FOWD, NYC + Build, Belfast
In this week's lecture we conjured up a two for the price of one offer, delivering two international conference lectures. We began with Chris Armstrong's presentation on 'Native Web Typography' for FOWD New York, and followed this up with The Standardistas' presentation on 'The Journey' for Build Conference, Belfast.
Chris outlined how web typography was changing with the promise of richer web typography and showcased some of the benefits of a native approach to web design, designing in the browser using real content and real web fonts.
After giving some context of the landscape of web typography he also introduced Typecast, a tool that local design firm Design by Front are developing to enhance web design with a typographic focus.
We followed this up with a Zelda inspired lecture that focused on the journey each and every designer makes as they progress through their craft.
In this presentation we considered deeply rooted notions of craftsmanship, to revive a long-standing model for learning centered upon the relationship between the master and the apprentice. This model, predicated on a deep understanding of the importance of craft and its values, foregrounded the need to develop a rounded person – in short, to craft an individual.
We considered the journey one takes from apprentice to master paying particular emphasis to the notion of the journeyman – or ‘geselle’ – a practitioner learning from many masters, shaping their future as they aspire towards the position of ‘master craftsman’.
This Week's Recommended Book
You'd like to make your web sites more dynamic by adding a feedback form, creating a private area where members can upload images that are automatically resized, or perhaps storing all of your content in a database. The problem is, you're not a programmer and the thought of writing complex code sends a chill up your spine.
Or perhaps you've dipped your toes in the water of PHP and MySQL, you're comfortable at the shallow end, but you're afraid of the deep end?
If this sounds like you, then you've just found the right book. David Powers' PHP Solutions: Dynamic Web Design Made Easy is the perfect introduction to PHP and MySQL. Across 15 easy-to-follow chapters Powers provides 15 useful 'PHP Solutions' to get you up and running in next to no time. Covering everything from PHP includes to working with databases, PHP Solutions is the ideal introduction to dynamic web design.