//nedward.org

Mediaite Launch

2009-07-06T15:41:59Z

Rex Sorgatz on the design of Mediaite, Dan Abrams’s new media website:

…“horizontal sites” build a new kind of importance hierarchy. Designers don’t realize it, but unaligned vertical stacks are a remnant of the way that newspapers were designed—in columns, up and down. These new layouts are more like movie screens and wide monitors, with action moving left and right.

A very simple, but potentially evolutionary step in our understanding of how readers can best scan and make sense of content.

Evening [Flickr]

2009-07-04T16:29:50-07:00

John Niedermeyer posted a photo:

Prospect Park, near Grand Army.

Picnic-y [Flickr]

2009-07-04T13:40:16-07:00

John Niedermeyer posted a photo:

Prospect Park, near Grand Army.

Dr. Gordon & Miss Becca [Flickr]

2009-07-04T13:38:22-07:00

John Niedermeyer posted a photo:

Prospect Park, near Grand Army.

Dogs [Flickr]

2009-07-04T13:36:31-07:00

John Niedermeyer posted a photo:

Prospect Park, near Grand Army.

July 4 Picnic [Flickr]

2009-07-04T08:30:12-07:00

John Niedermeyer posted a photo:

Prospect Park, near Gran Army—stop by and say “hi”!

MainMenu.app [del.icio.us]

2009-07-02T08:15:59-07:00

“MainMenu is a powerful maintenance tools to keep your Mac running like new, packed in a slick and simple interface. Improve application performance, make searching faster and speed up your disk access quicker. All that and more is just two clicks.”

Leandro Castelao Portfolio [del.icio.us]

2009-07-01T10:24:55-07:00

Argentinian illustrator, nice line art with techy or scientific feel.

Blur at Glastonbury 2009 [del.icio.us]

2009-06-29T11:52:42-07:00

“Because, tonight, Blur are sticking their fingers up to dad-rock by falling in love all over again with the dumb art of playing pop music – and playing it loudly.”

8 Javascript solutions to common CSS problems [del.icio.us]

2009-06-29T09:15:33-07:00

Some more uses for jQuery.

Astheria [del.icio.us]

2009-06-28T01:23:34-07:00

Nicely designed portfolio and blog of Minnesota designer, Kyle Meyer.

Ghost in the Machine: The Clash

2009-06-19T15:24:44Z

London Calling, cassette tape on canvas, 2009 — By Erika Iris Simmons

Two things that I really love about this illustration by Erika Iris Simmons:

It’s the iconic image from the cover of The Clash’s masterpiece London Calling.
It’s rendered with casette tape!

View it at the largest size to see the detail.

Thematic, A WordPress Theme Framework [del.icio.us]

2009-06-17T08:29:18-07:00

“Thematic is a free, open-source, highly extensible, search-engine optimized WordPress Theme Framework featuring 13 widget-ready areas, grid-based layout samples, styling for popular plugins, and a whole community behind it.”

Fever° From Shaun Inman

2009-06-17T14:47:05Z

Shaun Inman launched Fever today, a re-imagined feed reader. The big difference between Fever and other products like Google Reader, is that it is designed to help float important or trending links and discussions to the top. So rather than reading through hundreds of posts to find what’s hot, Fever analyzes all of your feeds, and looks for re-linking and repeat references.

I haven’t yet sprung for a license, (mostly because there isn’t any offline caching so that I can read on the subway). But, there is a lovely looking iPhone-optimized site, and it looks as thoughtfully and lovingly designed as his web analytics product, Mint.

Be sure to watch the video demo, and note that Fever is not a hosted service—you have to install it on your own server.

Fever° Red hot. Well read. [del.icio.us]

2009-06-17T07:07:42-07:00

Shaun Inman rethinks what the feedreader: “Fever reads your feeds and picks out the most frequently talked about links from a customizable time period. Unlike traditional aggregators, Fever works better the more feeds you follow.”

Reunited Blur Perform First Gig in Nearly 10 Years

2009-06-16T19:38:01Z

Oh man, I’m so excited for the Blur reunion this summer, even though it seems limited to the UK for now. The first of these new gigs happened on June 13th at the site of their first gig, and from the looks of a few YouTube videos, they sound fantastic.

From NY Mag’s Vulture Blog:

On Saturday, before an audience of 150, Blur played its first concert as a four-piece in a decade, at Essex, England’s East Anglian Railway Museum (it’s where they performed one of their earliest gigs) — and some wonderful person has uploaded video of practically the entire show.

Video of Blur performing ‘There’s no Other Way’ on June 13th.

More Coverage:

[Via HalfAlien]

Flickr: Add a Twitter account [del.icio.us]

2009-06-15T21:10:02-07:00

See you, Twitpic.

