Designing websites

I've dabbled in design of all sorts. And one area has been website design.
Similar to database design, it's really important to get the layout of the end item mapped out before ever using fancy software and good looking graphics. The "architecture" of the website is very important.
Here's a draft initial sitemap or layout design I did for the pages on a friend's website for her company. We never followed through on it but the initial sketch stands up.

I initially drew this on paper as a mindmap kind of but drew it on paint for the purposes of sharing here. All the technology in the world can't beat a little bit of human thinking and intellectualising and planning.

Sewing patterns

Wow! There I was thinking that sewing patterns were limited to

• Burda
• Butterick
• Simplicity
• New Look
• Vogue

Because that's more or less the supply in a Dublin shop (Hickey's); the only shop I know of in Dublin that stocks patterns. Murphy Sheehy fabric shop will order Vogue patterns.

But oh! My delight today in discovering other pattern brands / companies / drafters:

• Sewaholic
• Lisette
• Colette
• Sewing Workshop
• StyleArc (nice tunic dress with large pockets but postage from Australia is $16!!!)
• Anna Maria Horner
• Betty Kingston
• Megan Nielsen
• Sew Liberated
• Eva Dress - accurately reproduced vintage patterns
• Jamie Christina
• Ottobre magazine
• Farbenmix
• Make It Perfect
• Neue Mode
• HotPatterns
• Rebecca Ruth Designs
• Favourite Things
• Victory Patterns
• Modkid
• Jalie
• Marfy
• Fishsticks Designs
• Serendipity Studio
• Sis-Boom
• Indygo Junction
• Imagewear magazine
• Sewn Square One

Japanese (pattern books):

• Simple Chic Dress Patterns by Machiko Kayaki
• Feminine Wardrobe
• Stylish girls' clothes
• I Am Cute Dresses by Sato Watanabe
• Linen Wool Cotton by Akiko Mano
• Simple Modern Sewing: 8 basic patterns to create 25 favourite garments by Shufu To Seikatsu Sha

and for children only:

• Clever Charlotte
• Figgy's
• Peek-a-boo
• Oliver and S
• Leila and Ben
• Olabelhe
• Sewbaby
• The Handmade Dress
• Ellie Inspired
• Brynnberlee
• Frog Legs and Ponytails

Underwear:

• Danglez

Bags:

• Amy Butler
• Ali Foster
• I Think Sew (including shoes - for adults and kids - and bags)
• Artsy Crafty Babe (Rebeka Lambert)
• Keyka Lou / Michelle Patterns
• Lazy Girl Designs
• Studio Kat Designs
• Patterns by Annie (I chose the yoga bag as a lot of the others are very quilted-y)
• Atkinson Designs (bags and other 'projects')
• Betz White (I especially love the Sidekick Sling)
• Charlie's Aunt (esp. The Poacher's Bag; Melford Messenger)
• Hemma Design (lots of bicycle bags!)
• Make your day designs

I'm not really into quilting but Lizzie House's stuff impressed me.
Curious to know more about The Lutterloh System of pattern making.

Indexer, indexing services

Have created a website as a business card for my indexing services: www.roisin-nic-coil.com

Print your own stamps

I am envious of people living in England. Not only can you purchase stamps online with the Royal Mail and then print them yourself at home, you can also choose your own picture - in either circular or rectangular shape.

Gone are the days of the stamp designer?

Glenview Museum

Went to Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim for the bank holiday weekend. Needed to get out of the city. We had no accommodation booked but drove around, and saw a sign for Glenview B&B. Next to the house, was a notice for "Museum". This morning when we were fixing up with the landlady, she asked us if we wished to see the museum. Yes, we said, we'll pay a quick visit.
Well, it was fantastic! A beautiful vintage car was the first thing we saw when walking into the large, jam-packed shed. And all manner of other objects of interest. The man of the house was willing to give us a tour, and seemed to have stories of interest to share about each and every item on display. Unfortunately, we were limited for time and hadn't expected to discover such a treasure trove so we had to be rude and stay only for a few minutes, making promises to return.
He played music for us on a gramaphone, and showed off a tiny iron for pressing lace collars, a magnificent wall-hanging collapsible clothes-horse, a door with a bullet hole from the black 'n' tans; among others.
As I wrote in the visitor's book "I'll be back".

www.glenview-house.com/glenview-museum.html

Postcards

I love postcards. I always send some from abroad, or even from museums or funny places I go to - I might send a friend a greeting and a picture.

When I was inter-railing I brought a stack of blank postcards with me and sketched what I saw and sent messages on the back of my drawings.
And so this new An Post (yes, them again, see previous less-favourable post!) venture has got me really excited.
It's a collective art exhibition, backed by a website. Anyone can and everyone should take part. Check out:

http://www.anpostcbothsides.ie/

It's a good website and includes a piece on the history of the postcard.

