Journal

White Screen Of Death

December 23, 2008

I was on a business trip last week, and as always, rely heavily on my iPhone for not only calls, but email, navigation, and - courtesy of AirShare - a method of carrying files to and from meetings. Who needs USB sticks, right?

I’ve used this 3G phone since August without too many problems. Well, that’s not strictly true, I’ve had the usual phantom restarts, blank screens, and general software lag. Just like everyone else. But, as I’m an Apple fanboy, I’ve put up with it, hopeful that with subsequent software releases, the platform would become more stable. The pitfalls of early adoption.

That all came to a grinding, abrupt halt on Thursday when my phone croaked and then died.

Continue reading...

Five Simple Steps. Available 2nd February, 2009.

December 01, 2008

A long time ago, two years ago in fact, I sort of announced I’d have a book ready the other side of Christmas. Ha! Embarrassingly, that deadline came and went as life, and work, got in the way. And, writing a book, especially a self-published book it turns out, is incredibly difficult. But, a few months ago, this project has had new life breathed into it, and I’m pleased to say, the book will be available on February 2nd 2009 in PDF format.

Continue reading...

Drupal.org, Design Iterations, and Designing in the open

November 09, 2008

It’s been a good while since I announced we’re working on the redesign of Drupal.org. Two months, a couple of presentations, and seven iterations of the prototype later, a glimmer is at the end of the tunnel.

On thing is for sure, in this instance, Design by Community works.

Continue reading...

  • Posted in: Design
  • Comments closed

Why have a chair when you could have a Sumo

September 26, 2008

Like Jeremy, I’m such a blogwhore.

Continue reading...

Design By Community

September 16, 2008

One of the interesting challenges of the redesign process for Drupal.org is managing the expectations of a community of over 200,000 registered users. Not only that, but a community of largely open source developers. I mention that specifically because of the culture that surrounds open source development. Leisa and I have been trying something that is, frankly, terrifying. We’re designing in the open.

Continue reading...

Drupal.org

August 15, 2008

DrupalA day or so ago, the small design studio I run, Mark Boulton Design, was announced as the redesign partner for the redesign of drupal.org. Together with the outstandingly talented Leisa Reichelt and Carolyn Wood, the team at Mark Boulton Design are thrilled to part of this project. More details on the studio site.

Leisa and I will be out in Szeged, Hungary, for the biannual Drupalcon during the week of the 25th August, where we will be giving a keynote presentation on Thursday 28th. If you’re there, tap me on the shoulder and say hi.

  • Posted in:
  • Comments closed

Don’t screw with conventions

August 01, 2008

I’ve got a confession to make: i’ve got a thing about signage design. On any given day trip, excursion, or holiday, and I can be seen ignoring the attraction and taking photographs, or even drawing little sketches, of the signage. I’m particularly interested in airport signage.

A few days ago, I took a business trip to Brussels, via Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport. I’ve wanted to visit Schiphol ever since I attended a lecture in 2005 by the designer of the signage system, Paul Mijksenaar. As a designer, you know when you get those moments where something somebody says turns you’re entire understanding on its head? Seeing Paul talk, I probably had one of those moments every minute.

Continue reading...

  • Posted in:
  • Comments closed

Design isn’t about tools

June 05, 2008

The other day, 37Signals wrote about Why they skip Photoshop. Fine. I think that suits them and their workflow, considering they don’t do client work and have an established UI style on which to draw. Jeff does a much better job of summarising my thoughts on the subject that I could. As does Jon

So, yesterday, we see this post on SVN, presumably as a follow up. Is it an inflammatory post? Or, do they have a point?

Continue reading...

  • Posted in: Design
  • Comments closed
Page 1 of 37 pages  1 2 3 >  Last »

Of interest ...

Sparklines with Google Charting Tool
Rather nice, simple Sparkline generator from 13pt
Erskine Design
New Erskine site.
An Event Apart: The Design Conference For People Who Make Web Sites
New An Event Apart site. Very tasty.
BlueTrip CSS Framework :: Home Page
Blueprint, Tripoli, Hartija's print stylesheet, and 960.gs's simplicity.
CRW / Corporate Risk Watch
Simple effective design. Refreshing to see such companies go out on a limb design-wise.
Black Estate Vineyard
Beautiful typography, stunning photography and probably damn tasty wine.
24 ways: Art Directing with Looking Room
My article is up over at 24 ways. Use Looking Room to go some way to art directing the templated web.

These links are now pulled from my del.icio.us account. You can subscribe to the feed if you like.

My books

Web Standards Creativity Buy Five Simple Steps: Designing for the Web

Stuff I like

The Britpack!

Powered by Expression Engine


A picture of Mark BoultonI'm a graphic designer from near Cardiff in the UK. I've been a designer for over ten years now and primarily work on the web. I'm still partial to a bit of print every now and then though. I used to work for Agency.com in London as an Art Director before working as a Senior Designer for the BBC in sunny Cardiff. This was all before I took leave of my senses and formed my own design consultancy, Mark Boulton Design Ltd.

I've got a thing about grids and typography and occasionally ramble on about them to anyone who will listen.

If you're after simple, clean and effective web design; let me know.