Why make something custom?

I have never been good about updating a photo stream on Flickr and Facebook’s shifting position on my privacy really creeps me out. In the meantime, my friends always joked about how many photo’s I take using my iPhone.  There are over 1600 photo’s on it right now – So it seemed only fitting to make use of the life stream that was taking shape with a device that I already take with me everywhere.

I love the power and simplicity of WordPress and have used it as a platform to create numerous custom site designs & blogs themes over the years. However, this project was the first time that I took advantage of the mobile publishing aspect of the iPhone App. This is what makes this such a powerful way for a proud dad to share. I already use my phone as a means to capture events, it is only a few quick steps to write down a few words that provide some context to the photo.

The one thing you must do from the desktop admin is to turn on the remote publishing blogging client found in the “Writing” section in your settings widget. Next, simply download & install the free WordPress App on to your iPhone or Android device. Once you have installed the app – you simply enter the same log-in you already use to access the desktop wp-Admin into the log-in prompt from your smart phone.

Once it is loaded up, you can see and manage all of your existing posts / comment, or write a new ones. From the Post view, it is quite easy to take a photo or choose from an existing one in your photo library making it simple and quick to document and publish in real time.

A fun component to Brandon’s site is the ability to use the GPS function that is integrated into the iPhone. My dear friend and colleague Brice Lechatellier created a nifty little wp plug-in that allows you to ad and style a Geo location map to each post. He created this to document his whereabouts on a 6 months around the world trip that he recently embarked upon. I find that it adds an interesting bit of context and flavor to the ongoing story of my adventures / life stream.

So there you have it! The design itself is really quite simple – nothing complex or worthy of explanation. However, the straightforward process to both create and consume make it a very pleasurable utility!

Over the weekend, it dawned on me, that I was making quite a bit of progress on the jeep itself, yet I had not been documenting my efforts the way I had intended when I had started. Thus, over the weekend, I made what I consider to be a personal record time in setting up a blog!

I am pretty fast when pushing pixels, but have never been a speedster in setting up server stuff, domains, hosting etc. However, on Sunday evening – I purchased the domain (www.civilianjeep.com), set up the hosting, installed WordPress (via Dreamhost’s amazing 1 click installs) Then customized one of my older wp themes with a logo I had played quickly and then swapped out the other design elements to create an entirely new theme specific to my project – Hell, I even wrote the first post! All totalled… a process that took less then 4 hours.

Now you may look at the site, and find *PLENTY* of flaws in either the design or even more likely bugs in the wp theme… but more important, I am able to document my efforts… and flaws considered, I love the domain name, feel good about the logo, and all in all felt pretty impressed by my short order effort!

He wanted a site that would allow him to present his skills and approach as well as to maintain a blog where he could articulate his thoughts on how or what companies can do with their marketing communications during these difficult economic times. The look that I went for is intended on capturing the idea of “Back to the Basics” – Hence I used a fairly simple, straight forward presentation with an earthy, rustic, yet warm palette. The sharpest contrast being on his logo which is quite basic as a label literally stapled to the header.

The site is still new, and no doubt will recieve some tweaks over the coming months, but I am pleased with the feel and personality that acts as the base for the ideas and touch points of his message and insights!

Visually, the look I was going for was “the old neighborhood pub”.  A comforting spot where friends could meet to discuss the goings on of the day – the events, the art, the politics as well as the crazy folks who make or watch it happen. I chose to use deep saturated reds and ornate, but worn Fleur emblems try to create that well used “Barbary Coast” pub feel. The fixed positioned background stays absolute – done so to help to make it feel as though the conversation is different, but the setting remains the prized booth at your local dive!

Stop in to fill up on whatever the latest swill Mr. Klein is serving!

The site is intended on being Roland’s online home to exclusively cover the game, players and personality of the LA Lakers. As you can see, this greatly influenced the visual design. For the logo, I was inspired by the name – which made me think of a hand held sign that a fan would have and wave to inspire other cheering fans on the floor of the Staple Center.

The blog is not a live game, but the web based coverage of a team, the idea was to create a mood that strings together the topical content in a way that is both connected as well as “in the lime light”. This is achieved with the literal metaphor of “stringing the posts” together. Further emphasis is achieved by placing a fixed positioned and ambient lit background behind a transparent content block. This way, as a user scrolls down the page, the story floats above a back lit background – A look similar to the promotional signs you would see walking through an NBA coliseum.

