Groupthink

Serving as a reference tool for creatives and coffee table beautification for the public at large, LogoLounge is a magnificent collection of inspirational logos. With over 170,000 logos in their online database (logolounge.com), they’ve become an industry leader in identifying logo trends. To date, they’ve produced nine printed books, including three Master Collection volumes, considered to be the creme de la creme of their online collection. We’re proud to say that seven of Paradigm’s logos have been published in these books, with more to come in the upcoming LogoLounge Master Library, Volume 3.

Another social media site? Just want the internet needs, right?

Well, Google’s introduction of Google+ just over a week ago might just be the answer many have been looking for.  Sites like Diaspora and Path are still laying low.  And, while Facebook continues to dominate, it faced a big hurdle a few weeks ago, showing a great reduction in its growth.  Is it the end for the social giant? Probably not.  But the hords of individuals seeking another option have begun flocking to Google+. So much so that Google had to shut down its invitations just two days after opening the doors.

What can Google+ offer that the others cannot?

Control over sharing

Sure, you can create groups on Facebook. Or share with a small network of 10 to 15 individuals on Path, but Google+ allows users to create many “Circles” of friends.  With these Circles, users can control if they share with one circle, all, or just one individual with every update, photo and video.  Tedious? Maybe.  But it sure prevents over sharing information with those friends who could care less about your deep interest in politics or heavy metal music obsession.  Plus, you’re not restricted to sharing with just a small group, if that’s your cup of tea.

Easy Connections

Like using Facebook chat but wish you could chat with multiple friends at once? Insert “Hangout.” This Google+ feature allows you to video chat with any number of friends up to 10.  Don’t have a web cam? No problem, you can still chat using the mic on your computer, or chat old-school style with your keyboard.

Integration

In an effort to integrate all of its products, Google+ shows up right in your Google toolbar.  Access Gmail, Calendars and Documents like you have in the past, but now you have one-stop access to Google+. And, you don’t even have to leave the window you’re in. Add friends to your Circles or catch up on a thread you commented on, all while browsing in Gmail or other Google products.

Buzz

Not to be confused with Google’s not-so-popular Buzz. The buzz surrounding Google+ continues to fuel the desire for individuals to obtain an invite. While the interface is similar to that of Facebook, the intuitive nature of the actions and clean layout have resonated with early adopters.  Add in Google’s commitment to integrating it with its other popular Google products, and you’ve peaked the interest of many.  There are a few naysayers, but there is no doubting the buzz is growing.

The question remains, is Google+ a Facebook replacement? It’s too early to tell, but the Paradigm staff has enjoyed testing it out. We’d love to hear your thoughts, too. Are you on board, or staying away?

Right on the heels of the Responsive Web Design book release, we were recently tasked with developing an interactive slide show for St. Louis University High School (SLUH). With a growing audience of key constituents using iPhones and iPads, we knew this slideshow had to deliver on tablets and smartphones while still maintaining an attractive presence on wide-screen desktops and televisions. To achieve such ambitious goals, we knew our slideshow for SLUH had to:

1. Adapt and scale to several different screen sizes and devices
2. Offer an attractive, usable interface that is intuitive to use on large and small screens

Due in part to the large number of Apple device users in the audience, designing the slideshow in Flash was not an option. By embracing much of what we learned in Responsive Web Design, we were able to create a design that adapts to the challenges of tablets and smartphones while still maintaining an attractive layout to more traditional desktop web browsers. The design grows or shrinks depending on the screen resolution and device, creating the optimal viewing experience for all users. Whether you’re on-the-go, at home on the couch or at work on the desktop computer, the SLUH slideshow offers your device a pleasant viewing experience.

Apple announced on Tuesday the latest iteration of their mobile operating system, iOS 5. Touting “over 200” new features, Apple thinks there is something for everyone in what is shaping up to be their biggest update yet. Developer previews have already been released, and the complete update is expected to be available to the public this fall.

