RSS 6 - Directory of Blogs and Feeds http://www.rss6.com/ 2010-07-30 06:26:18 A home photography business doesn&#8217;t invariably require formal photography coaching. What it does require is a taste for photographic art, an artistic style, the technical abilities to operate the hardware and the facility to market the business. Someone who is still in high school or college can start out gearing up to learn how to make http://www.hirehomeimprovement.com/diy-projects/information-about-starting-a-home-business-in-photography Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:20:05 +0000 One of the best digital photography books for you would be the book that answers the specific questions YOU have about digital photography! The incredible explosion over the last couple of years in the field of digital photography, combined with the http://www.best-digital-photography.com/best-digital-photography-book.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:17 -0700 Digital infrared photography requires some homework to lead you to the perfect camera equipped for this purpose. It is quite feasible to use digital imaging to simulate the look of an image shot on infrared-sensitive film. However, this is no match for http://www.best-digital-photography.com/digital-infrared-photography.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:17 -0700 Digital SLRs with removable lenses are prone to dust landing on the sensor. Static electricity around the sensor can possibly contribute to attracting dust particles, or other elements to this sensitive area of your camera. To get rid of the dust you can http://www.best-digital-photography.com/digital-photography-tips.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:17 -0700 The many rewards of digital photography have brought the pleasure of taking photographs into the lives of millions of people around the globe. However, the apparent ease of the digital photography technique can be misleading. In essence, photography http://www.best-digital-photography.com/index.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:16 -0700 There will always be room for the special quality and elegance of black and white digital photography images, especially when combining it with the many benefits offered by digital photography in general. A popular form of this kind of photography is http://www.best-digital-photography.com/black-and-white-digital-photography.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:16 -0700 With digital landscape photography, one of the most satisfying aspects is that you can evaluate your pictures right there in the field. However, making the transition from film to digital landscape photography it is important to get past the technological http://www.best-digital-photography.com/digital-landscape-photography.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:16 -0700 Digital macro photography may be the way to go if you are planning to get your products on your website. Digital close-ups will be the quickest and cheapest route to go, but which camera is your best choice for such digital macro photography? Do you need http://www.best-digital-photography.com/digital-macro-photography.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:16 -0700 The digital photography histogram is a handy tool to ensure your pictures are light and color balanced, and is well worth the effort of learning how to interpret and use it. Some cameras show the digital photography histogram in real time, allowing you to http://www.best-digital-photography.com/digital-photography-histogram.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:16 -0700 Digital photography lighting may utilize the same light as film cameras, but these cameras have very different ways of reading, interpreting, and dealing with it. Digital photography lighting presents many challenges, not the least being that some CCD http://www.best-digital-photography.com/digital-photography-lighting.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:16 -0700 Digital portrait photography will produce superb results if you are able to see the person you are photographing, as one of your favorite people at that moment. Digital portrait photography is for you if you care about people, are interested in what http://www.best-digital-photography.com/digital-portrait-photography.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:16 -0700 A digital sports photography article would have been fairly brief as recently as a couple of years ago. In essence, it would have stated that digital cameras have unacceptable shutter lag, and cannot yet achieve the frame rates of their film cousins http://www.best-digital-photography.com/digital-sports-photography.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:16 -0700 Where does the history of digital photography really start? Digital cameras use image sensors instead of film to sample light. They do this thanks to the photoelectric effect in which some metals release electrons when exposed to light. You could probably http://www.best-digital-photography.com/history-of-digital-photography.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:16 -0700 Well, part of the new Sony Alpha A100 digital camera does actually shake on start-up, but that is only due to the effective internal dust reduction system of this most useful digital photography partner! Overall the Sony Alpha 100, Sony's first foray into http://www.best-digital-photography.com/sony-alpha.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:16 -0700 Digital photography printing has opened a completely new world for amateur and professional photographers alike. For most photographers, the backup of digital photography printing offers unprecedented freedom to get the best digital shots. No more http://www.best-digital-photography.com/digital-photography-printing.php Sat, 17 Jul 2010 05:59:16 -0700 <table width="650"><tr><td width="650"><div style="width:650px;"> <img src="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/static/smashing-magazine-advertisement.gif" alt="Smashing-magazine-advertisement in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" border="0" /><img src="http://imp.constantcontact.com/imp/cmp.jsp?impcc=IMP_&lt;mprid/&gt;&#038;o=http://img.constantcontact.com/lp/images/standard/spacer.gif" alt="Spacer in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" border="0" width="1" height="1" /><br /> <a href="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=56" target="_blank"><img src="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=56" border="0" alt=" in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://auslieferung.commindo-media-ressourcen.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=35" target="_blank"><img src="http://auslieferung.commindo-media-ressourcen.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=35" border="0" alt=" in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=64" target="_blank"><img src="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=64" border="0" alt=" in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" /></a></div></td></tr></table><p>In the Web design scene, the sense of community is extremely strong. We always talk about &#8220;giving back&#8221; and about how much we learn from those who do. A few names are popular and dropped here and there. But it&#8217;s all still just a bit too impersonal, isn&#8217;t it? Here at Smashing Magazine, we&#8217;ve decided to give you a more intimate look at our writers.</p><p>Among the people who regularly write for us, 15 agreed to answer our questions. We also challenged them to take a picture of themselves on the spot, with no time for make-up. This interview is not meant to give you any particular professional insight, even though we cover that ground a bit. Rather, it&#8217;s meant to introduce you to these people on a personal level. The illustrations for this article were created by <a href="http://www.cutelittlefactory.com/">Andrea Austoni</a>, an illustrator from Poland who we are regularly working with.</p><h4>A Word About The Community</h4><p>We still have very little information about the Web design community itself. How many professionals are there around the world? Where do they live? These questions are still difficult to answer precisely. A List Apart <a href="http://aneventapart.com/alasurvey2008/">publishes an annual survey</a>, whose 2008 edition received responses from more than 30,000 people (2009 edition wasn&#8217;t published yet). We can perhaps imagine the Web design community as an entity, which is what A List Apart does to a large extent. But what if we focused on personality? What&#8217;s the first thing they do in the morning? What do they love and hate about Web design? What is their biggest strength and worst flaw?</p><p><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/composite1.jpg" alt="Composite1 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="500" height="749" /></p><p>If we could combine our writers into a single person, what kind of person would it be?</p><ul><li> A male in his early 30s,</li><li>Physically, he would have brown eyes, brown hair. He would be about 5&#8242;7&#8243; tall (175 cm), 155lbs (70 kg),</li><li>He would maybe wear glasses and will surely be right-handed (there is only one left-handed person out of the 14 writers that replied).</li></ul><p><a href="http://wiseeats.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/c0109_junkfood_01.jpg"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/c0109_junkfood_01-e1278337172278.jpg" alt="C0109 Junkfood 01-e1278337172278 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="500" height="369" /></a></p><p style="clear: both;"><em>Who said working from home implies eating all the time? Our typical writer would be quite reasonable with junk food, eating only <strong>a kg a week</strong>.</em></p><h4 style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4em;">Question: What is your mission and personal philosophy while on Earth?</h4><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="size-full wp-image-50339 alignleft" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/d96335287ff55cbbfda8cc087058482b.jpg" alt="D96335287ff55cbbfda8cc087058482b in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Paul Boag: </strong>Wow, that is a hard question to answer without sounding pretentious! My primary focus is to help and inspire others. There seems little point in spending my life simply accumulating stuff for myself. I get much more joy out of encouraging others to be better. I will never change the world, but I might inspire someone who does. That is my hope.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50349" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/09872729d329fed8a004b877159da580.jpg" alt="09872729d329fed8a004b877159da580 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Julia May:</strong> When I think about my mission on Earth, I tend to agree with George Carlin’s suggestion of why we are all here. As for my personal philosophy, I guess it changes during life, but at the moment I have a constant feeling that something good is in the air, and I try to keep my eyes open so that I don&#8217;t miss it when it comes.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50350" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/schneider.jpg" alt="Schneider in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Speider Schneider:</strong> Aside from an odd leaning towards nihilistic schadenfreude, I have learned to let the bad things slide off my back. I just enjoy what I&#8217;ve done with my career and I believe between working for MAD Magazine and creating numerous Pokémon products, I have ruined at least a generation of kids. I guess my philosophy is to create as much havoc as possible. I like to live on the edge because the rent is cheap and there are few neighbors. What will be my philosophy when I leave the Earth? Depends on the planet to which I am heading.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50343" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/c6d49292eef345ec8fa9ceb4f1cc80c5.jpg" alt="C6d49292eef345ec8fa9ceb4f1cc80c5 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Robert Bowen:</strong> My current mission is to see true equality for all beings who share this planet and find the harmonious balance that can bring about a peace. My personal philosophy is that all beings on this Earth deserve to be respected and looked after.</div></div><div style="clear: both; height: 65px; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50345" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/c14a2511b58ff483ffaeed672b79c4cc.jpg" alt="C14a2511b58ff483ffaeed672b79c4cc in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Janko Javanovic:</strong> My mission here is to reach true warp speed and see aliens in distant galaxies. Until then, I&#8217;ll design user interfaces and learn the importance of user experience every day.</div></div><div style="clear: both; height: 65px; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50350" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/b8eb0184e62e8a6e71a2d1d7be558248.jpg" alt="B8eb0184e62e8a6e71a2d1d7be558248 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Louis Lazaris:</strong> I believe in the Bible and what it says about man&#8217;s destiny, and I like to reveal that most religions today do not tell the truth about the Bible&#8217;s message.</div></div><p><strong>Christian Heilmann: </strong><br /> Do good things, make myself redundant in doing them, and inspire and train others to take over to get the same great experiences.</p><p><strong>Thomas Giannattasio:</strong><br /> When I look back on my life, I hope to see that I&#8217;ve improved people&#8217;s lives: making them simpler, more fulfilling and more enjoyable.</p><p><strong>Paul Andrew: </strong><br /> Difficult question. Without being philosophical, I would simply say personal contentment.</p><p><strong>Cameron Chapman:</strong><br /> I&#8217;m just along for the ride, trying to do as much of the things I love as possible, and avoiding the rest.</p><p><strong>Jean-Baptiste Jung:</strong><br /> I&#8217;m a Christian, so most of my philosophy comes from that. I&#8217;m also an animal-rights supporter.</p><p><strong>Inayaili de León:</strong><br /> Be nice. Put myself in other people&#8217;s shoes before criticizing them.</p><p><strong>Jacob Gube:</strong><br /> My personal philosophy in life is to enjoy doing what you love doing.</p><p><strong>Kat Neville:</strong><br /> I want to love what I do every day. I don&#8217;t want any day to go by where I think, &#8220;Wow, what an absolute waste of time.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Aquil Akhter:</strong><br /> I want to do something innovative and creative, work on design and blogging. This is my current mission.</p><h4 style="clear: both;">Nationalities, Languages And Localization</h4><p>Most of our regular writers live in Europe:</p><p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=UTF8&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=103325384580524496430.0004876a9e4787a2e7460"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-45892" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/authors03-copy2.png" alt="Authors03-copy2 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="550" height="286" /></a></p><p>Many live in the US:</p><p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=UTF8&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=103325384580524496430.0004876a9e4787a2e7460"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-45891" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/authors01-copy.png" alt="Authors01-copy in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="550" height="286" /></a></p><p>But there is also Aquil, who is from Pakistan:</p><p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;oe=UTF8&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=103325384580524496430.0004876a9e4787a2e7460"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-45893" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/authors02-copy1.png" alt="Authors02-copy1 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="550" height="286" /></a></p><p>Because we are an English-speaking magazine doesn&#8217;t mean that the people who write for us are all American or British. In fact, most of them come from another country and therefore speak a different native language. If we combine them all together, we&#8217;d able to speak:</p><ul><li> English, French, German, Grenglish (yes, this new language is a mix of English and broken Greek), Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Urdu and Uzbek.</li></ul><p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-52080" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/flags.jpg" alt="Flags in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="549" height="287" /></p><p style="clear: both;"><h4 style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4em;">Question: What does writing mean to you? Please give us some insight into your working process.</h4><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="size-full wp-image-50339 alignleft" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/d96335287ff55cbbfda8cc087058482b.jpg" alt="D96335287ff55cbbfda8cc087058482b in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Paul Boag: </strong>For me, writing is a means to an end. I don’t like writing: I like sharing ideas. Writing is just one way I can do that. I also podcast, run workshops and speak at conferences. To be honest, writing is the method I find least exciting. Part of the problem is that I am not a natural writer. I am terrible at spelling, and my grammar sucks. As for my writing process, I am not sure I have one.</p><p>I guess I constantly keep a list of possible writing topics, with a few bullets outlining what each post would cover. I then tend to flesh these out into a better structure before writing an initial draft. Finally, I read through, correcting mistakes, adding illustrations and trying to tighten it up. Then it&#8217;s just a matter of deciding the best place to publish it. I think I spread myself a bit thin at times, with content all over the place.