Running The Ladder is the company blog of Bainbridge Studios, a tiny runt of a design practice based in lovely Tacoma, WA.
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Links of the Week: December 12th
Friday, December 12th, 2008 | Tom Carmony
Mobile Awesomeness
This one is an excellent gallery website showcasing mobile website and web applications.
Amazing Myspace Pages
This is a good roundup of some really solid design work on custom MySpace pages.
20+ Great WordPress 2.7 Compatible Plugins
This is a handy reference from Mashable.com on some of the top plugins that are fully supported with the latest WordPress release (ver. 2.7).
Force Targeted Links into New Tabs in Safari
Make Safari open targeted links in new tabs instead of new windows.
For Web Designers – Website Design Resources
Hundreds of useful links for website designers and developers.
Local Development on Mac OS X
Setting Up a Killer, Local Web Development Environment on a Mac with MAMP and VirtualHostX.
You can see all of our recommended links on del.icio.us »
Ski Lodge is an Ideal Example of a Top Notch iPhone User Interface
Friday, December 12th, 2008 | Tom Carmony
Since it’s introduction this past summer, the iTunes App Store has exploded with content, as thousands of applications across a range of categories vie for users’ attention and dollars. One of the toughest tasks for the consumer is separating the wheat from the chaff; identifying high quality mobile applications that provide value for their dollar.
There are different ways an application can stand out from the crowd. Word-of-mouth certainly plays a huge part. So to, for the lucky few recipients, does ending up as a featured app within iTunes or on the Apple website.
One other distinguishing characteristic is design. Specifically, user interface design. Currently, the App Store doesn’t allow for any means of demo or trial downloads of applications, so in many cases, one of the only pieces of information the user has is screenshots of the app in action (along with the much maligned user reviews).
The most recent iPhone app that’s really grabbed my attention, based solely on its UI, is David Watanabe‘s new Ski Lodge. Ski Lodge is an app that gives you access to information and current conditions at hundreds of ski resorts throughout North America. And it does so with an absolutely beautiful user interface.
I haven’t skied in more than a decade (though we’ve got some great runs within an hour’s drive of Seattle), but I’ve downloaded the app anyway. Why? Because gorgeous, functional apps like Ski Lodge are exactly what the iPhone platform is all about. Sure, there are a probably other ski information applications available for mobile phones, but Ski Lodge gets it right. It’s not just about the information; it’s about presenting the information in a novel, fun, engaging way that feels like a natural part of the whole iPhone experience.
Ski Lodge Website | iTunes Link
Please Pardon the Mess as We Dust This Off
Thursday, December 11th, 2008 | Tom Carmony
Welcome back (or welcome, if this is your first time here) to Anything+Everything, the Bainbridge Studios blog. This blog has seen it’s share of fits and starts over the past two years and today’s post is the beginning of a significant revamping I’m undertaking to get the blog relaunched, along with an expanded, completely redesigned Bainbridge Studios company site (the current single page format will make way for a new website coming in January).
In the meantime, the return of A+E is one of the first steps in a larger marketing plan for 2009. As new posts go up here over the next few weeks, you may well see noticeable differences in the site’s design. Considering it the Internet equivalent of living in your house during a renovation.
That said, I’m really excited about where this blog (and the site as a whole) is headed in the coming year. I want A+E to provide a unique perspective on the small business experience, alongside design happenings, updates on our latest work, and more. I hope you’ll find what we’ll be offering of value.
Cheers,
Tom Carmony
Principal/Lead Designer
You’ve Got Something Stuck Between Your Teeth…
Friday, June 27th, 2008 | Tom Carmony
Well, this is certainly an attention-getter. Saatchi & Saatchi New York created this unique guerilla marketing piece for Glide dental floss in New York City. The exact metaphor isn’t clear, but it must be playing off the notion of having something (a piece of ham, in this case?) stuck in your teeth.
Image courtesy Commercial Archive
(via Coudal)
Exceptional Student Design
Friday, June 27th, 2008 | Tom Carmony
Penguin has posted its list of 2008 Design Award winners (for book cover design) and there’s some amazing work to be seen. My personal favorite is Jez Burrows‘ On The Road cover concept (pictured at right), but I think the typewriter seatbelt buckle is a bit of a clichete. Nonetheless, it’s great work.
Check out the full set of winners here.
(via Coudal)