One of the most noticeable changes is a complete revamp of the notifications system. Currently, when you receive a notification, like an incoming text, you’re presented with a popup that interrupts whatever you’re doing at that moment. The new notification instead appears at the top of the screen and disappears a few seconds later. Lock screen notifications have also been rethought and now neatly stack instead of showing only the most recent. Users can also swipe across a specific notification to be taken directly to the relevant app. Plus, there is a new Notifications Center, which stores all of your most recent notifications, and can be accessed with a simple swipe down of the finger from the top of the screen. Stocks and weather are also displayed in this area.

Apple

So, what else does Apple have in store?

Camera:
Cell phone cameras continue to be the most popular way to take pictures. iOS 5 adds support for quickly launching the Camera app by adding a button to the lock screen. When using the Camera app the “volume up” button on the iPhone 4 can now act as a shutter button for a more natural picture-taking feel. Some basic photo editing tools have also been built-in, such as cropping and red-eye reduction.

Mail:
The Mail app has also seen several improvements, including an easier-to-use interface, rich text editing (bold, italic, underline), and a split keyboard. The split keyboard is intended to position more of the letters directly under the user’s thumbs when using larger devices such as the iPad.

Newsstand:
One of the new apps that Apple is adding to their lineup is Newsstand. Essentially an “iBooks” for subscription-based publications, this may prove to be exactly what the newspaper and magazine industries need to stay relevant in this digital age.

Reminders:
Reminders will also be making its debut as a new Apple app with the release of iOS 5. While there is nothing new about being able to set up reminders for yourself using an iPhone app, there is a cool “geo-aware” feature. Essentially you are able to specify a location-based reminder that can remind you of something as you either arrive or leave a location. For example, you could have your phone remind you to call your wife when you leave the office. The Reminders app is also able to sync with both iCal and Outlook.

Safari:
Aside from Twitter integration, Safari has also received some updates. Tabbed browsing is a welcome addition, which will make it much easier to switch windows on devices such as the iPad. There is also a new feature called “Reader” which lets the user view website content without all of the surrounding clutter with the push of a button. If you find an article you’d like to come back to later you can now add it to your “reading list.”

Twitter:
It seems like everything has some form of Twitter integration these days. Recognizing this, Apple has added Twitter support as part of the OS. Apps will still need to request access to your Twitter account, but now you never have to enter your username and password again. The ability to tweet has also been added to many of Apple’s native applications, including Safari and Photos.

We’re sure there are many more updates includes in iOS 5, but hopefully some of the ones above have piqued your interest, as Apple continues to be a driving force in the mobile industry.

18 million tablets were sold in 2010 (Engadget). A number that is only expected to multiply in the coming years. With the introduction of other tablets like the Samsung GalaxyTab and Blackberry PlayBook, designing for them is becoming ever important.  Our design gurus dish up the following advice:

• Design with audience in mind. Designers and companies reach for the stars when designing for this revolutionary device and come up with some pretty grandiose ideas. While you want to have the next big thing, it’s imperative to keep one very important factor in mind: your audience! How will they be using this? How will they be interacting with your app or your site?

• Keep the task at hand. Don’t try to put everything on the main page. The last thing you want is to overwhelm users. Focus on your task at hand. Display content and features that are important to the user as it relates to your site or your app. And, don’t forget to allow sub-pages and additional screens to do the talking, too.

• Simplicity is king. The simple functionality and friendly user interface that tablets demand can be easily decreased with an increase in clutter. Keep it simple! Utilize auxillary views (such as popovers) to maximize usability without overloading your interface. These modal windows allow you to keep your design simple and organized.

• To each orientation its own. User experience in both landscape and portrait orientation should be consistent. Consider every design element with each view. In many ways, this is like designing for two separate devices. However, each orientation’s layout should be considered separately to make the most of each view.

• The touch, the feel of tablets. Tablets are tactile devices, which means no more clicking! We’re tapping and swiping here.  Gestures create an intimate connection so take advantage, and take these special movements into account.

Remember that screen real estate is a hot commodity on tablets.  Use it to your advantage by thinking through your designs and functionality to enhance the user experience.