CSS Framework
While the rain is so busy falling down outside and getting cold inside the office because of the bad weather i make myself more focus in what i’m reading about CSS framework.
Actually, i’m not really familiar with CSS framework and its importance in web development i’m only heard it to my co-employees but not yet try at all.
Right now, I understand that proper use of frameworks would help us a lot in your coding in CSS most especially if you’re working in different web projects.
Instead, of creating CSS code from scrath over and over again with the same CSS rules you had already did before in your previous projects why you don’t try to use a framework for you to increase your productivity in your work.
In my opinion, using CSS framework is really depends upon your work preference on how will you apply it in a proper way without affecting your work and style of your coding in CSS.
I listed some of advantages and disadvantages of CSS framework while i’m reading article in the internet about this framework. 
A CSS framework is a library that is meant to allow for easier, more standards-compliant styling of a webpage using the Cascading Style Sheets language. Just like programming and scripting language libraries, CSS frameworks package a number of ready-made options for designing and outlaying a webpage.
Advantages of CSS Frameworks
You increase your productivity and avoid common mistakes.
You normalize your code/class base.
You have a better workflow within a team.
You gain an optimal browser-compatibility.
You have a clean, well-structured and complete code.
Disadvantages of CSS Frameworks
You need time to fully understand the framework.
You need a close familiarity with your code’s architecture.
You might inherit someone’s bugs or mistakes.
You develop sites upon a framework, not upon the solid knowledge of CSS.
You get a bloated source code.
CSS can not be framed semantically.
Ignoring the uniqueness of your projects.
Web Typography
This will be the second day of none busy days for me in the office. While i’m waiting for the new project that will arrive i try to make myself more busy and spent hours staying in the office be productive to me.
Since i am studying web design in a couple of weeks ago to my website motionartworks.com. i decided to study the rules and princples of web typography. Not everyone is aware of using proper typography in the web. Then, i found out that the rules of using typography in print design has a lot of big difference in web design because in web we have to consider first the availability of fonts in user’s machine. Second, if its a device font or not and last but not the least, their browser compatability.
In print design, we don’t care about these rules as long it looks nice and attractive to our eyes it’s perfect. In off-page, we can use whatever fonts we like.
I just summarize some principles i learned to smashing magazine about web typography.
5 Principles And Ideas Of Setting Type On The Web
1. Approach Web Typography Decisions Systematically
In web design every typographic decision needs to simultaneously accomplish a variety of results. Each headline you create should be set in text that is legible and search engine friendly, while the typeface should fit within the guidelines of the company’s brand. Furthermore, typography should fit to the graphic style of the site and meet user expectations of being able to copy and paste text. As you can see, that’s a wide array of needs for a headline to accomplish.
2. Utilize Information Hierarchy
There is more than one way to define precedence through the use of typography. First of all, the type size, color, weight, case, and whether the type is set normal or in italics will give the font greater or smaller importance. We also can’t ignore where the type is placed within our website layout.
3. Design for Optimal Flow
Hierarchy is important in page flow as well. It helps users to recognize the most important elements of the page as they scroll down through it. There are other typographic issues to look at regarding the flow. Spacing is a big part of the flow. White space, tracking, leading, indentation, as well as the padding and margins on elements — all these elements form the flow of the page.
4. Maintain Legibility Within the Presence of Branding
In order for a website to stand out the visual design of the site needs to be of high quality. In some cases, this takes the form of an elaborate design. With the growing popularity of illustrative and heavily textured sites, the need to make sure that typography is optimally chosen remains particularly important. Let’s review a few sites that use grunge design and texture elements. We’ve looked at these sites before in the article The Secrets Of Grunge Design, but not in this way.
5. Treat Text as a User Interface
Text within interfaces is extremely important. In the book Getting Real from 37 Signals (available for free), the author states how “every letter matters.” Word choice within user interfaces can make or break the functionality of the site. How those words are presented is equally important. Unstyled letterforms give no indication as to what users should interact with.
Motionartworks Review
Its almost ten months after i buy “motionartworks.com” domain name and hosting to Bigskymedia.net. A ten months of nothing had been shown on this website except for the beta logo i did before which i am using on this blog.
Actually the first domain i buy to Bigskymedia.net is “dbb21.com”. Dbb21.com is simply an acronym of my full name and my birth date. I used this domain before on my first blog and also the first time i learn how to use wordpress and write a content, even if i don’t have an idea on how to build a good composition in writing a blog. I’m not pretty sure if my posting in my blog is making a sense to everyone who visit and read my post..hehehe.
So after a long months i decided to quit blogging because i can’t monetize my blog in google adsense, i also have a hard time choosing what topic i’m going to talk and write about. In addition with that, i really don’t want to make a blogging a daily routine habit because there’s a lot of things needs to be done than writing. I said before to myself that i am going to blog when i want it.
And then, i decided to dumped dbb21.com and find another domain name which is suitable to my purpose of doing in life. Since i always fascinated by the motion graphics in web, advertisement in television, visual effects in movies and mtv’s video i plan to think a domain related to that creative works. So motionartworks where first started, motionartworks is actually a motion graphics website which i pursuing to establish today. I know i will be having a hard time but i believe that being focus in what you’re doing will help me a lot to go beyond the limits.
