I’ve recently started using Amazon Web Services (AWS) to import large amounts of rich content into my weekend-warrior project, ThumbSticks.com. I have to say that I’m quite impressed with Amazon’s dedication to providing their product information in such a transparent and detailed manner. If you’re not familiar with AWS, here is a quick introduction and some useful code snippets to help you get started with AWS in your PHP environment. // more
Plug in to Amazon Web Services (AWS) using PHPMar 17, 2010
Create a Lightbox with jQuery and CSSMar 15, 2010
The “lightbox” is a unique and useful design tool when used properly. It allows designers to present information that is totally independent from the site theme, and it is especially useful when displaying information that is loaded via AJAX requests (often negating the need for additional post-backs on your pages). There are countless ways to implement lightbox functionality into your site, and almost every option I’ve ever seen is weighed down by extraneous functionality or useless transition animations. It’s quite easy to create your own lightboxes with minimal effort. This tutorial can serve as a quick and easy template to get you started. // more
9 Amazing Things You Can Do in Firefox 3.6Mar 12, 2010
The latest update to Mozilla’s wonderful web browser, Firefox 3.6, includes support for some fantastic CSS version 3 recommendations that you may or may not be aware of. Obviously, these tricks won’t work in Internet Explorer just yet, but look for widespread support coming in the (hopefully) very near future. // more
Announcing ThePeev.comMar 11, 2010
I am pleased to announce the launch of my latest project, ThePeev.com. The Peev is a quick and dirty WordPress site designed for the sole purpose of serving as my personal artistic outlet. I’m posting doodles and sketches regarding all the things in life that may or may not bother you. I had a lot of fun creating the site, which came together nicely from concept to complete in less than eight hours of work. What’s your pet peeve? Visit ThePeev.com and let me know.
IE Corner Inserts via jQueryJan 28, 2010
I recently had a client whose design demanded rounded corners in a lot of different areas of their site. As I looked through the design documentation, the variety and color of these rounded widgets really started to add up. I quickly decided that pure CSS corners were the best choice for their design. Most users can utilize border-radius to apply the rounded effect without any overhead (the browser does the work), and the remaining users can be handled by a quick and easy bit of jQuery. // more
Did You Notice?Jan 12, 2010
I updated the site’s theme a bit to add some “fresh.” Please give me a bit of time to go through some of my older posts and clean them up for a better display. I’m trying to be very good and do things like add <acronym/> tags and <code/> tags to my posts. Ooh, how very accessible of me. My SEO senses are tingling. More tutorials and other goodies coming very soon.
Image Buttons and AccessibilityNov 19, 2009
Image buttons are a fairly common occurrence in web media. As with everything else in web design, you have a dizzying arsenal of methods from which you can choose to create this type of design element, and choosing the right method can greatly aid in your design’s accessibility, performance, and SEO-friendliness. // more
A Simple jQuery Tabs TemplateOct 22, 2009
I love jQuery; I use it all the time. I also love the great UI controls that come with the jQuery UI library. Unfortunately, I’ve found that a lot of these controls can be a little heavy in terms of required JS/CSS files that your clients will have to download in order to use these controls. Being the minimalist that I am, I really want to drop a small amount of CSS and HTML into my site and quickly get myself up and running with a tab structure that’s both flexible and accessible. // more
Five Web Design Tools You Shouldn’t Be WithoutOct 13, 2009
Just about every web designer uses applications like Dreamweaver, Coda, Photoshop, and the like for their work each and every day. These tools really lay a foundation for web design work, but there are a number of other applications and plug-ins out there that you may not be aware of. These tools can increase your productivity and make your job easier to boot. In an effort to alleviate your designer woes, I have come up with a list of the five most valuable (and FREE) tools that I’ve found. Your comments and supplemental suggestions are most welcome! // more
Reusable Transparent CSS Rounded CornersSep 24, 2009
In retrospective, there are definitely some areas where I could have improved on my Karate Corners design. I decided to take a second look and write a quick post that details how I create corners today, after almost a year of evolution in the ever-changing world of web design. This is absolutely the most simple and efficient way to create rounded corners using strictly CSS and HTML. // more