Archive for May, 2011
Convert 1st Ideas from PSD to HTML [Very Detailed]
Ahmad HaniaIn this article you will learn how to convert 1st Ideas: Stylish Design Agency Website from PSD to HTML in a detailed step-by-step tutorial. You will learn how to create this layout using CSS styles, some CSS3 styles and JavaScript. When you’ve completed this tutorial you’ll have a valid HTML/CSS, cross browser compatible and dynamic layout. I hope that you can go through this tutorial and learn a few techniques that will help you in future projects.
![Convert 1st Ideas from PSD to HTML [Very Detailed]](http://cdn1.1stwebdesigner.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/preview_large_1stideas_convert.jpg)
A Brief Introduction to Web 3.0
Kendra GainesIf you ask some, they'll tell you Web 2.0 as we know it is probably on its way out the door. For many, Web 2.0 is characterized mainly by the ability of users to share information quickly with others, which has been developed into the phenomenon that we call social media. From Twitter to Facebook to YouTube and to all sorts of other kinds of communities, Web 2.0 is all about sharing and seeing. Now if you recall or were around during what is now known as Web 1.0, information was put up on a website and that was it--the best way of sharing it was privately through e-mails and such. There was little to no communication and if you wanted information, you had to go to the source for it. Can you imagine such a harsh internet? Now with Web 2.0 on it's way out, the obvious question is, what in the world is Web 3.0 going to be?
WordPress Wp_Nav_Menu with Icons and Active Item Highlight
Rochester OliveiraWordPress is a great tool, for sure, but as many other CMS' it drives us into an "all standard" way of thinking, that is, you design things thinking that every element has to be identical to his brothers, same color, same style, same size. How many WordPress sites with pretty menu icons do you know (with wp_nav_menu, not "static" menus)? How many of them use a different color for some categories? Well, these little things make a big difference. This time we will learn a simple way to customize our WordPress menu, without losing its wonderful admin options. We will be doing: • Home link in our wp_nav_menu that always gets current blog url • Customize each menu item as you want • Put pretty icons in our menu • Active item highlight From now on, it is useful to have a little understanding about what wp_nav_menu is, and if you have a blank WordPress install, it is time to play with it ;) So, let's rock!
Pros And Cons Of Using Frameworks
Ruben D'OliveiraSometimes you should ask yourself, why you need to do the same thing everyday when there's a new bridge to shorten the path. Think of a framework as a bridge that will help you code faster and easier. Did you notice I didn't include the word "better" in the last sentence? Faster and easier doesn't always mean better, but we will get to that later. First things first, so what is a framework really? It actually depends on the context it is used. It can be defined as an abstraction tool that makes it easier to develop applications and reuse code. "The framework aims to alleviate the overhead associated with common activities performed in Web development... and they often promote code reuse." Like everything else, when it comes to its use, a framework has advantages and downsides. Below is a list of some important facts you should consider, before you decide to start learning or using one.
Coca-Cola Advertising Through the Years
Rachel ArandillaCoca-Cola is one of the most persistent and well-loved brands in history. It is one of the longest surviving brands, and thus considered among the most successful companies ever. The reason in part of this, is their strong advertising and marketing. Coca-Cola has always relied in advertising to promote and market their brand, and this is why they are always on top of their game, after having been in the market for more than a century! Coca-Cola advertising has indeed greatly affected American pop culture, and even the whole world. Here is a collection of the best Coca-Cola Advertising from its early days in the 1880's up until now. Enjoy!
How to Create a Web Spy with a PHP Crawler
Crawler, spider, bot, or whatever you want to call it, is a program that automatically gets and processes data from sites, for many uses. Google, for example, indexes and ranks pages automatically via powerful spiders, crawlers and bots. We have also link checkers, HTML validators, automated optimizations, and web spies. Yeah, web spies. This is what we will be doing now. Actually I don't know if this is a common term, or if its ever been used before, but I think it perfectly describes this kind of application. The main goal here is to create a software that monitors the prices of your competitors so you can always be up to date with market changes. You might think "Well, it is useless to me. You know, I'm a freelancer, I don't have to deal with this 'price comparison' thing." Don't worry, you are right. But you may have customers that have a lot of competitors they want to watch closely. So you can always offer this as a "plus" service (feel free to charge for it, I'll be glad to know that), and learn a little about this process. So, let's rock!
Make Yourself Irreplaceable with a Limited Skillset
Not all of us designers are a Jack-(or Jill)-of-all-trades. Some of us have that one thing we are really good at and we are okay at other things. We might be great web designers, but our coding skills are just sub par. In the design business, we can get discouraged easily, because clients and companies look for people who are well versed in their skill set. Also, job titles are becoming more and more comprehensive, but don't fear. If you don't have it all, there are some steps you can take to make yourself irreplaceable.
20 Reasons Why Your Website Design Sucks Part 1
We all have or have heard about those clients from hell, those that really love pink pages with red text. Even worse, what about those people who call themselves "web designers" with expensive prices and services listed on their really messy, horrible and amateur portfolios, just because they made their uncle's business page and they liked it. Unfortunately, many people believe that web design is all about personal style and smart IDE's with pre-built buttons. Let me tell you something - they are wrong. I love to play football, but that doesn't make me a professional player, and Dreamweaver does not make you a professional web developer. Web Design and development demands knowledge, practice, daily effort to learn and study, and passion, like professional football players. (Design conventions: Necessary guidelines in order to improve a specific design.) No matter how good or bad personal style is, the truth is that everyone has one. However, when design conventions are left out of a project, the result will be a bad or uninteresting design. That is exactly what happens with those terrible clients, when they try to implement their personal style without knowing anything about design conventions.
7 Ways to Create Your Own Unique Style in Design
Let's be honest: the big secret to becoming a well-known and super successful designer is to have your own unique style. Sure you'll bag some clients by perusing tutorial sites, but when you really develop your own style, that's when you'll own the world! For some, this is fairly easy, but for some this is a tough task. Well 1WD has compiled a list for you so you can get started on creating your own unique style.
20+ Useful CSS3 and HTML5 Frameworks, Tools and Templates
I hope you have heard a little about CSS3 and HTML5. And I'm sure you've used at least one of the cool features they offer. But now it is time to use them at their full (or almost full) power. You may be asking yourself "It is time to change? Should I forget everything I know and dive into this new world?". Well dear padawan, you don't need to do so. We have a lot of tools that make our transition to new and better technologies safer (ultimately we can't just crash our customer's website, we have bills to pay :D). Frameworks are helpful with this. They've already been tried, tested and proven. Of course, you can always make them better, but they are a really good starting point. This time we will talk a little about frameworks and other tools, like generators and templates. So, let's rock.
