Archive for the 'Web Sites' Category

A Photographer’s Website

Published on March 21, 2011 in Graphic Design, Photography and Web Sites. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Over the past year and a half I’ve had the opportunity to work on some web projects. Here is one I did with photographer Matt Graves.

©2010 S Matthew Graves & MGravesPhoto


A few months back photographer, Matt Graves, and I began working out a site and brand look for him. We agreed that the design elements should only showcase the photography and not draw attention to itself, while being easy to use and accessible to multiple mediums like smart-phones and the iPad (which does not support flash plug-ins). I felt that his photography speaks for itself and that the design really should be simple and direct facilitating ease of use. I think we got it. Check out the site for yourself here. We just launched the site in the Fall.

©2010 Charlene Tiedemann

Good Content + Great Design=Websites of Goodness

Published on September 28, 2010 in Graphic Design and Web Sites. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

There’s nothing I like more than content I really love mixed with great design. My two most recent favorite websites are: http://www.good.is/

and Act Bolder.

Both websites have sustainability, environmentally conscious and community building content. The Good site is the online branch of the magazine, GOOD magazine, that can be purchased at a local book store. I found GOOD magazine this summer and fell in love with its smart content, design & graphics, and generally “good” message it delivers. The summer issue I purchased was all about building community within your neighborhood. It had profile articles on different neighborhoods around the country and their individual efforts to build and enhance local communities by offering tips and encouragement—they even invite reader submissions.

Aside from content, I love how readable both of these sites are. The GOOD site juggles content like a pro—in a soft way—utilizing neutral colors: cream and grey with accent splashes of a light electric blue (love it!). Plus, I absolutely love the big buttons at the top working as part of a design element reading: GOOD Topics/Participants/etc… The use of an overall standard background color of light grey with individual content boxes and no container background separating from the margins. Instead, the connection is assumed by the browser window, all-over grey BG, alignment, standardized box sizes, titles, and pictures (visit GOOD and scroll down to see).

Its way too easy for a website to get busy with colors and graphics (I know, I’ve the mistake myself). GOOD also does a great job with creating info graphics that stick with their branding, which also helps reduce eye clutter.

I am pleased with the simplification of colors on the ActBolder site, and the airy and organized feel. The use of grey and black—I’m a sucker for orange. The simple header and easy to understand options just please my sensibilities—none of that routing around blindly wondering where and what things are—its simple, direct, and EASY! I just can’t help but appreciate the good content and impact these sites can have.

What do you think? Have any great content sites displayed through good design? Please share and tell me why!

©2010 Charlene Tiedemann