It’s that time of the year when garden writers (those of us living in areas with real winters especially) inevitably mention the first flowering plants of the year. I don’t want to be one of those writers. But I am. I can’t help it. When you see those first buds swelling, then showing color, then actually in full bloom… ooooowee, it thrills you so. Even the first tiny Crocus pushing itself up through the mulch is most welcome. A few warm days and this little feller will be in bloom.

Crocus pushing itself up through the mulch

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Filed under: Horticulture

My mind is in a million places at the moment, so apologies up front.  This is more of an update post on a variety of projects, so I’ll try to tie everything together neatly, coherently and interestingly.  Let’s start with ArtBabble.  On Tuesday, Matt wrote about some the design philosophies and tools he used to create the look.  He uploaded some of the early designs to Flickr.  It’s a really good example of how projects evolve at the museum, but will also show you Matt’s skills.  We’ve also started talking to other institutions about joining ArtBabble.  That’s all I can say right now – but it is going well.  We’re really serious about ArtBabble providing THE best art content online.   Recently, AB got some good blog coverage.  On the Cusp, Illuminations, and The Arts Network, all featured ArtBabble in some way – thank you!  Overall, we’re very happy with how ArtBabble is going.  We’re still in the invitation-only mode, but that will change in the near future.  Then we begin the real work of continually providing the best content, spreading the word of ArtBabble and much more.  Babble On.

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Filed under: New Media

In my two short years at the museum I’ve come to know a few people. I’ve also come to know a few of the museum’s resident magical creatures. Over this last weekend, Dynah, the flirtatious Lilly House-elf, agreed to meet me for tea at Starbucks. The following is what we talked about.

Phil: Good morning, Dynah. How are you?

Dynah: Ay-Yay-Yay! I don’t see you anymore. What, you don’t have time for Dynah? The only one of you that comes to see me anymore is the one they call Peeper. You can’t stop by? Say hello to little ol’ Dynah?

Phil: You’re right, you’re right. I’m sorry. I’m in Public Affairs now and don’t handle Lilly House A/V anymore. But we’re talking now aren’t we? After all, this is your interview.

Dynah: You said you’d call. I miss my handsome green eyed shaygets.

Phil: Whoa, Dynah, whoa! Hands off. Sit. Drink your tea. Tell me about something. Anything. Have you been to The Toby yet? Seen a show?

Dynah: I have. But forget that little girly of yours. She can’t cook like I do…

Phil: Dynah, I’m sure you’re better. But can you elaborate on your Toby experience? Please?

Dynah: (Pouting) If you insist. I like the foreign films and a human of mine is going to sneak me into your Winter Nights this Friday. She says the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra is going to play along to “The General.” Oh, how I enjoy Buster Keaton. Care to join us?

Phil: I may stop in for second. What else? Are you excited about our next exhibition? European Design Since 1985?

Dynah: How many more questions do you have? I thought we were going to talk about us?

Phil: Two more, I promise. And I promise we’ll talk later. But now, Dynah, please, our next exhibition?

Dynah: Fine, but you’re going to talk to me later. Yes, as you know, I live in the Lilly House, and I have an affinity for fine design. I’m also close friends with James Dyson’s house-elf, Margaret. We used to play bridge together. She’s excited about the exhibition too because she has in her silly head that the show will have one of the very pieces she used to clean Jim’s carpets.

Phil: That’s interesting. She sounds lovely. Last question and you’ll have to forgive me, but fans of house-elves everywhere are asking, do you know Dobby?

Dynah: Sure I do. The putz dated my cousin.

Filed under: Current Events, Film, Interviews, Marketing, New Media, The Toby

So how did ArtBabble get to where it is? I’ll let the graphics do the talking. We have posted a handful of interface design mockups which were considered for this project in a Flickr set. What started off a slick techie look (I was way off!) morphed into the hand drawn, yet clean and casual website you see today. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Design, Technology

Yahoo BOSS and  SearchMonkey – I’m super fascinated by this whole “semantic web” thing. With these two technologies now being able to be tied together, word on the web is that Yahoo is looking for a breakthrough. Very interesting.

WebDesignerDepot.com – A beautiful blog, at least in my mind, about designing for the web. The Feb 13 article, “10 Writing Tips for Web Designers” was particullary interesting. Check out “Tip 2″ and prepare for your mouth to mouth the word “wow.”

Skateistan - BOOOOOOOM! is relentless with the postings about design. It also just recently turned me on to Afghanistan’s first skateboarding school. I know that skateboarding has saved at least one local life. However, knowing now that there is a school somewhere converting Afghani youth to the cult of sidewalk surfing has got me totally stoked.

Bomomo.com – By way of Gary, comes this little something that lets you be creative/waste time. Once you’re done creating, Bomomo has a “save” feature that lets you use your creation wherever you like. A person could probably make a lot of hot web 2.5 graphics with this thing.

European Design Facebook Contest – The week two winner has been selected. Up is the new picture!

Filed under: Current Events, Design, Horticulture, Local, New Media, Technology