/Culture/ What’s the web doing to our <head>?
16/06/2010 | Filed under Discover > Culture
The web is a source of data and distraction – but what’s it doing to our minds? Gary Marshall asks whether browsing is bad for your brain
/Culture/ Create the perfect viral campaign
With the right idea and a little planning, you can own the web. Matt Smith of The Viral Factory reveals all
/Culture/ Master user experience design
Craig Grannell talks to UX experts to demystify the process behind web design and development’s fastest-growing and potentially most important industry
/Culture/ Design the perfect icon
Used intelligently, they’re a great way to declutter your page, speed up navigation and increase sales. Jon Hicks explains the process of designing an interactive web icon from start to finish
/Culture/ Boost your SEO through social media
Adam Stafford, managing director at search agency Fresh Egg, reveals how they make the most of socially-powered SEO
/Culture/ HTML5 today!
Remy Sharp talks about what’s coming with HTML5, what happened to XHTML2, how XHTML is not dead and why HTML5 is here today, and not 2022 (phew!)
/Culture/ The future of web apps
The next big apps will spring from small developers, not big brands, says Ryan Carson
/Culture/ Boost your Google rank today!
Ensure your site is search engine-friendly and you’ll rocket to the top of Google. Margaret Manning, CEO of Reading Room, outlines the fundamentals of SEO and how to apply them in the real world, including a look at the latest trends and emerging search technologies
/Culture/ Take online payments today!
More and more services are offering quick, easy and cheap ways of collecting money via your site. Martin Gill, director of HomeMade Digital, reveals who you can trust with your cash
/Culture/ How to create your best layouts
When approaching a fresh site design, what’s the best way to tackle layout and ensure a guaranteed win? Elliot Jay Stocks shares his top layout tips
/Culture/ The pros and cons of Twitter marketing
Twitter offers a cheap, quick way of spreading your marketing message. But it can just as easily cause your brand some major damage, reveals Paul Douglas
/Culture/ Why Google isn’t evil
Geoffrey Cain reveals how Google.org, the philanthropic wing of the search giant, is using its algorithms to save the world
/Culture/ Become a one man web agency
Web design can be a complex affair, and when you’re doing it all by yourself, working with big clients and running your own business, what’s the best way to approach a project and stay on top? Elliot Jay Stocks looks at the life of the independent designer
/Culture/ Blogging from the bush
In rural Zambia, the internet is more accessible than clean water. Adam Oxford joined a UK charity using that fact to get its message across
/Culture/ Build faster websites
In an age of short attention spans, speed is the name of the online game. Craig Grannell looks at how you can make your sites faster and more efficient – making them easier to use and more attractive to visitors
/Culture/ What the Apple iPad means for web designers
Craig Grannell reveals five things you need to know about Apple’s device when creating your next online masterpiece
/Culture/ Power up your sites with APIs
Craig Grannell investigates the increasing prevalence of APIs, and how you can use the technology to create richer and more creative websites
/Culture/ Pro video tips for web designers
Online video is rapidly taking over the web. Craig Grannell talks to leading designers and developers to find out how to make best use of it on your site
/Culture/ The nanopayment plan
Can microtransactions help developers to profit from social networks? Tom May reports
/Culture/ Make cloud computing work for you
Forget blue-sky thinking: where it’s really at is in the cloud, says Tim Carr of 3ev
/Culture/ Exploding the myths of web design
Everyone knows it, so it must be true, right? Wrong! Craig Grannell talks to industry figures to uncover some major misconceptions in web design and development
/Culture/ Breathe new life into your websites
Make some noise online by giving your sites a well-considered refresh. Craig Grannell finds out how to clear away the cobwebs
/Culture/ Making the perfect pitch
There’s never been a better time to refine your approach to winning new clients. Richard Rutter, co-founder of Clearleft, examines the pitch process from start to finish and reveals how you can beat rivals and win every contract
/Culture/ Boost your career with social media
If you want to get ahead in web design and development, you need to make intelligent use of the emerging social networks, says Suw Charman-Anderson
/Culture/ Discover London Digital Week!
