Please take a moment to read my thoughts about the SXSW 'Big Bag' that I posted last year, and download the poster from the a.green:focus blog and add it to your own website.
]]>
Please take a moment to read my thoughts about the SXSW 'Big Bag' that I posted last year, and download the poster from the a.green:focus blog and add it to your own website.
]]>Other small changes--switching off lights when they are not being used, reusing plastic containers when getting a take away, using a bag for life, turning off my computer overnight--might not make a substantial difference, but hopefully set an example to others.
As such, I find myself criticising other people for making decisions that I don't believe to be in the interests of sustainability. For example, the perceived need to own televisions of ever increasing size, which seems less about improving the viewing experience, more a wish to conform with this unfounded measure of success.
A friend who brought their iPhone at the same time as me, recently upgraded 'because they were told they could'. This perpetual upgrade cycle, driven by phone companies wishing to get customers onto new tariffs or contracts also frustrates me. I certainly have no plans to upgrade my device for the foreseeable future.
]]> UnderminedYet on many occasions, friends have questioned such criticism, especially given the amount of flying I've been doing over the last few years, which has not only countered other changes I've made but also undermined the example I've been trying to set.
Having said that, I will staunchly defend the practice of travel. I think leaving the comfort zone of your surroundings, experiencing other cultures and seeing your own from a different perspective is to be encouraged. I believe my world view has fundamentally changed since the short time I lived in the US, and more recent travels around Europe.
Prior to my move to California in 2006, I had flown only once, on a long haul return flight to Australia to 2003. Yet moving to America brought with it the obvious need to return home to see friends and family as often as possible, and flying quickly became second nature.
However, thanks to Dopplr's ability to track the carbon generated from all these trips I've taken, you can see that since returning from America in 2007, there has been a year-on-year reduction of my footprint:
Still, my friends are still right; flying so often undermines my ability to advocate a greener lifestyle. It also dawned on me just how unpleasant the entire experience is anyway. Endless queuing, administration and frustration, just to travel in pretty appalling conditions--I can't think of any other situation in which waking up two strangers and crawling across a row of seats, just to visit the toilet would be tolerated, but it is here.
Contrast this with travel by train. Much of the queuing and waiting is gone, and you can travel from the centre of one city to another in a matter of hours. For just a little extra you can upgrade to first class, enjoy free wireless internet, sip champagne and eat freshly cooked meals. Whatever class you travel, the amazing scenery comes for free.
Perhaps it's no surprise then that I've opted for this form of travel lately, and I hope to undertake another rail bound journey around Europe later this year.
However, I feel it's important to make clear my statement of intent, and also honour the 10:10 pledge I've made to reduce my carbon footprint by 10% in 2010. So I've decided that this year I will not fly one single mile. Seeing as I returned from Australia on January 7th, this promise will hold true until that same date next year.
I'm not saying this because I had no plans to fly either. I was really hoping to catch up with friends in San Francisco, and this years An Event Apart series looks especially enticing. Yet these can wait. There is of course the possibility I will be asked to fly by my employer (Clearleft has many clients based overseas) yet I hope this is something I can avoid if at all possible.
Hopefully, by improving my own behaviour and backing it up with firm action, I can once again advocate a green agenda. Indeed, after announcing my plans to build a green coalition of web developers and designers last April, this month I formally launched the campaign. It's called a.green:focus.
In my inaugural post on the a.green:focus blog, I explained why our industry is best placed to challenge peoples behaviour and help them become more environmentally concious:
Ours is an industry occupied by some of the most talented, creative and empathetic people on the planet. We craft interfaces that are easy to use, design experiences that push the boundaries of a medium and build websites that are accessible to all. We’ve developed social networks that allow us to communicate with each other in new and exciting ways. We are in the business of creating the future.
To help launch the campaign, and with the help of my friends at the Multipack, I've organised a hack day, where we hope to build a website or application that will encourage people within our industry to think about how they can reduce their carbon footprint, quite relevant given the upcoming SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. You can find more details about this event on the Upcoming page, but needless to say it's this Saturday!
Hopefully this is the first in a series of events and initiatives in support of the campaign, and so far the response from friends and peers has been incredibly encouraging. In the mean time, may I suggest you add the a.green:focus blog to your preferred RSS reader.
]]>The speed at which these changes have been rolled out, has in part been aided by the creation of strict visual design guidelines, referred to as the Global Visual Language or GVL.
A selection of mastheads used on 'Barlesque' sites that adhere to the Global Visual Language v2
These guidelines introduced a single fixed page width, added a common masthead and footer, documented how individual site banners should work and established a simple underlying grid system. All new pages created on the site adhere to these standards meaning users now enjoy a coherent and joined up experience across BBC Online.
The introduction of the GVL was a huge step forward, yet I've been critical of a few aspects of it in the past. The insistence on using Verdana for example, especially for page headings, has lead to a few vexed comments from me on the BBC Internet Blog:
In all honesty, it's bearable (just about) on the home page, but for BBC News Online, it makes the site look incredibly amateurish.
Comment in response to Home Page Two Months On
Whilst I can understand the arguments for better readability, I'd much prefer to see Arial set at 13px rather than the wider (and uglier) Verdana. Its use on other sites such as BBC News Online, particularly for headlines in my opinion makes those sites look rather dated and amateurish. Luckily the Music site excellently demonstrates that Arial can give sites a more contemporary look, and its use should be encouraged elsewhere on the site.
Comment in response to BBC Music Website Relaunch
I guess you could say I'm not a fan of Verdana! Furthermore, the new global masthead hid much of the sites navigation behind an 'Explore' button, and also lead to occasions where logos in the banner would clash with the main logo in the masthead:
The large logo in the masthead often clashed with logos within section banners. Originally the BBC News site showed the correct logo, but had to be altered to avoid it reading as BBC BBC NEWS.
I was so concerned by these oversights that I thought about ways to rectify these issues. The visual design language had just been applied to the BBC News website at the time, so I set upon redesigning the home and news item pages. The curious are welcome to view the full resolution comps I came up with:
Of course it's easy to create something like this in isolation, without a full understanding of the design or technical constraints that exist, but I think this demonstrates my frustration with the implementation at the time and--perhaps more importantly--how much I care about the design of the BBC website.
