In design, innovation, learning, photoshop, technology, webdesign on
19 February 2010 with 2 comments
while working on the web over the last years, there have been many times that i wanted the capability of using a single linked file throughout multiple PSD documents, much in the same way Indesign has this function for large multiple page documents. This would save untold hours of mundane and repetitive work, as a simple copy change such as “Main” to “Home” in a large site’s navigation would then require only one file to be changed, instead of every single page. Unfortunately though, this was merely a dream until a discovery I had a few weeks back.
Recently, a large non-profit came to SpringBox (where i’m a senior designer) with the opportunity to redesign their site, a digital treasure chest of information and opportunities on a specific topic affeting millions. As you might imagine, the breadth of the content on the site was huge, with a rough estimate of over 300+ pages.
Having worked on a 7 month long, massive redesign last year, i had a strong desire to find a new system to allow quick updates to commonly used elements throughout the system, such as the header, the footer, a general tout layout, and the styling of a cta arrow. As these elements are used virtually on every page, particularly with the arrow being used 10+ times on multiple pages, changing these individual items can literally take up hours of time, even on only a handful of pages.
At this point, I must admit my great love for a half solve to this issue, the introduction of smart objects in photoshop. If you have not worked with smart objects, or just want a great refresher on the subject, go check out viget lab’s great article http://www.viget.com/inspire/smart-ways-to-use-adobe-photoshops-smart-objects/
Moving alogn, I say that smart objects are half solve because, these embedded linked files are only applicable to one page. For example, make a custom arrow, turn it into a smart object, then make copies of this smart object and distribute this to the rest of the page. A few days later the client wants to change it, just go in, change the smart object once, and it will automatically change this for all instances of the smart object on the rest of the page. Magically! i love smart objects. i really do. So now we just needed to expand this functionality to reach 5,10, or 300 pages.
Thankfully at this point, i fired up google to see what the internets had to offer on the subject, and I found others were searching for a solution as well. All of this searching led me to the work of Mike Hale and Jeff Transberry who wrote a script to do just what i was looking for: http://ps-scripts.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3045 Brilliant!!
So here’s the new work flow for a sample project, Goodness Inc, after downloading the script and installing it via the adobe extension manager:
Example Site Layout and Content
Step 1
Design the homepage with folder groupings for Header, Hero Area, Footer, etc…
Step 2
Select the Header folder in the photoshop layers palette, and choose “convert to smart object”
Step 3
double click on the icon for the smart object in the layer palette, thus opening up the smart object as a separate document.
Dialogue Box for editing a smart object as a serated document:
Content of Header Smart Object:
Folder Panel content of Header Smart Object:
Step 4
Save the smart object in a new folder within the project file, which i label “Universal Elements” or whatever is easiest for you to distinguish.
Step 5
When designing a new page for the site, when i am ready to bring in the header, i go to file –> place –> then browse to the “Universal Elements” folder and select the file.
Step 6
I now open up the windows pallete options, and bring up the “links” window, and see that this smart object is actually a linked object. From this “links” window, i have a few options. I can refresh the panel to get the latest link info, relink the object, or i can edit the original.
The links window panel, as relative to the selected layer, in this case being the “Header” smart object:
I then repeat the process of placing the element in all pages that need it.
Follow Up Steps
If a week later, the nav copy needs to change from “HOME” to “MAIN”, I can now edit the single source file “Header.psb” located in the “Universal Elements” folder, edit the file and save it. Then I will need to open each unique page’s psd, open the links panel, and refresh the links to see that the new element is present. Lastly, I can now save all the updated jpegs.
Not a one step magic fix, but a timesaver none the less.
I do hope that in CS5 adobe steps up their game, and makes an integrated solution for this, as well as a “character / paragraph style // css for multiple PSD documents” solution as well, but that’s a different conversation.
In the meantime, a huge thanks to the great work by Mike Hale and Jeff Transberry!! This has save me hours and hours of frustrating, repetitive, and mundane copy changes. thanks guys!
and as always, if you find an even better way to use / tweak the insights i have shared here, i’d love to hear them!
DISCLAIMER I can only verify that this works on Macs, running CS4.
In blogging, book reviews, business, design, innovation, listening, media, twitter on
22 January 2010 tagged bookreview with no comments
by alex bogusky and john windsor
If advertising is not your chosen profession in life, why the heck would you want to read a book written by two of the top leaders in the advertising world? (alex bogusky, @bogusky , longtime creative director at crispin porter + bogusky; and John Winsor, @jtwinsor , former head of product innovation & cognitive research at cp+b)
Because I believe the authors are on to something. And it’s not advertising. I want to say it’s way past advertising, but it’s actually pre advertsing.
