Today, January 18th, is a day of internet strike against censorship. Next week Congress is voting on one bill that will pass internet censorship in the U.S. There are two bills, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House and PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate, that would largely affect Americans’ access to information online. These bills would put companies like GetCreative in legal trouble if we linked to a site anywhere online that had any links to copyright infringement (source).
If there is one thing designers love it is a good font used properly. When you pick a font to use, do you consider the readability? The lines? The shape and personality of the text? Choosing the correct font is a process, one that varies for every designer, and should not be taken for granted! Today’s roundup is a group of wintry fonts for fun. If you are ordering your Holiday Cards or creating a party invitation, consider one of these fonts to get your message across. Links to download are provided below, but remember to read and follow copyright instructions. Enjoy!
While maybe not the most exciting part of any job, data backup is a vital aspect of many professions. Done right, backing up your data can be a painless and hands-off process that provides you with peace of mind. There are many options and services available, and the best method of backup varies based on the type and size of data you need to store.
I’m a little later than last year in getting these fall photos to you, but it is safe to say we are definitely in the throes of autumn here in Virginia. The above photo was taken at gorgeous Morris Orchard, where we have gotten our pumpkins the past two years. Speaking of pumpkins, below is a lovely collection (look at those great stems!) to dress up your desktop.
In the past we’ve discussed maintaining your business while on vacation, but what about taking your work on the road? I spent last week away from my physical office, but without taking time off. With some advanced planning and the right tools, working away from home can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
Inspired by a desire to update you after my recent blogging hiatus, I have created a new post series called ‘The List’. These posts will be a collection of random things that have caught my eye in the past week or two. The List will include an update on what some GetCreative clients are up to, some goodies from ‘the internets’ (as my husband says), and anything that seems worth mentioning. If it provokes a smile, makes my life easier or is generally awesome- I will share it here.
Today I’ll talk a bit about time management, specifically The Pomodoro Technique. For those not familiar, this simple technique uses timed 25 minute intervals of work followed by rest periods to enhance productivity and prevent burnout. Named for a timer in the shape of a tomato (pomodoro, in Italian), this method was first introduced by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s (Wikipedia).
Today’s find is a handy tool for configuring website layouts. Design Shack recently posted a helpful article on website layouts featuring Flexie. Flexie offers support for the Flexible Box Model, a CSS3 tool that may just be the future foundation of website layouts. Much like tables are a layout tool of the past, today’s use of the ‘float’ attribute may soon be behind us as well.
The newest face in the social networking arena has created quite a stir, but many are waiting it out to see how Google+ performs before joining this new community. Trepidation is a reasonable reaction to this new platform, as Google’s last two attempts at social media (Wave and Buzz) fell short of the mark by a long shot. The reception so far, though, seems overwhelmingly optimistic and users are promoting the new community with 85% positive feedback. What will make the biggest difference, I believe, is how well thought-out and ready for execution this new social network really is.
As I hinted at last week previously, I have a great resource for background patterns to share with you. The simple program for creating backgrounds at BGPatterns.com has become one of my favorite tools lately. The possibilities are endless, with results ranging from sleek and polished to grungy vintage. Read on to see details and more examples of this great resource.