We catch up with organiser Rob Corradi to find out more about the inaugural London Digital Week event, which starts on 21 September
/Culture/ Going global
You won’t get an international audience just by being online. Craig Grannell explains how to make your site appeal to a variety of national cultures without diluting your brand
/Culture/ Meet the Cloggers
One of the world’s poorest countries is leapfrogging its way to the latest internet technology, and a group of young, motivated bloggers are spearheading the revolution. Geoffrey Cain reports
/Culture/ The world’s top 20 web designers
What makes a world-class designer? It’s a simple question and yet once we started compiling this list we realised it’s not at all simple to answer. Is it about pushing boundaries or holding fast to traditional principles? Should the body of work be judged on aesthetics or usability? Is fame or notoriety important, or just a distraction? Ultimately, we’ve tried to balance all these considerations and more, and picked 20 figures who we all feel act as a beacon of inspiration to web builders everywhere. We hope you agree…
/Culture/ Attract visitors to your site
Dan Mall reveals how to get people to come to your website, get them to stay and keep them coming back for more
/Culture/ Flash on the Xbox
Paul Wyatt suggests a new arena in which to market your Flash skills
/Culture/ Plan the perfect site
We all want to hit the ground running when we start a new project, but a little forethought can reap huge dividends in the long run. Craig Grannell talks to experienced web developers about how an intelligent approach to planning can help save time, money and your sanity
/Culture/ The ultimate ways to test your site
Improve your sites by testing them with the people who really matter: your users. Clearleft’s user experience designer Cennydd Bowles explains how to conduct ‘guerrilla testing’, the quick and easy way to get your site on track
/Culture/ Blogging from the edge
Whether you’re living in a warzone or cycling across continents, getting your experiences online can be a huge challenge, discovers Paul Douglas, as he meets some of the world’s most extreme bloggers
/Culture/ Google’s guide to Analytics
Brett Crosby provides the inside track on how you can use Google Analytics to drive targeted traffic to your website, understand your visitors’ wants and needs, and make informed design improvements
/Culture/ Smarter and faster web design
You don’t need to work harder, or for longer hours, to get better results. You just need to work smarter! Craig Grannell reveals a range of tips and tricks to boost your productivity
/Culture/ Calling time on IE6
Craig Grannell asks designers and developers if it’s finally time to take IE6 behind the shed and shoot it
/Culture/ Beat the creative block
A blank sheet of paper can incite creative paralysis. So how do you bust out and gain control? Eric Karjaluoto, of strategic interactive agency smashLAB, shares his thoughts
/Culture/ Thwart the design thieves
You’ve spent time and effort creating a beautiful site, only to find it’s been ripped off by a rival. Is there anything you can do? Elliot Jay Stocks canvasses the industry’s top designers for their ideas
/Culture/ Create the perfect newsletter
Unloved, badly presented and wallowing in the nearest spam folder, the email newsletter is too often the poor relation of online marketing. But it doesn’t have to be that way, says Paul Wyatt
/Culture/ Keep your Web 2.0 community happy
Running a web community can be fun and rewarding, but you’re always reliant on the good faith of your members. So what happens when rogue elements threaten to disrupt, even destroy, the foundations of your virtual society? Derek Powazek has some suggestions
/Culture/ The legal guide for designers
When you create a website, you’re navigating a legal minefield. Specialist technology lawyer Philip Thompson, of White & Black, outlines the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them
/Culture/ What’s the deal with Wikipedia?
Wikipedia holds 9.25 million articles, written in over 250 languages – and it’s absolutely free to use. But will the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle still fit together if the site accepts advertising, or will it compromise everything Wikipedia stands for? Ian Harris reports
/Culture/ Choose the best free CMS
The Content Management System (CMS) has changed the way we manage our websites, but how do you choose the right one for your needs? Andrew Skinner has the lowdown
/Culture/ Master site navigation
From humble hypertext links to site-wide search boxes to visually stunning, interactive animated systems, online navigation has never been more varied. Craig Grannell investigates the best and worst out there and quizzes industry voices about best practice
/Culture/ The top 10 design mistakes
Bad design is all over the web like a rotten smell. Craig Grannell counts down the ten biggest online design crimes, and looks at how to avoid them – with a little help from expert industry opinion
/Culture/ Designing with grids
Do grids force rigid designs or unlock hidden creativity? Should designers take advantage of frameworks or build their grids from scratch? Craig Grannell asks the experts for their opinions
/Culture/ The best Flash sites ever
07/07/2008 | Filed under Discover > Culture
When the first version of Flash was launched in 1996, little did we know how it would revolutionise website design over the ensuing decade. The FWA’s Rob Ford counts down the Top 20 Flash sites of all time
/Culture/ Can you trust Web 2.0?
