I’ve seen some bad ideas in navigation, but this subtle one takes the cake (a nice German Chocolate cake). Typically when you see navigation, you see a list of links. Click on the link, you go to the next page. Wrong. On this particular site (nameless), which was recently redesigned (and nicely by the way),…
Time Flies…
I knew I hadn’t updated my blog in some time, but almost a year? Oy! Shortly after my last blog post, I accepted a position as a front-end web developer at United Airlines in their eCommerce Production area. The great thing is that as a post-merger organization, there’s lots of change, lots of systems and…
Wanted: UX / Front-End Web Designer/Developer Opportunity
Opportunity Summary Location: Chicago, IL (Target range: Downtown Chicago north through Northern Suburbs Employee Type: Full-Time Preferred, will consider Long-term Contract Industry: Open Job Type: Internet, Design, Marketing Education: High School, Some College Experience: 18 years Travel: Negligible Post Date: 4/23/2012
Let’s Rid the World of Platformism
They always say never blog while emotional. Oh, well, here goes nothing. Is “platformism” the new racism? I’ve just become scorned by a recent discount offer for an ebook. Seeing the fantastic offer (.99 cents) in my Facebook feed, I thought, “why not?” Clicking through, I quickly found out why not.
Sunstone Tours & Cruises
This was a redesign project for a long-time client, a niche travel agency located in Malibu, California. The lead-generation website features small-ship adventure cruise vacations, targeting retirees and affluent professionals.
When Bad User Experience is Embarrassing
I admit it … I’m a user experience geek. And at times, I can drive my wife nuts. On a recent shopping mall outing, my wife and I paid a visit to an upscale department store, just to use the facilities (of course). While waiting for my wife, I observed a major user experience flaw.…
Gaining Insight for Website Improvement
This topic was presented at the October 2011 Chicago Web Professionals Meetup. Gaining Insight for Website Improvement View more presentations from Dennis Deacon.
Beginner JavaScript – Chapter 6 – Variables
Note: As stated in my initial post, this is part of a series of JavaScript-related posts. As I am becoming knowledgeable in JavaScript, I am posting out what I’ve learned, to re-enforce my knowledge, as well as maybe helpful other web designers/developers in learning JavaScript. If I have mis-stated anything, please feel free to post…
Beginner JavaScript – Chapter 5 – Expressions
Note: As stated in my initial post, this is part of a series of JavaScript-related posts. As I am becoming knowledgeable in JavaScript, I am posting out what I’ve learned, to re-enforce my knowledge, as well as maybe helpful other web designers/developers in learning JavaScript. If I have mis-stated anything, please feel free to post…
One Secret to Email Marketing
A brief diversion from my “Learning JavaScript” series, to discuss a major secret in email marketing. I call it “Single Theme to Right Audience.” The idea is this; when you send out your blast emails, make sure you’re sending the value that your recipients opted-in for. Now, for some businesses, that’s simple. Say you sell…
Beginner JavaScript – Chapter 4 – JavaScript Data Types
Note: As stated in my initial post, this is part of a series of JavaScript-related posts. As I am becoming knowledgeable in JavaScript, I am posting out what I’ve learned, to re-enforce my knowledge, as well as maybe helpful other web designers/developers in learning JavaScript. If I have mis-stated anything, please feel free to post…
Beginner JavaScript – Chapter 3 – JavaScript Identifiers
Note: As stated in my initial post, this is part of a series of JavaScript-related posts. As I am becoming knowledgeable in JavaScript, I am posting out what I’ve learned, to re-enforce my knowledge, as well as maybe helpful other web designers/developers in learning JavaScript. If I have mis-stated anything, please feel free to post…
Beginner JavaScript – Chapter 2 – JavaScript Statements
Note: As stated in my initial post, this is part of a series of JavaScript-related posts. As I am becoming knowledgeable in JavaScript, I am posting out what I’ve learned, to re-enforce my knowledge, as well as maybe helpful other web designers/developers in learning JavaScript. If I have mis-stated anything, please feel free to post…
Beginner JavaScript – Chapter 1 – Including JavaScript on Web Pages
Note: As stated in my initial post, this is part of a series of JavaScript-related posts. As I am becoming knowledgeable in JavaScript, I am posting out what I’ve learned, to re-enforce my knowledge, as well as maybe helpful other web designers/developers in learning JavaScript. If I have mis-stated anything, please feel free to post…
Learning JavaScript
Things come easy, things come difficult. For the past 17+ years, I’ve created websites. HTML, XHTML, HTML5, CSS, CSS3, you name it, I’ve done it. I’ve even used Flash, JavaScript and jQuery to enhance my sites. Again, I’ve used JavaScript & jQuery, but I haven’t known it up to this point. I’ve spent over a…
Just Go (to a Web Event)
I just returned from attending a web-related event, WordCamp Chicago. It reminded me how valuable these type of events are. Not only for the formal presentations, but also for the networking and connecting with like-minded people with similar interests. There are a few excuses I frequently hear for not being able to attend a web…
Twitter Discussion on Web Industry Job Titles: Designer
There’s two things that befuddle me (well, there are more, but I digress…). Job titles in the web/internet industry and Twitter. I love Twitter. I primarily use Twitter to follow my mentors and peers in the web/Internet industry. One thing though that frustrates me to no end is that lack of dialog, discussion. I’m also…
Time for Restaurants to Get Their Websites Right
I previously wrote about an experience where a restaurant forced me to visit their website for their menu, only to discover that their website (including their menu) were in Flash. Recently, I again had the need to lookup a restaurants menu online, via a mobile device. This time, the menu was in PDF format, making…
It’s Never Simple – Coupons
I recently searched the web for some deals on a new product I had tried out. Visiting the manufacturer’s website, I discovered a coupon offering decent savings. You had to provide your contact information, which for me was a decent exchange for the coupon’s value. I completed the form and submitted it.
Delving into a Website the Wrong Way
— “Put the cart before the horse.” Why do website owner’s do this? All the time? They come up with a great website element or feature. Then, they build the site around it. But they forget the primary reason for the site. The goal. Increase sales. Sell books. Increase downloads of brochures. They’ll all agree…