For the door, all of the individual post are tied together – where as should a user click into an individual post, all user comments are then tied together to continue the theme regardless of weather it is generated by the author or expanded on in a more viral manner.

The site is still being developed and will soon have additional sections, bugs resolved along with more prominent navigation to toggle between Roland’s blog coverage and information about him and the projects that he is involved with.

Have a look at the site, and let me know your thoughts!

When I asked him what he had in mind – He replied that he liked a blueprint sort of theme – He pointed to a recent Revision3 beta site, and suggested that he liked that it has a feeling of “being built”, but clearly is not complete. I liked this idea of generating a template that would house his content – but do so in a way that implies the notion of a constant work in progress.

This idea made me think of being back in art school – I used to use supermarket brown bags as drawing paper. Not only was it free and readily available – but is a great toned drawing surface with a lot of texture and paper tooth to build up layers of pencil lead. This really lent itself to being a quick and easy medium to develop ideas without being overly concerned by a feeling that I was creating a masterpiece. Thus, I stayed loose and really worked on trying new things without feeling locked into any one direction. This seemed like a place to start.

I pulled out all the color and depth to his logo to make it feel like a spot color print on an organic surface IE – brown bag. Splatters and stains are added to emphasize a “Re-used” surface. One intended specifically for the purpose of “quick studies” – taking your thinking through a process. The overall feel is intended on being a bit flat – and creating a monochromatic surface so that it is “his ideas and images” that standout rather then the shell itself. The edges of this design are kept at the top and bottom – thus any super wide images are not confined on the sides should it need to expand horizontally to 100%.

At any rate – this was a pretty simple design and I was able to build out pretty fast. I sent it to him this morning, and he had it up before 2pm. I am pleased with how it turned out, but more importantly am hopeful that it provides an easy base that allows his thoughts and ideas to grow through his constant motion.

With the above goal in mind, I was happy to skin a new blog to foster communication among our 2008 summer interns. This will be a public blog to share experiences both light hearted as well as serious. However, equally important – will be a showcase of our culture and a community display of our talented teams. The desired result being to inspire future passionate media professionals to want to grow their skills with us, learn and continue to make impact on the many sites that make up CBS Interactive.

I did not have much to go on as I am not as familiar with the CBS Interactive brand standards as I am with that of CNET Networks. However the name “New Media Minded” is actually quite telling. One of the most exciting aspects of a contemporary online media company, is that much of what we do can be on the bleeding edge of what is possible.

That said – I wanted to create a shell that portrays itself to our young audience with a welcoming, optimistic and forward thinking attitude. The wrapper picks up on some of the CBS Interactive blues – but also rely on lighting and perspective to display the aspirational mood of the “New Media Minded” theme. The title centers from a burst of energy who’s source stems from CBS Interactive as a base. The content is a fairly standard narrow 2 column blog grid on a light background to allow for maximum legibility of ideas and images. However, simple blues greens and purple tones are intended to compliment the wrapper yet appear lighter and more playful in nature.

The ever prolific Andrew Mager (seen in the mock-up with CBS CEO Les Moonves) intends to build out this theme in the coming days. So stay tuned for more to come – I for one am excited for a “New Media Minded” experience at the new CBS Interactive!

A number of folks at BNET, Revision3 and Apple have expressed interest in sharing their thoughts and insights. While I have little to contribute on the technical side, I felt compelled to offer up a design for the site, as it is one way that I may contribute to an idea that would seem to be a resource for many. (myself included).

The site is currently a simple blog, though will potentially include a gallery of sharp work and displays of the clever code in action. That said, it is primarily a utility, so needs to be contextual and to the point. Therefore I did not want to create a presentation layer that is overly elaborate, or stylized – but to devise a clean look that allows users to get immediate access to the posts. I use a strong contrasting color palette that while grounding the top and bottom of the page, are intended to draw the eye to the nuts and bolts of the content itself.

I had not used the specific color scheme of rich purples, lavender and bright green for many years. I think I (and many others) may have overused these in the early years of the dot com era and I have since avoided certain combinations as a result. That said, it was nice to put a simple and contemporary spin on an old favorite from my web archive color wheel.

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