June 2007 Archives
June 14, 2007
In a recent article in Computer Active with one of Britain’s resellers of domain names, UK2-net they claim that the registration of new web addresses has dropped because of a shortage in names.
It is now becoming more common for people to buy an old domain name that is no longer in use than a new one because it is so hard to find a domain name that hasn’t previously been registered. If the previous registrant of a domain name does not re-register the name it goes on hold for 60 days. The original registrant can re-register their domain name, but after this timescale it goes back on general sale.
Although many of the more common domain names have already been bought, it has led to people becoming more creative when thinking of names. When choosing a domain name a dictionary and thesaurus are your most useful tools. By combining different words together it is much easier to find a unique domain name that hasn’t already been registered. It is also common practice to include some of the primary search keywords that you are targeting in to the domain name, but be weary of making it too long and difficult to remember.
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Written by Oliver Coningham | June 14, 2007
June 08, 2007
With all the negative press that the new logo for the Olympics has received, I cannot help but feel people are being made to feel ashamed for liking it. When I first saw the new logo, I, like most other people, was shocked. However, before long I found myself beginning to warm to it and have now found myself falling in love with it.
And my reasons? I think it’s perfect. When you look past the initial reactions to it, past the comments of “my 5-year daughter could have drawn that”, or the references to sex acts or Nazi symbols, it is a work of art. I feel it does not need to feature some iconic image of London or the Olympics—we do not need it spelt out for us.
It’s bold, vibrant, youthful and above all, it’s different. When you compare it to past Olympic logos, they look dull and lifeless in comparison. The logo’s designers have created a powerful symbol with real character that will be instantly recognisable.
For ten reasons why you should love the new logo please read an article by the Cloudal Partners.
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Written by Oliver Coningham | June 08, 2007
June 03, 2007
There is a new trend on the horizon in the web design industry. It’s not another useless acronym or another form of social networking. And no, it’s not even a design style like the shiny, reflective text and rounded corners of Web 2.0. The future is bright, the future is green.
Web designers and design studios are slowly becoming aware of the environment and the issue of climate change. There is now a definite trend of web designers and studios labelling themselves as “green”, whether or not this is just band-wagon hopping, or a genuine passion for the environment remains to be seen.
Compared with other industries, the design sector is far behind. Imagine the quantity of paper used each year, the number of ink cartridges used and thrown out and the amount of electricity used to keep our offices running. However, we can reduce the damage we have already caused by doing simple things such as cycling to work, using energy saving light bulbs and using recycled materials.
Thinking about the environment was never the first thing that came to mind when I design a web site, but after researching this article I have become more aware of how my work affects the environment. In the future, expect to see initial design concepts design sketched on the back of an email printed on recycled paper! Or maybe I’ll just buy you a cup of Fairtrade tea instead.
Green design can only be a good thing with more designers becoming environmentally aware. However, in the same way that many web design companies adapted their home pages to show that their services included web standards, I predict many sites will be adding green design to the list. For further reading please visit my del.icio.us links at http://del.icio.us/oconingham/environment.
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Written by Oliver Coningham | June 03, 2007