What?? Sound confusing? Let’s jump into the meat of the book.
Though I passionately disagree with both authors on the value and practice of crowdsourcing, here are a few of their points from @bakedin that stuck with me:
+ Let’s cut the crap of lying and false promises about products, and instead design a useful & beautiful product / experience that meets the users exact needs & wants.
+ Stop spending 3,4, or 8 years in r & d, and instead prototype and test early, and revise what works and throw away the rest.
+ Listen to and know your audience, and make a product that fits, instead making a mediocre product and then trying to advertise the crap out of it.
+ Incrementally changing a mediocre product each year to be (slightly) new & improved is a flawed business plan. Let’s innovate! Let’s create something new! Let’s create something beautiful! Let’s create something useful!!
So if you have any interest in providing a useful / beautiful / wow product or service, do your future self a favor and pick this book up!
Also, a big thanks to @jtwinsor for sending me a copy of the book to review!
In innovation, listening, media, technology, twitter on
22 January 2010 tagged bookreview with no comments
I remember the first time I saw a video of @garyvee giving a keynote talk ( if you haven’t watched one, you should, right now! here ), and I really didn’t know what to think.
1st – is this guy on crack?
2nd – whoa, I’ve never thought about ______ that way. Or that. Or that…
3rd – this might be half way insane, but he’s passionate, driven, and genuine.
So naturally when I heard he was writing a book, I was eager to check it out, although I was skeptical that it would be engaging all the way to the end.
I’m happy to say I read the whole thing, and enjoyed all of it! Know that it was a nice and brief weighing in under 140 pages!
The content was a really good mix of gary’s personal story, a motivational punch in the mouth ( the good kind of course, that get you riled up and in arms ), and practical real life advice on how to use specific tools like Twitter and facebook to share your passion.
Although I enjoyed hearing his story most, running a close second was the honesty with which Gary approaches advice on using social media tools. Instead of claiming to be a “social media expert”, he starts with the fundamentals of one knowing your passion & your DNA, and then offers some take them or leave them tips / best practices on specific tools.
Though I don’t agree with Gary on a number of finer points, I could not agree more with his core message:
Find your passion. Craft your presentation medium. And never forget that content is king.
In business, clients, design, innovation, listening, webdesign on
20 November 2009 tagged austin, clients, customers, design, excellence, feedback, frogdesign, innovation, reputation, webdesign, wordofmouth with no comments
Yesterday I took a walk through downtown Austin to take a break from the screen, and I decided to drop by a local art museum to check it out.
I eneded up not browsing the collection but rather chatted with the attendant instead. We talked about the museum, austin culture, and eventually what I’m doing with my life.
I mentioned I worked downtown at a design agency, and as soon as I said design.. The seemingly calm individual went on and on about his experience with a different local design office and their recent collaboration with the museum. He told me in detail how he was blown away by their laser focus, creative problem solving, and wholistic approach to each project.
He reminisced about his experience with such passion, awe, and gratitude.
I couldn’t get him to quite down for a good 5 minutes straight.
Wow.
It made me wonder, what do people say about their experience working with me? Do they rave about my attention to craft? Do they tell stories of my drive to create the exact solution they uniquely needed?
Or do they even recall working with me at all?
I want people to rant about my craft, my care, and my creativity. I guess sometimes it is good to care about what people think.
In patriotism, planning, strategy on
19 November 2009 tagged death, forethought, houston, loss, mourning, patriotism, planning, suffering, valleys with no comments
Last week I was driving through Houston, on the beltway, and I started noticing something that I normally overlooked.
As we passed numerous car sale lots of every denomination fro scion to gm to Hyundai to BMW, I noticed that 99% of the dealerships had an American flag ( or 20 ) prominently placed at the perimeter of their lot.
I’m extremely thankful for the freedom and lifestyle that this great land provides me, and proudly consider myself a patriot, so naturally this display initially made me smile and reinforced my gratitude for
living in the greatest land on earth.
But then something else grabbed my attention. 99% of the flags were at half mast, in mourning for the lives lost recently at the fort hood massacre. I was reminded of the loss and agony of those left behind in
this incident, and through our nations history. We did not get to our present state easily, but rather through sacrifice, difficulties, and much bloodshed. I was rattled out of my non chalant Saturday by a
reminder of the pain that allows my daily freedom and opportunities.
But not all of the flags were at half mast. Why were they not honoring the brave men and women who gave their lives? Ideological differences? Protesting a war?
No.
