w

How to restart a blog after five years

This is not the post I had planned for resuming my blog. I had in mind a lengthy article about design and its role in communication at this point in digital evolution. Deep. Thought-provoking. But I know that it’s better to start with ideas that are a little less ambitious in scope. Plus, to tell you […]




w

Recent Work: TADTas website

The internet holds a lot of potential for non-profits to get their message out, build an audience and raise money. Using the web to tell stories about helping people in need can be very effective for a non-profit organisation looking for new avenues to generate income and build support in other ways such as a […]




w

How not to overwhelm people

When you’re putting together information (for customers, or your target audience) how much is too much? Details, details. Is it better to go light or heavy on the details? You want to be open and forthcoming with information, but on the other hand you don’t want to overwhelm people, do you? Here’s a good way to […]




w

What every business must do (and designers even more so)

What should all businesses do at least once, and do properly, and (like the title of this blog post suggests) designers need to do repeatedly? The answer is: Understanding the target market they’re catering to. Sure, that makes sense—but why are graphic designers any different? Why do this repeatedly? When you’re in business, you’re in the […]




w

Design checklist: What clients should provide their designer

Hello! I have updated this very popular post to include a free downloadable PDF of this checklist.  Preparation is key to successful management of any project, and design projects are no different. The more preparation that both client and designer do right at the start, the more smoothly the work will go. I find checklists […]




w

Password Rules Are Bullshit

Of the many, many, many bad things about passwords, you know what the worst is? Password rules.




w

To Serve Man, with Software

I didn't choose to be a programmer. Somehow, it seemed, the computers chose me. For a long time, that was fine, that was enough; that was all I needed. But along the way I never felt that being a programmer was this unambiguously great-for-everyone career field with zero downsides. There




w

What does Stack Overflow want to be when it grows up?

I sometimes get asked by regular people in the actual real world what it is that I do for a living, and here's my 15 second answer:

We built a sort of Wikipedia website for computer programmers to post questions and answers. It's called Stack Overflow.

As of last month,




w

An Exercise Program for the Fat Web

When I wrote about App-pocalypse Now in 2014, I implied the future still belonged to the web. And it does. But it's also true that the web has changed a lot in the last 10 years, much less the last 20 or 30.

Websites have gotten a lot … fatter.

While




w

Building a PC, Part IX: Downsizing

Hard to believe that I've had the same PC case since 2011, and my last serious upgrade was in 2015. I guess that's yet another sign that the PC is over, because PC upgrades have gotten really boring. It took 5 years for me to muster up the initiative to





w

New Branding & Website Design Launched for Enterprise High School in Clearwater, Florida

We recently completed a full rebrand and website design project for Enterprise High School, a charter school located in Clearwater,...continue reading






w

Fort Myers Brewery Website Launch for Coastal Dayz Brewery

Located in Downtown Fort Myers, just steps from the Caloosahatchee River and a short drive away from the Gulf coast...continue reading




w

New website design launch for Automated Irrigation Systems in Zionsville, Indiana

We’re delighted to launch the first ever website for this local irrigation company that has been around since 1989! Automated...continue reading




w

Website Design for Physician Led Access Network

PLAN is a referral network program of 250 volunteer physicians, community clinics, hospitals and other affiliated health care providers who...continue reading




w

Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida Website Design Launch

We recently completed a website design and development project for Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida. This National Health Service...continue reading




w

Website Design in Naples Florida for Jeff Wilson Pool Services

We recently launched a redesigned website for Jeff Wilson Pool Service in Naples, Florida to continue to expand on their...continue reading




w

Book Review: The Cheese Monkeys

The Cheese Monkeys is the coming of age story of a teen boy (who we only know by his nickname, “Happy”.) As he enters a midwest state school to study art in the late 50’s. First off, I’ll admit that I’m a fan of coming of age stories. All the good ones usually follow a protagonist who […]




w

Good Cop & Bad Cop: Laying Down the Law and Keeping People Happy As an Independent Business Owner

Earlier this week I met up for coffee with a client of mine. The two of us originally met when his employeer was my client and after leaving that job he hired me to customize his personal blog and we formed our own client/designer relationship. I was excited when he emailed me last week with the […]




w

Hand Drawn Typography at Refresh Seattle

Refresh Seattle – February 2014 First off, what is Refresh? According to their website… Refresh Seattle is a community of designers and developers working to refresh the creative, technical, and professional culture of New Media endeavors in the Seattle/Puget Sound area. Promoting design, technology, usability, and standards, Refresh Seattle is a part of Refresh and […]




w

She’s Geeky: My First Unconference & Having Feels about Solidarity Between Women in Tech

This Friday I attended the first day of She’s Geeky here in Seattle. It was my first experience of the Unconference Format and I had no idea what to expect, but ended up having a GREAT TIME. Discussions that I joined in on throughout the day included subjects such as Impostor Syndrome, Diversity Groups, Side- […]




w

I’m a Sex Geek — deal with it.

It says it right there in my Twitter bio, I am a Sex Geek. It’s a term that was coined and made popular by renowned sex educator Reid Mihalko and I’ve been one since before there even WAS a term for it. A Sex Geek is much like a geek of any other flavor. Geekiness […]




w

Getting My Butt in Gear with Digital Strategy School!