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="size-full wp-image-50340 alignleft" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/07fcd228af02d476b1b8367d85a903b2.jpg" alt="07fcd228af02d476b1b8367d85a903b2 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Christian Heilmann: </strong>Writing to me means structuring ideas and finding the interesting story and easy explanation in complex matters. My process is to write down everything I want to put in, and then go through it three times, removing all the unnecessary parts.</p><p>If you can’t take anything out, then you’ve done a great job. I also tend to write down the outline first — headings, mostly — and then fill in the gaps. This allows me to jump from section to section should I get stuck or bored with one. I’ve outlined the process in the <a href="http://developer-evangelism.com/writing.php">Developer Evangelism Handbook</a>.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50341" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/b3873205cde1deab3ec00d9f0ec9b34a.jpg" alt="B3873205cde1deab3ec00d9f0ec9b34a in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Thomas Giannattasio:</strong> For me, writing is about spreading ideas and information. It’s also a great way to connect yourself to a community, which is the main reason I love writing for Smashing. My working process is pretty random because my time is limited. I start by outlining my content and doing a little research. Then, I typically try to set aside a Saturday or Sunday to write the bulk of the article. In the evenings, after my 9:00 to 5:00 gig, I try to polish the writing and create my images.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50342" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/6b81bf10ddf97c1a224dde2ef9b8666f.png" alt="6b81bf10ddf97c1a224dde2ef9b8666f in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Paul Andrew: </strong>Writing is a universally accessible method of sharing knowledge and learning more. From an early age, my father taught me that when writing you should visualize every word, sentence and paragraph, physically. He recommended building a house as you write. I have used this ever since.</p><p>Initially, I search for every resource on a subject, using every possible channel open to me (that is the foundation). I then collate everything and filter the bad out of the good and the pointless out of the useful. I then read as much as possible, categorize resources and start taking notes (these are the bricks). Now I have an idea of the layout, rhythm and direction of the article. I put everything together (the roof). Once that is done, I revisit and edit, and I edit again and again, until I am happy with the result (which is a watertight and livable home). Time to move in: publish.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50350" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/schneider.jpg" alt="Schneider in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Speider Schneider:</strong> It&#8217;s therapy. I get angry because of something that happened and I sit down and bang on my keyboard like a deaf Beethoven pounding out a symphony and eventually fall into a comatose state. When I awake, I look at what I&#8217;ve written, shrug my shoulders and send it off to the Smashing staff to test the patience of the editor and drive the proofreaders into fits of insanity. Then it&#8217;s time to drink.</p><p>If anything, through my articles on Smashing Magazine, I feel I&#8217;m not only mentoring less experienced creatives, but striking a blow against not only bad business people, but against the mistakes we creatives make along the road that reflect on the entire industry. Is it easy? No. Is it satisfying? Well, to quote Dorothy Parker, &#8220;I hate writing but love having written.&#8221;</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50343" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/c6d49292eef345ec8fa9ceb4f1cc80c5.jpg" alt="C6d49292eef345ec8fa9ceb4f1cc80c5 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Robert Bowen:</strong> Writing to me is a powerful outlet that not only allows me to exercise my demons but affords me an opportunity to connect with and help others. Writing is a part of who I am. Whenever I begin working on a writing project, whether personal or work-related, I always begin with a question and an outline. The question is a variant of “Where is this going” or “What is it saying?” Once I know the answer, I begin to outline — brainstorming on various approaches to take and elements to include until I have a pretty solid foundation to work from. Then I charge forward…</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50344" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/3788d5a944fc3c389f5e3e6806c14c4f.jpg" alt="3788d5a944fc3c389f5e3e6806c14c4f in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Cameron Chapman:</strong> Writing is something I’ve always done, for as long as I can remember. Putting thoughts and concepts on paper in a way that others can understand is as close to telepathy as humans have gotten (as far as I know, anyway). My working process usually starts out with 10 to 15 minutes of research, followed by 30 or so minutes of brainstorming and outlining. Then I go back to research and fill in the outline as much as I can, sometimes expanding it as I go.</p><p>Short articles might take me only a morning or afternoon to complete, while longer ones might require a day or two of work. Of course, sometimes I break this up over the course of a few days, working on multiple projects simultaneously.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50345" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/c14a2511b58ff483ffaeed672b79c4cc.jpg" alt="C14a2511b58ff483ffaeed672b79c4cc in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Janko Javanovic:</strong> Writing is a powerful tool for expressing your thoughts and knowledge and for questioning yourself and others. I note all my ideas in a sketchbook. It helps me remember everything and explore ideas further. When I find some free time, I pick one and elaborate on it.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50352" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/84f25aced089a434f91dbb3cb9d5f55a.png" alt="84f25aced089a434f91dbb3cb9d5f55a in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Jean-Baptiste Jung:</strong> Writing is sharing. I’ve learned my job that way, by reading books and blog posts, so being able to give back to the community is a great thing. When writing long articles, such as the ones I write for SM, I generally start by creating an article map that shows the different steps to talk about in the post. Then I develop each step until I have a complete article.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50346" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/f02818c9213ae2161bcbabd7f6bd4301.jpg" alt="F02818c9213ae2161bcbabd7f6bd4301 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Inayaili de León:</strong> For me, writing means organizing my thoughts on a particular idea. After finishing an article, I feel I can put that aside and start thinking about something else. Before starting, I tend to do some research to see what’s been written. The time this phase takes depends on the type of article. Then I’ll write down a few of the main points I want to cover, particular quotes to refer to. Finally, I start writing the article itself.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50347" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/96c6e03a2cd8961c56e3dcc663d6ea23.jpg" alt="96c6e03a2cd8961c56e3dcc663d6ea23 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Jacob Gube:</strong> Writing is sharing knowledge in an organized way. I start writing by doing some research and outlining the things I want to say. Then I start writing. I edit several times, focusing on what I can cut out, how well the story flows, and whether the reader will gain something from reading it.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50348" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/7855a2784ba42f149b775a8ef911f83e.jpg" alt="7855a2784ba42f149b775a8ef911f83e in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Kat Neville:</strong> I don’t consider myself a writer, so writing for me is just about explaining something using the clearest possible language. But I think as a Web designer, you really should learn a lot about writing, because every second with a user counts. When I write for SM, I always try to think about what I would find useful. It’s so easy to let your ego get in the way and start writing your own opinions. Even though my articles tend to be long, I hope they are always useful, with a lot of interaction and examples.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50349" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/09872729d329fed8a004b877159da580.jpg" alt="09872729d329fed8a004b877159da580 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Julia May:</strong> Writing is a puzzle: for hours I can sit and shuffle words to find the right combination. Writing is a science: profound research and bold experiments lead to progress. Writing is an art: there is always someone who likes one thing and another who doesn’t. Finally, writing is a creative process: no inspiration means no success.As for my working process, in short, it’s always dozens of open browser tabs, thousands of &#8220;Backspace&#8221; and &#8220;Delete&#8221; hits and millions of doubts. If all this results in at least one satisfied reader, then it was worth doing.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50350" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/b8eb0184e62e8a6e71a2d1d7be558248.jpg" alt="B8eb0184e62e8a6e71a2d1d7be558248 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Louis Lazaris: </strong>Writing is an art based on standards and principles, just like Web design. I believe each article should be its own unique entity, one that never makes the reader say, “Oh, I&#8217;ve read this before.” This would make each article a truly creative and inspiring experience for both author and reader.</p><p>As for my working process, I like to start formulating my articles with a very general theme, then a four-to-six point outline. Then I slowly put the “meat on the bones” through research and development of the theme in a very specific and focused manner. This helps prevent my articles from rambling too much and going off topic near the end, which happens to many writers online.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50351" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/84d137485470fee5c00e274213b86764.jpg" alt="84d137485470fee5c00e274213b86764 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Aquil Akhter:</strong> In my opinion, writing an article means providing something interesting and unique to our readers. Because I mostly do design- and photography-related articles, I always keep in my mind that a picture is worth a thousand words.</div></div><h4 style="clear: both; line-height: 1.4em;">What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?</h4><p><a href="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/m2.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-52618" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/m31.jpg" alt="M31 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="400" height="400" /></a><br /> <em>Ignore the buzzer and keep sleeping!</em></p><p><a href="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/m1.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-52618" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/m21.jpg" alt="M21 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="400" height="400" /></a><br /> <em>Checking e-mails, Twitter and Facebook</em></p><p><a href="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/m3.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-52618" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/m11.jpg" alt="M11 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="400" height="400" /></a><br /> <em>Drinking coffee.</em></p><h4 style="line-height: 1.4em;">Question: Where did you start, and what principles and skills helped you get to where you are now?</h4><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="size-full wp-image-50339 alignleft" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/d96335287ff55cbbfda8cc087058482b.jpg" alt="D96335287ff55cbbfda8cc087058482b in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Paul Boag:</strong> I started as a graphic designer who was very fortunate to get a placement as a student with IBM. This happened around the time that the Web was created, so I got to work on it from day one. My skills as a print designer were extremely valuable, and those early days of the Web taught me loads about coding. It made me the all-rounder I am today.</p><p>Bizarrely, I think the most valuable skills didn&#8217;t come from design school or IBM but actually from my local church. It was there that I learned how to do public speaking, communicate and empathize. These are all skills I use every day in my job.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="size-full wp-image-50340 alignleft" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/07fcd228af02d476b1b8367d85a903b2.jpg" alt="07fcd228af02d476b1b8367d85a903b2 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Christian Heilmann: </strong>I always had various &#8220;jobs&#8221; during school: organizer of summer camps for the council, brick layer, packer in a chainsaw factory, ice-cream maker, waiter, DJ, plumber, pizza delivery guy… My first real full-time job after high school was working for the Red Cross for 15 months, instead of doing 12 months of mandatory army service. There I learned a lot about what can go wrong with the human body, and I also learned how to work with people with learning and physical disabilities, which taught me a lot about life.</p><p>I then went on to work at a local radio station, where I learned how to crunch a lot of information into a few lines for the news, where each sentence needed to be an entity on its own — because nobody consciously listens to the radio. This taught me a lot about writing for the Web, too. I also learned how to use my voice and to ask the right questions to get real answers, which helped me with my public-speaking skills. I then started Web development very early and was lucky to jump from job to job, taking on as much as I could, to get where I am now.</p><p>Generally, I can say that the main skills needed for all this are an ability to adapt to situations, not being scared to physically move and to get excited (rather than scared) about new things. I also learned that forcing myself to understand something properly before applying it was much more useful than waiting for official training. Asking the right questions and taking advice — even when it is annoying — was another big factor.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50341" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/b3873205cde1deab3ec00d9f0ec9b34a.jpg" alt="B3873205cde1deab3ec00d9f0ec9b34a in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Thomas Giannattasio: </strong>I like to think that my career in art and design began back in the second grade. Every Saturday morning, I could be found lying in front of the TV with a sketchbook and pencils, recreating scenes from my favorite cartoons. My first commercial endeavor evolved from these sketches, when I learned that classmates were willing to sacrifice their lunch money to buy some drawings of Ninja Turtles.</p><p>As I got older, my passion for art and design grew stronger, but in a different direction. I became fascinated with the interconnectedness and reach of the Internet. When I was 12, I begged my parents to let me get my own website. After weeks of nagging, they finally caved and bought me an &#8220;HTML for Dummies&#8221; book, which I studied every day after school as I worked on my Geocities site.</p><p>My early days were really exciting, and that excitement eventually grew into a passion that lives to this day. I think it&#8217;s that passion that drives me to learn and do more. The skills, knowledge and experience I&#8217;ve developed have just been byproducts of that passion.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50343" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/c6d49292eef345ec8fa9ceb4f1cc80c5.jpg" alt="C6d49292eef345ec8fa9ceb4f1cc80c5 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Robert Bowen: </strong>I started writing poetry when I was a teenager, and as my love for the arts grew, my pen carried me towards the stage and screen. After writing plays and short stories, I began to expand my pen and write projects larger in scope (scripts and novels). Along the way, Angie began getting into Web design, and I found my interests piqued as well.</p><p>Soon, we both found our focus shifting towards the blogosphere, and that&#8217;s when we found the communities that were thriving there. As we began to learn so much from the community, we decided that we had found our proverbial home and that we really wanted to give back. I began to shift my writing style to fit the Web more, and I may still have some work to do in that arena. I know that no matter the medium, my poetic nature tends to add a flourish or two to the text.</p><p>Our mission quickly became to return the favors from the community by striving to enrich it and be as helpful as we can be. Through it all, my writing skills have helped me get to where I am now and leave my mark on it.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50350" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/schneider.jpg" alt="Schneider in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Speider Schneider:</strong> I started at the bottom. I worked hard, had some good breaks and some bad but I built on each success and with a strong network, built on trust and respect, I was able to keep increasing my projects, clients and fees. Naturally, my network was earned through hard work volunteering with artists organizations and such. I met the right people and made sure, at all times, my work spoke for itself. I also tried, whenever allowed, to break all the design rules I could. It created pieces that intrigued people because it worked but was obviously a mess of broken rules.