Posted by Phil on November 8, 2007 – 11:16 pm
I love eating waffles. They are by far my favorite breakfast food. After going through several waffle makers, we took the plunge a few years back and purchased this little model and could not be happier. It’s a Villaware we picked-up at Williams-Sonoma and we’ve been in breakfast heaven since. Constructed of heavy medal parts, non-stick surface and a built-in alarm to alert you when those tasty, golden brown creations are ready; it’s a dream to use. This appliance is well-built in every way.
Whether in architecture or web design, there’s a long-standing debate over form vs. function. Is it really one or the other? The collective whole becomes the measuring stick. Take this waffle iron for instance. Surely the sleek style and chrome finish make it an attractive purchase. But the heavy construction adds a sense of confidence that this puppy will serve us well for a good long while.
This reality affects your and my life on a daily basis. Do you shop Wal-Mart or Target more often and why? Wal-Mart has traditionally been the cheapest but, which is more stylish? Which store would you rather walk into? Does style affect your purchasing decisions? If you knew you could spend far less and get the same product at Wal-Mart would you?
Marketing is everywhere because it is so effective. In reality, we do judge a book by it’s cover. In fact, we purchase items quite often due to their packaging. We are just wired that way.
I love design. It just tastes good. When I get in my 1995 Toyota Camry with over 180,000 miles on it and cruise to work like it just rolled off the lot, I enjoy the design of the fine machine. It’s as smooth a ride as ever.
Like a well-prepared meal that is a feast to the eyes and nourishment to the body, design tastes good. It’s hard to describe but you know it when you see it.
What comes to your mind when you think of a deliciously designed product or possession?
Posted by Phil on September 19, 2007 – 10:46 pm
If you are a regular reader, you’ll notice much has changed here at ThoughtSparks.net. The most obvious and encompassing aspect is the new template. There are several reasons that led me to apply a new design.
- I’m a perfectionist and just wasn’t happy with the last one.
- The old design had too many plug-ins and was becoming unwieldy to customize.
- The new design affords more space with an extra column.
- With the launch of TechFires.com, I wanted a site that had some similar feel to it while still maintaining its own look and feel.
- The logo works so much better against black.
- What the heck, it’s just fun to change.
- The top navigation was a bit cramped.
- I wanted a slightly more minimalist, clean look.
- It’s a cathartic experience to let go of an old design.
- The new design just feels more professional.
I will undoubtedly execute further tweaks, but here she is for better or worse. So what do you think? Thumbs up or thumbs down?
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Posted by Phil on March 19, 2007 – 8:13 pm
OK, so I’m still doing some design on the Thoughtsparks Logo. Number two and three are another Option. Any thoughts? I appreciate your feedback. Still working through look and feel for thoughtsparks.net. Which color scheme? is the question mark with "sparks" the way to go? Do I use a different mark for the icon?
Posted by Phil on February 21, 2007 – 3:42 pm
This evening for fun, I taught my nine and 11 year-old girls how to convert binary numbers to decimal and back to binary. They got the concept in about 20 minutes which shows what a little attention from a parent and enthusiasm of a youngster can do. It was fun to watch my oldest going on to do a few more IP addresses just for kicks. I showed them one of my style sheets and how I use hexidecimal conversion every day in web design.
A week ago friday I got an RSS News Feed working for my work. Not a difficult thing really, took me a half-day focused attention, but I had a similar delight in understanding something new and getting it to work.
The same wonder I have with problem solving and technology I want to pass on to my children. Get really good at what you really like to do and you’ll never work a day in your life. People will pay you to do what you are passionate about. I really believe that and it’s exciting to teach my children to do the same. Their creative minds come-up with innovative ways of looking at things. They enjoy creating new crafts or building new things in the backyard.
What fun life is for those who approach it with wonder and excitement.
Posted by Phil on February 6, 2007 – 3:46 pm
Technology can seem so complex, but in truth the greatest challenge is to not over complicate the matter. Programming clean code, designing a sharp website, presenting a succinct marketing message can be accomplished with relatively straight forward creative development. Yes, that’s the challenge. The essentials, the bear necessities…William of Occam in the 14th century said it best, "entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem" Translated this means, "entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity". The deeper I get into the technical and creative world, the more true this becomes. It has become my mantra, my constant companion for all projects. The KISS method, Keep It Simple Sister. The problem arises that new variables are added to projects all the time, i.e. scope creep. How does one account for this inevitable reality? In development, rather than coding to the content, code to the type of data. What are the common threads for all types of content? Simplicity makes way for scalability. In design, consistency makes way for flexibility. In messaging, focus makes way for creative expression. Containing oneself and the urge to let entities run amok will prove effective. The most powerful word in the English language? "No."