Force Fitting - An exercise in becoming 'unstuck'!!

In a recent presentation at WebDU I shared one of the ideas, techniques, tips that I use to help generate "seed-ideas" and help me become either unstuck or assist in not simply replicating what has been done in the past.

I call it "Force Fitting" - but I'm sure that the more cunning linguists amongst you will have better terminology.

What I do is basically take a magazine, any subject matter at all...ummm, well, mostly!!! The magazine should have lots of images and adverts and assorted contents. On every single page I force an idea from the page...it could be a design cue from the page layout; the way the headline sits; the grid system. It could be the way that a part of the content is emphasised. It might be the image treatment - it could be anything - but essentially you dont leave the page without generating at least one idea for your website, application or component of an application.

After you have finished your magazine, you will be amazed at how many fresh "seed-ideas" you have to start growing with and how much more innovative your solutions will be.

The excuse you needed for that playboy subscription huh?!

Image reference: DanStorey14

The Digital Art of Pencil & Paper

Here's the presentation material I prepared for WebDU this year (2009).
I'll get the audio recording of the presentation from the guys @ Daemon and combine it with the visuals and upload the combined file as soon as I can...but for now, here's the slides :)

Pixel Envy

WebDU in the Press

Some great feedback for the WebDU conference in general and also some nice comments about the paper I presented :)

ActionScript.Org

O'Reilly's Inside RIA

Slides will be uploaded shortly...as soon as I get SlideShare organised.

Geek Rock Concert 2009

Thanks to Geoff, Julie and all the staff at Daemon for a great 2009 WebDU.
As always the event was a great success with some great speakers, content and events.

My highlights:

• Justin Mclean combining flex and hardware.

• Seeing the ever maturing Adobe Flash Catalyst and the amazing looking SketchFlow from Microsoft - dead-set great pieces of technology - cant wait to get my hands on them both.

• Shane Morris giving a masterclass on how web designers should be thinking when constructing applications.

• The session I gave on what happens before pixels are pushed
  

• And of course, the speakers BBQ last night.

I'll be there again next year, I hope as a speaker :) Now what will be next years topic...any requests?