HTML-Ipsum [del.icio.us]

2009-06-15T08:56:10-07:00

Lorem Ipsum + HTML container tags = helpful.

Domainr, the domain name search engine [del.icio.us]

2009-06-11T11:40:14-07:00

“Give your domain search a happy ending.”

Anil Dash on ‘The Future of Facebook Usernames’ [del.icio.us]

2009-06-11T11:32:30-07:00

Hilarious satirical prediction about what’s going to happy when Facebook releases vanity URLs this weekend.

Designing Tablet Magazine [del.icio.us]

2009-06-10T07:19:23-07:00

A nice video from designers Prem Krishnamurthy (of Project Projects) and Rob Giampietro, on the launch of Tablet magazine’s website and new identity. (via Khoi)

Legwork Studio / A design studio located in Denver, CO specializing in print, web and motion design. [del.icio.us]

2009-06-03T08:43:50-07:00

Beautiful jQuery-powered portfolio.

Emmanuel Polanco, welcome ! [del.icio.us]

2009-06-03T08:27:48-07:00

Nice collage style.

It’s Nice That [del.icio.us]

2009-06-02T15:39:38-07:00

“It’s Nice That is focused on publicising, promoting and archiving the very best contemporary work from across the creative industry.”

Introducing Typekit

2009-05-28T17:07:15Z

Jeff Veen announced Typekit today, a hosted solution for embedding fonts on the web:

We’ve been working with foundries to develop a consistent web-only font linking license. We’ve built a technology platform that lets us to host both free and commercial fonts in a way that is incredibly fast, smoothes out differences in how browsers handle type, and offers the level of protection that type designers need without resorting to annoying and ineffective DRM.

Soon enough, @font-face CSS at-rule support will come to all major browsers, so use of non-traditional web fonts will increase. If this catches on, the web in 2010 might look a lot different than it does now—I wonder who will be the first major online content provider to use it?

The New New Times Square

2009-05-27T18:35:28Z

Looking north at 42nd Street, in Times Square.

A few colleagues and I walked over to Times Square at lunch to check out the new Broadway—now shut off to cars, it’s another attempt by the city and the Bloomberg administration to reclaim the streets for pedestrians.

The Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussoff says:

Now, standing in the middle of Broadway, you have the sense of being in a big public room, the towering billboards and digital screens pressing in on all sides.

This adds to the intimacy of the plaza itself, which, however undefined, can now function as a genuine social space: people can mill around, ogle one another and gaze up at the city around them without the fear of being caught under the wheels of a cab.

There’s a couple of great slideshows, too. And, don’t miss Michael Crowley’s New York Magazine profile of the woman behind it all, NYC Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.

Al Shaw on Redesigning the Front Page of Talking Points Memo

2009-05-21T16:16:02Z

On Redesigning the Front Page of Talking Points Memo »
Al Shaw talks about some of the design considerations and technical wizardry that went into the face lift of the Liberal-leaning politics blog. Be sure to watch the video demo of the ajaxy front page CMS editor.

The Times Wins 5 Pulitzer Prizes

2009-04-20T21:18:44Z

Photo by Soraya.

The New York Times, my employer, won 5 Pulitzer Prizes today, “for work on subjects as varied as America’s wars in Asia, the sudden downfall of a political titan, art from ancient to modern, and a history-making presidential campaign.”

The interesting one, from my point of view, is the award for breaking the Gov. Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal. No, not because it’s salacious or bawdy, but because the exclusive wasn’t held for the next morning’s paper – it was put up online, on NYTimes.com, in the middle of the day. I think that this will be an important milestone in the evolution of quality journalism.

The Nieman Lab points to a funny anecdote that ran in the NY Observer last year:

Back in the day — you know, five years ago — when a big news story had been written, edited, fact-checked, vetted, proofread, and anguished over one last time, an adrenaline-pumped editor would cry out, “Run it!” As in, the presses.

When The New York Times was ready to report that Eliot Spitzer, then governor of New York, had been implicated in a prostitution ring, managing editor Jill Abramson yelled 20 feet across the newsroom, “O.K., hit it!” As in, the button to publish the story on NYTimes.com.

I love that. Congrats to my colleagues in the news room, and let’s keep it up!

Camera Obscura & DJ Victoria Bergsman, at the Bell House

2009-03-25T23:18:10Z

Victoria Bergsman, DJing at The Bell House in Brooklyn.

Nedward: Victoria Bergsman (formerly of The Concretes) is DJing at The Bell House, much to my delight. Waiting for Camera Obscura!

