I made these simply by crumpling up some boring office paper and scanning them. That’s it.

and…

Download ZIP

So enjoy. All I ask (which is included as a text file in this ZIP file) is that by downloading this ZIP you agree to credit me if you’re going to distribute it anywhere.

Oh, and if you make something beautiful, or horrible, leave a comment pointing me to the example, or email it.

Let me run Gavin Castleton’s site by you in case you’re new:

We busted our chops to make this completely original. Special.

We think it is pretty cool, and clearly James “Triple Threat” Choma at Iceburg Productions in Florida thought so too. From his portfolio description for SouthsideTattoo.net

If you are looking for a unique website, this is one to check out! This client said that they were interested in Vampires and Skulls to showcase their tattoo shop. Using Jquery tools we were able to build this unique side-scrolling website, complete with a Lightbox photo gallery.

Have a look:

"By" Iceburg Productions

While I luckily can’t claim responsibility for the vampires and skulls I will give myself props for the “unique website” part. Graphics aside: Gavin and I spent months making his site an original experience to complement his very original new album Home. Sure some of my graphics/css are still being used, but the framework/layout/concept that was labored over (with some freely available javascript mind you) is very much intact.

But they blew it: the two halves of gavincastleton.com are clearly symbolic. Divided. A split-screen. Sure it is fine to slide back and forth and look to look at a totally sweet piercing, but where is the heart behind that? Gavin’s got it. Literally.

Let’s compare “inner” pages:

and

Through the wonder of Google (gavincastleton.com search) I found that page titles on the iframe popups hadn’t been changed from GavinCastleton.com: http://www.southsidetattoos.net/faqs/piercing-q3.html. It is amazing that laziness in THEFT (keep in mind, you’re already way lazy for stealing someone’s work in the first place) caused me to find out about this. Just like it did for Optimum Design.

Should I start building my sites in Flash again? Should people stop being lazy and completely unethical? Neither one of those is going to happen, but something has to. I’m not sure I can handle the theft of another design.

As much as I fear seeing this font pop up in unexpected places, I’m equally excited about that same concept. For the time-being, this font (and corresponding files) will remain on sursly.com (and only there). As I develop Blackout further I will update this post and link to the latest version (wherever it may be), but for the time being: get it while it’s hottt

GET BLACKOUT

by downloading this ZIP file and contents you agree to not re-distribute or modify the contents in any way. Please read the .txt file for more information

Since you can use this for personal and/or commercial purposes I’d love to see what you do with it. Either post a comment below or send me an email. Don’t send attachments, just link-up to the work.

A little outer glow never hurt nobody

I’m also including the PSD file that was used to make these example files (which was made in CS2). I make no guarantees that this won’t blow up your computer, but it hasn’t happened to me. So I have to say: use at your own risk.

This one stings a bit.

Luckily my design wasn’t stolen (that would make the 6th time this year) but everything else was: including my Google Analytics code. And maybe that is why it stings a bit, because I saw “optimum design” in my keywords report (for a few months now) but thought nothing of it. I shrugged it off because I also saw “movie bird poo makes boy invisible” in my keywords too…

But back to NYC-based Optimum Design & Consulting. Given their “design” I’m wishing they had copied my graphics, too, but oh well. Several people that I’ve shown this too have noticed that the site has a rather large blurb (under “resources”) on copyrighting. Here’s the opening paragraph:

“In today’s tough business climate, there has been a disturbing trend among professionals in the commercial visual arts to sidestep the issue of copyrights. In part, designers and illustrators are becoming reluctant to raise the issue of copyright in the fear losing clients. Ignorance of he concept of copyrights among young or inexperienced designers and illustrators is also a factor. Unfortunately, this situation contributes to the erosion of creative rights and the loss of income for the entire visual arts community.”

Learn more about Optimum Design & Consulting’s stance on Copyrighting here. If you view it on “their” site it will popup in a sweet HighSlide box.

