Amazing Resources for the Curious Designer

by J. Butler, Content Development Specialist

Any Creative will tell you-- sometimes the only thing that will get your juices flowing is to take a break and dig for inspiration in other places. And what better place to do that than online, where the only limit is your imagination? There are tons of resources out there for even the most discriminating designer.

We asked our art department for a few of their favorites.

Smashing Magazine
If you haven't heard of this website, that won't be for long. One of the staples of the online design community, Smashing Magazine produces unbeatable and comprehensive posts on all things design, from web design to blog trends to Photoshop tips. Bookmark this and you'll find yourself constantly revisiting.

Veer Ideas: The Skinny and The Fat

From type-seller and merch giant Veer comes two blogs: The Skinny and the Fat. The Skinny displays inspirations and updates from the company at large, while the Fat is an online community made up of Veer members. Both blogs are amazing resources to inspire and keep you in the know with offbeat, unconventional design around the globe.

Information is Beautiful

Maybe not strictly a design resource, but a great way to refresh your mind. Creator David McCandless wanted to create a site that conveyed a wealth of stats, ideas and issues in a beautifully designed package; thus, InformationIsBeautiful.net was born. If you need to see design in a fresh light, click over to this site to get a new perspective.

Fuel Your Creativity

Part of the Fuel network, this site is dedicated to focusing your creative mind into productivity and discipline. With simple solutions to common problems that plague creatives, Fuel Your Creativity is a handy resource indeed.

The Die Line

On the surface, a simple collection of beautiful product design from around the world--most of which, chances are, you've never heard of. But look closer, and observe the use of color, the streamlined finished product, the clean, minimalist web design...what's that? It may be inspiration calling.

Logo Design Love

Innovative, way outside the box logo design and branding. Covers not only actual examples of logos, but interviews with important names and branders the world over.

Other Great Resources:

One Xtra Pixel

My Ink Blog

Vanderlay Design Blog

Creative Nerds

Just for Fun:

Arial or Helvetica?
Think you know Arial from Helvetica? Test your typography know-how with this quick and simple quiz.

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Now get out there and get inspired!

Fixes to Common Internet Explorer Bugs

by Gregory Pike, Web Developer

I cannot imagine there is a web developer out there who has not experienced their share of CSS headaches with Internet Explorer browsers. Rendering issues in Internet Explorer are rampant.

Developer Siddharth has compiled a list of the most common IE Bugs as well as multiple options for fixing them. His examples are concise and easy to follow using css and imagery to guide the reader.

Some of the topics he touches on include:

• Centering a layout
• Staircase effect
• Double margin on floated elements
• Inability to have elements with small heights
• Auto overflow and relatively positioned items
• Fixing the broken box model
• Setting a minimum width and height
• Floated layout misbehaving
• Space between list items

The article is 9 Most Common IE Bugs and How to Fix Them.

Twitter's Newest Feature!

by J. Butler, Content Development Specialist

Logging into the Applecore Twitter account this morning, I noticed a new addition that had popped up unexpectedly: the Lists feature.

Lists simply let you group the people you follow on Twitter into shorter, easier to follow lists. Like "Sports" "News" and "Entertainment," maybe. Or "England" "Canada" and "St. John's." Perhaps "Friends" "Family" or "Co-workers." What's more, any lists that you make or are featured on are also viewable via your profile...there's a new link next to your followers that tells you exactly how many lists you're on.

However you use it, it's sure to make the wide world of Twitter more personal and useful across the board.

CWT Harvey's Travel Refreshes Website

CWT Harvey's Travel is a travel booking agency that offers many unique and valuable services to its travelers to ease the stress of trip planning. The company operates from 22 offices throughout Atlantic Canada, with their headquarters in St. John’s.

As leaders in corporate, leisure and group travel, their website needed to be streamlined to better suit that identity. And now, the refreshed online face of Harvey's Travel is complete! Clean, bright and a dream to navigate, the site now reflects the fast-paced, fun world of travel. Refitted with a newly designed Content Management System, updating the freshest vacation offers in a timely fashion has never been easier.

With bright colors working alongside the streamlined interface, the website now better reflects the personality of Harvey's Travel: on the one side, an exciting, helpful place to plan a memorable vacation, and on the other, a professional, accommodating resource for the seasoned business traveler.

Check out the finished product here.

Harvard Explores the Future of Social Media

by Jill Butler, Content Development Specialist

A remarkable social media experiment is happening on the campus of one of America’s most prestigious universities.

Harvard University has made Justice, one of the school's most popular courses, available online. Professor Michael Sandel is an internationally renowned mind, and explores political philosophy through thought-provoking topics such as same-sex marriage, civil rights and whether lying can ever be good. It’s a great way to educate Harvard students, but then, distance courses are nothing new on any university campus, even before the internet.

If the story stopped there, Applecore wouldn’t be writing a blog post about it.

Because this course isn’t only a course for Harvard students. This is available to anyone with the inclination and an Internet connection.

Each lesson—which run about 55 minutes each—has been loaded onto YouTube and posted to its website, which also features reading lists, pop quizzes and a discussion circle.

So really, it’s like you’re attending Harvard, but without paying the sizable tuition or stirring from the comfort of your own home.

What’s the Why?

My first thought when I heard about this was trying to figure out why Harvard would do this. And after much reflection, I think it can be explained in a word: exposure.

After all, the press coverage of this virtually unprecedented move by an Ivy League college has been extensive, and very positive.

But isn’t Harvard essentially trading their intellectual advantage for a couple of press releases? After all, prestige and exclusivity is what makes Harvard an impressive note on your resume, not that just anyone who’s willing to listen can benefit.

This is where the extraordinary part comes in.

Harvard Leads the Future

The Ivy League hasn’t exactly built a reputation for going with the flow. Introducing this high-production, universal course offering demonstrates that Harvard is not just some stuffy out of touch institution unable to keep up with new media and the latest technologies.

But what’s more, this website could go a long way for improving public opinion of the school, which goes a long way in a recession when many people question spending thousands more on an education which no longer guarantees success. Now, everyone can have a taste to see what all the fuss is about.

And let me tell you—this online course is not filler. It’s thought-provoking and intellectually vigorous, demanding you pay attention from the word go. It’s a great chance to see why a Harvard education is so valuable.

Where’s the Real Lesson?

But most of all, this legitimizes social media in a way that is unprecedented. YouTube isn’t just clips of animals doing funny things; Harvard University, the creme de la creme, uses it to teach its students! Comment boards aren't just a haven for slang; it can be the birthplace of carefully considered philosophical discussion!

This goes a long way in demonstrating the real future of social media. When YouTube was first introduced, did anyone really imagine that it would be adopted by a prestigious college to explore complex ideas of human development? To reach and educate a global audience?

Beyond instant messaging, Facebook pokes, or retweets, this makes it clear that the future of social media is as limitless as our imagination. Or perhaps, more accurately, our ambition.

Why Your Company Needs a Website

Applecore Interactive CEO Deborah Bourden was a guest on Roaring Women Radio this weekend, discussing the importance of company websites and figuring out why your company needs one.

Find the interview here.