As big a fan of Camera Obscura as I am, the more interesting bit Tuesday night was a special guest DJ, Victoria Bergsman. A lot of people know her voice as the female counterpoint in Young Folks, the Peter Bjorn and John sing-along hit from a couple of years ago. But she was also the singer in one of my favorite bands, The Concretes. (Camera Obscura fans should check out their eponymous debut album.) She has since left the band, and formed a solo project under the name Taken By Trees, (also a great debut).

Anyhow, I might have been the only person in the crowd that had any idea who she was – or cared – so Lisa encouraged me to say hello. But, I’m just not one of those people who walks up to a famous person, and just gushes in their face. Call it shyness, call it fear of disappointment… the bottom line is that I chickened out.

To make matters worse, Lisa went over to the DJ booth without me, and told Ms. Bergsman that “her friend was a big fan,” but that he “didn’t want to bother her.” Nice. So now I’m shy, and embarrassed.

I don’t really regret it that much, but I would’ve liked to show off some dance moves from The Concretes’ On The Radio video. I’d like to think that she would’ve laughed.

David Letterman Got Married

2009-03-23T22:48:19Z

Wow: David Letterman got married!

A New MoMA.org

2009-03-06T19:23:46Z

Nedward is digging into the new MoMA.org… so far, very intriguing. Fixed nav bars are the new hottness.

I just sent the tweet above a few minutes ago, but wanted to post some more context about it here. MoMA launched a revamped web site today, with a lot of hook-ins to social networking sites like Flickr, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, etc. But, one of the more compelling changes is the addition of a Facebook-style fixed nav bar, at the bottom:

The new MoMA.org, with its fixed navigation bar.

NYTimes.com uses something very similar for TimesPeople, as does Google with their Social Bar. So, this seems to be an emerging trend – and though some point out that it’s not much different of a concept as old HTML framesets, I kind of dig it. Websites have come a long way towards feeling like desktop apps, and this is a good implementation.

The museum’s twitter feed credits MoMA’s internal Digital Media Team and forofficeuseonly.com with the design. Also, for more information on the relaunch, check out the Times article that ran yesterday:

MoMA’s new site, which makes its debut on Friday, is an almost complete reconstruction of how the museum presents itself online. It features livelier images from its collection and exhibitions, increased use of video and the new interactive calendars and maps. But more important, the museum wants the site to transform how the public interacts with an institution that can sometimes seem forbidding and monolithic.

President Obama Unveils New Stimulus Logos

2009-03-04T16:50:00Z

Recovery.gov

The stimulus package is now law, so there are going to be a lot of public works projects in need of a logo, right?

Yesterday, the president unveiled 2 such logos – designed by Mode, Aaron Draplin and Chris Glass. The logos will be stamped on public works funded by the economic stimulus package, FDR style. President Obama said that its intent was to remind Americans that:

When you see them on projects that your tax dollars made possible, let it be a reminder that our government – your government – is doing its part to put the economy back on the road of recovery.

One wonders if the Obama team is going to rebrand the entire Federal government, one agency at a time.

U2 on Letterman, $4 Album Download

2009-03-05T22:16:56Z

U2 kicked-off their historic 5-night residency on David Letterman’s Late Show last night, with a performance of Breathe. They even participated in a little sketch, where Dave had them outside on 53rd Street, shoveling snow.

The residency is to celebrate the release this week of their twelfth studio record, No Line On The Horizon. And it just so happens that you can grab a copy of it in non-DRM MP3 format for $4 from Amazon. I don’t regularly listen to U2 much any more, but this is a great thing for a major-label artist to do, and I’m more than happy to give it a few listens for that price and format.

UPDATE 3/5: Night two, the boys played Magnificent, which sounds like a classic U2 song. Bono needs to treat his voice with more care, though.

The Times on Brooklyn Food, Frank Bruni on Buttermilk Channel

2009-02-27T19:45:12Z

Today’s Times Dining section has some great coverage of Brooklyn food. First, there is a great article on food producers throughout the borough:

These Brooklynites, most in their 20s and 30s, are hand-making pickles, cheeses and chocolates the way others form bands and artists’ collectives. They have a sense of community and an appreciation for traditional methods and flavors. They also share an aesthetic that’s equal parts 19th and 21st century, with a taste for bold graphics, salvaged wood and, for the men, scruffy beards.

Make sure to check out the interactive map, too.

Also, Frank Bruni reviews one of my favorite new restaurants near our home in Brooklyn, Buttermilk Channel, along with an audio slideshow:

Buttermilk Channel [is] a restaurant of real standards, noteworthy ambition and uncommon slavishness to trends. It’s laudable and predictable in equal measures. And it was packed every time I went…

The look of the restaurant, whose corner location affords it pretty windows on two sides, is on the polished side of homey. There’s nicely buffed wood, a spidery brass lighting fixture and a honeyed glow from it and handsome sconces along the walls.

