Antonio always publishes practical tutorials on web creation techniques and approaches to the medium and now he’s compiled it all in one free eBook with topics ranging from CSS, HTML, Ajax, web programming, Mootools, Scriptaculous and and so much more.
If you share the love for photography and were a JPG member, it was undoubtedly likely that you would become a better photographer by expanding your knowledge and photographic skill set. Each issue is packed with inspirational photos, informative how to’s, and fascinating interviews but this morning I received an unfortunate email informing that the community-driven magazine is saying goodbye:
We’ve spent the last few months trying to make the business behind JPG sustain itself, and we’ve reached the end of the line. We all deeply believe in everything JPG represents, but just weren’t able to raise the money needed to keep JPG alive in these extraordinary economic times. We sought out buyers, spoke with numerous potential investors, and pitched several last-ditch creative efforts, all without success. As a result, jpgmag.com will shut down on Monday, January 5, 2009.
Simple web application for a different approach in viewing Flickr photos. Just add the Flickr username to the URL and you’re set. (via Jim Whimpey)
Flip Mino Icon: In a desperate attempt to find an icon to replace the default Disk Image of his Flip Mino but with no avail, Tim Van Damme did what any designer would be incline to do. He designed his own and has made it available to everyone. Simply stunning!
My criteria for purchasing a magazine is based primarily on 3 things: how constructive the content is, how it’s presented to the reader and whether the material will be worth saving to reference back on if I enjoyed it the first time. Lately we’ve been picking up every issue of Real Simple magazine, a monthly publication about living simply, avoiding consumerism, cooking frugally and basically enjoying lifes small pleasures that come for free. All the articles are very informative and what I find noteworthy is that there’s always at least one story that you can relate to and apply seamlessly to your life.
But aside from all the useful tips, the one element that I was immediately drawn to about this magazine was the beautiful design and photography displayed in every single page. I’m not trying to sell you a subscription but if you’ve never skimmed through an issue before, I highly recommend you flip the pages on one without even buying it. Even the advertisements and annoying subscription inserts are handled gracefully and are not distracting. Ron Reason, the creative director of the magazine explains:
We spend a lot of time selecting photographs for the page, making sure the content is balanced, the images are arresting, and that there’s a diversity of color and style… so that it stands out in the middle of a bombardment of celebrity, screaming headlines. #
As a person with a background in design, the refine use of typography for both headlines and copy text is something that I find aesthetically pleasing and which others readers may deem inconsequential. For inspiration on any project, I always have at least 4 issues on m desk.
I do have to note that while the magazine’s target audience is women, that doesn’t take away the fact that the information provided can be distributed and read by anyone who appreciates the concept of simplifying their life and essentially “Getting Things Done” and doing them in new ways.