</p><p>A teacher once told my class that we needed to be kind to those we met on the way up the ladder, because we would meet them on the way down. Aside from an angry stumble here and there, I was careful to be very kind to people, except the guy with cat liter in his portfolio. Being kind has created a network of the top people in design. That and always buying the coffee.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50342" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/6b81bf10ddf97c1a224dde2ef9b8666f.png" alt="6b81bf10ddf97c1a224dde2ef9b8666f in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Paul Andrew: </strong>I started the hard way, by leaving school at 16, thinking I could do anything. How wrong I was. The only way you can achieve personal satisfaction and success is by working hard, working honestly, learning from your mistakes, learning from others and never giving up.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50344" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/3788d5a944fc3c389f5e3e6806c14c4f.jpg" alt="3788d5a944fc3c389f5e3e6806c14c4f in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Cameron Chapman: </strong>I got into Web and graphic design through my husband, who went to college for graphic and multimedia design. The only formal design training I have is in interior design, which has been a big help in certain aspects (spatial relationships and color being two of the biggest). I pretty much just learn to do things as I need to. The only drawback to that is that I tend to forget them as soon as I don&#8217;t need them anymore.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50345" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/c14a2511b58ff483ffaeed672b79c4cc.jpg" alt="C14a2511b58ff483ffaeed672b79c4cc in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Janko Javanovic: </strong>I started as a freelance programmer in the early 1990s. During the crisis in Serbia, I, along with my cousin, somehow managed to earn a decent living. Huge ambition and persistence helped me get to where I am now.</div></div><div style="clear: both; height: 65px; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50352" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/84f25aced089a434f91dbb3cb9d5f55a.png" alt="84f25aced089a434f91dbb3cb9d5f55a in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Jean-Baptiste Jung:</strong> I started alone, in my room. :) I&#8217;m 90% self-taught. I&#8217;m constantly learning, and that&#8217;s a very exciting thing in the Internet world.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50346" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/f02818c9213ae2161bcbabd7f6bd4301.jpg" alt="F02818c9213ae2161bcbabd7f6bd4301 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Inayaili de León: </strong>I started learning about Web design by myself. I was working, so I had to do it after work, in the evenings, and I may have sacrificed a few nights out, but I think the hard work and perseverance paid off.</div></div><div style="clear: both; height: 65px; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50347" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/96c6e03a2cd8961c56e3dcc663d6ea23.jpg" alt="96c6e03a2cd8961c56e3dcc663d6ea23 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Jacob Gube:</strong> I started as a graphic designer and ended up being a Web developer.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50348" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/7855a2784ba42f149b775a8ef911f83e.jpg" alt="7855a2784ba42f149b775a8ef911f83e in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Kat Neville:</strong> I used to do print work, but it really wasn&#8217;t nerdy enough for me. One day I designed a website for the print company I was working for. They asked me, &#8220;Can you build that?&#8221; and I said &#8220;Yes,&#8221; even though I&#8217;d done only a bit of HTML. Although I made a few mistakes when I started, I really enjoyed the combination of design, interaction, usability and coding. I guess I always try to do what I feel I&#8217;ll love doing and challenge myself every day. It&#8217;s been working out well for me.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50349" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/09872729d329fed8a004b877159da580.jpg" alt="09872729d329fed8a004b877159da580 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Julia May:</strong> In terms of my career, I don’t think I’ve gotten far from the start yet. But, in general, I’m curious by nature, and I learn pretty fast. I think these qualities are the main forces behind my progress.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50350" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/b8eb0184e62e8a6e71a2d1d7be558248.jpg" alt="B8eb0184e62e8a6e71a2d1d7be558248 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Louis Lazaris: </strong>For years, I rarely paid attention to Web design news, trends and developments, which held me back. Reading articles and books by top designers and developers has helped me learn the most important skills I have today.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50351" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/84d137485470fee5c00e274213b86764.jpg" alt="84d137485470fee5c00e274213b86764 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Aquil Akhter:</strong> I started by designing websites, and I always believe in dedication and constant attention to my work.</div></div><h4>What is your strongest quality&#8230;</h4><p><img class="size-full wp-image-51620" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/3_1_quality.jpg" alt="3 1 Quality in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="450" height="450" /></p><h4>&#8230; and your worst flaw?</h4><p><img class="size-full wp-image-51621" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/3_2_flaw.jpg" alt="3 2 Flaw in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="450" height="450" /></p><h4 style="line-height: 1.4em;">Question: What distracts you from working these days and how do you handle these distractions?</h4><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="size-full wp-image-50339 alignleft" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/d96335287ff55cbbfda8cc087058482b.jpg" alt="D96335287ff55cbbfda8cc087058482b in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Paul Boag: </strong>My biggest distractions are my family and the youth group I run. However, I wouldn&#8217;t describe these as distractions from work. Instead, I would call work a distraction from them. I work to live, not live to work. I have been married for 11 years to a gorgeous woman named Catherine. We have a seven-year-old son named James. Without a doubt, they are my priority in life.</p><p>The youth group I run is for teenagers who live in Blandford. Because Blandford is so small and rural, it is possibly the most boring place on the planet to be a teenager. I try to rectify this shortcoming. :) Although I love it dearly, it does take up a lot of time. Most Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings are taken up with it. Combined with church and work, I don&#8217;t have a lot of free time.</p><p>When I do find some free time, I tend to burn it watching TV. I lack energy for anything else. Like all good geeks, I am obsessed with sci-fi. Favorites include Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who and, more recently, V.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="size-full wp-image-50340 alignleft" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/07fcd228af02d476b1b8367d85a903b2.jpg" alt="07fcd228af02d476b1b8367d85a903b2 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Christian Heilmann: </strong>I don&#8217;t realize I&#8217;m working when I do my &#8220;work.&#8221; I actually relax. What stops me from doing my work can be politics, meetings, technical failures and volcanoes. I sleep five hours a day, and I don&#8217;t own a TV, which gives me a lot of time to achieve what I want and also to plan for time to see a play or have fun with my friends. Not being tethered down by normal working hours helps, too (I live in Europe but report to the US).</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50341" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/b3873205cde1deab3ec00d9f0ec9b34a.jpg" alt="B3873205cde1deab3ec00d9f0ec9b34a in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Thomas Giannattasio: </strong>My biggest and most pleasant distraction has to be my wife. She really supports all the work I do, but she also keeps me balanced by taking me away from it. I tend to get really wrapped up in a project and neglect other responsibilities around the house, but she&#8217;s always there to step in and pick up my slack. My second distraction is a bit more guilty. I&#8217;m nearing 30, but I&#8217;ve definitely not grown out of video games yet. Currently, Modern Warfare 2 has a tight grip on me, ha ha.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50342" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/6b81bf10ddf97c1a224dde2ef9b8666f.png" alt="6b81bf10ddf97c1a224dde2ef9b8666f in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Paul Andrew: </strong>Kids are my main distraction. I have a four-year-old little boy, and my wife (who is in a full-time nursing course) also has two older kids. I am essentially a stay-at-home dad, which I do love, but it does make it very difficult to get any continuous or scheduled work done.This is my typical Monday to Friday working day:</p><ul><li>5:00 am: Wake up and start work.</li><li>7.30 am: Stop work and get the two older kids ready and off to school.</li><li>12:00 pm: Off to school nursery. Return home and work.</li><li>3:00 pm: Stop work and pick up all the kids from school.</li><li>8:00 pm: Kids off to bed and I start working again.</li><li>11:00 pm: Off to bed.</li></ul><p>It is a very stop-start schedule, which can be very frustrating. I do have the occasional day when I can work on a normal schedule (9:00 to 5:00), but they are few and far between.</p><p>On top of all that, when it is the school holidays, things become even harder. A few weeks back, during the school Easter holidays, I fell so far behind my writing commitments that I am only now just recovering.</p><p>Thankfully, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. After this summer, my son starts school full time, and my wife will have finished her nursing course and will be working only two or three days a week, which will finally allow me to work freely and with no time constraints. I am counting down now!</p><p>Family aside, my big love in life is football, and with the World Cup happening, I fear this may affect work. That gives me a couple of ideas for an article: &#8220;Designer&#8217;s Guide to the 2010 World Cup&#8221; and &#8220;How to Deal With World Cup Distractions as a Designer.&#8221;</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50343" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/c6d49292eef345ec8fa9ceb4f1cc80c5.jpg" alt="C6d49292eef345ec8fa9ceb4f1cc80c5 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Robert Bowen: </strong>I think that my biggest distractions come from my side projects. I tend to work on several writing projects and non-design-related podcasts apart from actual &#8220;work.&#8221; These are all personal projects that I care deeply about, and so pulling myself away from them is sometimes hard, especially if I am inspired on a particular project.</p><p>I finished my first fiction novel at the end of last year and released it as a free e-book, which was a major distraction throughout the year; and it has turned into a trilogy, so more digressions are looming on that front. My screenplays and teleplays also keep me from fully focusing on work, but I guess they always have the potential to be sold and turned into legitimate &#8220;work,&#8221; so they could retroactively be taken out of the &#8220;distraction&#8221; category.</p><p>Two of the podcasts I produce are socio-political commentary on the world at large and are a bit angry and ranty, while the third ’cast (which is actually a spin-off of my main show) is more of a science-based show that serves as an outreach program to make science and the scientific method more accessible and approachable. I do that show with an amazing evolutionary biologist who teaches at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.</p><p>The way I handle these distractions is to give in to them… Probably not the best way to do it, but I have always believed that the inspiration and muses will take me where they want, and if I try to fight it, my words and work tend to suffer.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50350" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/schneider.jpg" alt="Schneider in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Speider Schneider:</strong> Shiny objects distract me. Pop ups on the web distract me. Facebook distracts me. Life distracts me. It&#8217;s my ability to focus while I rant and rave in writing that keeps me working. Once I start typing, I find I won&#8217;t look up or blink for several hours and 2,500-4,000 words later. If I have writer&#8217;s block, lemon juice sprayed in my eyes is the current punishment and motivator to get back to work. Poverty is another good motivator. Being paid, having money for food usually reminds me to write faster.</p><p>As with my design work, eating and deadlines are always a good motivator. I&#8217;ve never missed a deadline in my life, but I look forward to my first one. Everyone should have a missed deadline at some point in their lives. I would like to miss the deadline for my funeral.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50344" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/3788d5a944fc3c389f5e3e6806c14c4f.jpg" alt="3788d5a944fc3c389f5e3e6806c14c4f in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Cameron Chapman:</strong> My biggest distractions at the moment are Tumblr and We Heart It. I spend way too much time on both. I also love getting out of the house as much as possible, because I work from home. I sometimes have to force myself to go out for a ride or whatever after having worked for an hour or two.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50345" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/c14a2511b58ff483ffaeed672b79c4cc.jpg" alt="C14a2511b58ff483ffaeed672b79c4cc in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Janko Javanovic:</strong> I&#8217;d say that different sides of my knowledge, while diverse, are somehow related to each other, so it is not always hard to manage all obligations. But I am always focused on those aspects that are highly related to each other and relevant to current projects. So, carefully choosing and adapting different knowledge to current situations helps me stay focused and efficient. Oh, and yes, my working day lasts a minimum of 12 hours. :)</p><p>Over the past decade, I have completely moved from development to design. I am now focused on learning about user experience design and implementing knowledge that I gain from ongoing projects. Learning new skills makes me really happy. But I am not always efficient. A big workload sometimes results in my being unable to manage all obligations, from project-related activities to writing and speaking. Because projects are always the priority, other activities suffer.</p></div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50352" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/84f25aced089a434f91dbb3cb9d5f55a.png" alt="84f25aced089a434f91dbb3cb9d5f55a in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Jean-Baptiste Jung:</strong> Well, my current distraction is your questions. ;) But that&#8217;s just me being funny. Distractions are often a problem to those who, like me, are used to working alone at home. You have to be very motivated and focused to handle them correctly.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50346" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/f02818c9213ae2161bcbabd7f6bd4301.jpg" alt="F02818c9213ae2161bcbabd7f6bd4301 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: hidden;"><strong>Inayaili de León:</strong> Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, RSS feeds, TV, a blank wall. I handle them by setting specific tasks for each day, and I don&#8217;t go to bed until everything&#8217;s done… most of the days.</div></div><div style="clear: both; padding: 0 0 22px 0;"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-50347" style="padding-right: 13px;" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/96c6e03a2cd8961c56e3dcc663d6ea23.jpg" alt="96c6e03a2cd8961c56e3dcc663d6ea23 in Behind The Scenes of Smashing Magazine: Interview With Our Writers" width="60" height="60" /><div style="overflow: h http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/16/an-interview-with-some-smashing-authors/ Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:40:51 -0700 <table width="650"><tr><td width="650"><div style="width:650px;"> <img src="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/static/smashing-magazine-advertisement.gif" alt="Smashing-magazine-advertisement in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" border="0" /><img src="http://imp.constantcontact.com/imp/cmp.jsp?impcc=IMP_&lt;mprid/&gt;&#038;o=http://img.constantcontact.com/lp/images/standard/spacer.gif" alt="Spacer in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" border="0" width="1" height="1" /><br /> <a href="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=56" target="_blank"><img src="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=56" border="0" alt=" in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://auslieferung.commindo-media-ressourcen.