It seems in a race to be MORE patriotic than others, a few businesses had decided to forgo the standard 25ft flag, and instead went for the 100ft humongous option. Which is fine, except for the fact that they only had a 120 ft tall pole, as did everyone else.
So naturally, if you tried to put the flag at half mass, nearly half of it would be sitting on the ground.
This of course is against all rules and code for displaying the American flag, as it should never touch the ground. Fail.
Oh the irony. So in planning their display of patriotism, the dealership had completely forgotten about the possibility of a day when our nation suffered loss, tragedy, or even death. They forgot to plan for the rainy day, when everything breaks, and when it hits the fan.
I think the main reason i point this out is because i often do the same. Whether in business, my personal life, or a myriad of other situations, i often plan for the ideal, and choose to ignore the possibility of a not so stellar outcome.
I do not plan to, nor do i desire to stop being an optimist at every turn, but rather will strive to have a healthy dose of realism and margins for the possibility of adverse outcomes. we should fly our flags boldly, but we must also be prepared to handle the losses and difficulties that come with the fight.
In brittany, listening, living, relationships, simplicity, slowlng down, the good life, wealth on
3 November 2009 tagged simplicity contentment joy lisren see with no comments
To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not, rich;
to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with an open heart;
to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently,
await occasion, hurry never;
in a word,
to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common –
this is my symphony.
william henry channing
This has been on my mind (and my desktop) for the last few weeks, especially in the midst of the many changes happening in my life (moving cross country, having a gorgeous baby girl, starting a new gig, and buying a first home).
I don’t want stuff / hurry / crap. And I have to remind my self of this awesome. I want time with my bride. I want to hold and coo with my baby girl. I want to invest, love, and enjoy the relationships God has given me.
Therefore other things must be weeded / kept out. That is the tension.
In blogging, business, clients, design, innovation, media, strategy, technology, webdesign on
29 October 2009 tagged complacency, countrymusic, detroit, globalization, innovation, usautomakers, webdesign, whining with 1 comment
so this spring i was driving down a country back road in beautiful colorado, and i happened to meander over to the local country music station, where the lyrics to the current song really grabbed my attention. i never caught the artist or the name of the song, but the basic gest of the song was whining ‘the government is bailing out the banking industry and it’s white collar ceo’s and executives, while the detroit 3 (the working class backbone that made this country great) are getting no love’.
if you know me, you know any talk of government bailouts makes me sick, but after having this reaction, i then began to think of this whole notion of mediocrity, laziness, and an unwillingness for a company / industry to change to meet the market’s demands.
so i naturally thought about my industry: web design. while i can easily point out the big three’s faults, it gets much touchier when i took a closer look at web design & development, the state of the industry in the U.S., and my own work aptitude.
If you look around our industry much, you will see that much like the auto industry, their are now many cheap, international web design players / shops popping up every day. if your like me, you might be thinking ‘yeah, there are alternatives, but they don’t speak english, or the western world’s cultural and visible language, so therefore nobody will ever use them’.
but i argue not so fast. I / we can’t get lazy. the big 3 never thought toyota, honda, or hyundai could ever produce a viable product for the american people. obviously, they were wrong. and they got lazy. they stopped innovating. and they assumed america would just accept whatever crap they produced. oh how they were wrong.
so true, i believe we are still along way off from the international market taking over the U.S. web design sphere, but we can’t lie to ourselves and believe it’s unthinkable. it’s almost as if we’re in the 1983 state of the auto industry. we’ve done a lot of great things in the near past (muscle cars / gorgeous flash experiences), but we can’t sit on our butts and be proud of ourselves.
the world is changing, people are consuming and creating content in new formats, in new ways, and with new expectations.
if we / i don’t lead the way, someone else will.
the choice is ours. everyday, with every project, and every client relationship.
we can do the comfortable, predictable solution. or we can stretch ourselves beyond what we thought was possible. or 20 years from now we can write a sappy country song bemoaning the fact that our industry has passed us by.
i’ll choose to fight. it’s the american way. innovation. grit. and hard work.
and besides, it’s more fun to be the leader anyway.
In blogging, brittany, business, design, technology, the internet on
21 April 2009 tagged blogging, kreathaus with no comments
Well hello, and welcome. Though i have been in the blogging world for a few years now, i have decided to start a new blog with a more design / technology / business focus to it. and so your here, and it’s great to have you! snag the rss subscription to get all of my latest musings and rants, and feel free to comment on anything that interest you!
if you were looking for the latest bowden family happenings, brittany and myself will keep that blog going, at
http://www.kreathaus.com . Or you could just get the rss subscription to both blogs. Just an idea.
enjoi your stay!