Please take a look of my beta design i created, i try to make it simple and easy to navigate. If you have comments and suggestion on this design. I will gladly appreciate it.
Note: photos i used on this design is not my property and it’s a temporary sooner i will replace that.
Graphika Manila 2008
On its third year running, Graphika Manila will once again provide another chance for creative minds to meet and celebrate the industry’s successes.
This year, Graphika Manila’s lineup of speakers aims to inspire attendees on their presentations on print and graphic design, motion graphics and animation, visual effects production, design ideas and inspiration, freelancing techniques and a lot more.
Graphika Manila International Multimedia Design Conference is the premiere graphic and multimedia design event in the Philippines which started in 2006. Over 1,300 design professionals, students and the media gather annually for one of the biggest forums showcasing cutting-edge multimedia and graphic design.With Web, graphic and multimedia design as a rising element in today’s competitive creative and business environments, the event is warmly acknowledged and hailed as one of the most promising multimedia art events in the country.
Speakers:
Google Chrome (BETA) for Windows
Google released a beta browser for Windows XP and Vista users called Google Chrome. We all know Google is one of the top most search engines used today and also made the google maps.
What i really like on this browser is the minimal design and being simple of it. Their browser logo is also great it looks like a 3d logo. I love it.
Google Chrome is an open source browser so everyone is welcome to participate to help developers in developing faster, safer and easier browser.
Graffiti Art
A new level of art has been continues to be popular here in the Philippines. Graffiti art where first introduced here in Manila since 1990’s . The first graffiti masterpiece were first saw in some street walls in New York, USA during 1960’s. They said it was a criminal act because of the vandalism law probihited on that country.
I believe graffiti art is good when graffiti artist put them on a legal way rather than on illegal acts. Actually, it is an art that everyone should appreciate most especially artists enthusiast.
Let’s open our mind and eyes to see the beauty behind this art work. Some graffiti artist said it’s a way of expressing on what they feel and see things in life.
Huevisualab video reel
This showreel is really excellent and very inspiring to watch. Whenever i played this video i always remember the Graphika Manila 2007 conference that i attended last year.
If i am not wrong this reel were played three times because of some technical difficulties encountered during the conference. But after all of the unexpected disturbances, the reel made an outstanding impact and inspired all of the audience including myself when this reel is continue playing until it ends.
What could i said to these group? They did an excellent work. Two thumbs up for them.
Set Met Apart
I really like this video of Pupil whose leading vocalist is Ely Buendia a former vocalist of Pinoy band legend “Eraserheads”.
I’ve seen this first video while i’m watching cartoons in Animax and second during the Graphika Manila 2007 conference held at Mall of Asia. I found out later that this video were created by Hue Visualab a group of digital/motion artist from Malaysia.
I totally inspired by this group!
Nico Puertollano
It was an exciting graphics and multimedia conference i’ve ever seen. The Graphika Manila started at 10 am and there’s a lot of designer practioners and students attended this annually conference gathering which held at the Center Stage of Mall of Asia.
There’s also a boot outside the movie theater where all attendeess are welcome to participate in each boot. The DesignPeople is one of the sponsor of this event and i am very lucky because i had a free ticket which is mandatory given by our company. It was hosted by Nico Puertollano a graphic designer who grew up in United States, he’s really good. He knows how to make the audience feel alive most especially when he think the audience feel sleepy and bored.
Some of the speakers also delivered very well their art works to the audiences even if they had encountered technical diffuculties in some part of their program.
It’s really nice to see their masterpieces, where they had been recognized. They also tell their good and bad experiences they had been encountered. I really like one of the speaker said to us, “to inspire and be inspired”. I’ve learned that having a passion in what you’re doing is really important because if you’re not happy in what you do most especially in your job in the long run you’ll have a difficulty achieving whatever your goal in life.
I really like Hue Visualab one of the speaker in this event, most especially their awesome video reel. Their video presentation is extremely nice because all of the audience were amazed and inspired.
We feel good when our art work is appreciated by everyone because after a long hard time completing that piece of art, it is more fullfiling and worth in the end. I believe each one of us have hidden creativity or talent to ourselves maybe we didn’t still discover yet.
The program have also questions and answers portion. After that they gave prizes in their raffles.
I can’t wait for the another upcoming Graphika Manila next year i hope i could attend again to this conference i really learn a lot from them.
Graphika Manila 2007
It’s been a year ago when Graphika Manila successfully held a conference here in the Philippines. This coming 11th of August 2007 another international multimedia design conference will be happening at the Centerstage, SM Mall of Asia. The participant speakers of this program are came from different countries.
The Philippines, the host country will also be given a chance to show some of their extraordinary creation in graphics design. This will be an interesting to watch and learn from the guru of graphics and arts.
Speakers:
WeWorkForThem - USA
Designgraphik -Thailand
The Asylum - Singapore
Electrolychee - Philippines
Hue Visualab - Malaysia
Guadakomeda - Philippines
Steve Tirona - USA/Philippines
Venue:
Centerstage Theater at SM Mall of Asia, Bay City Pasay, Metro Manila
Program Schedule: August 11, 2007, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tickets Rate:
P950 - Conference Pass
P750 - Student Pass
note: All attendees will receive a kit from Graphika Manila during that event day.