March 2003

Fast Company Picks Up Speed

In the continuing trend of large sites converting to web standards and CSS-based layouts, Fast Company finds the religion and adopts it as their own. FC relaunched their site today, giving up reliance on tables for layout. Instead, they turn to lean XHTML markup combined with the power and… continued

link 31 Mar 2003 in CSS, Web 1

Treading Water

Keeping up with client projects and balancing an increasing amount of social activity makes me feel sometimes like I’m barely staying afloat. So far, I’ve been able to maintain a moderate pace without pulling too many all-nighters to catch up on work. But personal projects, big and small, never… continued

link 30 Mar 2003 in Business, Personal

Stirring It Up in SF

Sitting down where we please. Foaming at the mouth. Blood pumping through our veins. Well, ok. Probably not quite what you’ve been seeing happen in San Francisco over the last few days. More like a distraction to get our minds away from what’s happening here for a brief bit…. continued

link 21 Mar 2003 in CSS, Events…

Designing in Public

Online content producers and software developers are learning new lessons about opening up their design process to public scrutiny. Good design firms involve and include their clients early and often in many of the design decisions. Both independent and commercial content producers are experiencing a closer connection with their… continued

link 17 Mar 2003 in Design, Web

Strike a Pose

I’ve posted a set of pictures from South by Southwest last week in Austin. I was slightly disappointed I didn’t snap more pictures, despite the fact that I had a really small camera which went everywhere with me. I was more disappointed in the quality of photos from the… continued

link 16 Mar 2003 in Events, People

More on Background-Image, II

Thanks to David Havelin, who just wrote in to report back the results of pointing JAWS 4.5 to the background-image text-replacement examples (Ex.1, Ex. 1.2, Ex. 1.3). David writes: In all cases, when I asked JAWS to read the whole page, I heard: “Using background dash image to replace… continued

link 14 Mar 2003 in CSS, Writing 1

More on Background-Image, I

Jeffrey Zeldman writes up a very worthwhile read on the recent hot topic of CSS backgrounds. He appropriately attributes the original technique to Todd Fahrner, (from whom we’ve all drawn a lot of inspiration and practical problem-solving) and dubs it the Fahrner Image Replacement (FIR). In addition to providing… continued

link 14 Mar 2003 in CSS, Writing

Flaw with Using Background-image to Replace Text

If anyone read the CSS tutorial I wrote last week involving use of the background-image property, they should be aware of an apparent critical flaw in the method as it’s currently described. It’s hard to tell whether the flaw is in the method itself, or simply in the way… continued

link 13 Mar 2003 in CSS, Writing 1

When Names Become People

As SXSW Interactive wraps up today, I find myself feeling like a kid again. A kid at the amusement park who realizes there’s only an hour left until the place closes, the rides stop, and everyone goes home. It feels like depression. But I know it’s only because the… continued

link 11 Mar 2003 in Events, People

Web Standards Need Not Be Ugly

Who said creating type with images was bad? I say, fooey! As I’ve been nursing a wicked sinus infection for the past week — often flat on my back in bed, trying to get healthy again for SXSW — I haven’t been able to get much client work done…. continued

link 7 Mar 2003 in CSS, Writing

Heading South (by Southwest)

In two days, I’ll be one of the many flocking to Austin for South by Southwest, in part, due to Tantek’s generosity. No speaking engagements — I’ll just be waiting patiently in the audience for chances to heckle the few speakers I know. If you’re attending the event, make… continued

link 6 Mar 2003 in Events

To Admire, Study, and Critique:

Two noteworthy XHTML/CSS redesigns have recently launched: Macromedia – The good and bad wrapped into one. Good: Clean, airy, pleasing color combinations, fun imagery, classic Macromedia typography, aesthetic, and balance. Heavy use of Flash, but no excessive animation. Bad: The scary thing about this redesign is the source code… continued

link 5 Mar 2003 in CSS, Design…

SWF seeking VWM

Slim-Waisted Frameset seeking Valid Working Markup for harmonious live-in relationship. Introduce me to new style that everyone can love. Otherwise, you must be able to understand and accept the cosmetic tricks I use to hide my own stretch marks. Give it up. It’s a fantasy. It’s a dream. Never… continued

link 4 Mar 2003 in Examples, Web 1