If Web 2.0 is typically epitomised by rounded corners and bright colours, think again. Ian Harris uncovers a web of user-generated intrigue and community-driven sleight of hand
/Culture/ .net Awards winners!
The 10th annual .net awards are upon us. Who’s won, who’s lost, who’s the hottest property on the internet? Jason Walsh reveals the names behind the net
/Culture/ Masterclass: the perfect podcast
Podcasting: everybody’s doing it, but not everybody’s doing it well. Gary Marshall discovers how to make the perfect podcast, and how to make the world pay attention
/Culture/ Build an eBay empire
28/09/2007 | Filed under Discover > Culture
Whether you’re a seasoned trader or a self-starter eager to improve your earnings on the side, sharpening your selling skills can pay handsomely. eBay PowerSeller Mark Buckingham leads the way
/Culture/ Development 2.0: can the web save the world?
13/06/2007 | Filed under Discover > Culture
Children in Third World countries are about to experience wireless networking for the first time, courtesy of the One Laptop Per Child initiative. Scott Carney speaks to the men behind the project, and explores some of its benefits and pitfalls
/Culture/ Master Google AdWords
14/05/2007 | Filed under Discover > Culture
Google AdWords is a phenomenon that’s transformed internet marketing. Advertisers allocate vast sums to it, yet many are daunted by rising keyword costs and click fraud. Does it lead to an advertising goldmine or is it more fool’s gold? Mark Buckingham investigates
/Culture/ The top 50 Firefox extensions
09/03/2007 | Filed under Discover > Culture
Firefox is fantastic, but with the right add-ons you can make it bigger, better and faster and more flexible. Gary Marshall shares his list of the 50 esential Firefox extensions
/Culture/ The top 40 tech podcasts
19/02/2007 | Filed under Discover > Culture
Are you still travelling the world without an MP3 player? Are you mad? From the practical to the profane, the professional to the puerile, Gary Marshall reveals his top 40 geek-friendly podcasts, guaranteed to improve your in-fl ight entertainment.
/Culture/ Blogging against the machine
18/01/2007 | Filed under Discover > Culture
Despite championing free speech for the benefit of foreign investors, the Malaysian government’s track record is, in reality, an embarrassing dossier of censorship and intimidation. Scott Carney uncovers a trail of online oppression
/Culture/ The MySpace economy
21/12/2006 | Filed under Discover > Culture
Is the global phenomenon that is MySpace simply a smoke-filled common room for millions of teenagers, or a revenue machine that generates millions of bucks for corporate giants? Ian Harris reveals the truth behind the MySpace economy
/Culture/ Banish stress forever with lifehacking
30/11/2006 | Filed under Discover > Culture
Being in a job that grinds you down is bad enough. But if organising the constant stream of information means you’re drowning in data and seriously stressed at your desk, lifehacking can genuinely help. Gary Marshall examines the theories and explains what it’s all about.
/Culture/ The business of podcasting
21/11/2006 | Filed under Discover > Culture
We catch up with some of the web’s favourite podcasters to see if the results have lived up to the hype, and what to expect tomorrow
/Culture/ India's tech trash heap
03/11/2006 | Filed under Discover > Culture
The e-waste scandal. For most people concerns about the safe disposal of computer equipment end at the local dump. Scott Carney reveals the true cost of cutting-edge technology as he examines the shady business of e-waste export.
/Culture/ Fight the good fight
Tired of being pelted with spam emails, Mike Williams decided to expose the scammers and make them stop. Read this account of one man’s mission to make a difference to the rising tide of spam.
/Culture/ The real Web 2.0
Think you are so over web 2.0? Well the websites making serious money sure as heck aren’t. But are we forgetting the people who are really powering the social web? Dan Oliver finds out…
/Culture/ By invitation only
If you could rid the web of spammers, scammers, annoying teens, pointless bloggers and general net riff-raff, wouldn’t it be a great place? From file sharers to fashionistas, a growing number of web users are doing just that. Gary Marshall investigates the invite-only internet
/Culture/ Del.icio.us: 15 tasty tweaks
Del.icio.us is great, but with some tips, tweaks and plug-ins you can make it even tastier. As Gary Marshall discovers, bookmarks are just the beginning...
/Culture/ Pills, Thrills and Bellyaches
Health sites might be heaven for hypochondriacs, but online advice and mail-order medicines can be bad, mad or downright dangerous. Gary Marshall examines the facts...
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