Summer is a busy season. Living in Buffalo I’m thankful for the days I can spend outside with the sun beating down on my face. Playing music by a campfire, cruising around the city on mopeds, fishing or a just a quiet night on a patio – you get the idea. When I’m inside, I’m in front of my ‘puter creating digital goodness. I’m currently updating this site. Both because it’s fun and necessary. I really enjoy an open canvas on the web so I’m trying some new stuff, testing out some of the newer languages and building it code first. This was just debated on over at Smashing Magazine. Personally I really enjoyed the process. Anyways, I’m getting it ready to launch soon and am going over some fixes. If there are any errors that translate to this page I apologize. (insert spinning “UNDER CONSTRUCTION” animated .gif here) via 1997.

*****UPDATE***** You can check out my new page HERE. I haven’t went through any Internet explorer fixes just yet so if it’s all jacked up you know why. Be patient grasshopper.

August 2nd, 2010 by watch84. Category:Website     No Comments

The Old State Design Studio has created a magnificent look for their blog. Not only does it play on my “simplicity heart strings” but the layout of the page fits their brand perfectly. By using subtle logo insertions and old print design techniques they have wrapped up a 21st century medium into a newspaper from the past. Partners Travis McElroy, Curtis Hale and Chris Vincent have “steampunked” their blog by keeping the color range to black, white and grey, using large type treatments with small ones, and paying attention to fine detail which any old world craftsman would surely honor.  Catching me by surprise, they’ve added in a functional yet modern search. By “activating” the search, a rather large search form appears (draggable) allowing the user to find what they’re looking for or choose from categories recommended below. Blog post title type treatments are done very well. Using large white type centered above the post data helps to reinforce their look but is once again contradicted by cheesy gradients and rounded corners in the comments section. Stick to the old style and don’t let the pressures of reflective gradients and drop shadows get in the way of your vintage vision.

October 9th, 2008 by watch84. Category:Website     No Comments