Archive for the ‘Design’ Category

Apple will be leading the way for HTML5

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

The driving force for switching to HTML5 and CSS3 is getting sites compliant for the ipad / iphone. We can say that we are moving technology forward just for the sake of it, or because we want to code to web standards. But lets face it – we need a practical reason to make the jump, and Apple has given us just that. They are pushing HTML5 on their iOS platform and since their platform is the market leader, that is where designers are going to go.

A few days ago Apple published a useful demos to thier site – an HTML5 demo page that shows exactly how to use HTML5 to accomplish different tasks a la iOS

http://developer.apple.com/safaridemos/

I especially like the typography demo, as that is one of the more pressing issues, in my mind. These demos represent a major push by Apple to incorporate standards – based development practices into the ecosystem of their products, and AVANT is paying attention. Did you hear that Apple surpassed Microsoft as the tech company worth the most money? Not a fact to be ignored.

Posted in Business, Design, HTML 5, Uncategorized | No Comments »

HTML5 & IE – Coding For Multiple Browsers Into Eternity

Monday, June 7th, 2010

HTML5 Infographic

Recently, this HTML5 infographic made the rounds here at AVANT. It was really interesting for a lot of reasons, partially because we are positionning ourselves strategically with clients and partners. But the main interest to me (as a producer) was the impact on production workflow – the browser compatibility chart. What stood out more than anything else was that Internet Explorer, once again, is incompatible in its support for the technology that several others seem to be getting behind. Is the Silverlight play SO important that Microsoft intends to leverage XAML against the rogue wave of HTML5? Is that going to be the development battle ground for the next phase of Mac vs. PC?

I understand that Microsoft has made an effort, that thier business is built around proprietary software, IE8 was a big step up, and that IE9 will be even bigger in the right direction. But honestly, its not enough – soon enough – if the focus on UX is REALLY a goal for Microsoft. If this graphic is correct, then it appears that we will have to continue designing for multiple browsers in order to extend apps to multiple devices: All reasonable browsers, IE7, IE8, IE9, sometimes IE6 (still). Our goal is generally the best UX, and we would rather focus on that over bug testing syntax shifts for IE.

Posted in Business, Design, HTML 5 | No Comments »

CIVIO.com Launches!

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

We are proud to announce that one of our most recent products is now up and running with a new public website! AVANT is a core part of the product design and development team for CIVIO and has partnered with CIVIO, LLC to share in the success of the platform. We also designed and developed the new public site.

Our work on CIVIO reflects a core principle at AVANT that building community is important. Experiencing ideas outside one’s immediate sphere of influence inspires and educates, and that is precisely what CIVIO does for customers and communities it serves. The product itself is one of three successfully launched products AVANT contributed to in 2009. We are optimistic that CIVIO is going to be a great success and help change the world for the better.”

- Michael Kemper, AVANT Founder + Principal

The CIVIO application is available to potential investors, existing customers and VIP’s, but for now everyone else in the world can learn about the vision and direction for the product here. Congratulations to the CIVIO team on a snappy launch!

Posted in Applications, Design | No Comments »

Sony Launches Interactive Video Site

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

In anticipation for the long awaited January 26th release of the PS3 game, MAG: Shadow War, ClikThrough has launched a skinned version of their video technology on www.mag.com. This collaboration between ClikThrough, Euro RSG Worldwide, and AVANT features fictional Investigative video reports that explore each army within the game and how the Shadow War itself started between 3 corporate military factions: Valor, Raven, and S.V.E.R. The site also boasts a complete historical time line of how the Shadow War began, explanations of the game play mechanics, and easy to find links to helpful resources like the MAG Blog, the official forums, and more. Check it out here.

Posted in Design, Flash, Games | 1 Comment »

Links of Inspiration

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Every designer, (even the greatest!) need inspiration now and then. Here are a just a few of our favorite links!

http://webdesignledger.com/
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/
http://motionographer.com/
http://www.blog.spoongraphics.co.uk/
http://www.typographyserved.com/
http://wireframes.tumblr.com/
http://ffffound.com/
http://www.booooooom.com/

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Posted in Community, Design | No Comments »

Free Tomato Head Icons!

Friday, December 4th, 2009

tomatoes
Ann, Henry, Jane, Luther… The cutest of the cutest icons have arrived for the holidays! Invite them onto your desktop, email signature, or print / cut them out for a tiny lonely guy style holiday party at your desk. Either way: get ‘em while there ripe! Free tomato head icons created by the awesome AVANTian JooAh Kwon. Enjoy! Download them here >

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Posted in Design | 1 Comment »

The HTML5 Transition

Friday, July 10th, 2009

So, the reason for keeping most designers and developers from using HTML5 and CSS3 more is the fact that not all the browsers support it. But most of us really want to use it. It seems like the next evolution in interface design. It certainly is a step that has been anticipated for a long time.

We already go through a lot of production time to make applications and sites look perfect in IE – do the technology barons really want to continue to make life more difficult?

Recently, Bobby Van Der Sluis published an article on practical ways of using HTML5 today, in a way that will degrade gracefully for the browsers of today, but that will also let you take advantage of the futuristic features coming in the browsers of tomorrow.

Check out his article here:

http://www.bobbyvandersluis.com/articles/practical_html5/

Here is a quote from the article:

Personally, I have decided to start using the HTML 5 DOCTYPE for my personal projects, however I’m not particularly fond of using these workarounds. Relying on HTML 5’s backwards compatibility instead, I basically mark up my new projects as if I was using HTML 4

Posted in Design, HTML 5, Web Standards | No Comments »

Free Media Icons: An AVANT Public Service Announcement

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

mediaIcons

In the spirit of other well informed PSA’s, all of us at AVANT wanted to inform you of an epidemic that plagues the digital world: ICD (Icon Confusion Disorder). Quality icons in an intuitive interface is the right of every software application. Clients tell us that their top priority is visitors that are happy and excited about media. AVANTians understand and know whats best for UX; and they know how to improve usability. We do that by removing the clutter and providing a safe and nurturing environment to select games, videos, images, and even galleries that is free of confusion and mixed metaphors. We have to get users ready for apps; but on the other hand we have to get apps ready for users. Testing tells us that icons matter and they have a rightful place in our apps. Iconography at every level improves user achievement. AVANT is committed to working hand in hand with you to ensure that each app is an enjoyable and meaningful experience – so your app is started on the path to a bright future. Please join us by downloading and using these free media icons in your apps – Today!

Posted in Applications, Design | No Comments »