June 11, 2010

The Art of Open Source: Using Flickr Geotags to Map the World’s Cities

Fast Company has a wonderful article about how photographer Eric Fischer uses Flickr geotags to map world cities. Using Flickr's public API he's created over 50 elegant city maps. These are just facinating and beautiful! A great representation of community, humanity, and the art of open source.

Fast Company explains the color coding as:

Black is walking (less than 7mph), Red is bicycling or equivalent speed (less than 19mph), Blue is motor vehicles on normal roads (less than 43mph); Green is freeways or rapid transit.

Here is San Francisco:

 Using Flickr Geotags to Map the World's Cities - Eric Fischer - San Francisco

New York:

 Using Flickr Geotags to Map the World's Cities - Eric Fischer - New York

London:

 Using Flickr Geotags to Map the World's Cities - Eric Fischer - London

Eric also made a set based upon weather you are a tourist or a local. Here is what he had to say about it on his Flickr:

Blue points on the map are pictures taken by locals (people who have taken pictures in this city dated over a range of a month or more).

Red points are pictures taken by tourists (people who seem to be a local of a different city and who took pictures in this city for less than a month).

Here is New York Based upon Tourists or Locals:

 Using Flickr Geotags to Map the World's Cities - Eric Fischer

And San Francisco based upon Tourist or Local: (I love how Alcatraz and the Golden Gate, and the Pier are clearly defined as tourist)

 Using Flickr Geotags to Map the World's Cities - Eric Fischer

Check out the Fast Company article, Eric's Fischer's Local's and Tourist's Flickr Set,  and his Geotaggers' Word Atlas Flickr Set.

June 11, 2010

Design Inspiration: Cristiana Couceiro

Christiana Couceiro is a freelance illustrator, working and living in Lisbon, Portugal. Her collages are really inspiring... very mid-century. And I just love her art series on her website. Check it out!

Cristiana CouceiroCristiana CouceiroCristiana CouceiroCristiana CouceiroCristiana CouceiroCristiana CouceiroCristiana Couceiro

found via ISO50

June 1, 2010

New Site: IsItBeer30.com

So, I've created a new website for fun:
isitbeer30.com

When you go to it, it either tells you yes or no.. and if the answer is no, you can click "But I want it to be" and then it will be yes.

I think its funny... and I actually go there when I'm wondering.. "Is is beer 30?" Let me know what you think!

"It makes sense to me, does it to you?"

- sara cannon

May 31, 2010

REYKA Vodka Re-Design

reyka vodka re-design

I just love REYKA Vodka's new re-design. The bottle looks so fresh and all details are beautifully flushed out.. from the icons at the bottom to the subtle geometric background pattern that embraces the scalloped label edge and perforation. The Islandic-esque blue/grey warmed by wooden cork and orange brings it all together. Their website doesn't do this bottle justice... all pixel-y and flash with a focus on cluttered degraded type. I just like the opening two frames - simple like the bottle.  - sara cannon

found via Colt+Rane

May 27, 2010

Inspiration: The Work of Natalie Nicklin

I'm really loving the style of Designer/Artist Natalie Nicklin.Natalie Nicklin - Another WorldNatalie Nicklin - Font Experiment

Found Via The Post Family

May 27, 2010

Happy 7th Birthday WordPress!

WordPress LogoThe wonderful open source platform that is WordPress was released seven years ago today through the talented Matt Mullenweg. Here is his post in 2003 announcing the release of WordPress to the world. Since then, WP has grown into a widely used and incredible tool for anyone who wants to share ideas, manage content, and much more. In Scott Berkun's "The Future of WordPress" session at WordCamp San Francisco, He said "WordPress is the Platform for Revolution." I totally agree. So many people have been able to find their voice through WordPress, and have been able to form communities of change. Examples of this are:

MidEastYouth - a student-owned independent network that promotes constructive dialogue and understanding within the Middle East and North Africa.
Kloop.info - the largest blog platform in Kyrgyzstan that dared to cover beginning of the recent revolt

Not only has WordPress helped people find their voice and support their causes, but it has been the basis for employment for many people worldwide. This is why it is important to contribute in any way you possibly can to the WordPress community... be it core, plugins, free themes, or volunteering or speaking at a WordCamp.

Thank you WordPress and all of those who have contributed to it. May you thrive and your community grow!
- Sara Cannon

Scott Berkun - WordCamp San Francisco

Scott Berkun at WordCamp San Francisco - "WordPress is the Platform for Revolution"

May 25, 2010

Fever Ray – “When I Grow Up” Video

I just love this music video by Fever Ray.

May 21, 2010

Nonsensical Infographics by Chad Hagen

I mentioned earlier that I love visual information. So, what could be better than some nonsensical infographics by Chad Hagen!

Nonsensical Infographics by Chad HagenNonsensical Infographics by Chad Hagenfound via mstetson design

May 19, 2010

Mouse Movement Experiment

I decided one day that I would track my mouse movement workflow for 2 days with the program IOGraph.  Here are the results. The large spots are when I left my computer for lunch or something like that. I don't think this will mean anything to you but I'm obsessed with visual data so here's the experiment:

Day 1:

Day 2:

After two work days I decided to stop. You can check the titles of the images if you want an accurate time stamp. (I really dont know why you would.)

-Sara Cannon

May 17, 2010

WordCamp San Francisco 2010 Recap

I had the amazing privilege of attending WordCamp San Francisco this year. Having spoken at WordCamp Birmingham and WordCamp Atlanta on WordPress, I was thrilled to go to a WordCamp where I was just there to learn and absorb as much information in as possible.

I really enjoyed the sessions and absolutely loved meeting some of the really awesome people who attended. Personally, I was really challenged as a designer/developer to focus on themeing for future expansion and improvements, international capabilities, and for future sharing in the open source community.

One of the most informative sessions to me was Mitcho's "Abstract Your Code!" here is the description from the WordCamp SF website:

Abstract Your Code!
presented by Michael “mitcho” Erlewine

Writing code isn’t just about getting the job done, it’s about getting the job done right. In addition to being easier to read and maintain, one great advantage to writing properly abstracted code is that it is then easy to open-source it and give back to the WordPress community. Come learn about some best practices for writing portable, modular WordPress code and later open-sourcing that code as a plugin. Learn about the experiences of other programmers who have done client-sponsored open-source WordPress work and the benefits they reaped.

If anyone knows where there are videos or slides of that session.. I'd love to know and share it!

For those of you who were not able to attend, here's Matt Mullenweg's "State of the Word"

I would like to return to this mecca of WordCamp's next year if at all possible. A truly wonderful and challenging conference.

- sara cannon

Sara Cannon is a Design and Digital Strategy Consultant, UX/UI Designer, Creative Director, & Artist.
Have a project I could help you with? Contact me at sara@saracannon.com.

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