“Smashing Magazine” Website Review

This article is all about taking about 15-20 minutes to design something every day. Being a designer, I can personally relate to this idea of wanting to create more and finding a routine to help myself do so, which is why I  like this article. All the artwork I’ve seen come about from this project is very unique and creative-two things I also want to be. Smashing Magazine claims that after completing the task, one will be a “better and more well-rounded designer.” That sounds pretty beneficial to me (: Perhaps I’ll try it. Anyone want to join?

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/12/22/design-something-every-day/

Street Art Project by Google Website Review

Street Art Project by Google is a unique website that enables one to view fascinating and diverse street art from all around the world. Somehow the fact that every work of street art is constantly evolving and subject to change makes it all the more beautiful, causing one to revel in its spectacular temporarity.

Looking through this website could help designers grow professionally by giving them the sort of extraordinary inspiration that is singular to street art alone. It may also provoke them to expand their horizons in the eyes of art as a whole, rather than sticking to a particular genre or drawing style.

Street Art Project is a consistently evolving and expanding collection, with constant and current updates which allow a follower of this website to at any time change their style and endeavors at the same rate as the rest of the world. Another great thing about this website is that it pertains to all ages, demographics, and artistic levels, since it consists of examples from all over the world. Although personal art can’t be directly submitted, one may act as a “spotter” and tag pictures with “#streetartproject” to share their finds with others and possibly featured on the Street Art project website itself.

Personally, I find this website quite stimulating and inspiring, and I believe that my own digital arts class would feel the same. I like how creative and beautiful the street art from this website is, and it causes me to aspire to have all of my art be likewise. Whether or not I continue to use this website outside of class, I hope to use it more often within class so that my graphics can improve and grow like the amazing collection of street art from this site.

Street art is not always bold and graphic; it can still make a statement even when understated and featuring a pastel palette.

Smarty Pins with Google: Website Review

Smarty Pins is a game sponsored by Google that tests one’s knowledge of trivia by giving them location-based questions or clues, such as “Where does the Queen of England live?” or “Actor Will Smith was once the “Fresh Prince” of this city.” The player then tries to find the correct location and drop a pin on the location. If this is done within 15 seconds, the user earns a bonus; if not, then a hint is offered. The goal is to answer as many trivia questions as possible before “running out of miles.” Every time that the player incorrectly guesses a location, the game tells them how many miles they were from guessing the right location. This number of miles is then subtracted from the 1,000 miles each player is allotted in the game; if you run out of miles, you lose and are offered a chance to play again. Sounds easy, right? It is! But the trivia is rather difficult.

This game might not really help a designer such as myself grow professionally, but the information is current, and it accomplishes the website’s goal of educating people of all ages and ethnicities across the world on location-based  trivia in a fun and creative way. I must say, I even learned a few things myself, so I’d consider this website really useful. I may not continue to use this website outside of school, but I’d recommend it to friends and fellow trivia lovers due to its stimulating game play; it included a cute bouncing pin and funny remarks depending on how well I did. As far as this website concerns graphic design, I’m thinking that it would be easy to recreate the maps from the game within Illustrator, if the need arises. But, as for now, I would just use this website for fun rather than for design :p

(Here’s the link if you’d like to give it a try: http://smartypins.withgoogle.com/ )