]]> BBC Heaven
Given this background, you can imagine my delight on reading that the corporation is working on a brand new design language with the help of Neville Brody and his agency Research Studios. Not only does it answer my previous criticisms, but the early previews exceed my wildest expectations:
We wanted to find the soul of the BBC. We wanted something distinctive and recognisable; we wanted drama. We knew whatever we created needed to be truly cross-platform and that we needed to simplify our user journeys."
Bronwyn van der Merwe, A new global visual language for the BBC's digital services
Whilst this could be viewed as yet another redesign, it strikes me that this project is aimed towards creating a more lasting vision, and this is reflected by the creation of nine key design principles:
Modern British: Creates a modern British design aesthetic, something vibrant and quirky that translates outside our national boundaries.
Current: Feels current and reflects what's happening in the UK right now, in real-time. Curates a timeline of Britain and links to the past, to the BBC's rich archive.
Authentic: Sounds authentic and relevant, warm and human. References the BBC's iconic design and broadcasting heritage. Values the trust placed in the organisation.
Compelling: Engages audiences with compelling storytelling. Voices range from serious and authoritative through to witty and entertaining.
Distinctive: Stands out from the crowd. Strikes a balance between overly templated, cookie-cutter design and beautiful anarchy. Bold and dramatic.
Pioneering: Pioneering design innovations that surprise and delight, yet take the audiences with them.
Joined-up: Views all services and platforms as one connected whole but delivers experiences that are sensitive to their context of use.
Universal: Services are open and accessible. Interfaces are simple, useful and intuitive.
Best: Ambition is to be the best digital media brand in the world.
These principles have resulted in the following output:
A new grid allows for much flexibility. Thirty-one 16px columns can be combined to create two or four columns on the left-hand side of the page, whilst a wider right-hand column ensures that advertising units (which are shown to international visitors) are accommodated. The choice of grid has lead to the introduction of interwoven vertical and horizontal bands, with the right-hand column becoming a signature feature across the site.
James has been saying recently that designers need to think more carefully about their grid layouts, considering what content needs to be catered for rather than just relying on more ridged and symmetrical layouts. This looks like a textbook example.
I was excited to read that the new GVL introduces a much more dramatic use of typography:
As well as Gill Sans we've introduced big bold type in Helvetica or Arial and restricted variations in size so that we have much greater consistency across the site.
No mention of Verdana. Fingers crossed that it doesn't make a re-appearance!
The guidelines also establish a new colour palette and usage guidelines, and suggest that pages will be predominantly neutral, with colour used only to create vibrancy and highlight key areas of the page. Large and dramatic imagery will take centre stage instead.
The examples demonstrate a consistent cross-site navigation element across the top of each page (that is, no longer hidden behind a button), whilst section navigation is said to typically run horizontally rather than vertically. The mock-up for the BBC Sport site also shows a bread crumb trail as part of the Cricket section's sub-navigation too.
The embedded media players also get an update, as do carousels and other page components. To top it all off, the guidelines elicit the use of a single set of bespoke icons:
Much like my attempts to redesign the news website two years ago, there is a sizeable gap between theory and practice, and the true test will come as these guidelines are implemented across the site, and adopted by different parts of the organisation.
This new stripped back and simplified approach speaks to my own design philosophy, so I really hope it succeeds. Indeed, this announcement comes in the same week as the launch of Windows Phone 7 which has a similar laid bare aesthetic.
I do wonder if this work for the BBC, and that for Windows Phone are the first signs of a move away from the 'Web 2.0' look by larger organisations. I will happily accept the painful irony, that having waited so many years for rounded corners and background gradients to be implemented in browsers, the trend that demands them will no longer be with us.
If it wasn't obvious, I'm absolutely bowled over by what the BBC User Experience & Design team and Research Studios have presented so far. I hope this early preview is the first of many insights to come. Given the BBC's agile development process, we shouldn't have to wait to long to see it in the wild either.
]]>I had been vaguely aware of their recent marketing campaigns where the logo slots into the top right corner of a distinctive trapezium containing shape. However on seeing this particular advertisement close up, I did a quick double take, spotting what seemed to be an updated logo. A quick search on Google images confirmed my suspicion.
To me the previous logo always had a temporary feel to it. Network Rail was created out of the ashes of Railtrack, a privatised company that owned the nations railways prior to it being placed into 'railway administration' by the government in 2002. At the time I remember thinking the logo for this new body must have been quickly thrown together by a low ranking designer at the Department of Transport, such was its low fidelity.
Seven years later, and with a massive investment programme underway, it would seem that Network Rail has finally decided to give its logo a subtle update.
Many of the changes are small, but they all add up to create a tighter, more manageable mark. Tighter kerning and the removal of the space between the two words has allowed the overall logo to be reduced in width by around 10%. The typeface has also been altered sightly, removing the serifs that were barely noticeable before.
The distinctive red triangle also moves closer to the text, and the two cut outs that suggest a track disappearing into the distance now converge on a single point rather than the unknown destination seen previously. The colour palette has also been updated, with the primary colours replaced with more considered choices. However, the use of gradients in the final rendering only serves to weaken an otherwise stronger, more confident mark.
]]> MTV
Whilst the identity for Network Rail may have gone unnoticed, you are unlikely to have missed the MTV 'refresh' announced earlier this week. Much like Network Rail, this is more of a realignment than an all out redesign, although the changes are possibly more noticeable. I initially thought the legs had somehow been mis-cropped, yet after my initial shock I think the new proportions work surprisingly well, possibly reflecting the evolution of television with this new, almost widescreen ratio.
Like nearly every logo launched these days (London 2012, NYC & Company, AOL et al.) it goes without saying that this logo has been designed to act as a containing element, in which photos of the channels second-rate reality stars can be placed.
It's an old idea (this in-depth article by Roger van den Bergh gives you an idea of just how long this concept has been around), but it is worth remembering that MTV launched with a similar identity 29 years ago. In fact, the logo has long been a canvas for viewers to make their own mark on the channel, although that concept seems sadly missing in this latest interpretation.
