This week
Coding for Content
In: Columns > View Source
Most of us have read countless articles and books about (X)HTML and CSS, but, especially early on in our careers, we wonder what goes on in the mind of someone adept at markup and code. What exactly is the thought process? Is it the same every time, or does one start by focusing on a specific challenge in a design? Veteran front-end developer and designer—and regular Digital Web columnist—Garrett Dimon shares his thoughts as he takes on the markup challenges behind his latest personal blog redesign.
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Published on April 23, 2007
In fact, most of the time spent on this redesign was spent creating the personal markup patterns that I would use from article to article. This would enable me to spend more time thinking about the images and content, and less time fiddling with how to work them into the code.
— Garrett Dimon. Read more
Seven JavaScript Techniques You Should Be Using Today
In: Articles
Is your box of JavaScript tricks starting to look a little worn? Got the feeling your functions are slacking off when you’re not watching? Never fear—JavaScript expert, Dustin Diaz, has the lowdown on seven smart tips that should be in every coder’s toolbox.
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Published on April 23, 2007
If your getElementsByWhatever function only allows you to get an array of elements and return them, don’t you think it’s a bit of a waste to iterate through that entire collection again when you’re ready to attach a function to the elements?
— Dustin Diaz. Read more
Previous weeks
Web Design 101: Positioning
In: Columns > Web Design 101
In the first article in a brand new column here at Digital Web, we begin our series examining the fundamental skills that any web designer should master. Online veteran and markup expert Tommy Olsson takes a detailed look at the sometimes confusing art of CSS positioning.
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Published on April 16, 2007
Richard Ishida
In: Interviews
Are you an English-centric web designer or developer? Perhaps it’s time to become a world-savvy web designer, as our new columnist Huiping Iler suggests, in her interview with Richard Ishida, the Internationalization Activity Lead for the W3C. Many of us haven’t yet grasped the big picture of the global marketplace, and this interview will open our eyes to new ideas and a wealth of resources.
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Published on April 16, 2007
HTML5, XHTML2, and the Future of the Web
In: Articles
If you’re hard at work day in, day out, chipping away at the rock face of professional web development, it’s sometimes easy to get lost in the details—and when we’re talking about an organization that moves as slowly as the W3C, you can be forgiven for taking your eye off the larger picture. David Andersson gets us up to speed on what may soon be coming our way in the world of HTML.
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Published on April 10, 2007
Book Review: Bulletproof Ajax
In: Reviews > Book Reviews
JavaScript and AJAX geniuses are all over the web these days, and many of them are writing books. How do you sort out which books are written for your level of expertise and will prove to be a worthy investment? Matthew Pennell takes a look at one of the latest, Bulletproof Ajax, by popular web expert Jeremy Keith, and pinpoints who it’s written for and how useful its information really is.
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Published on April 10, 2007
Four Ways to Bypass Inertia
In: Articles
Sometimes we freeze up at the beginning of a project, and other times, we feel uninspired, or just can’t move past our usual patterns or our frustration with a project’s challenges. In this excerpt from the beautiful and inspiring design book by Curt Cloninger, Hot-Wiring Your Creative Process, the author stretches our minds and gives us four practical techniques for greasing those rusty little creativity wheels in our minds.
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Published on April 3, 2007
IntraBranding: Why Your Intranet Needs Its Own Personality
In: Articles
If you are part of an in-house design team, you’re sure to have plenty of horror stories about that most sticky of special projects, the company intranet. When everyone from the receptionist to the CEO wants a say, it’s easy to end up with a mish-mash of poorly designed microsites—but, as author Garth A. Buchholz explains, paying attention to your intranet’s brand can pay unexpected dividends.
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Published on April 3, 2007
The Seven Deadly Sins of Email Marketing Management
In: Articles
Whether you work for a corporate behemoth or a one-man design shop, email marketing can no longer be dismissed as a spammer’s game. It’s effective, cost-efficient—and easy to get wrong. Véro Pepperrell takes a look at the easiest ways to screw up your marketing efforts, and the steps you need to take to avoid the most common pitfalls of email management.
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Published on March 27, 2007
To Dance the Dance of Freelance
In: Articles
Thinking of breaking the chains that keep you bound to the company desk? Imagining a beautiful life of freedom and riches? New Digital Web author, bon vivant, podcaster—and, possibly, sociopath—Matthew Jordan describes the agonies and ecstasies of his escape from captivity and journey toward world domination.
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Published on March 27, 2007
Redesigning the ExpressionEngine Site
In: Columns > The Working Designer
The first article in our new column The Working Designer follows Jesse Bennett-Chamberlain, principal of 31three, a Canadian web design and development company, as he tackles a redesign for EllisLabs. EllisLabs, formerly known as pMachine, charged him with the formidable task of presenting a new face for four company sites, including one for ExpressionEngine, a popular CMS. Jesse gives us the designer’s view of the project, sharing his thoughts, challenges, and processes each step of the way.
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Published on March 19, 2007
Capture a Screencast with a Mac
In: Articles
With speedier connections becoming more prevalent, and software creating smaller files sizes, we now have more options for presenting instructional material on websites. Screencasts, which capture movies of all the action on your computer screen, are popping up all over the place in all sorts of tutorials. Ken Westin previously reviewed Adobe Captivate for PC here at Digital Web, but if you’re a Mac person and you have a limited budget, Miraz Jordan’s article is just what you need.
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Published on March 12, 2007
Better Font Management
In: Articles
Typography on the web is enjoying something of a resurgence of late, and interest in the effective use of the enormous variety of available fonts has never been higher. If you’ve been on a recent downloading spree, Joel Sacks has some tips and recommendations that can help you keep that growing font library under control.
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Published on March 6, 2007
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