Barac consulting

There is something more to write about why this new medium is so different, and offers up fantastic opportunities for designers. Apple themselves have acknowledged this in their presentations, saying that creating great apps is 60% design. And this isn’t just some truism – the iphone, and to some extent android phone apps are making waves because of the new qualities

Finally the Guardian iPhone app is out there – I’m distracted by Tweetdeck and buzzing with excitement. Congratulations to Jon Moore, Andy Brockie, Akemi Takagi and all the others from The Guardian and 2Ergo who I worked with on this. And cheers to Emily Bell, Tim Brooks , Alan Rusbridger and others at GNM for giving the go-ahead for the app.

It was a huge job getting it done and I can’t pretend to know everything about the process but I was involved from the outset in devising the look of it, the user interface as well as

This video demos a concept from Time inc. for a digital magazine for a multitouch slate or tablet. The whole package feels like it would be a very compelling and satisfying experience. I like the way that headlines have been treated more like film credits. The synchronisation of games with realtime events, eg a sporting event combined with a game where you predict results is an interesting innovation.

The concept includes facebook sharing, using soft keyboard, galleries which expand out of image in article, the ability to flick through a carousel of all pages, dynamic advertising and video features.

They say this content will be available mid 2010. I want it!

Via Electronista

Welcome. I guess you have come here hoping to find information about me. I have just managed to get this up and running, and  there will be things here to see within a month (mid December 2009) or earlier. Meanwhile, bookmark

I tried a Palm Pre the other day, and my opinion was mixed. The first problem was with Oxford Street rather than Palm or O2. I went in search of a store, and found one with displays which excitedly announced the new phone, but there were none in sight. I thought it a bit strange because there every other type of phone was evident, including a bank of iPhones. So I stood in a short queue,

All was full speed ahead inside the Apple studios when I went to visit on 12 June. Their top designers took the time to meet with me, and for every minute I was there it was clear that all parts of the machine were geared up to the launch of the iPhone3G, Mobile me and the iPhone application store.

Hiroki took me for a quick but interesting tour around the graphics studio – graphic design for web, retail and packaging, and also producers, motion graphics and the print center. Every part of the white walled building was accessed with swipe cards, and only to those who needed

The new mayor of London. Boris johnson, decided as his first act to ban alcohol consumption on public transport . . not that there was a huge problem with it, but it is definitely an easy propaganda win for him. Anyway, some people called for a party on the Circle line, which runs around central London. They publicised it on Facebook and as reported on BBC, thetube party looks like it was a crazy fun night for those involved. I’m sure it poissed off rail staff, but in this time of little protest it is good to see people expressing a bit of petulance in hte face of a tory toff taking the helm in London.

(I will try embedding this video later . .right now I have things to do!)

I think it’s worth posting some ongoing musings on the web app design process as compared to the print design process.

Designing for the web has quite a different set of requirements. I like that you have to constantly think about the structure – where the user goes, how they get there, what they find when they are there and how they get back.
i think that the style and presentation are an additional layer on that, but decisions made about styling can have a direct impact on the method of interaction.

Be An Executioner

It’s so funny when I hear people being so protective of ideas. (People who want me to sign an nda to tell me the simplest idea.)

To me, ideas are worth nothing unless executed. They are just a multiplier. Execution is worth millions.

Explanation:

Awful idea = -1
Weak idea = 1
So-so idea = 5
Good idea = 10
Great idea = 15
Brilliant idea = 20
No execution = $1
Weak execution = $1000
So-so execution = $10,000
Good execution = $100,000
Great execution = $1,000,000
Brilliant execution = $10,000,000
To make a business, you need to multiply the two.

The most brilliant idea, with no execution, is worth $20. The most brilliant idea takes great execution to be worth $20,000,000.

That’s why I don’t want to hear people’s ideas. I’m not interested until I see their execution.

Derek Sivers, president and programmer, CD Baby and HostBab

Quoted from Getting Real by 37 Signals

What are those tombstones on stage all about?