Ambient Information and Search Results

I’ve been thinking a bit about ambient information, subtle cues that “exist in the periphery of our senses, where they provide continuous information without being distracting.” [source]

These cues can be in the form objects, as with the ambient orbs which communicate stock information through color changes. They could be unique sounds associated with specific subway stops (for more on this, see the Ambient Signifiers article on Boxes and Arrows). Or, in the two examples I want to share, these could be visual cues that may or may not consciously register, but work to facilitate the understanding and processing of information. Continue reading...

Photoshop tip: Layer Comps make your life easier.

What are Layer Comps? Simply put, Layer Comps are a 'snapshot' of your Photoshop document (PSD) that you can easily flip between. Read on to learn all about creating and using Layer Comps to maximize your inner Photoshop ninja. Continue reading...

Under the Hood

To be a View, the data presented has to be search results. We are not merely making data look great, be more functional, etc. We are doing that for search results. Thats a lot harder than simply making a great looking static web page. Search results can be messy, and sometimes thwart attempts at prettying them up. Here's one small example. Continue reading...

Who Builds a View?

Building a view is a lot like putting on a rock concert. Aside from the performers that you see on stage there is a complex ecosystem of producers, writers, record executives, stage hands, technicians, equipment, and venue operators that make the concert possible. So who are the players behind a view? Continue reading...

View Design Evolution

In January of 2007 things were different than they are now. Kobe didn’t have an MVP, but was still a jerk. The French government allowed smoking in public places. YouTube is blocked in Brazil. View design was in it’s infancy. Now, though, kids in Brazil are free to watch videos of DDR mishaps, smoking isn’t allowed in public places in France, and Kobe has an MVP under his belt. View design has come a long way since Chris, Brandon, and I started work on the first View builds. It’s amazing what a year will do. Continue reading...