Web Design

Web Design: Early Web Browsers And Changes

For us to appreciate the state of the Internet today, it is essential to have a solid understanding of where web browsers and websites originally came from. For web designers and digital marketing agencies, understanding the history of web pages, and the evolution they have undergone, we can begin to comprehend the drastic changes necessary before we could enjoy the internet for what it is today.

The Browser Wars

During what is commonly referred to as the “Browser Wars” early on, Microsoft and Netscape duked it out to see which would rise as the prevailing browser. For a long time, the victor appeared to be Netscape. However, when Internet Explorer 4 was introduced, popular opinion quickly shifted. As this browser essentially became a regular feature of Windows computers, it inherited all the more authority among the landscape of browsers. Also, because Windows computers were widely sought out at the time, naturally, users were more exposed to Internet Explorer than its competition.

Web Design

Web Design and How it Helps Your Business Succeed

The digital age has seen all businesses move their marketing strategies to the online realm in order to garner the most success. Every business needs to have a good online presence if they want to keep a competitive edge in this day and age. Having a good online presence relies on several things being taken into consideration but the most important aspect of it all is the website of your business. Having a basic website is not good enough to count as a strong online presence, your company’s website needs to have good web design in order to be helpful for the success of your business.

Importance of Good Web Design

There are several key elements which contribute to making a good online presence. The web design for your company’s own website makes up a crucial aspect of it all.

If you are wondering exactly how important it is to have a good web design, you should know that the web design can either make or break the success of your online business. The website of a business is the first impression which the customers have of the business. It takes just a few seconds for a visitor to your website make a decision about whether or not they want to engage with your business. Here’s a look at how a good web design can benefit your business.

Garden Design

Delightful Garden Design Features That are Easy to Install

Even the most ordinary garden can be easily jazzed up by using some kind of garden feature to enhance it. If you are on a budget, don’t worry because they don’t all require a landscaping specialist or a builder to install them. Many are simple weekend DIY projects that anyone can attempt successfully with a little preparation.

  • The garden arch – an old fashioned favourite that will remind you of country cottages and never fails to add charm wherever it is placed. Most arches seem to be used over a gate, but don’t be limited by that. Your arch can go over a pathway, at the back door, or even become a feature in the middle of the garden with a bird bath under it. Choose a solid one, not the el-cheapo that will rust out or rot in a few years. Grow your favourite climber over it – roses are popular – but make sure you choose one that won’t grow out of control or be too heavy for the arch. An arch can be a simple metal structure or you could have a larger, wider timber one that is strong enough for a grape vine or another heavy climber.
Interior Design

5 Tips For Successful Interior Design

Whether you are choosing the interior design your entire home or just one or two rooms, there are several ways you can make the whole process, and most importantly the final result, successful. Here they are for you in no particular order.

#1 Think Comfort Before Looks

Renovation Network tell us that one of the biggest mistakes people make is they fall in love with a style or look of an item such as a chair. They then buy it, and when it arrives realise it is not fit for purpose because it is too uncomfortable to sit on for any length of time. Always ensure that when you are selecting chairs, sofas, stools and beds, you remember that their purpose is to be used, and to be comfortable.

#2 Don’t Rush It

There are countless interior design projects that have fallen by the wayside because the person ran out of money before they could complete it. The main reason for this is that they rushed out and bought everything at once, including the more expensive and luxurious items. Be patient by purchasing the items which are essential first, and then as your budget allows, buy the luxuries one by one.

Web Design

Web Design For Beginners

Web design has never been the easiest career path to embark on for those who are interested. However, that does not mean it cannot be done. Through hard work and diligence, as well as perhaps an ideal mentorship (online or in person), becoming a web designer is achievable. Beginning in 2014, the projected web designer career growth was estimated to be 24%.

In 2017, this statistic has certainly proved to be true, and the field is still steadily growing. In terms of getting on the path to becoming a web designer, most people have no idea where to begin. This is completely fine! It is normal to feel overwhelmed in the beginning. However, by taking it one step at a time, you will soon be looking back on these days as though you had nothing to be afraid of.

Web Design

Does Animation and Multimedia Serve a Purpose in Web Design?

