Screenedit at Mix!

This weekend we re-launched the screenedit.com website. With a lot of hard work from the whole team, but especially Dr. Neil, we have massively improved the website in time for Mix, Microsoft’s premier web design/ development event on Tuesday 11th-Wednesday 12th September. We really hope to see you at the event, I especially hope that you will visit the ‘community’ area that we are supporting, and more importantly attend my session on ‘Branding’ and ‘User Experience’ on the Wednesday ;-)

This blog has moved to:http://trickydesigns.spaces.live.com/

blog moved to: http://trickydesigns.spaces.live.com/

I am moving my blog to: http://trickydesigns.spaces.live.com/

Expression tutorials on Lynda.com

As we've actually started working on commercial WPF and Silverlight projects, I took some time out this afternoon to brush-up on my blend skills! You can currently access hours of 'Blend' and 'Design' tutorials at Lynda.com, for FREE! I highly recommend them as a 'getting started' guide.

I'm back...

Link for Virtual Black Country: http://www.virtualblackcountry.com

'Soft' launch of screenedit.com

This weekend we have opened the doors to screenedit.com, please vist the site as this is where I will be focussing my blogging energy in the approaching months.

Introducing screenedit:
Screenedit is the magic antidote for designer's block. As designers, you understand that interaction design is not about pushing pixels around a screen, it is imperative to 'create a place'. We have created 'a place' for designers to find both inspiration and peer approval. We believe that Screenedit is the only creative network that adds real value. We promise to look at technology objectively and is focus on the people and their philosophies. At its core Screenedit provides an arena to discuss interaction design.

Our goals
We will interview the evangelists of our industry and ask them: 'What does interaction design mean to you?'

We will create a resource that uncovers the meaning of interaction design and user experience.

We will encourage discussion, we believe that everybody's opinion matters.

Be sure to contact us and submit something today!

What makes you unique?

These days most major brands are converging towards the 'middle ground' - here's an opportunity to think differently...

See if you can fill in the blanks:

____________ is the only ____________ that ____________

ie: 'Dyson' is the only 'filter-free vaccuum cleaner' that has a 'cyclone'.

netvibes.com

I came across netvibes.com recently whilst trying to find a decent and unobtrusive rss feed reader, it has to be said, I am really impressed with the ajax-style programming on this site. It is really slick, intuitive and feels like a solid webtop application.

January news...

If you missed the January newsletter here it is, you can sign-up by sending an email to: news@trickybusiness.co.uk.

We hope that you have all had a fantastic break and have started 2007 on a high. Please read on for this month's update...

Opportunities
Having successfully launched a number of marketing activities for our clients over the Christmas period, we remain extremely busy and there is a real buzz in our studio. We are searching for 'Junior Interaction Designers' to join our team so please email us if you know somebody who has lots of positive energy and is passionate about digital design.

Events
Coinciding with the UK launch of Vista and Office 2007, Microsoft will be showcasing their new 'Expression' design tools at Designertopia in London this week. We intend to take them up on the offer to explore the new design possibilities, check out our blog: trickybusiness.blogspot.com in February for a review of the event

Books that we have read this month and recommend
'Designing Interactions' by Bill Moggridge & 'ZAG' by Martin Neumeier.

Soon,(Brands from the future
This month's futuristic brand has been created by Adrian Baker. Someday soon, 'New Year's Diets' could be made easier with this fictional soft drink

Wishing you the best success in 2007

Microsoft make Expression Blend Beta2 available..

Microsoft have today made the BETA2 version of Expression Blend available for download, in my opinion the most exciting of the Expression tools.

The installation isn't exactly intuitive, especially as the product is aimed at creatives. Uninstall .NET 3.0, install .NET 3.0, install blend...etc

When this dialogue box appeared, I just had to screengrab it so that it could sit next to my previous example of interaction design...


Multiple fonts, bad typography, poor logo design, unintuitive & uninspiring.

C'mon guys - what happened to designers and develpers working together on interaction design?