Blog
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20 Things About Browsers
The Google team, or more specifically the Google Chrome Team have posted a wonderfully quaint introduction to browsers at 20thingsilearned.com in the form of an illustrated e-book. Putting aside the funky typesetting decisions for a moment, it’s interesting for three reasons.
Firstly, all those fancy page turn transitions and little animations (traditionally something people would use Flash to accomplish) are all implemented with CSS3 which puts this squarely in the HTML5 camp. Online magazine/book style viewers have been around for a few years and while their overall usefulness and usability can be called into question, this does further illustrate the constantly decreasing relevance of Flash.
Secondly, it’s a reminder of just how important browsers are to Google, and how important it is that ordinary people know what one is. On the face of it that may sound crazy, surely everyone knows what a browser is these days. However, If you’ve ever had a friend of family member “lose the internet” because they misplaced the “blue e” icon then you’ll know what I mean. These are the people who create most of Google’s revenue and to maintain a competitive advantage with the tools and services they offer, they need to somehow let the masses know that the “blue e” isn’t the Internet, and that Google Chrome is a better, more advanced window onto the World Wide Web.
Thirdly, Google is going head to head with Microsoft and Apple these days as they attempt to pitch the open web as the operating system. As far as I know, Google Chrome is the only browser to ever have its own dedicated TV Ad Campaign so they’re clearly ready and willing to spend a lot of cash promoting their strategy, but the need to explain something so ubiquitous illustrates just how unique a problem they have to tackle. You don’t see Microsoft publishing “This is a computer” articles and there’s no owners manual with iPhones or iPads. It’s odd that something most people use hundreds of times a day is still so greatly misunderstood.
Back to the article in question though. It’s an interesting read and even hyper-super-giga-geeks like me should give it a once over. It never hurts to brush up on the fundamentals and what with all the new frameworks and buzz words being bandied around these days it’s easy to lose track of what the internet is and what it’s for.
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The Times George W Bush timeline
Timeline of George W Bush’s tenure in the Whitehouse, produced for The Times for thetimes.co.uk and iPad Edition for today’s world exclusive. Viewable on The Times website here.
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Intro sequence for Eureka iPad app
The Times have released an iPad special edition of their monthly science supplement Eureka Magazine, featuring an animated intro sequence by Applied Works.
The sequence builds on the app’s graphic interface of interconnected hexagonal buttons, which act as the main navigation. Animated lines ‘spawn’ branches of hexagons, one for each of the app’s five sports science topics – engineering, medicine, psychology, human physiology and biology.
As well as providing an elegant bridge between the opening masthead and navigation screen, the animation also provides the user a glimpse of the content and an explanation of the interface. Original music and sound design by Adelphoi Music.
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Ben Saunders identity launched
Just launched is a new identity for polar explorer and record-breaking long-distance skier, Ben Saunders. Designed in collaboration with Studio8 Design, the mark is a play on North/South compass pointers. The first applications of the new identity are an exhibition stand, postcards, polo shirts, equipment branding and plasma screen animation (below) for the Ski & Snowboard Show at London Olympia.
Next year Ben will embark on two new expeditions; a solo and unsupported North Pole speed record attempt and Scott 2012 – tracing Captain Scott’s footsteps on the centenary of his ill-fated trip to the South Pole. Nobody has completed the 1,800 mile journey from the coast of Antartica to the pole and back on foot. We are looking forward to expanding the identity in support of these two extraordinary expeditions later this year. Watch this space…
Ben Saunders Identity project page
Flickr set of Olympia show -
Applied Works featured in Weave
We’ve recently popped up in a couple of overseas design publications. First, German magazine Weave ran a feature on our work for The Times, focusing on an interactive Health Map of England (below).
Weave interviewed yours truly and Jon Hill at the Times about the project. Unfortunately its all in German so I’ve no idea how it reads – looks nice all the same.
Secondly, a Korean Design monthly magazine also showcased the Times work as part of an infographics special (below).
If anyone does sprechen Sie Deutsch, an except from the Weave article is featured on their website: weave.de/video/appliedworks0510
Read more about the project on our Times project page.
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The Times Ryder Cup scoreboard
Here’s another one! The Times asked us to create an interactive Ryder Cup graphic for their iPad edition and thetimes.co.uk. The graphic features live scores for the three day competition (maybe four if it keeps raining), a course guide with video flyovers, player profiles, and a Twitter feed comprised of golf experts and enthusiasts.
Anyone who knows me will be surprised to learn that I’ve played the role of Applied Works golf expert for this project – yes, there is a sport that I know something about!
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The Times Pope timeline
To coincide with this week’s Pope visit to the UK, today’s Times iPad Edition and thetimes.co.uk feature a timeline of key events in the history of the Catholic Church. Designed and built by Applied Works, 15 key dates from 1517 to the present day are illustrated with accompanying text, audio and newspaper clippings.
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こんにちは from Japan
Friend of Applied Works, Lidia Leto, is an Accessories and Leather designer for luxury menswear brand Alfred Dunhill. Working with products and fashion, Lidia’s job constantly references both craftsmanship and creativity. Here we ask her to highlight some of her recent finds.
I recently travelled to Asia on a research trip as well as visiting Duhill offices and stores. My time was split between Shanghai and Tokyo. Tokyo really lives up to it’s name as a Metropolis, it is a city where you are overloaded with amazing buildings, people, shops and products.
The first thing I noticed was that the consumer market I am designing for in Japan is completely unique and after a few days it became clearer why. Japan is truly a place of creativity and innovation. Incredible craftsmanship has been passed down through generations and reinterpreted into innovative new products, from fashion to home design, creating a unique hub of creativity. Brands who are already respected in their own rights frequently collaborate on limited edition products, constantly striving to bring something fresh to the market. There is always something new to see.
In terms of bags, lightweight and practical is the key. From the businessman to the trendy shopper, nylon totes and document cases are everywhere. A far cry from the rich leather bags the western luxury customer would be carrying.
Taking a break from fashion products, I went to the amazing stationary store Itoya in Ginza and the incredible Tokyo Hands in Shibuya, possibly my favourite store on earth. A whole morning had to be scheduled in for that one store….and here are some of the things I found:
A wonderful eraser with never ending corners! Everybody loves a precise corner on their eraser, here lies the solution. Designed by Chiaki Murata.
A lemon squeezer that so easily becomes a mexican!
An intricate and delightful greetings card titled ‘Infinity’, designed by Masahiro Chatani.
Here’s the blurb written on its packaging;‘One piece of paper creates an ultimate space. Countless lines produce 3-D space beyond reality. You can have numerous different images whenever you see this paper from different angles.
Infinite bright possibilities are waiting for you in the future.
This would be a gift ideal for an unforgettable happy occasion in your life such as an entrance ceremony at schools and companies.’
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We’re busy: send us your CV!
Calling all talented designers and genius developers out there: we’re luckily finding ourselves very busy over the coming months and would love to hear from any available people who’d like to work with us. We’re in need of both freelance designers and coders (HTML5/CSS3/Javascript etc), so if you’re interested, please send us your glowing CV by emailing me (Rachel) via our contact page. No agencies please. Spread the word!!!
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The Times iPad graphics demo
We’ve finally got round to making a demo video of some of the iPad graphics we’ve been creating for The Times (useful, since many of you are iPad-less and the graphics are no longer accessible after 7 days regardless). So here they are in action…
Read more about them on our project page: The Times iPad infographics
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