Inspired by the simplicity and universality of transportation graphics Microsoft calls there new design guidelines Metro. Beyond the name is the focus on creating a modern, stripped down, easy to navigate user interface based on common elements and typography.  The use of typography as a key design element in the digital world is almost unheard of ; I would think design geeks should be overjoyed with this though I’ve barely seen any references to this from the general design world.

Along with typography here are a few of the highlights of Metro:

• Based on transportation signage: simple, universal, easy to skim
• General feel: Clean, light, open and fast
• Experience: should lead the design
• Consistent: common design treatments and transitions
• Flexible: Inviting developers to personalize their use of the guidelines to allow them to make their apps unique yet consistent
• User focused/Task focused: one primary action at a time
• Panoramic: apps not locked to a single screen
• Typography: as an element of beauty as well as to demonstrate hierarchy
• Transitions: are as important as the static page. Guidlines request to keep them simple and related, noting “the more you use it (transitions) the less special it becomes”
• Simplify, Simplify, Simplify: fierce reduction in unnecessary UI elements (chrome, non-related actions…)

Here is a link to a long but worthwhile video
http://live.visitmix.com/MIX10/Sessions/CL14
(Silverlight required for inline, but you can also download non-Silverlight version)

Here’s the official Window’s phone site:
http://developer.windowsphone.com/

Overall, I’m excited to see smart-phones continue their evolution and Metro looks to be a great step forward.  It’s also nice to see Microsoft (or anyone) not play catch up by porting over the status quo, but rather innovating beyond it.

I saw this a few months back, loved it. Last night I happened to flip to the Oscars and caught the animated short category and saw that this was not only nominated but won.  As good as it was I never would have thought it was politically correct enough or wouldn’t be sued to oblivion by all the brand owners of the logos used in the film.  Created by the H5 group out of France, including directors François Alaux & Herve de Crecy.  During their thank you speech they mentioned it too 6 years to make this 6 minute masterpiece.  Followed by the hope to return in 36 years with a full length film.

This is one to be watched multiple times just to soak in all the nuances.  Truly an impressive animation with an excess of personality and sass.

official site

Good design is transparent. Same is true with technology; the end user doesn’t care how it works just that it does.  Unless you’re a designer or a techie you don’t pay attention to how a site works or it’s design beyond it’s basic aesthetics.  Being both I love how the BBC is offering a behind the scenes peek at how they developed their new Global Visual Language 2.0.  There is some really good thinking in there that could benefit many, many sites.

The guide really demonstrates their focus on form, function and the interconnected nature of the two.  The use of typography as a design element; a grid that’s both vertical and horizontal; strict use of color as an accent; all common place in the print world but often forgotten in online designs.

The BBC is not alone in the brining classic design principles to the web, though some of the more impressive works have been coming from the news industry.  I’m referencing the New York Times and Reuters; both have embraced online/interactive design and what can be done with it while keeping true to the rules of design that still matter…but I’ll save that for another post.

Currently I have 1,500 photos on Flickr and the stream has become a mishmash of photos.  Some are quick snapshots.  Some are from my cellphone.  Others are photos of events or places I’ve traveled to share with friends and family.  Lastly there are my good photos.  Combined everything starts looking a little snapshot’ish.  To limit this confusion I now post most of my quick cellphone photos to Twitpic, Pegshot or Facebook.  Still, I’m sure there is more that can be done.

I’ve been thinking about re-organizing everything.  With thoughts ranging from creating a new Fickr account just for the better stuff, to reworking the folders and sets.  I can’t be the only one with this issue, any suggestions?

Update:
Seems they did a few more songs just not for broadcast.

68 (Fallon – web exclusive)

FF = 66 (Fallon – web exclusive)

The videos (featuring James Lipton) are campy, creepy, funny and to the point.  The imagery and quirkiness leaves a lasting impression and the copy is so Lipton’esque that everything seems normal yet far from it at the same time.

Carlos is Angry

Stephan and Zoe

Tracy and her beard

The print campaign is also humorous though not as powerful and may be confusing as to what it’s actually for.  Still they’re eye catching and well related to the TV/Videos and Web experience.

The Virgin

Peanut Butter Muffin

Junk Drawers

Source:
AdFreak
Bee

In case you skipped the video Eichborn, a book publisher, used flies as moving billboards to promote their exhibit space at the Frankfurt Book Fair.  They glued (via a light wax) ultra-light banners to 200 files and set them out into the wilds of the book fair.   Ingenious in so many ways.

A beautiful short film about a man coping with the repercussions of being hit by a meteor.  I love all the details and the aged moody feeling.

Honda visits the idea of dreams and their meanings to our day-to-day through the words and stories of Clive Barker, Deepak Chopra, and various talents within Honda.  It’s something to inspire thought which lies at the backbone of the entire Dream the Impossible series.

Links:
Dreams vs, Nightmares
Honda’s Dream the Impossible