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Design Inspiration Sites

When starting a new design project, I always like to look around at what is happening on the cutting edge of web design.  On the edge you will find the use of the newest technologies. These designers experiment with the latest tools and techniques in graphics software. There you will find trends in aesthetics, branding and marketing.

Here are a list of a few sites I like to visit for web design inspiration:

Be sure to look at the logos, typeface, colors, and formatting of the ones you like. Distinguish between Flash and CSS sites. Watch for animation, interactivity, and functionality. View/Page Source and try to figure out how it’s built. Happy designing!

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What is an ISP?

Question:

I wanted to ask you why do we need a ISP service?  What does ISP service mean?  Is godaddy or kionic an ISP service?  Is godaddy the same thing is kionic??  And I was wondering do we have to sign up with kionic or could I sign up with godaddy instead kionic?

Answer:

An ISP is an Internet Service Provider. Both Godaddy and Kionic are ISPs. ISPs host your website, and offer software and services, such as email accounts, spam filtering software, and blog software support. We will be implementing these in the course. The packages that each ISP offers will differ in terms of price, services, and quality of customer care offered.
I am currently recommending Kionic for multiple reasons. I have used them for a number of years, and I find their quality of service is very good and consistent. The price that they offer is quite competitive. And I am creating a relationship with them for us as a group, so if we as a class run into problems, they will work quickly to fix those difficulties. Should their services be unsatisfactory, either individually or as a group, it allows you/us to go elsewhere.
You can sign up with any ISP of your choosing.  The school also offers server space to students. I will be teaching the course based on the services that I know Kionic offers.  Particularly, they offer easy-install WordPress, which is blogging software.  If you choose another ISP and have technical difficulties implementing blogging software, or email accounts, for instance, my ability to solve your problems will be limited.  It will be your account, and the other company may not be as responsive to your technical difficulties. I will not have any influence to step in on your behalf.
One of the goals of the course is to offer real world experiences in all aspects of web design. Managing a vendor, like an ISP, and implementing technology through an administrator interface are an important experiences. They will be great talking points when you are interviewing for a job at a small, medium, or large company, or if you decide to run your own design firm.

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Domain Name Search

When searching for an available domain name through a domain registration service there is the risk that your chosen url will be snatched up by a domainer if you wait to purchase it.  Domainers are those individuals or companies who buy and park urls with the hope that others wanting a specific url will pay a premium for them. Many domain registration companies track url searches on their site, and sell that information to domainers.

Here is a way you can find out whether a domain is available without domainers knowing that you are interested in a specific url. It gives you a little time to think carefully about which names you prefer.

On your Mac, go into Applications/Utilities/Network Utility.app.


Launch the Network Utility application, and select the Whois tab.


In the first input textbox, type in the domain name you are searching for. Make sure whois.internic.net is selected in the dropdown list of the second textbox. Click on the blue Whois button (on the right) to start the search.  This search may take a minute or so.


The results will indicate whether the domain name you were searching for is available to be registered, or if someone else has already registered it.

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Assignments for ADV3650 Advanced Web Design

This section lists and describes the assignments and homework required for the Advanced Web Design course.  I may add information early and then tweak the information as the due date approaches, so be sure to check back at least one week prior to the due date to ensure you have the latest requirements.

Feel free to post questions here, in the comments section.  However, if your question is related to homework due for the next class, please email me instead.

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Welcome to Dan’s Blog!

This blog has been created for the students at CityTech, to give an update on facts, events, and experiences which I’ve found particularly insightful. Please feel free to give feedback, ask questions, or enlighten others with some of your thoughts.

Creative thinking is what counts.

Best,

dan