Finally, if we are to talk about 'M' shaped containing identities, then I can't leave without mentioning my favourite identity project of last year for the City of Melbourne, which frankly blows MTV's mediocre efforts clean out of the water:
Aren't these just fantastic?
]]>I was still freelancing at the beginning of the year, with much of my time devoted to Apture, a start-up based in San Mateo, California.
I had been working closely with Tristan, the company's CEO since November 2007, and the focus was now on building an innovative media browser (or 'Media Hub') for site editors, as well as tools to embed Twitter streams and US Congress data into web pages. These were all interesting products to be working on, and I could have continued to work with Apture (or any number of other US-based companies given my contacts there) for some time, but I really wanted to look for opportunities closer to home.
Since freelancing for Clearleft, I had discovered that working socialable hours surrounded by my peers (and often working with high-profile clients) was something I craved, and started to think seriously about freelancing for different agencies in and around Brighton.
Working with Clearleft again in May, Andy asked me if I would like to join the company full-time. The answer was only ever going to be yes.
Joining the team in Brighton has been nothing short of inspirational. Being surrounded by such talented colleagues has forced me to up my game, challenging assumptions about how I work, and making me consider new ways to solve design problems. I'd like to think it has pushed me to write better content for this blog, whilst ensureing the release of my social icon set. I doubt I would have made these public had it not been for the supportive environment I now find myself.
Last year turned out to be another great year for travel, and thankfully one a little less US-centric. However, rather unexpectedly, my first trip overseas was to San Francisco in January. As the 'Media Hub' project was ramping up at Apture, Tristan asked if I could come out to their offices to spend a week face-to-face with the team. With much of the cost to be covered by them, and with the real possibility of making some progress on that particular project, I boarded another San Francisco bound flight.
That's Not My Name, one of the many reasons I grew tired of travel within the United States.
Of course this was also an excellent opportunity to catch-up with friends in the area, and most evenings were spent in the company of former colleagues. Yet being back in San Francisco reinforced my belief that I should be travelling more to other countries. Seeing an advert for railselect.com, I contacted them asking them to create a customised itinerary, one that would allow me to see as much of Europe as I could by train in three-weeks.
Sir John Betjeman looks towards the Eurostar at St. Pancras Station.
This brief tour around Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and France was possibly the highlight of the entire year. From boarding the Eurostar at the fabulous new St. Pancras International station in London, to travelling on a cog railway with a 45-degree incline up to the summit of Mount Pilatus in Lucerne. Or relaxing on the beach in Valencia, climbing up 509 steps to the top of a 98-meter tall spire at Cologne Cathedral or exploring former Olympic venues in Munich, Barcelona and Innsbruck. I would happily do the whole trip again.
(Lee) Nash and Jon on the Precipice Walk.
The annual weekend trip to Coed-y-Brenin in north Wales is always something to look forward to, and 2009 was no different. Each year seems to become a more relaxed affair, with different people choosing to break off into different groups to do their own thing, before reconvening around the camp fire in the evening. In that regard, Jon, Nash and myself decided to venture along the popular Precipice Walk, which provided stunning views across the Mawddach Estuary and the mountain ranges of Snowdonia.
Finally, as my previous posts have recalled, I spent the end of the year in New Zealand and Australia, which is something I've been meaning to do for several years, and so glad to finally accomplish that goal.
Closer to home, other highlights included a number of barbecues on Clymping Beach, a new set of Multipack events dubbed 'Multipack Presents…' and a renewed interest in Formula One.
The 2009 Formula One World Championship, and in particular debut entrant Brawn GP, gained my full attention throughout the year.
With a return to the BBC after 12 years that coincided with the excitement surrounding the new Brawn GP team, it was hard not to get immersed in the sport. With Jenson Button at the wheel of one of the Brawn cars, and with it a real (yet surprising) prospect for a second consecutive British world championship winner, I was hocked all season.
Perhaps the only other television event to grab my interest was the second series of Ashes to Ashes, yet I remember this as being a disappointing, ropey and inconsistent affair with a rather peculiar finale--although I'm still keen to see the shows conclusion later this year.
In the spirit of the times we now live, and hopefully with an eye to more thoughts on this blog about green issues, for the first time in such a retrospective I'd like to recap on the changes I've made to lessen my impact on the environment.
The biggest of these was probably ending my reliance on the car. Since returning from the States I had been borrowing my mothers car, but on moving to the South Coast, this was no longer an option. The choice was either to buy a car of my own, or start to use public transport exclusively. Thankfully, the rail connections here are particularly good, and I've found travelling back home on the train to be less stressful than it can be by car--at least when the trains are running on time!
I've also tried to focus on the little things, be it turning electrical items off at the plug, using a bag for life (or feeling incredible guilt when I've forgotten it) or reusing plastic containers when getting a meal from the local chinese takeaway.
In this respect, the decision to travel around Europe by train was a conscious one, yet for a trip that involving so many different cities, flying would have been more inconvenient anyway. One of the great benefits of rail travel is that you arrive right in the centre of a city minus any of the fuss involved when flying.
However, I still took several long hall flights (London→San Francisco return in January, and London→Los Angeles→Auckland, Wellington→Sydney→Melbourne→London in December). Whilst I did carbon offset these flights (and indeed finally got around to offsetting all my previous flights too) that's still not the same as not taking them in the first place. With that in mind, I will write about how I plan to change this habit in a forthcoming blog post.
]]>Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne.
Melbourne is host to a number of different architectural styles, many of them quite daring, especially recent additions like Federation Square and Eureka Tower. However, unlike Wellington, there is a general cohesiveness. In fact this even extends to the city council's new identity. Having witnessed the city first hand, I can't see it as anything other than a perfect graphic manifestation of Melbourne's built environment.
Before I really started to explore the city, I met up with my friend and former colleague Phil McCluskey. Nervous that I may miss him as well as Kyle, I was glad to spend an afternoon with him, getting a guided tour of the Fitzroy and Carlton suburbs whilst we hunted for dinner. Not only was it great to see Phil, but it was nice to be able to talk to somebody familiar after three weeks of talking to complete strangers!