There’s also ample space between tables: the owner, Doug Crowell, isn’t trying just to jam in as many people as possible. But he does ask you to trade some comfort and convenience for the refreshingly low prices.

These few blocks on Court Street are starting to fill with interesting and tasty culinary operations: Buttermilk Channel, Frankie’s Spuntino, and the ~~newly opened and not-yet-visited~~ soon to open Prime Meats.

UPDATE: The Times posted a Q & A between readers and subjects of the Brooklynite food producers piece.

Gondry’s Flight of the Conchords

2009-02-24T17:56:45Z

The first four episodes of season two of Flight of the Conchords were uninspired and forgettable, but that all changed with episode five. Directed by Michel Gondry, the Conchords return to the top with two great songs – the Sausagefest anthem Too Many Dicks on the Dance Floor, and an ode to Jemaine’s ex-girlfriends titled Carol Brown.

I’m just catching up on this season now, but episode six has Kristen Wiig from SNL… omgz!

“When I Grow Up” Video by Fever Ray

2009-02-17T20:37:26Z

When I Grow Up video from Karin Dreijer Andersson’s solo project, Fever Ray.

Publicity shot of Karin Dreijer Andersson.

Karin Dreijer Andersson has a solo album out now, under the name Fever Ray. She is one-half of the sibling pair that is The Knife, and the solo album is very much a continuation of their moody work on Silent Shout.

This is the second Fever Ray video, and it’s a nice compliment to the gothy/creepy visuals in the first video, If I Had a Heart, which was directed by frequent Knife collaborator Andreas Nilsson. (See the video for Silent Shout, and his visuals for their last tour.)

And no, that’s not Karin in the video – she hasn’t appeared regularly in her videos since her days in the Swedish indie band Honey is Cool, in the 90s. (A few notable exceptions include You Take My Breath Away, a chipper duet with former First Floor Power front-woman Jenny Wilson, and her guest vocals on Röyksopp’s club hit What Else is There? No, she’s not the floating chick, but the one sitting at the table, mid-way through.)

Speaking of that Röyksopp song, this video is directed by the same director, Martin de Thurah, a Danish filmmaker that seems to have a thing for effects and screwing around with the laws of physics – beautiful work.

I warmed to the album almost instantly, but seeing the songs come to life in these videos, they’ve started to take on a cinematic quality inside my head. Like all of Karin’s work, some people might be turned off by her singing style or be too quick to dismiss her as Björk-lite. I like this album, and I like it more and more after each listen.

Purchase & Download Fever Ray »

Interview magazine interview with Karin »

The Crash of Flight 3407

2009-02-13T18:16:32Z

CREDIT: Gary Wiepert, Reuters [via]

Last night, Continental Flight 3407 crashed in route from Newark to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, just a few miles from its scheduled destination. The crash site is just five or six miles from where I grew up, in a suburb of Buffalo, NY.

The Buffalo News has a living topic page dedicated to coverage of the event, which they are updating with articles, photos, video and other resources, as they are put up. They also started live blogging the story, and linking to outside resources provided by citizen journalists.

CNN is carrying live video from the local NBC affliate.

My heart goes out to the victims, their families and the nearby communities. It’s important to remember that these things rarely happen, but when they do, especially so close to home, it’s impossible not to feel sad.

Michael Bierut on the Move from the “Drawing Board to the Desktop”

2009-02-09T20:03:25Z

From Michael Bierut’s piece in the Times this weekend, Drawing Board to the Desktop: A Designer’s Path:

All of us assumed that these machines [computers] were just fancy hybrids of typewriters and calculators. We did all the artwork with rubber cement, colored paper and paint. We had no idea, but we were looking at the beginning of the end, and the end came quickly.

Michael is a partner at Pentagram, and blogs regularly at Design Observer.

The Weekender

2009-02-05T19:50:27Z

This is a pretty good parody of the New York Times Weekender commercials, that play on basic cable stations throughout the Tri-State area and New England. Appearances by Paul Rudd, Eugene Mirman, and The State/Stella alumni Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain. It makes me want to go see some comedy at 92YTribeca.

Also, I must find something besides the Times to blog about.

[via NYMag]

A New Whitehouse.gov, and New Typefaces

2009-01-20T20:44:21Z

As of noon today, we have a new president, as well as a new WhiteHouse.gov. The much-admired, Gotham-based typographical identity is gone, but as Jason Santa Maria points out, the designers went instead with two other typefaces from the same foundry: Whitney and Hoefler Text.

Another major redesign this week also involved the use of Whitney: kottke.org – though you’ll need to have the font installed on your machine in order to see it.

Which begs the question, Is Whitney the new Gotham? (Seems like just yesterday we were asking, Is Gotham the New Interstate?)

Hoefler+Frere-Jones is on a roll.