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=35" target="_blank"><img src="http://auslieferung.commindo-media-ressourcen.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=35" border="0" alt=" in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=64" target="_blank"><img src="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=64" border="0" alt=" in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" /></a></div></td></tr></table><p>The word <em>chocolate</em> can be associated with many words: dark, white, milk, hot, sweet, spicy, etc. But have you tried to combine it with the word <em>web design</em>? We did. We searched the Web for websites in any way related to chocolate and what we found is worth to be collected in this showcase. The interesting thing is that you would probably never stumble upon some of the sites, so the overview below may provide you with a unique perspective and get your creative juices flowing.</p><p>As one would expect, <strong>chocolate website</strong> often use an appetizing brown dominant color. If you take time to look at the panel of colors associated with it, you will find out that there is a lot of combination working really well. Apart from this component, each site is unique and features an original identity, depending on product presentation and given information.</p><p>Feel free to explore the designs featured below. Some of them are nice examples for Flash used for product presentation. Some designs are very classy while others are more artistically designed. But they all have in common this fascinating sweetness everyone loves.</p><p>[Offtopic: by the way, did you know that there is a Smashing eBook Series? Book #2 is <a href="https://shop.smashingmagazine.com/smashingbook-dispatcher.php?d=smashing-ebook-successful-freelancing">Successful Freelancing for Web Designers</a>, 260 pages for just $9,90.]</p><h3>Similarities In Chocolate Website Designs</h3><p>We found out that there are three common techniques that seem to crop up over and over again on various chocolate-related websites. A vast majority of the sites use a horizontal top-navigation, brilliant product and ingredient images as well as a dark brown color scheme which is often combined with vivid, strong colors.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://charleschocolates.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40041" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-40.jpg" alt="Chocolate-40 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="299" /></a><br /><em><a href="http://charleschocolates.com/">CharlesChocolates</a>: the bright blue color scheme here is fun and fresh, but the thick footer navigation is what really makes the CharlesChocolates&#8217; site stand out.</em></p><p>The navigation patterns are mostly common and convenient, however we&#8217;ve noticed quite a few uncommon navigation menus as well. The interesting part is that we&#8217;ve seen only a couple of typical boring stock templates. Apparently, most chocolate and confectionery website owners do care about their branding and their unique presentation on the Web. In fact, many sites try to be playful, creating an engaging, interactive and memorable user experience. That&#8217;s not something you will see in every industry, e.g. certainly not among medical websites.</p><h3>Horizontal Top Navigation</h3><p>Because chocolate websites vividly highlight product and ingredient images and therefore fill a large part of the layout with visuals, the choice of horizontal top navigation seems quite appropriate. The number of navigation options varies from five to nine links per navigation menu (excluding sub-navigation links). The most common navigation links lead to pages describing the manufacturor of the chocolate, shops where the chocolate is available and &#8220;gifts&#8221; pages where users can order business gifts, wedding gifts etc. Sometimes the navigation also contains a link to the recipes page.</p><p><a href="http://www.jeff-de-bruges.com/">Jeff de Bruges</a><br />Offsetting each navigation element with it&#8217;s own double border makes each link stand out and adds visual interest to the header.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.jeff-de-bruges.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40033" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-32.jpg" alt="Chocolate-32 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="321" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.godiva.com/welcome.aspx">Godiva Chocolatier</a><br />Placing the navigation directly under the header works well on the Godiva Chocolatier site.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.godiva.com/welcome.aspx"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40008" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-7.jpg" alt="Chocolate-7 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="270" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.mrchocolate.com/">Jacques Torres Chocolate</a><br />Having the top navigation highlighted by a thin orange border makes it more visible to new visitors.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.mrchocolate.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40032" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-31.jpg" alt="Chocolate-31 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="325" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.tcho.com/">TCHO: Buy Dark Chocolate and Gifts</a><br />The top navigation here is simple and a bit on the minimalist side. Placing it above the bold header text makes it stand out a bit more.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.tcho.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40006" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-5.jpg" alt="Chocolate-5 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="281" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.createmychocolate.com/">Chocri chustomized chocolate bars</a><br />Classic tabbed navigation works well with multi-colored text and a subtle gradient.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.createmychocolate.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40035" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-34.jpg" alt="Chocolate-34 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="335" /></a></p><p><a href="http://daskalides.be">Daskalides</a><br />Simple horizontal navigation is combined with a playful Flash-based navigation in the middle of the page.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://daskalides.be"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40035" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/daska2.jpg" alt="Daska2 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="359" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.cadbury.co.uk/home/Pages/home.aspx">Cadbury: Cadbury Chocolate</a><br />A simple, traditional top navigation bar is user-friendly and almost always looks good.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.cadbury.co.uk/home/Pages/home.aspx"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40024" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-23.jpg" alt="Chocolate-23 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="313" /></a></p><h3>Product and Ingredient Images</h3><p>The quality of product photography on chocolate websites is remarkable. Images are often large and dominant and are given a lot of both horizontal and vertical space. In fact, chocolate, especially gourmet chocolate, is often very visually interesting. The ingredients that go into it can also be very aesthetically pleasing. So it only makes sense that a lot of designers are opting to include mouth-watering images of the chocolate being sold on a given site.</p><p><a href="http://www.festivalchocolate.cm-obidos.pt/">Festival Internacional de Chocolate de Obidos</a><br />This site of a chocolate festival uses a striking background image as well as a nice chocolate photos on its main page.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.festivalchocolate.cm-obidos.pt/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40022" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-21.jpg" alt="Chocolate-21 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="356" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.greenandblacks.com/">Green &amp; Blacks Organic Chocolate</a><br />The broken chocolate bar used here gives a casual look to the site, while the embossed logo helps reinforce the brand.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.greenandblacks.com/de/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40028" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-27.jpg" alt="Chocolate-27 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="291" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.dagobachocolate.com/">Dagoba Organic Chocolate</a><br />The combination of chocolate with blueberries and lavender reinforces the organic nature of Dagoba&#8217;s chocolate bars.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.dagobachocolate.com/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-24.jpg" alt="Chocolate-24 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="284" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.hotchocolatechicago.com/">Mindy&#8217;s Hot Chocolate</a><br />An almost-macro image of chocolate shavings in a chocolate martini, combined with other images of their offerings sets apart the Mindy&#8217;s Hot Chocolate website.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.hotchocolatechicago.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40034" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-33.jpg" alt="Chocolate-33 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="341" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.patrickroger.com/en/index.php">Patrick Roger</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.patrickroger.com/en/index.php"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-20.jpg" alt="Chocolate-20 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="277" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.toblerone.ch/toblerone1/page?siteid=toblerone1-prd&amp;locale=chde1&amp;PagecRef=586">Toblerone</a><br />Toberlone opts for limited product images, but including just a couple of well-placed images can have a positive impact.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.toblerone.ch/toblerone1/page?siteid=toblerone1-prd&amp;locale=chde1&amp;PagecRef=586"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40003" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-2.jpg" alt="Chocolate-2 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="266" /></a></p><p><a href="http://haighschocolates.com.au/">Haigh&#8217;s Chocolates</a><br />A large, close-up image of the product adds a ton of interest here without overwhelming the otherwise simple and minimalist design.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://haighschocolates.com.au/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40105" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-46.jpeg" alt=" in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="395" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.chocomize.com/">Chocomize</a><br />Showing the variety of possible chocolate bar customizations can go a long way toward enticing visitors to create (and order) their own customized chocolate bars.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.chocomize.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40042" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-41.jpg" alt="Chocolate-41 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="290" /></a></p><h3>Brown Color Scheme</h3><p>Obviously, dark brown color scheme dominates on chocolate websites. However, very often the scheme is complemented with vibrant, dynamic colors such as bright green or red. In general, most sites do stick to the dark scheme, often with tiled or photographic backgrounds which are closely related to the main theme.</p><p><a href="http://www.dovechocolate.com/">Dove Chocolate</a><br />The Dove Chocolate site has an almost exclusively brown website design, with varying shades used to offset different parts of the site.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.dovechocolate.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40005" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-4.jpg" alt="Chocolate-4 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="372" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx">Divine Chocolate</a><br />The Divine Chocolate site uses brown in limited quantities, but it&#8217;s still prominent in the design.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/default.aspx"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-6.jpg" alt="Chocolate-6 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="311" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.valrhona.com/worldwide#/actualites">Valrhona</a><br />Dark brown used throughout the design of Valrhona&#8217;s site makes one think of dark, high-end chocolate.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.valrhona.com/worldwide#/actualites"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40043" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-42.jpg" alt="Chocolate-42 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="326" /></a></p><p><a href="http://hemmakonditor.se/">Hemmankonditor</a><br />Varying shades of brown, from the very dark brown (almost black) of the background to the lighter browns of the navigation and header are all evocative of the many varieties of chocolate out there, and what can be made with them.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://hemmakonditor.se/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40014" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-13.jpg" alt="Chocolate-13 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="292" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.promisemechocolate.com/">Promise Me Chocolate&#8230;</a><br />The combination of dark brown and pink works really well together, especially on a site specifically targeting brides-to-be.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://hemmakonditor.se/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40015" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-14.jpg" alt="Chocolate-14 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="363" /></a></p><p><a href="http://thecocoatree.com/">The Cocoa Tree</a><br />Using brown as an accent color sets apart The Cocoa Tree&#8217;s site. It feels fresh and light, something that&#8217;s often hard to accomplish while still bringing to mind chocolate.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://ww2.kambly.ch/schweiz/start.aspx"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40020" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-19.jpg" alt="Chocolate-19 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="371" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.brooksidefoods.com/">Brookside Foods</a><br />The Brookside Foods site brings together various shades of brown with black and gold to create a high-end looking site.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.brooksidefoods.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40017" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-16.jpg" alt="Chocolate-16 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="318" /></a></p><h3>Unique Designs</h3><p>Some chocolate websites fight for user&#8217;s attention with striking design elements and unconventional navigation schemes. Some of them are presented below. In these cases, (for site owners) the engaging and memorable user experience seems to play a very important role.</p><p><a href="http://www.maxbrenner.com/">Max Brenner</a><br />The Max Brenner website is set apart for a few reasons. The right-hand vertical navigation is one reason. But also the retro, grungy design with the animated eye (you&#8217;ll have to visit the actual site to see it).</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.maxbrenner.com/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-30.jpg" alt="Chocolate-30 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="334" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.bloomsberry.com/">Bloomsberry</a><br />The animation used on the Bloomsberry site is interesting and very well-done. The navigation is also atypical, with links easily identifiable but scattered throughout the main part of the home page.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.bloomsberry.com/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-38.jpg" alt="Chocolate-38 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="307" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.marcolini.be/#/en/pierre-marcolini/">Pierre Marcolini</a><br />The Pierre Marcolini site is very minimalist, with not a trace of brown showing up in the main part of the design.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.marcolini.be/#/en/pierre-marcolini/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40046" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-45.jpg" alt="Chocolate-45 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="259" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.wispa.co.uk/">Wispa</a><br />Another site that uses no brown in the main design, but instead opts for colors reminiscent of the product&#8217;s packaging rather than its contents. The hand-drawn elements also make it stand out.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.wispa.co.uk/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolat-47.png" alt="Chocolat-47 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="385" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.chocolateresearchfacility.com/">Chocolate Research Facility</a><br />The animated chocolate dripping onto the screen is a bit gimmicky, but also adds a lot of interest to what would otherwise be a very simple site.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.chocolateresearchfacility.