Given Australia's passion for sport, it's perhaps no surprise that the MCG--whilst outside the CBD--still forms an integral part of the city. Its six large light towers dominate the landscape around Melbourne's 'Sports and Entertainment Precinct', a huge section of parkland littered with sporting venues of every size and description.
As a city that hosted the Olympic Games of 1956, I was keen to see how many of the buildings from this time remained. Unfortunately much has changed, although the Olympic Park is still home to the Olympic Pool--the first fully indoor Olympic swimming venue. This is now an indoor training centre and office complex, and sadly the only major structure from the games to look much as it did in 1956. Many of the other buildings have since been replaced by motorways and car parks.
The same is true of the MCG. Whilst one part of the huge oval is still named in honour of the Olympics, the oldest part of the complex is actually the light towers that were erected in 1985. The rest of the was stadium completely rebuilt in sections between 1992 and 2005. Part of this refurbishment included the creation of the National Sports Museum, which includes a special section devoted entirely to the Olympics.
The cauldron from the 1956 Olympic Games.
As you can imagine, this got my full attention. I was immersed in all its collected memorabilia--everything from a laurel wreath presented to a winning athlete at the inaugural 1896 games, to a ticket stub from the most recent games in Beijing. One of the most interesting displays was the (almost) complete collection of Olympic relay torches from 1936 to 2008.
The centrepiece of this display was the original Olympic cauldron from the Melbourne games--although its flimsy, thin metal construction had me believe it was a replica until I read the supporting text.
Keeping with this theme of sporting geekery, I was also keen to check out Albert Park, host to the Australian Grand Prix every March. Although it was obvious to make out from maps situated around the park, it took me some time to realise that main road that circles the lake was indeed the race track.
The pit lane on the Albert Park grand prix circuit.
So much of the supporting track furniture is removed from the site when the circuit is not in use. Even the pit lane complex could be mistaken for offices, were it not for the road layout and the row of garage doors along its frontage. Of course I couldn't pass by without standing on the very same podium that Jenson Button had stood only 10 months beforehand--although when I looked out across the start/finish straight all I could see was a makeshift car park.
Much like I did after my travels across Europe last year, I'd like to finish my report with a few lessons I learnt from this trip:
Pack Light: This time I left my laptop at home, and took a small point and shoot camera (the Canon S90) rather than an SLR and assorted lens. Leaving the laptop behind was entirely the right thing to do, so I doubt it'll be joining me on any future trips. Taking a point and shoot was also a great call. The best camera is the one you have with you, and being so small meant I had no hesitation taking it with me everywhere I went. Still, I'd like to take my SLR on future trips, especially as it forces you to study buildings and landmarks a little closer as you try to hunt down the perfect composition.
I also decided to take a rucksack rather than a suitcase this time around, and this worked out really well too. I think it really depends on the itinerary and the type of trip as to which type of luggage is best suited, but it was certainly the right choice for this particular adventure.
I still could have packed less.
Sleep Cheap: I was slightly anxious about staying in hostels, and whilst it was sometimes annoying to share a room with complete strangers, it did result in me getting up early (when sleeping in a single room the temptation to sleep until 11am was often too great). I can't think how much money I saved either--an absolute bargain seeing as most where of equal quality to many hotels.
Roam Prepaid: Given the silly amount I spent whilst roaming across Europe, I really didn't want to the same in Australasia, where data is doubly expensive. I purchased a 'Data Abroad' bolt-on for £50, and this drastically reduced my mobile phone bill. I would have used less than the 50MB pre-paid allowance had I not downloaded an entire Wikipedia article on the history of the Australian National Flag!
Overall, whilst this trip was really inspiring, and a great start to this new decade, I feel as though I didn't make the most of the opportunity. Given that I went all the way to New Zealand, not have seen some of the most popular sites (especially those on the South Island) only serves to annoy me. The same is true for the experience I had watching the fireworks display in Sydney. Had I planned properly, I may have gone to a ticketed event that could guarantee comfort and a view. The lesson to be learnt here is to focus on the preparation next time around.
]]>View of Sydney Harbour on the approach to Sydney Airport.
I remember a quote by David Frost that went something along the lines of 'the three best cities to fly into are New York, London, and Sydney'. I agree, but the best of these is certainly Sydney. The instantly recognisable composition of Opera House and Harbour Bridge cannot be beaten, and I always find myself unable to take in its full majesty.
Indeed, I was surprised by just how much this city has a hold over me. I was giddy with excitement on my arrival, overtaken by the unmistakeable feeling of coming home--a strange emotion to have for a place I'd only visited once before. At the same time, there is nothing like arriving in a foreign city and being able to walk around without a map, familiar with the unfamiliar.
The main reason I returned was to see the famous New Year firework display over Sydney Harbour, but lack of planning was soon evident. I arrived at the Domain to gain entry into Mrs. Macquaries Point just after noon, but with twelve hours still to pass before midnight, I was met with a snaking queue that took over two hours to complete. This viewpoint had capacity for 20,000 people, yet the entire Harbour was home to an estimated 1.5 million spectators.
The crowds patiently wait to see the firework display from Mrs. Macquaries Point.
Not the most sociable of people, I eventually got talking to a family of Danes who were kind enough to watch over my small spot of turf whilst I went in search of refreshment, and laughed at a nearby Brit who was not only entertaining his friends but those sat around him also. Yet without any of my own friends, or a radio to hear the soundtrack that accompanied the display, it felt like an anti-climatic affair.
As the final 15 minutes of 2009 began to count down, the crowd control soon became little more than organised chaos, people surging forward to gain the best views, annoying those who had waited all day in expectation of the nights events. As one of those caught in the moment, I too surged forward, but was then forced to sit down amongst a crush of spectators, standing every two minutes to bring life back to my dead legs. Then all of a sudden:
Three...
Two...
One...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sit down!
Move out the way!
Anger was the first emotion for many of this new decade dawned. As the initial set of fireworks leapt into the air, unable to hear the accompanying soundtrack, they seemed to lack co-ordination. Having seen the spectacle on the news so many times before, I quickly realised this was a spectacle designed for the medium of television, as from the ground much of the display was either hidden by smoke, people craning to take photos or overhanging trees.