This post isn’t to trash Lara and Rebecca (of OD&C) and despite the ridiculousness above I wish them well in business, especially these days. That being said, there is a larger issue here that I’ve really only touched upon quickly in a previous blog post, on Twitter and now a somewhat permanent footer message on my site. The offenders (below) haven’t stolen clients from me, or cost me business, or made any personal attacks other than taking my work (and sometimes, taking credit for it). But apparently this is happening to designers everywhere.

Aside from the Google insight above (and the first site rip by Gurdeep) all of these have been brought to my attention by other people, either on Twitter or email. The first few were somewhat flattering and since the rippers were so far removed (outside the US) I wasn’t particularly bothered. But when I saw that Jason (below) not only graduated from the same college as me but also works in the same city as me (designing, no less) I was appalled. And very surprised.

So I sent gentle emails to everone requesting that they remove my graphics/content. Some of them complied (see for yourself, I’m linking to the sites that originally had the rip). Others didn’t (I’m looking at you, Nazmul). Let’s take a look at the “bio” page for each of these.

Sweet pictures, fellas.

Now that I’ve gotten that awkward introduction out of the way I’d like to propose a 3-step process for future offenders (of any work, really):

1) Stop and think. Not about whether or not you should do it (obviously you shouldn’t). Think about what you like so much about the design (website/logo/whatever). Are you blown away by the font usage? Does the texture/light make it pop? Find out what it is that you’re attracted to first before you end up on a list like this (and have your name dragged through the mud on Twitter). Critique your reaction as much as you would the actual work.

2) Get some perspective. Click around inspiring galleries (logopond, bestwebgallery, ffffound to name a few) for 10 minutes (but stop there) and then walk away, because now that you’re inspired you need to come up with something somewhat original. Can’t think of something it? Partner up with someone who can. Email the original creator for inspiration. If you don’t have the technical ability to pull it off, hit Google. You’ll learn more in a few hours of searching than you could in some university-level classes (mostly because the internet is so immediate and ever-changing, not all courses can keep up).

3) Experiment until you’re happy. You shouldn’t rush yourself (unless you work better that way). That being said, if you’ve spent months on something and you’re still not happy, experiment in a different direction. Experiment in something you’re good at. I know that I’m not a programmer, so I won’t mess around in Javascript even with Google as a resource. I’ll ask for help, or find an open-source solution. If you’re a pro at a certain style, process or program: go all out. I don’t consider myself a pro at any particular design area, but rather comfortable in all areas (a well-roundedness that is both wonderful and frustrating).

So…

If you’ve copy/pasted my/someone’s source code you’re not in trouble until someone else sees it (and they will see it). You’re not in trouble at all if you use it as inspiration or education to create something original, something different. But if you’ve left someone else’s Analytics code in you might want to re-think things a bit. Doubly so if you’re a consulting company.

I’ll keep this post really short, since these sit rips are becoming more common and less cool/flattering. In the past two months I’ve seen four identical versions of my site (but with my name/stats/work swapped out with theirs) and one that I have a hunch started as a copy/paste of my site, but luckily with original imagery (which almost stings more, but eh)…as of 5 minutes ago, the only site that still stands is this: http://www.nazmulalam.com/delta/

Look familiar?

I’ll post screenshots soon since three of the four (five?) offenders have removed “my” site. One even responded to my email (which has awesomely been replaced with this: http://gurdeepubhi.com ). I guess I’m writing this up now because I’m working on two sites which will launch soon that, in my opinion, are cooler than sursly.com. So I’m expecting them to get ripped.

They’re both 1-pagers and though they don’t use the same lead-through method that my current site does, they do everything else better/cooler.

Back to finishing the first of the two…

Here is a link to a demo page with the background image in use.

This is actually a pattern from a shirt I really like. Here’s a picture of me wearing it. If you use the file I’d love to see what you do with it.

Long story short: I’m internally raging at what has happened, and I think the only thing keeping it internal is the new music from Gavin (hence the follow-up, hear: Coffeelocks) and sweet mix CD that Karen gave me.

Gosh.

I don’t think he’ll mind that I’m borrowing this sweet banner (I’ll give it back). The point is: you’ll love what you’ll hear.