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40016" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-15.jpg" alt="Chocolate-15 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="333" /></a></p><h3>More Chocolate Website Examples</h3><p><a href="http://www.zchocolat.com/">zchocolat</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.zchocolat.com/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-3.jpg" alt="Chocolate-3 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="273" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.kommunarka.by/">Kommunarka</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.kommunarka.by/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40040" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-39.jpg" alt="Chocolate-39 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="268" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.medenosrce.rs/?lang=en">Pionir</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.medenosrce.rs/?lang=en"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40011" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-10.jpg" alt="Chocolate-10 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="256" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.chocolate-editions.com/index.php?inc=s_pc">Chocolate Editions</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.chocolate-editions.com/index.php?inc=s_pc"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40012" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-11.jpg" alt="Chocolate-11 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="248" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.icamcioccolato.it/">Icam</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.icamcioccolato.it/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40013" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-12.jpg" alt="Chocolate-12 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="275" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.spartak.by/">Spartak</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.spartak.by/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40002" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-1.jpg" alt="Chocolate-1 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="273" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.chocolatfrey.ch/#/en/xml/null">Chocolatfrey</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.chocolatfrey.ch/#/en/xml/null"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/2010-04-13_18.35.06.png" alt="2010-04-13 18 35 06 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="413" /></a></p><p><a href="http://ww2.kambly.ch/schweiz/start.aspx">Kambly SA</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://ww2.kambly.ch/schweiz/start.aspx"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40019" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-18.jpg" alt="Chocolate-18 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="376" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.askinosie.com/">Askinosie Chocolate</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.askinosie.com/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-40044" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/chocolate-43.jpg" alt="Chocolate-43 in Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites" width="550" height="390" /></a></p><h3>Related Posts</h3><p>You may be interested in the following related showcases:</p><ul><li><a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/04/19/showcase-of-beautiful-vertical-navigation-designs/">Showcase Of Beautiful Vertical Navigation Designs</a></li><li><a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/22/35-beautiful-and-effective-ecommerce-websites/">Beautiful eCommerce Websites</a></li><li><a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/12/07/the-unusable-and-superficial-world-of-beer-and-alcohol-websites/">The Unusable and Superficial World of Beer and Alcohol Websites</a></li><li><a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/04/14/what-if-oscars-were-given-to-movie-websites/">What If Oscars Were Given To Movie Websites?</a></li><li><a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/05/13/principles-of-minimalist-web-design-with-examples/">Principles Of Minimalist Web Design, With Examples</a></li></ul><p><em>(jb) (cs) (mm) (cc) (vf)</em></p><hr /><p><small>© Smashing Editorial for <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com">Smashing Magazine</a>, 2010. | <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/15/showcase-sweet-chocolate-websites/">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/15/showcase-sweet-chocolate-websites/#comments">Post a comment</a> | <a title="Bookmark in del.icio.us" href="http://del.icio.us/post?url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/15/showcase-sweet-chocolate-websites/&title=Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites">Add to del.icio.us</a> | <a title="Bookmark in Digg" href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/15/showcase-sweet-chocolate-websites/">Digg this</a> | <a title="Stumble on StumbleUpon" href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/15/showcase-sweet-chocolate-websites/">Stumble on StumbleUpon!</a> | <a title="Tweet us!" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=@tweetmeme%20@smashingmag%20Reading%20'Showcase of Sweet Chocolate Websites' http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/15/showcase-sweet-chocolate-websites/">Tweet it!</a> | <a title="Bookmark in Reddit" href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/15/showcase-sweet-chocolate-websites/">Submit to Reddit</a> | <a href="http://forum.smashingmagazine.com/">Forum Smashing Magazine</a><br/> Post tags: <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/tag/chocolate/" rel="tag">chocolate</a>, <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/tag/showcases/" rel="tag">showcases</a><br/> </small></p> http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/15/showcase-sweet-chocolate-websites/ Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:24:23 -0700 <table width="650"><tr><td width="650"><div style="width:650px;"> <img src="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/static/smashing-magazine-advertisement.gif" alt="Smashing-magazine-advertisement in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" border="0" /><img src="http://imp.constantcontact.com/imp/cmp.jsp?impcc=IMP_&lt;mprid/&gt;&#038;o=http://img.constantcontact.com/lp/images/standard/spacer.gif" alt="Spacer in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" border="0" width="1" height="1" /><br /> <a href="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=56" target="_blank"><img src="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=56" border="0" alt=" in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://auslieferung.commindo-media-ressourcen.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=35" target="_blank"><img src="http://auslieferung.commindo-media-ressourcen.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=35" border="0" alt=" in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=64" target="_blank"><img src="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=64" border="0" alt=" in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a></div></td></tr></table><p>Sometimes, a picture can be powerful enough to be inspirational material all by itself. To provide you with some inspiration for the upcoming week, this sunday we feature some truly beautiful and impressive images from talented artists and photographers worldwide.</p><p style="float: left; display: inline; padding: 0px 13px 10px 0; margin-top: 5px;"></p><p>Whether in black and white or in colors, they are all related by a strong sense of composition and an emphasis on lightening and colors work. All images are linked to their sources, which you are encouraged to visit. Other work of the photographers we have featured here is certainly worth discovering as well. Please notice that some images are available as prints as well.</p><p>[Offtopic: by the way, did you know that Smashing Magazine has one of the most influential and popular Twitter accounts? Join our discussions and get updates about useful tools and resources — <a href="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/ck.php?oaparams=2__bannerid=1252__zoneid=0__cb=c3f655874b__oadest=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fsmashingmag">follow us on Twitter</a>!]</p><h3>Beautiful Photography</h3><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterprzybille/3915636451/in/pool-bestinshow">Dreaming</a><br />Amazing sleeping beauty, where the beauty is actually also the beast, by Peter &#12484;. Prints are available as well.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterprzybille/3915636451/in/pool-bestinshow"><img width="500" height="333" alt="102 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/102.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.photosight.ru/photo/alone/3753521/">Blue Sky</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.photosight.ru/photo/alone/3753521/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/107-photos.jpg" width="500" alt="107-photos in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a></p><p><a href="http://1x.com/photos/landscape/32947/">Far And Away</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://1x.com/photos/landscape/32947/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/110-photos.jpg" width="500" alt="110-photos in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a></p><p><a href="http://1x.com/photo/26325/">Inside Capitol Hill</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://1x.com/photo/26325/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/114-photos.jpg" width="500" alt="114-photos in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a></p><p><a href="http://1x.com/photos/member/12605/30341/">The Endpoint</a><br />By Jeannette Oerlemans.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://1x.com/photos/member/12605/30341/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/115-photos.jpg" width="500" alt="115-photos in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/plantreesplease/3342156471/sizes/o/">Falling Up</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/plantreesplease/3342156471/sizes/o/"><img width="500" height="465" alt="163 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/163.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://1x.com/photos/landscape/33004/">Song of Tide</a><br />By Wira Nurmansyah from Indonesia.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://1x.com/photos/landscape/33004/"><img width="500" height="336" alt="33004 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/33004.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://1x.com/photos/abstract/29585/">Blue</a><br />By Earl A. Jones.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://1x.com/photos/abstract/29585/"><img width="500" height="333" alt="168 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/168.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/planetpater/2609589837/">Bunny Bokeh</a><br />Happy bunny bokeh wednesday, by Little Miss Patricia.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/planetpater/2609589837/"><img width="500" height="340" alt="145 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/images/beautiful-photography/145.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://1x.com/OEfullSize/12873-fullsize.jpg">The Cat</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://1x.com/OEfullSize/12873-fullsize.jpg"><img alt="122 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/122.jpg" width="500" height="338" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28481088@N00/3360952107/">Abstract</a><br />By tanakawho.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28481088@N00/3360952107/"><img width="500" height="500" alt="167 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/167.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://ahermin.deviantart.com">Ink Sea</a><br />By Hermin Abramovitch.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://ahermin.deviantart.com"><img width="500" height="333" alt="161 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/161.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://bigpicture.ru/?p=30526#more-30526">Fan&#8217;s Eye</a><br />A macro shot by LauHi.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://bigpicture.ru/?p=30526#more-30526"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/eye.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Eye in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a></p><p><a href="http://1x.com/photos/member/12605/21686/">falltuer</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs41/i/2009/003/f/c/Falltuer_by_5letters.jpg"><img width="500" height="528" alt="Falltuer By 5letters in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Falltuer_by_5letters.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://digart.img.digart.pl/data/img/vol2/27/35/download/3137737.jpg">Painter</a><br />By <a href="http://www.photodesign.pl/">Konrad Bąk</a>.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://digart.img.digart.pl/data/img/vol2/27/35/download/3137737.jpg"><img width="500" height="338" alt="120 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/120.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://bigpicture.ru/?p=30526#more-30526">Ant, The Driver</a><br />By Raphael Guarino.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://bigpicture.ru/?p=30526#more-30526"><img width="500" height="387" alt="136 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/136.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/purple-leaf/">A purple leaf</a><br />By National Geographic.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/purple-leaf/"><img width="500" height="375" alt="137 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/137.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://alliec.deviantart.com/art/Flower-Petal-Refraction-113405664">Flower Petal</a><br />By Alistair Campbell.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://alliec.deviantart.com/art/Flower-Petal-Refraction-113405664"><img width="500" height="341" alt="148 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/148.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://wysseri.deviantart.com/art/Keeper-137235159">Keeper</a><br />By Wysseri.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://wysseri.deviantart.com/art/Keeper-137235159"><img width="500" height="500" alt="149 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/149.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://ciuky.deviantart.com/art/who-feels-love-118783096">Who Feels Love</a><br />By Ciuky.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://ciuky.deviantart.com/art/who-feels-love-118783096"><img width="500" height="335" alt="157 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/157.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://drivingyou.deviantart.com/art/In-the-mood-4-love-120269909">In The Mood 4 Love</a><br />By Antonio Navarro Wijkmark.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://drivingyou.deviantart.com/art/In-the-mood-4-love-120269909"><img width="500" height="465" alt="159 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/159.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://kleemass.deviantart.com/art/Tunnel-73770213">Tunnel</a><br />By Kleemass.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://kleemass.deviantart.com/art/Tunnel-73770213"><img width="500" height="500" alt="171 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/171.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/skarpi/">Eyjafjallajökull</a><br />By Skarphéðinn Þráinsson.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://marieaunet.blogspot.com/2010/04/eyjafjallajokull.html"><img width="500" height="333" alt="Eyjafjallajokull-plinian Eruption in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/eyjafjallajokull-plinian_eruption.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://2photo.ru/15937-fotograf-susanna-majuri/full.html">Susanna Majuri</a><br />A disturbing yet insteresting serie of images by Susanna Majuri.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://2photo.ru/15937-fotograf-susanna-majuri/full.html"><img width="500" height="333" alt="113 in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/uploader/images/beautiful-photography/113.jpg" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.photosight.ru/photo/alone/3755361/">San Torini</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.photosight.ru/photo/alone/3755361/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/105-photos.jpg" width="500" alt="105-photos in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.pixcetera.com/blog/2010/03/03/abandoned/">Abandoned</a><br />By <a href="http://www.wix.com/egfines/Ted-Fines">tEdGuY49</a>.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.pixcetera.com/blog/2010/03/03/abandoned/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ab.jpg" width="500" height="342" alt="Ab in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a></p><p><a href="http://1x.com/photo/25433/">blue canary</a><br />By Ursula I Abresch.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://1x.com/photo/25433/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/111-photos.jpg" width="500" alt="111-photos in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.eyefetch.com/image.aspx?ID=406362">Bearded Dragon</a><br />A macro shot by LauHi.</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.eyefetch.com/image.aspx?ID=406362"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/ph.jpg" width="500" height="443" alt="Ph in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a></p><p>Ant (by Unknown)<br />Please let us know who is the author of this image in the comments.