Moar CSS.

So..you want moar? MOAR?

Fine fine, and yes I know more is mispelled, it’s done so for creative purposes. So last post we started with divs and borders right? Well lets build further on that with color and float.

To start off, let’s dissect some code and learn from there.

#content_main          {border: 1px solid #990000;

                                       float: left; }

This is the CSS for the content_main div defined in the HTML. Of course we covered the border already, but the two differeneces here are the float and the color. The hexidecimal color at the end of the first line of the border is a web-safe color. That’s a dark red if  my memory serves me right. There’s tons of web-safe colors your code editor may already have a chart you can just use for whatever you like. In this instance though, the red changes the border and that’s it.

Then we have the float. Floats are somewhat strange and I’ll admit I don’t know EVERYTHING I would like to know about them but in a nutshell it basically just sends whatever your div is all the way to the left or right pending on how you define it. Then of course you could always stack stuff with it, but the main purpose for this is for column structures on the internet. You could just use one column but that’s not fun is it? 

new blog

As per Mr. Batchelder’s request, I have moved my design fundamentals blog to a new one to be on even ground with everyone else. here’s the link: http://designfun.wordpress.com

Tim O’reilly’s Web 2.0

Tim O’reilly is a good observer of where our world is headed. Something I noticed though that he didn’t mention is why there’s this huge collective push towards user-centered data and usability. I would argue that in the 90’s the computer while fairly cheap and friendly really hadn’t hit the mainstream yet. I mean nowadays you’re gimp if you don’t have a computer in your home.

 I would compare the internet and information explosion to the rise of the TV. Before we had B&W tv’s right, that would be the 80’s for computers, expensive and still not quite streamlined as today. Then came the color TV’s and the remote and suddenly TV became less of a chore to get up and change channels and more lively. Now, the average household has 2.5 TV’s in their house, hell I have 3 in mine.

 The computer really started in the 80’s with Apple and the PC. As technology grew so did the price drop on computers. So as computers become cheaper, the market becomes bigger and more wide spread. Now that computers are as cheap as a decently sized TV, those new people now have access to the internet.

My point here is this: it took about 10 years but finally, everyone has access to the internet more or less. So, now that we have it where do we go? Think about this, when was the last time you heard about a new AOL 76.0 coming out? Exactly, we hate those damn discs, we’re lazy creatures by nature. We don’t want unnecessary junk. So, eventually the market got it in their heads that it’s better to just release a software update and hope it sells well. That my friends is Capatilism at work. Then with the invention of user-sharing we found it’s better and easier to see what other people are doing instead of listening to the corporate conglomerates telling us what to do. Besides it’s more personal to interact with people than the beauracratic bs we go through on our phones to pay our bills.

 I guess I’m saying it’s inevitable that this would happen this collective intelligence, but where do you go from there? What will be Web 3.0? I think eventually, companies will just give us the tools to design our own stuff at this rate and then release it to the masses. Portable devices are just going to get smaller and easier to use, desktops will get faster and more powerful, in time we’ll probably have the Virtual Internet where literally the internet is it’s own world.

Multiple Intelligences Scores

Here are my scores from my MI test:

 Section 1.)  20

2.) 70

3.) 50

4.) 70

5.) 60

6.) 70

7.) 40

8.) 80

9.) 20

Highest scoring sections were: 2, 4, 6, 8 with a 70 or higher. Section 8 was the highest with an 80. 2 & 4 reflect musical and existential strength respectfully. God I hope I have some musical strength seeing how I’ve done music since I was 3. I’d tell you what the other sections are but they’re not labeled.

Design Process

I think it’s healthy to talk about what we actually go through when we design. I read an articles by Douglass Bowman and how he goes through his process and I find that I really admire his dedication. I find a lot of similarities in the way we design.

Personally, I’m more of an analytical person than a creative person. So a step by step process for me is a must. Usually I just get whatever HTML stuff I can out of the way then hack away at my CSS. Haven’t gotten much further into the background and actual visual design. But it excites me to think of the possibilities.

Design Interest

Design Interest? Oh yes, that’s what the title says. No, you were not mistaken, and yes this IS the Nathan Cobb you may know well and love. So what are these so called interests in design? Honestly my interest was in animation, but things have changed a lot since my first visit here, and I realize my talents better lie in web design. My primary focus then for the remainder of my stay at the Art Institute will be designing sites for the web, at least that’s the plan. And since changing majors a second time doesn’t sound too good financially speaking that’s probably the way the plan is going to stay.

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