As I headed back to my apartment, Sydney seemed to have descended into a scene from 28 Days Later, drunks luring up to people to either wish them a happy new year or punch them in the face. This reaffirmed a long standing believe that the best way to spend the New Year is with friends, locked safely indoors, watching events unfold on the television, as they are intended.
It's all too easy to be pessimistic, but it's worth noting that I did spend the first year of this new decade walking around Sydney Harbour, and spent the first evening relaxing on Manly beach. In that respect, I have little cause for complaint.
]]>The Wellington Cable Car takes passengers from Lambton Quay in the CBD to the suburb of Kelburn, and the Wellington Botanic Garden.
Much of this 'madness' can be attributed to the city's architectural style, which could be described as eclectic at best. Other cities manage to curate a coherent cityscape, but in Wellington, anything goes. In fact it's the most mediocre buildings that seem to gain prominence--the headquarters of the New Zealand Post immediately come to mind. The sleek black BNZ Centre, whilst a perfect example of the International Style that wouldn't look out of place in Chicago, looks hideous here. But then so does every other building.
However, if you look closely, you can still find a number of fine examples of the Art Deco style. The Prudential Assurance Building on Lambton Quay is one of few such buildings I spotted in the CBD, and there are many more in the surrounding districts (the Central Fire Station is a particularly beautiful example). The bohemian buildings along Cuba Street also have their own unique charm, as do some of the newer developments around the waterfront. So, not all bad.
The Beehive and Parliament House, Wellington
As you can tell, most of my time was consumed by the built environment, but I did take time to tour many of the city's other attractions such as the Cable Car and Botanic Gardens. Of particular interest were the Parliament Buildings. Unsurprisingly this complex is comprised of three buildings built to very different and distinct architectural styles, yet unlike the rest of the city, they sit wonderfully well next to each other.
The newest addition, and perhaps the most recognisable is 'The Beehive' (officially the Executive Wing), a modern cone shaped building with seven stepped levels designed by British architect Sir Basil Spence. Apparently its round shape causes great difficulty in terms of furnishing the building, but John Drawbridge's mural in the Banquet Hall is a clever acceptance of this, with a canvas that adapts as you move along the room.
Attached to the Beehive is the imposing Parliament House, an Edwardian neo-classical building that houses the debating chambers of the House of Representatives and the Legislative Council, the upper chamber until it was abolished in 1951. The final building is the Victorian Gothic styled Parliamentary Library, that along with Parliament House seems to have burnt down on so many occasions I lost count.
What I found most surprising about the Parliament buildings was the absence of any reference to the current monarch. The insignia of George V appears in a number of locations, but only as he was reigning during the construction of Parliament House. On asking the civil servant leading our tour why this might be, she pointed out the plaque commemorating the opening of the Executive Wing by Elizabeth II, and said I could 'salute her there if I wished'. I suspect this was a taste of how the country views the monarchy, although understandable given its residence on the other side of the planet.
Sadly, Wellington would be the last I would see of New Zealand on this trip, so after savouring my final Flat White at Wellington Airport (and hoping Australia would provide equally good coffee) I boarded my flight to Sydney.
]]>The Overlander during its lunchtime stop at National Park railway station.
Sadly this was my only opportunity to travel by rail on this trip. Although much of the landscape wasn’t as impressive as I had hoped for, the train did cross several large ravines; the engineering required to do so almost as impressive as the views it allowed for. The 'Railway Pie' described with such romance in the on-board menu--whilst incredibly tasty--was, as I later found out, just a plain old 'Mince Pie' on the Overlander's sister service, The Interislander ferry. The power of marketing!
Staying in Wellington that evening gave me my first taste of full-on hostel living. I arrived to be met with a note and a door key, and a close-knit community of backpackers, most of whom were German speaking (a common aspect of this trip). And yes, the mannequin head poking out of a hole in the shower room ceiling did make me jump.
I had that evening to venture round the city, but was shocked to find that very few places remained open past 6 o’clock. I later transpired that most of Wellington’s night life is concentrated around the Courtenay district rather than the CBD.
Compared to Auckland, my initial take on Wellington was that if felt more Asian that it's northerly counterpart, although this may have something to do with it's situation--perched on land reclaimed from the harbour and sat before steep green hillside, it almost looked like a smaller version of Hong Kong. After spending the following morning exploring the city's rejuvenated waterfront, I headed to the ferry terminal to catch the Interislander to Picton and the South Island.
Picton is a small yet picturesque town at the foot of Queen Charlotte Sound, and I imagine its population doubles on the arrival of each ferry. Those who choose to holiday in this area typically use it as a base to explore the Marlborough Sounds. I was only here for the evening, so unable to see as much of these sea-drowned valleys as I would have liked. I did get a small taste of the area by walking along the short 'Bob's Bay Track' out to an isolated cove, before grabbing a bite to eat on a converted war ship, the A.S. Echo.
Queen Charlotte Sound.
The next day, after grabbing some brunch in one of the many cafes that line the high street (taking the opportunity to sample another Flat White to which I had now become accustomed), I caught an Intercity coach heading west to Nelson where I would be spending Christmas.
On first glance, Nelson didn't seem to have much to offer, however further inspection revealed this not to be the case. Its most notable sight is that of Christ Church Cathedral with its tall, yet rather fragile looking bell tower. The building was meant to be a grand and imposing affair, but after years remaining half complete and facing budget constraints, the design was heavily modified so that the building could finally open fully in 1965. The modern bell tower and the beautiful stained glass windows are possibly the only redeeming features, yet I defy you to find another cathedral quite like it. I certainly found the combination of old and new architectural styles intriguing.
Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson.
Nelson also claims to be geographical centre of New Zealand. With an appropriate marker at the stop of a small hill next to the Botanic Gardens, it commands beautiful views across the city, the Tasman Bay and the surrounding area, as well as the 13km long thin stretch of rocky substrate--the Boulder Bank--which settled just off the coastline.
