So, one can now draw flowcharts and other design documents using google docs. The functionality look very simple to use, but an important reason for using these features, though, is the fact that it’s on the cloud.
Sharing or collaborating on projects of drawings seems like it will be painfully easy now, which makes this feature a good option. I’m going to play around with it a bit and I’ll share my drawings and comment on my experiences.
There’s a lot of excitement about HTML5, and a lot of developers are experimenting with some of the new elements. So there’s a lot of cool stuff out there. I came across the following experiment with the canvas element and it’s pretty impressive.
Basically, the author loads a video into the canvas element using the drawImage function. An event handler is also added to the canvas element that, when clicked, breaks the image into smaller bits (sort of like blowing up the image).
A good friend of mine has introduced me to the daily drop cap. As the project explains, “[the] Daily Drop Cap is an ongoing project by typographer and illustrator Jessica Hische. Each day (or at least each WORK day), a new hand-crafted decorative initial cap will be posted for your enjoyment.” The illustrations are really amazing. The following are 2 examples:
The video below gives one a brief preview of 3 magazine applications for the iPad. The applications are from Time, GQ and PopSci. The experience of reading magazines seems to feel more immersive on the iPad than what is currently experienced on web for two reasons.
First, images are being used in an impressive way; they’re huge and you don’t have to launch a ‘photo gallery’ or something. You not only experience the images in-place, but you can also interact with them. And second, landscape view is done very well. The designers are really leveraging the form factor of the device. Take a look.
iPad Magazine Art Direction from Brad Colbow on Vimeo.
New York City, March 2010