November 8, 2009

Now, here’s something that isn’t exactly in my field of expertise, but I know enough to give you a taste. Website statistics are essential for any organization wanting to learn more about their users, optimize their online presence and better meet their visitors’ expectations.
You can get rich insight into your website traffic and marketing effectiveness.
A free example is the statistics WordPress offer when you have a blog or website built on WordPress. I can see basic things such as search engine key words that visitors use to find my website, referrals (links that send visitors to my site) and visual visitor statistics just like the image above.
Many companies offer advanced website statistics solutions that can be customized. Two examples are Webtrends and Google Analytics. There are pretty much endless amounts of information to gather and if you use it to your advantage you’re sure to succeed.
When I design websites, I work with Mike Hondel who takes care of technical development (and more). Mike is – in the contrary to me – an expert on this field and excellent at what he does.
October 29, 2009

I just received the brand new documentary Objectified in the mail and I can’t wait to watch it. The documentary is made by director Gary Hustwit who also did the film on the legendary typeface Helvetica.
Objectified is about industrial design, and the creativity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets. It’s about our relationship to mass-produced objects and, by extension, the people who design them.
http://www.objectifiedfilm.com/
http://www.helveticafilm.com/
October 17, 2009

Yesterday, I was at the Anchorage Museum eating appetizers at the very bold Muse Restaurant. I went to use the restroom and that’s when I was reminded of what happened when I was there at the grand opening of the Museum expansion.
I was standing in line to use the restroom while admiring the architecture and materials used, when a woman interrupted my thoughts with something like this: “why would they make it so gray and dark, what’s wrong with color?”. I told her that I thought it was beautiful. The woman, who obviously had a right to her own opinion, looked me up and down and said “yeah, well – you kind of blend in here so I’m not surprised you say that”…
Between the red restaurant and the orange foyer, I find the gray restroom just perfect.
Back to yesterday. I caught myself laughing out loud as I was thinking about me, blending in with the restrooms. As I was washing my hands, I looked at my outfit composed of gray hues, black and blue and I found myself blending in with the restrooms again – and being pretty proud of it!
Anchorage Museum of History & Art