Samantha:
At Phase2, open source web development is a big part of our culture and our mindset. The idea of giving back to a community to support the greater good has a lot of potential, and it really energizes me as a designer. Last week the League of Movable Type, a community for Open Source Typography relaunched their website and with it came a lot of talk about giving things away for free, and it got me thinking about the potential of open zource as a concept in mainstream society.
Posted 11/15/2011 - 09:46
Samantha:
Using the right tool for the job is the key to efficient design, and most of the projects I work on usually require heavy use of Photoshop. Recently I was challenged with an internal project at Phase2 than required me to dig back into illustrator, an application that I only mildly use for vector graphics that I usually import into my web designs
While reacquainting myself with the finer aspects of the Bézier curve I discovered three fancy new features included in Illustrator CS5 which are not only amazing, but change the way I will permanently work.
Posted 10/12/2011 - 06:53
Samantha:
Design is the culmination of thousands of tiny decisions that are weighed against various user, client, and technical requirements. Every visual element of a website is the product of a laborious thought process that a web designer goes through to make sure that all of the above can be met and each of the elements come together to reach a holistic, beautiful composition.
Posted 08/17/2011 - 13:39
Samantha:
At Phase2 style tiles are an important part of our design process. They provide us with a communication tool that helps us to understand out client's vision and achieve their goals through visual design. I recently wrote a post explaining where style tiles came from, what they are and how a designer can integrate them into their process.
Posted 04/25/2011 - 16:15
Samantha:
Web typography has become a buzz word over the last two years, but what does it really mean for you?
Posted 04/18/2011 - 09:49
Samantha:
This non-profit organization has been a fixture in the Washington, DC, creative industry for more than 50 years. Over the past decade in particular, their predominantly print-oriented roots have started encompassing the online realm, and so this all-volunteer organization was needing some new technology infrastructure to accommodate their membership.
Posted 04/01/2011 - 12:35
Samantha:
One of the most important, often overlooked, aspects of web design is working with clients. Looking back at my transition from design school to the real world I was a little shocked in how much input clients have on a final solution. Many designers can see this as a challenge, but at Phase2 we embrace the prospect of collaboration and see our clients as an essential part of the web design project.
Posted 03/14/2011 - 16:28
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Samantha:
If you are a web designer, there is no shortage of inspirational and educational design conferences available for you to speak at or attend. Ranging from practical to theoretical, thousands of attendees to a hundred, conferences are a great way to get away from your computer screen and make connections with other designers... in person.
Posted 10/11/2010 - 16:00
Samantha:
There is nothing more frustrating than going to a website that is hard to navigate or poorly designed. Users seek information and when that information is difficult to access, it causes a breakdown in communication, frustration, and a bad experience.
Posted 05/25/2010 - 14:11
// 1 comment
Samantha:
Each year in Austin, one of the most epic gathering of tech minds happens at SXSW Interactive. This year I represented Phase2 Technology both as a speaker and as an excited participant. According to PCMag.com, there were 15,000 attendees making this year's event the most attended on record. It was my Fifth time at the festival, and by far my favorite. From more intriguing panel topics to a wider variety of industry professionals to network with, the entire experience was top-notch.
Posted 03/23/2010 - 10:01