I'll make sure and post my entry/ies when I submit them.

Shelving Design Wizard

I'm a sucker for online design tools. www.shelvingsystem.co.uk has a wizard to put together an arrangement of their shelving system to suit your requirements (depth, width, height, with or without back supports, side panels etc etc).

My aunt in Belgium has this idea of a modular shelf unit as does my Dad in his study. My aunt

has added to hers successfully over the years.

The shelves are held on metal brackets that clip into one of the holes in the uprights. And they come in polished or unpolished wood. Dunno if this is the company my family has used.

Another design tool I like is the www.ikea.com kitchen layout tool. It's actually nicer than the shelving one because it doesn't just apply to the ikea kitchens, the units are pretty standard and the ikea drawings can be used as a basis for seeing your finished kitchen and knowing what units will fit.

An Post

I can't help being cynical when it comes to our national postal service. Recently I received a brochure with "last dates for posting before Christmas" information (which was useful) and in the corner of the brochure was a rosette with "New service: movies by post". I was delighted to hear about this. So I checked it out, as directed, on the anpost.ie website but there was absolutely no further information available. Talk about lack of co-ordination between marketing departments, website updaters and on-the-ground services! And another brochure I received amused me greatly. The cost of producing it for the sake of the information contained is completely incongruent. In terms of package design, it's up there with the classy, costly. Different flaps fold out providing new paragraphs on information. Well done, An Post, for the Irish language translation; credit where due. Each brochure has a blank space which constitutes 25% waste... unless they managed to realign the printing and create a jigsaw of brochures. But how would these be folded?! No, the waste seems the more obvious result. Crazy! And the message contained in the brochure? :

...changes are on the way - changes designed to create a more streamlined network
so we can make the service to you more efficient and cost-effective.

In order to do this we've redesigned our delivery routes using the latest
logistical planning technology, which means your delivery time may change,
depending on your location. You may also notice some minor inconsistencies in
your mail deliveries while these changes are being introduced.

"...So we publish a very much not streamlined brochure which is not efficient or cost effective definitely not involving logistical planning technology to inform you that you can expect inconsistencies"

And I love the way they use an image of the GPO lest we forget their involvement in the nation's historical change

An Post knows a lot about change. With a history that dates back as far as the
1640s we've developed into a dynamic operation.

The pics don't really show off the brochure to its foldable, flappy, exciting best but here goes:

Tojo beds

Thought these looked interesting.

Have always been curious about the japanese tokonoma and the size of tatami mats dictating size of room etc.

http://www.japangarden.co.uk/

Corporate Express Website, Conservatories & Car Showrooms

The corporate express stationery website is fantastic (www.corporateexpress.ie). You can flick through the catalogue, page by page and zoom in and (if you're a member) see the price. It loads really quickly. It's great!

I was thinking about conservatories the other day. Visited Farmleigh house recently - it has a beautiful conservatory. With greenery and lovely wrought iron furniture. I was lucky enough to have afternoon tea there once; most enjoyable! And it got me to thinking how that contrasted with the modern idea of a "conservatory" that people tack onto their houses, to put bamboo furniture in them. I don't think the idea of a conservatory these days is for plants, which is what I imagine was the main purpose in houses contemporary to Farmleigh. A conservatory these days, as far as I can see, is a dumping ground, a place for drying clothes and a little used additional sitting room.

My third thought in this post is about building types. In college we learnt that the Stadium is one of the building types of our times. Though lesser in size, it came to me that another building type of our times is the Car Showroom. Large glass building often with a mezzanine office often built off a busy road. Kind of a modern conservatory only with air-conditioning

Blogging

I think at some point all bloggers blog about blogging. What were my intentions when starting this? Who was I hoping would read my thoughts (if anyone)? What was I going to write about? How often will I write?

I want to document my interactions with things related to design and design history. Exhibitions, lectures, books. And subjects that interest me, websites or links to other blogs or articles that I come across and enjoy.

Should the entries be in the form of essays? - it is a skill I need to brush up on; I check in with the Design Research Group blog (http://designresearchgroup.wordpress.com/) and the essays are interesting, informative and of a certain high discourse that I would like to aspire to. And so I started with the entry on The Frankfurt Kitchen - but I find it too jam-packed with information, and nothing new really. Another design blog I've come across and find really interesting, inspiring and informative is 1+1=3 (http://www.oneplusoneequalsthree.com/). It has lovely pictures and captured thoughts. My last few blogs have been statements of where I've been and a casual comment on my opinion of the exhibitions. Again, I am disatisfied. I think they should be more meaty! So I will try to write as if I am telling a friend about whatever it is is on my mind regarding a certain subject. Chatty, personal.

Onwards and upwards!