There is a whole other side to Nelson that could easily be missed should you not travel south along State Highway 6 towards Tahunanui Beach. This road runs along Nelson's Waterfront and is home to a number of small cafes and restaurants. The best known of these is The Boat Shed, a small restaurant clinging to the roadside and perched on several stilts. Luckily I grabbed a one of the few remaining seats at the crowded bar, and after sampling the menu, can't recommend this establishment highly enough.
Sunset over Tahunanui Beach, with the Abel Tasman National Park in the distance.
Perhaps the highlight of my time in Nelson (and possibly my entire time in New Zealand) was watching the sun set over Abel Tasman National Park from my distant view point on Tahunanui Beach. The photo above--as is usually the case--fails to capture the true spectacle, yet thankfully the memories survive. This beautiful vista was perhaps only matched by the day I actually spent in the park. Kayaking around a small part of the coastline meant I could see much of its wildlife close up, and was a real treat.
Me looking rather fetching in my kayaking gear.
The hostel I stayed at in Nelson is also worthy of special mention. Called The Custom House, this should give you a clue to its original use and perhaps its location; about 20 minutes walk from the CBD and situated right next to a container port. Some may see this as a disadvantage, but it is much closer to Tahunanui Beach than any of the hostels based in the city.
Opened in 2007 it has yet to be listed in Lonely Planet or Rough Guide which has an obvious impact on the number of people who decide to stay here. I had a 6-bed dorm all to myself and was surprised by just how few were staying in the hostel. Personally I couldn't have been more impressed; be it the quality of the accommodation, the incredible hospitality of the owner or just the amazing value. Upon arrival my $140 NZD 4-night stay was reduced to just $100 NZD, a real bargain!
Whenever I mentioned the low numbers, the owner seemed convinced that patronage would increase 'the next day', but I couldn't help but think he was deceiving himself (numbers were still low when I left). I truly hope his prediction turned out to be correct, else this is likely to remain Nelson's best kept secret.
]]>A view of Auckland's CBD from Mount Eden.
The first stop on my quick sprint around New Zealand was Auckland, where I spent just a day and a half. This could have been considered longer than necessary--friends told me I should avoid it all together--yet I viewed this brief stop as an opportunity to acclimatise after a gruelling 24 hours of travel (and related interrogations).
Checking into a budget hostel, and a small dingy room decorated in various shades of brown (broken desk lamp, Johnny Cash playing loudly in the next room) adjustment was clearly needed.
After unpacking and settling in, I ventured outside, intent on discovering the city. Before doing so, I took a moment to breathe in and survey my surroundings. In front of me, a small city park in the shadow of several sky-scrappers. The pulsating sound of pedestrian crossings were just about audible as was the hum of traffic from the nearby CBD. Both accompanied by the indescribable smell of a place until now unencountered.
It was at this point I remembered why I love to travel. Whilst photos and entries such as this become remnants of such trips, there is just so much of the experience you can’t take back home. This, as well as knowing I had achieved something that was just an idea a few months beforehand, proved to be an enormous rush.
A section of wall on the outside of the War Memorial Museum, commemorating battles fought in Palestine during World War I
The feeling of the familiar was the immediate impression I got of Auckland. Having visited many other 'post-colonial' cities (Sydney, San Francisco, Montreal) there were many times I felt I could be in any one of those places.
I walked through the Domain, around the harbour-side, climbed Mount Eden and explored the CBD (or Central Business District). With better planning I would have caught a ferry to see some of the outlying volcanic islands around Waitemata Harbour. Auckland's signature building--The Sky Tower--whilst impressive, lacked the views offered by the similar observation tower in Sydney, nor did it provide the level of excitement I found when I visited the Space Needle in Seattle.
In fact, the same could be said of the entire city, and by Sunday afternoon I found myself in a local cinema. Luckily for Auckland, I chose to watch The Informant!, and soon realised I'd have been served better catching a ferry or visiting the War Memorial Museum. Lesson learnt.
I'm probably being too harsh on Auckland, particularly as I remember feeling disappointed to be leaving early the next morning. However, for such a small city, it seemed intent on projecting an image of itself that is clearly larger than reality. I suspect this is due to it struggling to find a true identity, both within New Zealand (where it's considered to be something of a show-off) and the wider region--it certainly didn’t feel like a city with the largest Polynesian population in the world.
]]>This over-reliance on the motor vehicle, matched with an abundance of confusing and conflicting signage, meant the last time I was here in 2007, I found myself spending 2 of the 3 available hours between my connecting flights stuck on the wrong shuttle bus touring the airport's many car parks. A short conversation with the bus driver--in which I had to explain that even though I’m from England, I didn’t know the Queen--gave little relief.
After spending the remaining hour trying find the correct terminal and gate, once the plane had left the tarmac, I was pretty sure I never wanted to set foot in this airport ever again.
]]> One Ticked BoxForward to last August. As I was booking my flights to New Zealand fairly late, the only route available to Auckland was via LAX. I had some reservations, but I placed these aside, especially as a 6-hour layover in Los Angeles would mean a rare opportunity to meet my friend Kyle.
The Encounter Restaurant at LAX, where I would have eaten that evening had I not been interviewed by immigration officers.
Photo by J Brew
On reaching passport control, the immigration officer noticed that I had ticked the box next to the question:
Have you ever been denied a US visa or entry to the US or had a US visa cancelled? If yes, when? Where?
Carrying a passport that prominently displays a US visa with a line crossed through it (although only because I'm no longer employed in the US), I thought it best to answer yes. Indeed, I've answered yes on previous trips to America (as well as on the online ESTA pre-admittance process) yet as is often the case, admittance is down to the decision of one person and how they interpret the rules.
The officer reviewing my passport saw the ticked box, and without asking for an explanation, asked me to hold back behind the line for further review. Frankly she seemed unsure of whether her decision was right, as when I tried to plead my case, she needed to ask another officer if it was correct decision. However as this was her initial decision it was irreversible, and I would have to wait in 'Admissibility Review' to have my case reviewed.
After waiting an hour I was called up for interview. This, like much of the US border control experience is one of guilty until proven innocent, the officer eying me with constant suspicion. The highlight of his questioning was when he asked why I was travelling to New Zealand (if not for business), seemingly aghast at the thought of somebody travelling to another country for a holiday. I was tempted to ask if he saw the irony of that question, seeing as he was supposedly assessing my admittance into the United States.
