position: absolute - Design resources and inspiration.

I’ve heard on numerous occasions that buying your stuff at IKEA is kind of not so cool. I can’t really share that opinion. They create innovative stuff that is well designed, the prices are good, and they’re great for DIY projects. The catch, of course, is that a lot of people will have the same things (how’s your Billy bookshelf doing?).

For a more individual touch, designer products come into play. Problem is, they’re terribly expensive. Or are they?

“No!”, say the folks at Designophy, with a list of 50 affordable products by famous designers ($5-$100). Now, you’re still going to have to figure out for yourself if you want to pay $45 for a bottle opener, but these products do stand out. Happy shopping!
(thanks, KNUFFLEBUNNEH !!!).

Just wishing everyone here a Happy Easter! And to those of you not celebrating Easter, have a great long weekend!

For more cutesy wutesy bunnies (and plenty of more fuzzy critters) that make a grown man go “aaawwwww”, check out Cute Overload!

Hmpf. Recently, apparently, Google added a captcha feature to their search engine to assure that it wasn’t being abused by bots. It looks like this. So, over the last few weeks, Google has been telling me (from time to time) that I am a bot, and that I must enter the captcha code to enter its great vaults. And so I do. And then right after that, I do it again. And then a third time, for good measure. No Google, no matter how often you tell me, I’m still not a bot, and that psychological trick (telling someone he’s a bot until he believes it) ain’t working on me! So usually after 2-3 codes entered, I get my search results. But not today. Today, my friends, I get nothing:

As of now, I officially have no access to the wonders of Google. They won’t even let me have a captcha. To think of all of the fun I am missing out on, entering weird twisted numbers in a round-based battle of sorts. I wonder if they get harder each round. I even made it to level 6 last time. Is there a final boss? How, oh how, shall we ever find out, if I cannot even search for the answers? Oh great Google, why hast thou forsaken me?

Just a quick notice that I’ve upgraded the underlying WordPress version of position: absolute from 1.5.2. to 2.1.2. That’s quite a version jump and frankly I’m surprised it worked with basically no problems except one really minor glitch. Still, I might have missed something, so please let me know if you notice any problems whatsoever, no matter how small. Thanks! Update 2007-04-03: Upped to WordPress 2.1.3 now.

Today, Adobe offically announced Creative Suite 3, to date their largest release ever. The suite will be available in 6 editions, catered to different needs: web, design, video, or the full package. The full Master Collection spans a total of 14 applications with additional helpers such as Bridge and Device Central. According to the press release, prices for the new packages will range between approx. $1599 and $2499. European buyers beware, it seems we’ll be paying much higher prices over here.

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Need a job, but you’re not up for the hassle of looking through the papers? Well then, you could always set up a nice site and have people suggest the best jobs around. Throw in a free iPod nano and you’re set. Just like Belgium-based Tijs Vrolix did. Quite an innovative way of getting the attention of agencies.

The Design Observer has reprinted an article by Michael McDonough, called “The Top 10 Things They Never Taught Me in Design School“. Michael goes in to some uncomfortable truths surrounding design work, clears up myths and misconceptions and gives some rock solid, slam-hard advice.

He produces valuable insight for each of the following points:

1. Talent is one-third of the success equation.
2. 95 percent of any creative profession is shit work.
3. If everything is equally important, then nothing is very important.
4. Don’t over-think a problem.
5. Start with what you know; then remove the unknowns.
6. Don’t forget your goal.
7. When you throw your weight around, you usually fall off balance.
8. The road to hell is paved with good intentions;
   or, no good deed goes unpunished.
9. It all comes down to output.
10. The rest of the world counts.

Read it. Seriously.

…to help improve position: absolute! p:a has now been running for almost 2 years and I can say I am proud and honored to be in so many of your daily bookmarks and feed readers. I try to provide you with the best information on webdesign and inspiration that I can find, but as with many things, position: absolute is dependent on your feedback and support to achieve that goal! So I’m asking you, my valued reader: what would you like to see more of here? Less of this, more of that? If you’re looking for some pointers, the list of categories to your right might be of assistance. Help improve p:a for everyone by leaving your opinions in the comments. Thanks for reading!

It appears that both Mac and PC TrueType versions of Erik Spiekermann’s FF Meta Book and FF Meta Bold are being freely delivered along with the official Second Life client. The fonts’ .ttf files can be copied and used without system restrictions.

This begs the question whether the font was intended for free distribution among currently 4,598,897 users* or if this was a major oversight. A single cut is currently priced at around 50€ (FontShop).
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Ever wanted to have your digital art printed onto real canvas? Well, here’s your chance. Our friends over at StyleSpion have teamed up with Digiprinz to launch the Socialize Design Contest.

Just do an artwork based on your thoughts about “socializing” and send it to StyleSpion. The 3 winners - rated by the audience - will get their artworks printed on canvas. The deadline is March 31st and you have to be European. Go go go!