</p><p class="showcase"><img width="500" height="364" alt="Ameise in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/ameise.jpg" /></p><p><a href="http://www.twincitiesbrightest.com/">Light Paintings by Twin Cities Brightest</a></p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://www.twincitiesbrightest.com/"><img width="500" height="549" alt="Icarusbytcb in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Icarusbytcb.jpg" /></a></p><h3>Last Click</h3><p><a href="http://observando.tumblr.com/post/466525800">The Plugs</a><br />Well, that&#8217;s not a beautiful photo per se, but we are confident that this image will spark your imagination for a more productive workflow &#8212; at least when it comes to handling cabels and plugs!</p><p class="showcase"><a href="http://observando.tumblr.com/post/466525800"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/109-photos.jpg" width="500" alt="109-photos in Showcase of Beautiful Photography" /></a></p><h3>Would you like to see more similar inspirational posts?</h3><p><br /> <noscript><br /> <a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/3457299/">Would you like to see more similar (inspirational) posts on Smashing Magazine?</a><span style="font-size:9px;"><a href="http://polldaddy.com/features-surveys/">Market Research</a></span><br /> </noscript></p><hr /><p><small>© Smashing Editorial for <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com">Smashing Magazine</a>, 2010. | <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/11/the-showcase-of-beautiful-photography/">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/11/the-showcase-of-beautiful-photography/#comments">Post a comment</a> | <a title="Bookmark in del.icio.us" href="http://del.icio.us/post?url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/11/the-showcase-of-beautiful-photography/&title=Showcase of Beautiful Photography">Add to del.icio.us</a> | <a title="Bookmark in Digg" href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/11/the-showcase-of-beautiful-photography/">Digg this</a> | <a title="Stumble on StumbleUpon" href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/11/the-showcase-of-beautiful-photography/">Stumble on StumbleUpon!</a> | <a title="Tweet us!" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=@tweetmeme%20@smashingmag%20Reading%20'Showcase of Beautiful Photography' 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src="http://imp.constantcontact.com/imp/cmp.jsp?impcc=IMP_&lt;mprid/&gt;&#038;o=http://img.constantcontact.com/lp/images/standard/spacer.gif" alt="Spacer in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" border="0" width="1" height="1" /><br /> <a href="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=56" target="_blank"><img src="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=56" border="0" alt=" in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://auslieferung.commindo-media-ressourcen.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=35" target="_blank"><img src="http://auslieferung.commindo-media-ressourcen.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=35" border="0" alt=" in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/ck.php?zoneid=64" target="_blank"><img src="http://creatives.commindo-media.de/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=64" border="0" alt=" in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" /></a></div></td></tr></table><p>Despite its privacy issues, Facebook clearly has a key role in global Internet activity. It has become a kind of universal social network, being used for both personal and business needs. For many individuals, companies and organizations, Facebook has become an integral part of their branding strategy and promotional campaigns.</p><p>Facebook provides many tools for maximizing the effect of your presence on the social network, most of all by means of business pages, also known as fan pages. Using a variety of applications and Facebook API tools, one can get creative not only with the page content, but with the design, too.</p><p>In this post, we&#8217;ll give you an idea of <strong>how to use Facebook for your business and self-promotional efforts</strong>. Below, you will find best practices for custom Facebook fan page designs, with various approaches to creating an attractive, descriptive and engaging Facebook business page. In addition, the selection of tutorials and resources for Facebook fan page development might help you get started with your own effective Facebook presence.</p><p>By the way, it&#8217;s been two years since <a href="http://www.facebook.com/smashmag">Smashing Magazine&#8217;s Facebook fan page</a> launched (now with 18,500 fans). We have worked hard to integrate discussions, useful tips and give-aways to make the fan page more appealing and engaging.</p><p>[Offtopic: by the way, did you know that there is a Smashing eBook Series? Book #2 is <a href="https://shop.smashingmagazine.com/smashingbook-dispatcher.php?d=smashing-ebook-successful-freelancing">Successful Freelancing for Web Designers</a>, 260 pages for just $9,90.]</p><h3>Showcase Of Well-Designed Facebook Fan Pages</h3><h4>Giants of the Industry</h4><p>Big brands demonstrate the best use of Facebook by far. Getting millions of fans may not seem like a big deal for Coca-Cola or Victoria’s Secret, but these companies managed to create fan pages that engage users on a much deeper level than by just asking them to click the “Like” button. An interesting trend seen across this category is of large companies taking Facebook to a new level, putting it at the center not only of their social media campaign, but of their entire online presence.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Starbucks">Starbucks</a><br /> Currently with the number one fan page for a brand on Facebook (with almost 8 million fans), Starbucks takes a distinctive approach, focusing less on loud entertaining apps and more on high-quality content and beneficial offers for its fans. Starbucks has learned how to effectively use status updates and how to share a lot of interesting, useful and engaging material aside from its product updates. The company also offers a couple of interactive apps that not only are fun (e.g. the Instant Story tab) but that offer tangible benefits (e.g. discount coupons, and functionality that allows fans to manage their Starbucks accounts right in Facebook). The fan page also has an interactive map that links to the company’s regional Facebook pages (just as BlackBerry does, as we&#8217;ll see). With no unusual visual indicators on its fan page, Starbucks demonstrates that functionality is at least as important as aesthetics.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Starbucks"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-77" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/starbucks.jpg" alt="Starbucks in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="439" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/redbull">Red Bull</a><br /> The fan page for Red Bull is by far one of the best on Facebook. By implementing a number of innovative ideas and engaging apps, Red Bull makes the best of its Facebook presence and thus stands out from business pages for other brands. A good example of this is its Twitter stream, which, instead of featuring just Red Bull&#8217;s corporate feed, assembles tweets from sponsored sports athletes and allows fans to connect with them beyond Red Bull’s domain. Live Web TV that anyone can view right on Facebook and a variety of fun games also encourage users to interact with the brand. While the welcome page is not in the default menu bar, it’s quite informative and serves as a compact graphic map of the entire Facebook page. Red Bull is also a pioneer of using Facebook as a recruiting tool; adding a careers board to a profile with so many fans makes sense indeed. Bravo Red Bull!</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/redbull"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-78" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/redbull.jpg" alt="Redbull in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="445" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/skittles">Skittles</a><br /> Although Skittles’ fan page features two brightly designed, eye-catching tabs (one a graphic presentation with links, the other promoting its &#8220;Mob The Rainbow&#8221; campaign), the company has set its Wall tab as the default. This is typical of popular brands that don’t require an introduction. It allows fans and visitors to the page to immediately follow the company’s updates and join the conversation.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/skittles"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-79" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/skittles.jpg" alt="Skittles in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="413" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/cocacola">Coca-Cola</a><br /> Another giant with a million-plus Facebook fans, Coca-Cola has a fan-centric Facebook page. It encourages active user participation and interaction between the brand and its fans. The landing tab is set to the Coca-Cola introduction, which contains a dynamic box with latest updates and a “Like” button, links to other social network profiles for the brand, a fan highlights strip, and info about the product and the page&#8217;s creators (by the way, this Facebook page was created by two Coke fans and then later supported officially by the company). Another highlight of the Coke fan page is photo albums: in addition to some standard product shots and event photographs, many other albums are included, presenting Coca-Cola not only as a popular beverage but as a multi-generational icon. Here is a good example of how to make use of photos on Facebook.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/cocacola"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-80" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/cocacola.jpg" alt="Cocacola in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="436" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/twilight">Twilight Saga</a><br /> The default tab for the official fan page of the blockbuster series Twilight Saga is a large graphical tab promoting the latest episode, Eclipse. The custom tab incorporates elements of the movie&#8217;s website and the trailer, live Twitter updates, links to official websites and other info. Two other custom tabs are dedicated to the second film, New Moon, and the official movie soundtrack. The entire page is rich in content and delivers its information effectively.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/twilight"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-81" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/twilight.jpg" alt="Twilight in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="450" /></a></p><h4>More Beautiful and Engaging Facebook Pages</h4><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Room214">Room 214</a><br /> A nice approach to the Facebook welcome page is demonstrated by social media agency Room 214, based in Boulder, Colorado. The default tab, with its nice duo-tone and sketchy font, looks minimalist and attractive, and it focuses on introducing its team members. The &#8220;About&#8221; tab has a clean two-column layout, with some basic info about the company in the left column and cute roll-over links to the staff’s Twitter accounts, official website, blog, contact page and corporate Twitter page. Another graphic tab covers the agency’s clients. A simple yet well-executed fan page design.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Room214"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/room214.jpg" alt="Room214 in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="472" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/porsche">Porsche</a><br /> The ColorStyler tab on the fan page for Porsche is so darn great that one immediately wonders why on Earth they didn’t make it the default tab? The pure FBJS tab allows users to select a Porsche model and customize its look in a live preview mode, with a nifty color and rims picker. One then can send the Porsche image to a friend or publish it on the page&#8217;s wall. This hidden gem makes the entire page shine.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/porsche"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/porsche.jpg" alt="Porsche in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="439" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/digitalturf">Digital Turf</a><br /> The fan page for Digital Turf is an interesting and rather confusing case. The page design itself is wonderful: the excellent company presentation, two-level sub-navigation, diverse data and cute style is a feat of FBJS and makes this one of the most attractive business pages you&#8217;ll see on Facebook. Here&#8217;s the confusing part: Digital Turf specializes in developing Web-building and media solutions for political campaigns and organizations (maybe not exclusively, but that does figure prominently in its list of services). The question is whether this design style communicates the company’s strengths well enough to attract its target audience. If it solved this concern, Digital Turf could turn its fan page, which is awesome as it is, into a Facebook promo bomb.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/digitalturf"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/digitalturf.jpg" alt="Digitalturf in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="464" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/RevisionEyewear">Revision Eyewear</a><br /> The main tab of the Revision Eyewear fan page features an impressive Flash intro, with bold photographs and transitions and a dynamic “Become a Fan” link. The eye-wear manufacturer also uses Facebook for its charity work; a custom graphic tab on the page explains its causes and displays donation links (the &#8220;Become a Fan&#8221; button turns into a donation button—very clever).</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/RevisionEyewear"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/revision-eyewear.jpg" alt="Revision-eyewear in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="462" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ThurstonandBetts">Thurston &amp; Betts PLLC</a><br /> The Facebook page for law firm Thurston &amp; Betts is notable for its “Like Us!” tab. A simple informational scheme in the center, with nice roll-over buttons leading to the company’s website, is a clever solution: neat yet substantial. The tab also includes the firm&#8217;s main contact info and a map of its location. It’s difficult to imagine a better Facebook page design for a law consultancy.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ThurstonandBetts"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-82" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Thurston-and-Betts.jpg" alt="Thurston-and-Betts in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="383" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/wordpressdesign">Daddy Design</a><br /> The fan page of Miami-based Web design studio Daddy Design includes two custom tabs: &#8220;About&#8221; and &#8220;Portfolio.&#8221; Both tabs use the page&#8217;s entire width, which, along with the striking orange color scheme, makes this page hard to pass by. The business page is tied closely to the company’s official website design, and it highlights a neat FBJS portfolio, with links to Daddy Design’s social profiles. It actually creates the feeling of a website within the Facebook page. Great work.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/wordpressdesign"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/daddy-design.jpg" alt="Daddy-design in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="426" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/1800flowers">1-800-Flowers</a><br /> In our opinion, this is one of the best uses of a Facebook business page for e-commerce. By becoming a fan of 1-800-Flowers on Facebook, you can access up-to-date content, send virtual gifts to friends and shop for flowers right on Facebook (via the Flash-based application Alvenda). The company’s &#8220;Welcome&#8221; page has a simple and attractive grid, consisting of four sections that engage visitors with various activities. Also, the cool promo code field offers a discount to anyone who hits the &#8220;Like&#8221; button.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/1800flowers"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-83" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/1800flowers.jpg" alt="1800flowers in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="418" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thegameteama">The Game – Team A</a><br /> The Game, for the Sony PS3, has two beautiful fan pages on Facebook, dedicated to each of the two teams in the game. The two pages have a similar design, featuring beautiful graphical tabs (and especially fine typefaces) that link to the interactive Facebook applications. The &#8220;About&#8221; tab includes an interactive worldwide game stats map, which is a nice touch.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thegameteama"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-85" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/thegame.jpg" alt="Thegame in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="405" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/OxeloOfficiel">Oxelo</a><br /> Oxelo’s fan page would be rather generic if not for the inventive Diabolo Roller tab, which promotes its new model of roller blades. Built with a Flash app, it allows a nifty 360-degree view of the product.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/OxeloOfficiel"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-86" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/diabolo.jpg" alt="Diabolo in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="390" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/teeseytees">Teesey Tees</a><br /> Teesey Tees use its Facebook presence effectively: it partially implements an e-commerce element from its website that allows Facebook users to browse t-shirt designs in a sleek FBJS gallery, directing them to the regular store for purchases. The fan page also includes a blog and a charming fan-only tab containing a discount code. There is no &#8220;About&#8221; or &#8220;Welcome&#8221; tab, and the default tab is set not to the product gallery (which one would expect) but to the Wall. While this is normal for big brands, it&#8217;s not so clear why a company with a smaller audience, such as Teesey Tees, would do this. Still, this is an attractive and well-executed fan page.