just a few minutes, in front of your monitor, getting alone with God. In this crazy world of multitasking and gadgets, SS.ie lets you get in touch with God, even if it’s just a few minutes. It’s a good way to spend a lunch or a break.
The design could use some help. They use Javascript for the prayers, but the homepage is one long page in which you are taken down to different sections by links. If you are using a monitor that is smaller than 17”, you may think you are being taken to a whole different page. But if you look at the scrollbar, you can tell.
These definately aren’t the only 2. I would like some feedback into what sites you visit that have Spiritual meaning or any technology-related material that promotes God/Jesus/Holy Spirit.
New Header
Posted by Jen | Filed under Design
I know it’s a little late, but I think it is still festive and makes you feel cold just by looking at it.
I have a new site out: 50 Years, A Love Story.
Done in Flash, Photoshop, and Fireworks, I must say that it is one of my better ones. I hate to toot my own horn (mainly b/c I know that there are guys and girls out there that blow me away), but I think I’ve come a long way since the old ChrisandJenn.net.
It’s late, I’m tired and I still have to read part of The Silver Chair. I’ll let you know how it goes.