In days gone by, SEO experts use to warn against using animation such as flash, simply because Google crawlers couldn’t read the flash files and thus couldn’t read your website. So rankings on flash based websites suffered severely.

While there is something to say for a simplistic website or a flat-designed website, there is also something to say about highly animated and multimedia-filled websites. After talking to a client, if they want all of the bells and whistles, you have to provide. Use your skills to create sound files and animations, add video footage, and place pictures to enhance any website. Make sure you are judicious about what you choose to do and always be aware of who you can include in these forms of multimedia.

Web Design

New, Exciting Ways to Use Fonts

If you are looking for ways to expand your web design skills or portfolio, there are a few different things that you can do. The most accessible option that you have is something that every person with a computer has access to: fonts. With 3D printing and technological advancements, the amount of things that we can create with fonts has multiplied innumerably.

What can you do with fonts? The possibilities are endless and you can make some truly fantastic art. These are only the basics: you can build from here and create something that is uniquely your own.

City Skylines
Word clouds are pretty old school by now, even those that have been transformed into shapes. However, using font to highlight the city where you live, your company works, or where you want to be is a fantastic way to build up a client base.

Commercial Design

Commercial Building Design Options

Many commercial applications can be found for limestone blocks. These strong and durable blocks can be used for stairways, walls and paths outside a commercial or public building, enhancing the area so that customers are drawn to it. Stone cladding can also be used for the walls of such buildings, making them both beautiful and functional. A stone wall is not likely to wear out or crumble away, even in bad weather.

While weathering does occur with rock, it is most likely to be in the fine details, such as if a name was carved into the rock, or at the very corners of the building the edges may wear from sharp/ to rounded over many years.

Construction Ventures Guide advise that many commercial or public buildings are large structures, making them perfectly suitable for an internal feature wall of limestone. This can really improve the looks of the place and become a feature that people go to see, as well as to do whatever it is the building is for.  Libraries, art galleries, museums and many other public buildings are ideal for the installation of a limestone feature wall.

Many such buildings can be made almost completely with stone. Outside, stone can be used as a footpath, driveway, staircase and for walls dividing areas or going up each side of the staircase. It can be used for retaining walls for terracing and garden walls in the landscaping, enhancing the look of the garden or grounds of the building.

Web Design

Flat Design: A Crash Course

For the last decade or so, internet business consultants have accelerated by showing off their designers skills and doing things that have been totally unique and somewhat crazy. We’ve shown off our animation skills, our flash capabilities, and our abilities to think outside of the box. Everything we did was somewhat artificial and cartoony instead of natural and realistic.

That’s all changed.

The trend now is something more classic and simplistic. While there are still flourishes of web design elements and creativity, flat design has become what most companies ask for from designers.

What exactly is flat design?
A digital agency will tell you that flat design is a more minimalist approach that focuses on the user experience. There are many clean lines and crisp edges to these designs, with bright colors and a lot of open space.

Interior Design

What’s in Your Bathroom?

The trend today is for superyachts to have everything possible for the guests’ enjoyment including pools, a Jacuzzi, a fully equipped gym, beautiful glass shower screens and even a sauna. This is often found on yachts designed by Sam Sorgiovanni, who is known for innovative and creative design in the world of luxury yachts. However, up-market homes are a bit like luxury yachts and you can easily install a sauna in your own home.

It can be part of a bathroom if there is enough room, or it can be separate. You can even have a room built in the garden especially for a sauna. However, don’t forget to look into council regulations because a building in the garden may need council approval. Adding a sauna to your home will not because it is part of the home; not separate.

So what are the benefits of a sauna? First, let’s be sure we are on the same page.  Some saunas have dry heat while others have moist heat. Dry heat saunas can sometimes be both if there is provision to splash water over the heater. Naturally enough, it has to be a special type of heater so you don’t get electrocuted.

Generally speaking, a moist heat sauna is made from tiles, while a dry heat sauna is made from timber. The room for the sauna can be of any size you like, depending on how many people will be using it at one time. It should contain bench seating for the people who use it to sit or lie on. The benches should be covered with a towel for hygienic reasons, but it will also make the bench a bit more comfortable.