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/teeseytees"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-88" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/teeseytees.jpg" alt="Teeseytees in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="449" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/threadless">Threadless</a><br /> Popular t-shirt producer Threadless takes the e-commerce on its Facebook fan page to the next level. Here, the native Facebook tee design gallery is supplemented by a size-selection menu and shopping cart buttons, which direct the user to the cart on Threadless&#8217; website. The customer review section, with its &#8220;Share&#8221; and &#8220;Like&#8221; buttons, enhance the shopping experience of this fan page. Threadless also makes good use of the video and photos tabs, which, along with the live webcast section and active discussion board, make for an engaging, community-oriented Facebook presence.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/threadless"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-90" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/threadless.jpg" alt="Threadless in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="385" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Cranium">Cranium</a><br /> Board game Cranium has a beautiful Facebook fan page, which includes several promotional FBML pages. It doesn’t have any JavaScript gimmicks, just cutely drawn illustrations and cheerful colors that make for a positive visual experience.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Cranium"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/cranium.jpg" alt="Cranium in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="533" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/markmeyerphotography">Mark Meyer Photography</a><br /> Mark Meyer’s business page is a good example of how to promote one&#8217;s personal brand effectively on Facebook. Using FBML and FMJS, the Alaska-based photographer outfits his custom tab with sub-tabs for his blog and photo gallery and an exquisite image slideshow. Status updates are also cleverly done, so that the Wall (the default tab) takes on the appearance of a photoblog.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/markmeyerphotography"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-91" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/markmeyer.jpg" alt="Markmeyer in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="415" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/livescribe">Livescribe</a><br /> The &#8220;Buy Now&#8221; tab on the Livescribe Smartpen fan page has an Amazon-ish design: it’s rich in content and options, but may require the touch of someone like Jacob Nielsen to be truly usable. Livescribe effectively uses multimedia on its Facebook page, which certainly presents its product favorably and is good for fan interaction on the page. But we would suggest that the company rearrange the position of its tabs, putting some interesting sections (such as the Pencasts, which are animated Flash videos of handwritten notes and audio captured by the Smartpen) in the main bar, instead of, say, the standard &#8220;Boxes&#8221; tab.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/livescribe"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-92" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/livescribe.jpg" alt="Livescribe in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="520" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BODUMUSA">Bodum USA</a><br /> The highlight of Bodum&#8217;s Facebook business page is its excellent use of an iFrame to embed the company’s online store and interactive catalogue, which is powered by iPaper, onto the Facebook profile. In other words, Facebook users can shop for Bodum products without leaving the page.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BODUMUSA"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-93" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/bodum.jpg" alt="Bodum in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="382" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SoulCityChurch">Soul City Church</a><br /> The &#8220;Welcome&#8221; tab of the Soul City Church Facebook page is by far the smoothest pearl in our collection of fan page designs. The clean layout, the neat typography and icons and, of course, the awesome combination of black-and-white photography and energetic green elements result in a stunning intro page. It portrays the church as a progressive and contemporary community. Credit for the great job goes to <a href="http://monstereyes.com/">Monster Eyes</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SoulCityChurch"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-95" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/soulcitychurch.jpg" alt="Soulcitychurch in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="375" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Diesel">Diesel</a><br /> Famous apparel brand Diesel has three out-of-the-mold tabs, the most noteworthy of which is the one labelled &#8220;Sex Sells.&#8221; It is built on a Flash app and provides a stylish and original showcase for the denim collection of the same name.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Diesel"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-97" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/diesel.jpg" alt="Diesel in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="383" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/LancomeGermany">Lancome Germany</a><br /> This one will appeal to those who admire good typography. The &#8220;About&#8221; section of Lancome Germany&#8217;s Facebook page takes on a website-within-a-tab format. It features elegant and polished typography, accompanied by high-quality photography.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/LancomeGermany"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/lancome.jpg" alt="Lancome in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="411" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/EcoArtwaredotcom">Eco-Artware.com</a><br /> The Facebook business page for Eco-Artware.com features a nice FBJS &#8220;Shop&#8221; tab. It’s a pseudo-shop, though; in fact, it’s just a featured product gallery, in which both product thumbnails and catalogue categories are linked to the official online store. Nevertheless, the clean grid layout and nice roll-overs for the product images make this a beautiful and useful fan page tab. Eco-Artware.com also makes good use of the &#8220;Boxes&#8221; tab by setting it as the default.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/EcoArtwaredotcom"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-101" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/ecoartware.jpg" alt="Ecoartware in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="375" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/official311">311</a><br /> The official Facebook page of music band 311, particularly the &#8220;News &amp; Multimedia&#8221; tab, is eye candy. Designed in a cool retro poster style, it contains basic info about the band and a built-in multimedia player. A large &#8220;Fan Photos&#8221; section reflects the band’s commitment to communicating with its fans. Well done!</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/official311"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-102" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/311.jpg" alt="311 in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="408" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/REI">Rei</a><br /> Outdoor gear and clothing provider REI uses its Facebook profile to foster strong interactivity, rather than merely to present a plain front. Its fan page is basically a community portal where the company engages people with its social campaigns and projects. The fan page includes two Flash tabs that feature community pictures, links and fun family games.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/REI"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-104" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/rei.jpg" alt="Rei in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="385" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Desigual">Desigual</a><br /> The fan page for Spanish apparel brand Desigual is bursting with color, freshness and style. It is versatile, with various types of promotional and entertaining content, yet not overwhelming. The mood is set equally by great content and classy design elements. Desigual points out that the page was started by fans and then made official by the brand; this is clearly illustrated on the Wall feed, where user-created updates are set to default along with the company’s messages.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Desigual"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-105" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/desigual.jpg" alt="Desigual in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="399" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/VW">Volkswagen</a><br /> Currently featuring its soccer fan campaign, VW shows amazing use of FBJS on its page. Rich in content, up to date, well designed and heavily supportive of user-created content, this is the best Facebook business page that a popular automotive brand could have.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/VW"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-106" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/vw.jpg" alt="Vw in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="440" /></a></p><p><a href="http://apps.facebook.com/livingproof/">Living Proof</a><br /> The fan page of cosmetics manufacturer Living Proof is all about interactivity and dialogue between the company and its customers. Chief among its many features is the dynamic Flash introductory tab, containing basic info about the company,a lab tour,a mini blog, links to customer support services and a corporate Twitter feed. The business page also includes an interactive app that helps customers choose the most suitable products.</p><p><a href="http://apps.facebook.com/livingproof/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/living-proof.jpg" alt="Living-proof in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="431" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/inspiredmag">Inspired Magazine</a><br /> Inspired Magazine is one of the few Web design blogs that have customized their Facebook fan page. No fancy applications or high-volume presentations here; a minimalist FBML tab is quite enough to grab the attention of a random Facebooker and give them reasons to &#8220;Like&#8221; the page.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/inspiredmag"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-108" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/inspired-mag.jpg" alt="Inspired-mag in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="412" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sonyericsson">Sony Ericsson</a><br /> Current Sony Ericsson promotions are presented via beautifully designed tabs, with videos, contest forms and interactive applications inside.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/sonyericsson"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-109" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/sony-ericsoon.jpg" alt="Sony-ericsoon in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="429" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BlackBerry">BlackBerry</a><br /> Besides its several promotional tabs built with Facebook Javascript and Flash, the BlackBerry fan page features a nice FBJS map with links to local Facebook business pages. This does a good job of integrating the company’s Facebook presence and promoting its local pages.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/BlackBerry"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-110" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/blackberry.jpg" alt="Blackberry in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="460" /></a></p><h3>Resources And Tutorials</h3><p>Here is a list of websites and tutorials to help you understand the basics of developing and promoting your Facebook business page.</p><p><a href="http://wiki.developers.facebook.com/index.php/Main_Page">Facebook Developers</a><br /> This is the ultimate resource for anyone who wants to take advantage of the variety of opportunities offered by Facebook. Related documentation, forum discussions, wikis and a showcase of best practices for Facebook integration are all aggregated in one place for both beginners and advanced developers.</p><p><a href="http://www.hyperarts.com/blog/category/facebook-static-fbml/">Hyperarts</a><br /> A lot of excellent tutorials related to Facebook fan page development can be found in the Static FBML &amp; FBML archive on the Hyperarts Blog. The tutorials are geared to both beginners and advanced developers. The blog also features a series of video tutorials, which we&#8217;re sure will come in handy for many of you. Some of the most interesting tutorials from Hyperarts are highlighted below.</p><p><a href="http://www.allfacebook.com/">All Facebook</a><br /> On the unofficial Facebook Blog, you will find news, articles, tips and stats related to the world’s fastest-growing social network. An extensive guide titled <a href="http://www.allfacebook.com/2009/03/facebook-page-strategy/">How to Develop a Facebook Page That Attracts Millions of Fans</a> addresses its subject well.</p><p><a href="http://www.techipedia.com/2010/how-to-use-facebook-for-business-and-marketing/">How to Use Facebook for Business and Marketing</a><br /> This guide takes a look at the potential of Facebook for business and reviews the various options business owners have in order to be effective with Facebook business marketing. Recommended reading.</p><p><a href="http://www.techipedia.com/2010/how-to-use-facebook-for-business-and-marketing/"><img src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/reeses-facebook.png" width="547" height="422" alt="Reeses-facebook in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.webdesign-tutorials.com/blog/2010/06/23/how-to-create-facebook-fbml-template/">How to Create a Facebook FBML Template</a><br /> In this tutorial, you&#8217;ll learn how to create a Facebook fan page in Photoshop. It uses a page for a photographer as an example. This is the first in a series; <a href="http://www.webdesign-tutorials.com/blog/2010/06/24/how-to-create-facebook-fbml-page-part-2/">the second lesson</a> covers the coding part. The source files, including the code, are available for download.</p><p><a href="http://www.webdesign-tutorials.com/blog/2010/06/23/how-to-create-facebook-fbml-template/"><img class="size-full wp-image-111 aligncenter" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/photographer-fan-page-tutor.jpg" alt="Photographer-fan-page-tutor in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="520" height="369" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.phpeveryday.com/articles/Facebook-Programming-Facebook-Platform-P845.html">Facebook Programming step-by-step tutorial</a><br /> This tutorial series consists of 22 lessons and covers all aspects of Facebook programming, including application development, displaying fan-only content and creating an interface for a Facebook page.</p><p><a href="http://www.snipe.net/2009/06/fb-fanpages-fbml-box/">Static FBML: Not Every Facebook Fan Page Needs an Application</a><br /> In this tutorial the well-known blogger Alison Gianotto walks you through what a Static FBML is and why it’s sometimes quite enough to create an attractive and efficient Facebook fan page.</p><p><a href="http://www.snipe.net/2009/10/mini-site-facebook-static-fbml/">Extending Facebook Static FBML Tabs with Dynamic Content</a><br /> Continuing from the previous guide, this tutorial explains how to add some spice to your Facebook fan page using the DynamicFBML function. You can build an image or video gallery or even a micro-site inside a Static FBML tab quite easily.</p><p><a href="http://www.snipe.net/2010/05/static-fbml-microsite-next-level/">Taking Your Static FBML Microsite to the Next Level </a></p><p>Learn how to create sub-nav tab navigation within your Static FBML microsite using only DynamicFBML.</p><p><a href="http://www.webdigi.co.uk/blog/2010/creating-a-custom-facebook-page/">Creating a Custom Facebook Page</a><br /> This useful guide gives you a head start on building your own fan page on Facebook. The tutorial includes such basics as Facebook page creation, restrictions on Facebook, creating tabs and displaying navigation and content elements using FBML and FBJS.</p><p><a href="http://www.webdigi.co.uk/blog/2010/google-analytics-for-facebook-fan-pages/">Google Analytics for Facebook Fan Pages</a><br /> Another great post by Webdigi.co.uk, in which they show you how to get around Facebook&#8217;s limitations. Even though Facebook supports only restricted JavaScript, which is usually not enough for Google to correctly track visitors, the guys from Webdigi.co.uk successfully managed to get <em>all</em> functions of Google Analytics working on their fan page. You can learn how they did it by reading this tutorial.</p><p><a href="http://mashable.com/2010/02/22/build-facebook-landing-page/">How To: Build a Facebook Landing Page for Your Business</a><br /> This is Mashable’s brief guide on how to add and configure a Static FBML tab on your Facebook fan page.