Bloggy | Musings from a Graphic Design Studio

Is Google+ a game changer?

You hear it said a lot but I honestly believe this could be the game changer. For anyone who works in marketing, PR, small business or just takes an active interest in social media and the web, you'll know that sometimes it can become really tiring having to think about all the different channels you need to stream your information through. You have to remember what you said where and when, as well as ensure that next to each blog post or content entry you have the Facebook Like but...

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New sketching medium set to save time?

Recently my love of the trusty sketch pad and pencil has suffered a blow by the purchase of a stylus for my iPad and Adobe Ideas app. Before all the traditionalist sketchers get up in arms, I haven't put the 2B down for good, but here are a few things I've found the Adobe Ideas app can do: The interface is simple and well designed, with all controls located down the side of the screen to use with your non-drawing hand. There are more complex drawing apps available but I was surp...

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Mobile site design: part 1.

Designing for mobiles is a whole new ball game. When redesigning a mobile version of a website two of the main considerations are simplification and hierarchy. Deciding what content should be included in the mobile site (and what can be culled) and how the content should be ordered is key! Compared to desktop and laptop computers, mobile screens are much smaller, internet speed is slower and the way we interact with mobile devices is totally different. Touch screens replace the key...

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Personas - web design gets personal.

As designers, developers and account managers, we might know what looks great, sounds informative and functions well to us, but not all people are the same and we need to ensure the user experience is right for the target audience. One way to really get down to the nitty gritty of 'what users' want' is by creating personas - fact based characterisations of the people who currently are using, or who will potentially use, our clients' sites...

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Content: the (new) king.

Shortly after I completed my graphic design studies, at the end of the 90's, I got an insatiable fascination for the web. The layers of problem solving that go into making an interface that is not only usable, but also pleasurable to use, saw me working long into the nights, tinkering away at my own projects to gain knowledge in a field that was seriously lacking in solid educational options. Now with over a decade of web design experience I have learnt a lot! We all have...

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iStrategy conference round up.

I recently attended iStrategy, a global digital media conference, held in San Fran, Atlanta, Amsterdam and Melbourne. Billed as an inspirational, 2 day digital media conference for senior executives who believe that the success of their business requires a sound digital strategy I found it had some great real-time practical examples of digital strategy. Here are my favourite take-aways from the event...

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Is your website mobile?

We all know that the web design industry involves plenty of change, and a continuous adaption and development of skills are required in order to stay up to date. In the past few years, one of the biggest areas of change has been the amount of internet users who are accessing websites via smart phones and tablet devices like the iPad. Ensuring that your web design is compatible across platforms and devices is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. It’s safe to say that most users will...

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Approved membership to Team Australia.

We have just received exciting news that a long time member of our Philter family has been approved residency in Australia! Jo, our talking type and an all-round delightful English lass found out the good news last week. This was such fantastic news to receive on humpday of all days. So in celebration, the team held an impromptu gathering with Sparkle Cupcakes and Moet in the lounge-room, while Dexter serenaded her with 'I Still Call Australia Home'. We would like you all to raise...

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The important questions to ask.

I've been thinking recently how branding no longer just encompasses a company, but each and every campaign that is run. Every campaign you do needs to be developed with the same thought processes and with the same level of research that was first put into developing your company’s branding way back when. Often when you consider stopping and really thinking about something it indicates larger amounts of money and time. Sure it may take a little more time, although quite often it...

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Dexter's got game.

We recently welcomed a new addition to the Philter team - tall, dark and impossibly handsome, we like to call him Dexter. Born and raised in the back of a shed in downtown Sydney, Dexter is the brainchild of our art director Ben and technical lead Byron. They set out with one goal - to create the greatest arcade machine the world has ever seen! A grand unveiling was held last month to welcome Dex to the team. Drinks were had, battles were fought and music was played...

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interesting bits and bobs about design, web and social media - the useful, the useless and everything in between.