I have been running CMD+Shift Design since 2008. In those 7 years I learned a lot, I made a lot of mistakes, found some amazing clients, did some really fun projects and made some good money. I’ve had ups and downs and these past 2 years have been tough… really tough. Part of it has […]




w

Let’s talk about how much I suck at business lately….

A couple weeks ago, I saw a tweet come through my Twitter timeline from my buddy Tim Smith, a designer and podcaster saying, “2014 was my worst year in freelance. My business revenue declined by ~10k.” I immediately related, but hesitated to reply. Who wants to talk about their failures? Business being slow is actually pretty […]




w

Making Dark Theme Switcher With PostCSS

https://css-tricks.com/making-dark-theme-switcher-with-postcss/




w

How To Design An Iconic Logo

https://www.noupe.com/design/how-to-design-an-iconic-logo.html




w

Should Designers Learn How to Code?

https://thenextweb.com/growth-quarters/2020/05/08/should-designers-learn-how-to-code-syndication/




w

WebAssembly Online Checker

https://wasm.joway.io/




w

Microsoft bundled its beautiful Bing wallpapers into a free Android app

https://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2020/05/08/microsoft-bundled-its-beautiful-bing-wallpapers-into-a-free-android-app/




w

Say Hello to Something Awesome

https://uxdesign.cc/saying-goodbye-to-yesterday-and-hello-to-something-awesome-636362789e84




w

How To Build A Vue Survey App Using Firebase Authentication And Database

https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2020/05/vue-survey-app-firebase-authentication-database/




w

Building a Crossword Puzzle Generator with JavaScript

https://mitchum.blog/building-a-crossword-puzzle-generator-with-javascript/




w

Why Stealing Best Landing Pages Is a Bad Idea

https://hren.io/blog/stealing-best-landing-pages/




w

New Logo for Noise

https://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/new_logo_for_noise.php




w

Pandemic Creativity: Edible Versions of Famous Artworks

https://kottke.org/20/05/pandemic-creativity-edible-versions-of-famous-artworks




w

10 Best Content Scheduling Tools for WordPress

https://line25.com/wordpress-plug-ins/content-scheduling-tools-for-wordpress




w

When Figma Isn’t Enough for Product Teams

https://blog.pixelic.io/pixelic-for-figma/




w

OpenCV Directly in the Browser (WebAssembly and webworker)

https://aralroca.com/blog/opencv-in-the-web




w

10 Tools That Will Help Your Remote Design Team Stay On The Same Page

If you weren’t working on a remote team before, well, chances are that you probably are now! I know that I love working from home, but when you first start working remotely, it can start as a bit of a challenge. Of course, it has its pros and cons, but it’s just a learning curve. […]

Read More at 10 Tools That Will Help Your Remote Design Team Stay On The Same Page




w

7 Biggest Mistakes Freelance Designers Make That Will Ruin Their Career

When you’re a freelancer and you start to work directly with your clients, there’s something crucial you need to know. Your design is not the one and only, most important aspect of the transaction. While presenting your client with an amazing design is the final goal, there are a lot of other things at stake […]

Read More at 7 Biggest Mistakes Freelance Designers Make That Will Ruin Their Career




w

We Redesigned Web Design Ledger – Here’s It Is!

The news is true, we completely redesigned the best blog in the world, Web Design Ledger! Okay, maybe we’re a little bit biased, but there’s no denying that the new web design layout is amazing. We are so excited to show you guys the finished product. Let me just hit you with the most satisfying […]

Read More at We Redesigned Web Design Ledger – Here’s It Is!




w

10 Websites and Apps All Designers Should Be Using

As a designer, we’re overloaded with choices every day, but there are some apps that are absolutely worth your time and investment. Finding the best ones and most useful ones can be a difficult task, so we’re going to make things easy for you and give you our top 10 apps and websites we couldn’t […]

Read More at 10 Websites and Apps All Designers Should Be Using




w

The invisible injury: How concussions have changed our lives

'It can happen to you anywhere, at any moment, and just change your world'




w

Reducing brain damage in sport without losing the thrills

When Olympic gold medallist Shona McCallin was hit on the side of her head by a seemingly innocuous shoulder challenge, she suffered what was originally thought to be a concussion.




w

Invisible Disabilities: Break Down The Barriers

Many people think the word “disability” means people who require a wheelchair or walker. In reality, however, there is much more to disability than meets the eye. 




w

Trump officials say people with disabilities must not be denied lifesaving coronavirus care

Patients with disabilities must receive the same level of lifesaving medical treatment from hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic as able-bodied patients, the Trump administration said.




w

Coronavirus pandemic could inflict emotional trauma and PTSD on an unprecedented scale, scientists warn

Researchers are warning that the coronavirus pandemic could inflict long-lasting emotional trauma on an unprecedented global scale. They say it could leave millions wrestling with debilitating psychological disorders while dashing hopes for a swift economic recovery.




w

Emilia Clarke to Host Virtual Dinner With Donors Who Pledge Money for Coronavirus Relief

Today, the Game of Thrones star announced that 12 random people will get to win a virtual dinner with her. She’s asking people to donate money to her charity SameYou, which helps people heal from brain injuries and strokes. Pledges will be used to assist brain injury survivors in recuperating at home, who have been asked to leave hospitals to make room for coronavirus patients.