</p><p><a href="http://mashable.com/2010/02/22/build-facebook-landing-page/"><img class="size-full wp-image-112 aligncenter" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/mashable-image.jpg" alt="Mashable-image in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="520" height="225" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.hyperarts.com/blog/facebook-static-fbml-internet-explorer-stylesheets-css/">Internet Explorer and Static FBML: Using External Style Sheets for CSS</a><br /> This insightful article discusses aspects of applying CSS styles to your Static FBML application in Internet Explorer versions and other browsers. The post includes an <a href="http://www.hyperarts.com/blog/facebook-static-fbml-external-stylesheets/">important update</a> that takes into account changes in Facebook&#8217;s API that affect the implementation of CSS styles in static tabs.</p><p><a href="http://mashable.com/2009/05/13/facebook-brand-apps/">8 Essential Apps for Your Brand’s Facebook Page</a><br /> This article suggests a number of Facebook apps you could use to attract fans to your brand’s landing page and to make them return repeatedly.</p><p><a href="http://www.proworks.com/blog/2010/04/30/add-a-custom-tab-to-your-facebook-fan-page-starter-template-included/">Add a Custom Tab to Your Facebook Fan Page (Starter Template Included)</a><br /> Like some of the aforementioned tutorials, this one teaches you how to embed a custom tab in your Facebook fan page. But this tutorial is a bit more detailed than previous ones, explaining how to build HTML and CSS that adheres to the new 520-pixel width <a href="http://wiki.developers.facebook.com/index.php/Roadmap_Profile">requirements set by Facebook</a>, how to add a YouTube video and how to avoid using iFrames. Also, it contains a starter template code with comments.</p><p><a href="http://www.diosacommunications.com/facebookbestpractices.htm">Facebook Best Practices for Non-Profit Organizations</a><br /> This Facebook fan page guide is written by Diosa Communications, a company that specializes in social-media consulting for non-profit institutions and small businesses. It’s not exactly a list of best practices in the traditional sense, but rather a number of recommendations on how to set up and promote a fan page to the best effect.</p><p><a href="http://www.techipedia.com/2009/create-facebook-page/">How To Create the Perfect Facebook Fan Page</a><br />Some tips you can apply to your Facebook marketing strategy that will put your Facebook Page leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.</p><p><a href="http://www.hyperarts.com/blog/adding-iframes-to-facebook-application-2010-static-fbml/">Adding iFrames to Your Facebook Applications: 2010</a><br /> Recent modifications in Facebook&#8217;s API further restricted the use of iFrames. For instance, you can’t embed one in Static FBML anymore. iFrames can still be used in the Canvas Pages application, though, which is the topic of this tutorial.</p><p><a href="http://www.emanueleferonato.com/2009/09/20/developing-a-facebook-application-for-absolute-beginners/">Developing a Facebook Application for Absolute Beginners</a><br /> Applications have proven to be an essential component of successful Facebook fan pages. They’re an effective tool for enhancing interactivity and engaging users. Fortunately, creating a Facebook application is not that difficult. Learn how to do it by reading this thorough tutorial by Emanuele Feronato.</p><p><a href="http://www.emanueleferonato.com/2009/09/20/developing-a-facebook-application-for-absolute-beginners/"><img class="size-full wp-image-113 aligncenter" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/app-tutorial-image.jpg" alt="App-tutorial-image in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="520" height="233" /></a></p><h3>Showcase</h3><p>Not many galleries of Facebook pages exist yet. Still, the ones that do give us a pretty good idea of trends in this area.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebookdesigns.org/">Facebook Designs</a><br /> This gallery is rarely updated, but it features some really cool Facebook page designs that we haven’t seen in other showcases.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebookdesigns.org/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-114" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/facebook-designs.jpg" alt="Facebook-designs in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="396" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.customfacebookpage.com">Custom Facebook Page gallery</a><br /> Custom Facebook Page is run by the social media marketing group North Social. The gallery contains over 60 Facebook page designs, sorted into several categories. The most recent showcase is dated December 2009.</p><p><a href="http://www.customfacebookpage.com"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-115" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/custom-facebook-page.jpg" alt="Custom-facebook-page in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="400" /></a></p><p><a href="http://facebookshowcase.net">Facebook Showcase</a><br /> Facebook Showcase is the most frequently updated gallery of the ones covered here. A lot of inspirational Facebook page designs can be found here.</p><p><a href="http://facebookshowcase.net"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-116" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/facebook-showvase.jpg" alt="Facebook-showvase in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="360" /></a></p><p><a href="http://developers.facebook.com/showcase/">Facebook Platform Showcase</a><br /> This showcase is slightly different. Here you can explore how companies around the world integrate Facebook on their websites.</p><p><a href="http://developers.facebook.com/showcase/"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-117" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/platform-showcase.jpg" alt="Platform-showcase in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="385" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/development/customize-facebook-fan-page/">Customize Your Facebook Fan Page: Tips, Tricks, Applications</a><br /> A quick overview of basic tips and tricks for customizing and improving your Facebook fan page.</p><h3>Facebook Fan Page Templates</h3><p>Many freelance designers and design studios offer customization services for Facebook pages. Standalone fan page templates are less widespread, at least so far. To provide you with the best possible starter kit, we&#8217;ve collected Facebook business page themes that you can get either free or at a cost.</p><h4>Free Templates</h4><p><a href="http://layoutspack.com/wp/website-templates/free-psd-facebook-template/">Free PSD Facebook Template</a> | <a href="http://layoutspack.com/wp/website-templates/free-psd-facebook-template/">Preview</a> | <a href="http://layoutspack.com/wp/website-templates/free-psd-facebook-template/">Details</a><br /> This 520-pixel Photoshop layout of Facebook fan page tab is available for free downloading. If you are looking for a simple graphical presentation for your Facebook page, this template may come in handy.</p><p><a href="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/layoutspacks-free-template.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-141 alignnone" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/layoutspacks-free-template.jpg" alt="Layoutspacks-free-template in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="520" height="423" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/free-psd-facebook-fanpage-template/">Free PSD: Facebook Fanpage Template</a> | <a href="http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/free-psd-facebook-fanpage-template/">Preview</a> | <a href="http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/free-psd-facebook-fanpage-template/">Details</a><br /> This is a free mock-up Facebook fan page with editable text, posting times and other elements.</p><p><a href="http://www.fuelyourcreativity.com/free-psd-facebook-fanpage-template/"><img class="alignnone" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/FYC-psd-template.jpg" alt="FYC-psd-template in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="288" /></a></p><p><a href="http://icetemplates.com/blog/134/absolutely-free-cool-facebook-template/">Absolutely Free Cool Facebook Template</a> |<a href="http://icetemplates.com/blog/134/absolutely-free-cool-facebook-template/"> Preview</a>| <a href="http://icetemplates.com/blog/134/absolutely-free-cool-facebook-template/">Details</a><br /> This graphic FBML template, along with the PSD file, fonts and HTML mark-up, is available for free downloading. The package also includes an installation manual.</p><p><a href="http://icetemplates.com/blog/134/absolutely-free-cool-facebook-template/"><img class="alignnone" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/01-free-facebook-fbml-templ.jpg" alt="01-free-facebook-fbml-templ in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="426" /></a></p><p><a href="http://blog.homegain.com/blogging-and-social-networking/free-fbml-template-for-facebook-fan-pages/">Free FBML Template</a> | <a href="http://blog.homegain.com/blogging-and-social-networking/free-fbml-template-for-facebook-fan-pages/">Preview</a> | <a href="http://blog.homegain.com/blogging-and-social-networking/free-fbml-template-for-facebook-fan-pages/">Details</a><br /> You can use this multi-tabbed Facebook page template for free only if you maintain the links to its creators and the copyright info in the footer.</p><p><a href="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/homegainbusiness-template.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-50938 alignnone" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/homegainbusiness-template.jpg" alt="Homegainbusiness-template in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="472" height="400" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6025698">Facebook Template Page</a> | <a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6025698">Details</a><br /> This is quite a different Facebook page template. Basically, it’s a worksheet available in text and PDF formats, allowing school students to construct a Facebook page for a character from a story or some other purpose. The template has been downloaded over 10,000 times and has gotten a lot of positive feedback because it is a new and exciting way for students to comment on their readings. You have to register to download the template.</p><p><a href="http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6025698"><img class="size-full wp-image-121 alignnone" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/tes-template.jpg" alt="Tes-template in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="415" /></a></p><h4>Commercial Templates</h4><p><a href="http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2892.html">Photographer Facebook Template</a> | <a href="http://www.flashmint.com/template-demo-2892.html">Preview</a> | <a href="http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2892.html">Details</a> | <a href="http://www.flashmint.com/show-type-facebook.html">All FB templates</a><br /> A sleek graphical FBML tab, with an image gallery, text sections, social networking buttons and a reminder to &#8220;Like&#8221; the page. The template package consists of source files and the Facebook installation guide. Price: $15.</p><p><a href="http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2892.html"><img class="alignnone" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/graphic-fbml-template.jpg" alt="Graphic-fbml-template in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" /></a></p><p><a href="http://fanpagebuilders.com/2010/05/corporation-number-1-facebook-tab/">Corporation Number 1: Facebook Tab </a>| <a href="http://fanpagebuilders.com/2010/05/corporation-number-1-facebook-tab/">Preview</a> | <a href="http://fanpagebuilders.com/2010/05/corporation-number-1-facebook-tab/">Details</a> | <a href="http://fanpagebuilders.com/facebook-page-products/">All FB Templates</a><br /> A minimalist Facebook page theme, with space for one main image, the company’s logo or tagline, two paragraphs of text and links to social media resources, including an optional RSS feed. The user can also add images, contact forms, videos and other elements to the template (no coding skills are required). Price: there are two subscription plans to choose from, although only one of them (Standard) is active at the moment &#8211; $14.99 per month. Free trial option is available, too.</p><p><a href="http://fanpagebuilders.com/2010/05/corporation-number-1-facebook-tab/"><img class="size-full wp-image-122 alignnone" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/fan-page-builder-template.jpg" alt="Fan-page-builder-template in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="477" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2917.html">My Style Facebook Flash Template</a> | <a href="http://www.flashmint.com/template-demo-2917.html">Preview</a> | <a href="http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2917.html">Details</a> | <a href="http://www.flashmint.com/show-type-facebook.html">All FB Templates</a><br /> Among the highlights of this Flash-based FBML template are diverse transitions, multi-tab sub-navigation and a large image gallery in the tab header (760 pixels in width, of course). Instructions on how to upload the template are attached; and the developer offers additional customization services. Price: $18.</p><p><a href="http://www.flashmint.com/show-template-2917.html"><img class="size-full wp-image-136 alignnone" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/flash-fbml-template.jpg" alt="Flash-fbml-template in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="550" height="438" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.facebookpagetemplate.com/store/#ecwid:category=270743&amp;mode=product&amp;product=855654">Website Image Gallery Template</a> | <a href="http://www.facebookpagetemplate.com/store/#ecwid:category=270743&amp;mode=product&amp;product=855654">Preview</a> | <a href="http://www.facebookpagetemplate.com/store/#ecwid:category=270743&amp;mode=product&amp;product=855654">Details</a> | <a href="http://www.facebookpagetemplate.com/store/">All FB Templates</a><br /> This FBML template features a FBJS image gallery, horizontal top menu navigation, social networking links and side images. The website does not mention whether installation documentation is provided; perhaps it is provided upon purchase. Price: $20.</p><p><a href="http://www.facebookpagetemplate.com/store/#ecwid:category=270743&amp;mode=product&amp;product=855654"><img class="alignnone" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/image-gallery-template1.jpg" alt="Image-gallery-template1 in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="298" height="281" /></a></p><p><a href="http://www.flashscope.com/product/facebook-flash-template">Facebook Flash Template</a> | <a href="http://www.flashscope.com/product/facebook-flash-template/preview">Preview</a> | <a href="http://www.flashscope.com/product/facebook-flash-template">Details</a><br /> This is another version of the Flash-based &#8220;Welcome&#8221; tab for Facebook fan pages. It&#8217;s actually a mini-site, 520 pixels in width, with three sub-pages, including a slideshow and image gallery. It comes with step-by-step instructions on setting it up on Facebook. Price: $13.</p><p><a href="http://www.flashscope.com/product/facebook-flash-template"><img class="size-full wp-image-140 alignnone" src="http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/flashscope-flash-template.jpg" alt="Flashscope-flash-template in Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources" width="520" height="416" /></a></p><p><em>(al)</em></p><hr /><p><small>© Julia May for <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com">Smashing Magazine</a>, 2010. | <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/07/designing-a-facebook-fan-page-showcases-tutorials-resources/">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/07/designing-a-facebook-fan-page-showcases-tutorials-resources/#comments">Post a comment</a> | <a title="Bookmark in del.icio.us" href="http://del.icio.us/post?url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/07/designing-a-facebook-fan-page-showcases-tutorials-resources/&title=Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources">Add to del.icio.us</a> | <a title="Bookmark in Digg" href="http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/07/designing-a-facebook-fan-page-showcases-tutorials-resources/">Digg this</a> | <a title="Stumble on StumbleUpon" href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/07/designing-a-facebook-fan-page-showcases-tutorials-resources/">Stumble on StumbleUpon!</a> | <a title="Tweet us!" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=@tweetmeme%20@smashingmag%20Reading%20'Designing A Facebook Fan Page: Showcases, Tutorials, Resources' http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/07/designing-a-facebook-fan-page-showcases-tutorials-resources/">Tweet it!</a> | <a title="Bookmark in Reddit" href="http://reddit.com/submit?url=http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/07/designing-a-facebook-fan-page-showcases-tutorials-resources/">Submit to Reddit</a> | <a href="http://forum.smashingmagazine.com/">Forum Smashing Magazine</a><br/> Post tags: <a href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/tag/facebook/" rel="tag">facebook</a><br/> </small></p> http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/07/07/designing-a-facebook-fan-page-showcases-tutorials-resources/ Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:26:53 -0700 Photo Book Ideas: A Summer Book Photo books are all the rage, and for good reason. They are more creative than a mere photo album, and a great way to have physical copies of digital photos all in one place. Here are some tips for a photo book that has a summer theme. Photography: So much happens during http://www.books-for-sale.net/27829/photo-book-ideas-a-summer-book/ Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:26:39 +0000