I’m pretty sure I had his Hypoteneuse album on repeat for the entire month I was in India, which either kept me sane or made me miss New England like crazy, but I’ve been hooked since the Gruvis Malt days. I can’t believe I took this video 6 years ago (wow):

A Heart Transplant You Could Afford

So he is/was the keyboardist for that band (sorry for the Worst Audio & Video Ever), who consistently provided the best live shows I’ve ever attended. But this is now, solo (not one of his songs, but it has GavCaz written all over it):

Big things coming, whether he likes it or not. His new album sounds ridiculously unique, and progressive even for him. Check out the other videos he has on that YouTube page.

If you want to listen to MY favorite work of his, check out A Bullet, A Lever, A Key, which chronicles his prospective life (in reverse) if he were to give up music NOW. It starts (or ends) with his suicide in a hotel room (2054) and moves back to 2007, when he ditches music for a more “normal” live. The track titles are years (as mentioned above) and narrative…and beautiful. 2054 is one of my favorite songs ever written. Enjoy.

2009 is already daunting, but for some reason I’m not letting it get me down. In fact, I’m almost up for every one of those odd questions/challenges. I probably won’t start farming, and if I want to we could try with that .025 acre we have in Ohio (snap).  Maybe this has something to do with being able to just deal with stuff:

My little 3.5 year-old is tons of fun. Aside from the midnight/morning visits he provides pretty regularly: this age rocks. If that doesn’t explain my attitude than it could be Obama. Dfntly.

Oh, 2009 will be the year I give more stuff away, too. Including free websites and logos to non-profits. Yes. More on that later…

I felt it appropriate to design something.

So that’s what is on the work home page right now in addition to some other stuff. It is a snowy, snowy day here in Ithaca, New York. Fitting, given the time of year.

A more personal and thought-through post coming in early January (which is, eh, tomorrow).

Maine was fantastic. Seeing my family and friends was great, and much needed. Jonah and Meg loved it. Aside from sliding all over the road when we left Ithaca on Christmas Eve it was a perfect trip. I enjoyed not opening Photoshop. We went sledding/snowboarding on a hill I frequented during my youth. The food was super yummy. And we’re now all addicted to Wii.

I took hundreds of photos, so it may be a while before they all make it online. I have quite a list of things to do in the next few weeks:

• * Finish blog design/theme for my sister
• * Finish a video for Meg (tonight?!)
• * Finish the Upstate Design Collective website
• * Expand on Sursly.com (portfolio section and a cool new section!)
• * Start the new AWP website design

That’s just the ones I can think of right now while I try my best to avoid the Mystery Office Smell. Oh wait, Chip just found it: Molly’s can of open black beans. Mmmmm.

There are a lot of lists like these, but this one is my favorite for 2 reasons:

1) It’s alphabetical! and
2) Has some real goodies in there.

Although, “O” (for me) could have easily been: OnePageLove.

∞ http://blog.iampaddy.com/2008/12/23/a-z-of-web-design/

See that guy up there, his name is Casey. He’s been our lead programmer at work for over two years now. He started a month or so before I did at AWP and no one had any idea how awesome he’d be, and how much he’d revolutionize what we do with our websites and business.

Today was Casey’s last day at work. Technically he’ll be programming a little bit into the future for us but probably not within these office walls. We cranked out a lot of fun projects during his time here and are finishing up an epic redesign of IthacaEvents.com. He introduced us all to the world of GarfieldMinusGarfield and hooked us up with liquid nitrogen. We also watched him transform from a novice pianist to an awesome bandmate with improv skills to spare (see video below).

Casey, if you’re reading this, I’m linking to your website and tweets now, so, time to keep up on both of those. Thanks for the good times. We’ll see you at Wednesday band practice, dude. Oh, and I’ll keep an eye on your ergonomic chair for now.

-T

And the same could be said for Comic Sans, but someone already made that very clear.

Maybe this comes from living in Ithaca, New York and seeing it everywhere, but the only time I’ve ever seen this font look good it was:
1) Silkscreened and
2) On a T-shirt

And maybe the only reason that it worked was because the one papyrus’d word was: “sursly” and my friend had sent the shirt from the Philippines.

Thx Karen, again.