The most annoying part of this whole enterprise was that I was unable to meet Kyle, who was waiting for me at the restaurant for several hours, and who I was looking forward to engaging with in our usual banter.
If this experience has confirmed one thing it is that I will never travel to--or via--LAX ever again. Regardless of the circumstances, I will do everything in my power to ensure I never have to be subjected to that bastard of an airport again in my lifetime.
On a more serious note, my desire to return to the US has diminished also. I had planned to travel to the States again in April, but this whole episode has made me wonder if it's worth the hassle.
The complete opposite was to be found on arrival to New Zealand, where the officer noted that I had listed Wales and England as recent countries I’ve visited. Laughing a little that I had felt the need for such accuracy, he asked me whereabouts in Wales (first listing a few places that he had obviously visited himself) before giving me a run down on what weather to expect in Auckland during my stay.
Overall the experience here was one of not just professionalism, but one of welcoming visitors to the country. America should take note.
]]>There has long been a need for URLs to be shortened, be that in e-mails or within the pages of a magazine, and for a number of years the service TinyURL did a fairly resectable job of performing this task.
However the onset of Twitter and its 140 character limit has meant its 18 character URL is now considered too long, with users opting to use newer shorteners made up from just 13, 12 or even 11 characters. To provide some semblance of readability whilst keeping the URL short, these services use various country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) to complete the name of their service (for example flickr.com becomes flic.kr) or provide vanity to the overall shortened URL (ie. tr.im, or j.mp).
Whilst there are many worrying aspects of these services (not least certain providers wrapping content within their own interfaces), what struck me most was the disintegration of the ccTLD naming system.
Whilst it has long been abused (see .ws, .tv, .fm et al.) there was still the possibility of there being some correlation between the ccTLD used and the service being offered (e.g television channel Five uses the domain five.tv). Yet now we have millions of unrelated links that, to the untrained eye, appear to be of Libyan (bit.ly), Italian (dplr.it) or Grenadian (is.gd) origin, which is clearly not the case.
It's for this reason that when I decided to provide a short URL for this site, rather than create a short random jumble of letters and a full stop, I instead opted for the slightly longer yet more readable prlloyd.com.
]]> SentencedAnother emerging trend has been to make URLs read like sentences, something first pioneered by Chris Shiflet at OmniTI, and similarly used on the current Clearleft site.
The idea is that by using verbs (/is, /does and /thinks) rather than nouns (/about, /work and /news) the information architecture of the site generates URLs that read like sentences. So for example:
http://omniti.com/work/design-and-development
becomes the more readable:
http://omniti.com/does/design-and-development
What I love about these 'sentenced URLs' is that they clearly demonstrate the level of thought and attention to detail that has gone into every aspect of the user experience. However, I think it's worth noting this is unlikely to work on every site and can be quite constraining when it is (there will always be a suitable noun, but not always a suitable verb).
I've been thinking a lot about whether these 'sentenced URLs' are a good thing or not. Whilst I love the idea, they only work well when considered properly and applied consistently. They also feel fashionable, and fashions tend to result in poor imitations and short lifespans. Apply with caution is the lesson here.
Some companies take the opposite approach. Rather than spend time considering the exact structure and layout of their URLs, they allow them to become subject to abuse by SEO experts, who insist that they contain almost entire passages of text to please the Internet gatekeeper that is Google.
Not only do these URLs get bogged down with this 'Google juice', but are often appended with referral IDs or other unnecessary query strings. Indeed, URLs have become so mangled that they're starting to be seen as unsuitable for mass consumption, hidden away from view and replaced with more visually delightful interfaces. Whilst these may be easier to use, they lack the powerful utility and freedom of choice URLs provide.
Given this pattern of ill-considered implementations, you can imagine my dismay when my former colleague David Sklar advocated this approach in a recent article entitled Do URLs Matter?
I know David to be a fantastic developer who literally wrote the book on PHP (and was an excellent host during my visit to New York in 2007), so the following exists only to contribute to the debate I'm sure he hoped to stimulate.
In fairness, he raised a few good points worth remembering:
As people who work with the technology everyday, we can often get ourselves trapped into thinking most users think the same way we do.
Thanks to advances in browser interface design (such as the 'Awesome bar' in Firefox) or as the web moves to platforms that lack traditional input devices, URLs are required, or available, less often.
Structured URLs tend to appeal to the more technologically aware.
(He also uses the example of editing a URL to advance forward a number of pages within a list of forum topics. I found this rather ironic given that Ning recently removed page numbers from the pagination on its social networks for 'performance reasons'. When pagination is a performance issue, you have bigger issues than the structure of your URLs.)
However the rest of his article seems to be based on an unfounded assumption that users are totally oblivious to what a URL is and how it functions.
Frankly I'm getting rather tired of this and other 'users are stupid' assertions. Aside from it lumping users together in the same boat, it's an attitude that leads to services designed only to meet the expectations of the lowest common denominator. Of course, whilst a percentage of your user base may not be web-savvy, this is unlikely to remain the case, especially when you consider that in less than 5 years, Generations Y (who grew up with the Internet) with Generation Z (who are growing up with mobile) are likely to be the dominate purchasing force on the internet.
Rather than make assumptions of my own, I thought I would test the canonical user that is 'my mum'. Of pensionable age, and not a heavy internet user, she would no doubt fall into the 'normal person' classification that David wishes to use.
Whilst she had no idea what a 'URL' was, once I removed this veil of techno-jargon, and explained to her that this was the web address that appeared at the top of the browser window, she happily told me how she uses it when browsing the BBC website. She went on to explain:
I often have to edit the address on the O2 website just to get to the page I want.
For her (and many others) the URL is a valuable escape route.
URLs also provide a level of transparency and trust. If you were to believe David's reasoning there'd be no need for search engines to display a URL alongside each result title and description. Yet research suggests that users spend as much as 24% of their gaze time looking at the URLs on these pages:
We found that searchers are particularly interested in the URL when they are assessing the credibility of a destination. If the URL looks like garbage, people are less likely to click on that search hit. On the other hand, if the URL looks like the page will address the user's question, they are more likely to click.
Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox: URL as UI
This seems to fly in the face of David's conclusion:
There are a variety of reasons to structure your URLs a certain way, such as making search engines happy, making developers using your service happy, or keeping yourself sane when you build a web site. Providing utility or aesthetic pleasure to regular people who use your web site, however, is not one of them.
David Sklar: Do URLs Matter?
This foolhardy statement frankly amounts to little more than an advocation laziness, and furthermore reveals a total disregard for the importance of design.
When advocating the user, applying blanket claims or unfounded assumptions such as this is neither helpful or productive. Indeed it can be quite dangerous, especially when delivered by someone like David who holds position of respect within the community (leading to worrying statements such as this). For that reason, I hope David is able to clarify his points on the subject and provide evidence to support his claims.
]]>Photo by Three Slow
To ensure the trip isn't entirely one of solitude, I've arranged accommodation in a number of hostels. It's a decision that could make or break this trip, but I did the same when I visited six years ago and--after some initial adjustment--loved every minute of it.
Again, trying to learn lessons from previous travels, I've decided to keep technology to a minimum, and plan to carry just my phone and a compact camera--albeit the rather stunning and powerful Canon PowerShot S90. Rather than drag around a suitcase, this time I'll be taking a small backpack to ensure I keep luggage to a minimum.
When started planning this trip I fully expected to spend the duration of it Australia (with possible stops in Perth and Canberra) but having not visited New Zealand before, soon thought about spending some time on the islands. After reading more about the country, and talking to friends who have visited before, I've actually settled on an itinerary that is largely based in New Zealand.
I found it really hard deciding where I should visit whilst in New Zealand. At times I had several towns strung together before I remembered that a holiday should be spent relaxing, not chasing after coaches every other morning! Sadly, I won't see much of what the North Island has to over, but hopefully taking the Tranz Scenic Overlander rail route between Auckland and Wellington will make up for this.
This is followed by quick stops in Wellington and Picton before spending four days in Nelson, a small city at the top of the South Island. I'm hoping that it's proximity to Abel Tasman and Nelson Lakes national parks will mean I get a chance to spend some time exploring their beautiful landscapes, whilst the town's beaches will find themselves host to some Christmas parties. After Nelson, I return across the Cook Straight to spend three days in Wellington, by all accounts the most interesting of the country's two largest cities.
The final week sees the showpiece event, as I head over to Sydney to watch the famous New Years Eve fireworks display. Not long after the celebrations are over, I go on to finish my trip with four days in Melbourne. If you've been following my travels you will know that I enjoy visiting cities that have hosted Olympic Games, so I'm pretty sure I'll be making a pilgrimage to the Melbourne Cricket Ground which hosted the 1956 summer games.
Finally, this trip has presented a rare opportunity to catch up with a few friends from my time at Ning. I'm very much looking to debating the pros and cons of American independence with Kyle during my stop over at LAX, as well as meeting Phil in his native Melbourne.
All in all, an exciting trip, even more so given the distances and locations involved. If you have any tips for places I should visit or restaurants I should check out, please do let me know in the comments below.
]]>This was all about to change. Soon after I blogged about @media, I received an e-mail from Simon Jobling who was excited to discover that he wasn't the only web developer in Walsall. After exchanging a few e-mails, me, Jon, Simon and his friend Chris met up in a bar in Walsall, discussed the topics of the day and thought what to call this new group. We came up with The Multipack, a fusion of the name Britpack and multimedia/multi-talented (with bonus points given for beginning with an 'M', to signify its Midlands focus).
A lot has happened in the intervening years. Whilst membership hasn't grown massively in number, you can be sure to see new faces at each monthly meet-up, whilst a core group (that have since become good friends) ensure that our little community continues to thrive. With this year having seen the introduction of a 'Presents' series of talks, what better way to celebrate our fourth birthday than with the fourth event in this series.
'The Multipack Presents: Rich Internet Apps' features Nick Harewood talking about Microsoft Silverlight whilst Bruce Lawson returns to give us an update on HTML5. Meanwhile Si has promised to bring along some birthday cake, whilst me, Jon and possibly Chris will hopefully be in attendance so as to reunite all four founding members.
So be sure to join us next Saturday, the 17th of October. As usual, the event kicks of at The Old Crown pub at 2pm, before moving to the offices of One Black Bear at 4pm. You can find further details on Upcoming.
The event starts off at The Old Crown pub at 2pm, before moving to the One Black Bear offices where the talks begin at 4pm.
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These disputes typically conclude during a 5 minute delay to the service at West Worthing, whereby shouting, repetitive use of the words 'mate' and 'fucking' and various statements as to the passengers 'rights' are thrown about before they're eventually escorted off the train.
However on this particular occasion the argument took place next to a table of middle aged passengers, who whilst equally intoxicated, thought their age allowed them to claim the moral high ground. This began by asking the group of teenagers to mind their language, but quickly descended into gibes about the irresponsibility of youth (with such classics as "I have a Hoover older than you!" and "shouldn't you be in bed?") before telling the 'silly little tarts' to 'grow the fuck up'. The situation only escalated further when one of the girls claimed to have been tripped over by the women sitting at the table, although given the behaviour of both I would be hard pressed to tell which was telling the truth.
Unfortunately stuck between these two groups was the train conductor, whose Eastern European accent meant he soon became a target for the young male ego who had lead the initial altercation. I wouldn't like to repeat what was said, but the indent was clear. CCTV has it's limitations, and with this passenger believing it to only record pictures not sound, hurled racial abuse at the conductor in the hope that it would provoke physical retaliation and ultimately lead to him losing his job.
This whole episode made me very angry, and at times I felt like joining in—perhaps my own voice would bring clarity to an argument that now seemed to encapsulate many aspects of British society as it stands today—but of course this would only add to a cacophony caused by heavy drinking, disrespect, and tensions around immigration.
Instead, I took a different course of action. Upon leaving the station I thanked the conductor for doing a good job, which I think he appreciated. Even though it didn't seem like enough given all he had just put up with, I certainly felt better doing this than joining the generations of broken society that I travelled home with tonight.
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