Tag: layout
WEEKEND WEB: Two Helpful Design Aids – siteInspire and flipping typical
Every designer needs a little help once in a while. I’m not sure what to call writer’s block for designers, but whatever it’s called, it happens from time to time. Today I’ve stumbled across what seem to be…
Two Helpful Design Aids
siteInspire
Inevitably, when I design a new Web site, there are some (many?) similarities to every other Web site I have ever designed. Sometimes I look for other sites to base my new layout on, but I try not to copy other designers’ work if at all possible.
Enter siteInspire, a site that categorizes existing Web sites by style, type, and theme with the purpose of enabling Web designers to find other sites on which to base a design. Sites featured on siteInspire have been submitted by their designers, so they’re meant to be used as inspiration for new designs and thus there are no worries about copying without permission.
Being able to narrow down designs by category greatly helps in finding a design that is appealing. Looking for a new blog design? There are 85 on siteInspire to choose from. Want to design with muted colors? There are 19 options for that too. Very handy.
flipping typical
When working on an offline project, selecting the right font is often crucial to a successful design. But with hundreds of fonts installed, it can be very tedious to repeatedly search through them all to find the perfect one.
Enter flipping typical, a unique Web site that actually has very little online content. Instead, the site simply consists of the words “flipping typical” written in every font on your system. Each instance of the words can be clicked on to enlarge the type at the top of the screen for a better view. It’s a quick and easy way to find that one font you were looking for. I’m definitely bookmarking this one.
Do you have a favorite helpful online design Web site? Comment!
TweetTHURSDAY THEME PARK: Cinderella Castle Suite – Unique Pictures and Floor Plan
This may end up being the most difficult daily theme to post about each week, as there are so many topics to choose from. This week, I’ve chosen to write about…
The Cinderella Castle Suite in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
The suite was created as a mega-prize for Disney’s Year of a Million Dreams promotion. Someone would be randomly chosen at Walt Disney World to spend a night inside Cinderella Castle. Unfortunately, I was never chosen. Nearing the end of the promotion, Disney decided to host a day of 15-minute tours of the Cinderella Castle Suite for annual passholders. Spots filled up quickly, but I was able to nab one and was very excited to finally be able to walk around inside.
Search Google Images and you’ll find a ton of similar pictures taken from inside the Cinderella Castle Suite. Instead of reposting more shots of their luxurious bathtub or comfortable bedding, I thought I’d share a few photos I took that I hadn’t seen elsewhere.
Upon stepping foot into the suite, I was shocked at how small it is. I knew it was just 650 square feet, but that didn’t register until I was actually inside. The wide-angle lens photos I had previously seen online made it seem so much more spacious.
When I arrived back home, I searched for a floor plan of the suite and couldn’t find one, so I decided to make my own. It’s not perfectly to scale, and I’m sure I’ve made a few small mistakes in the exact placement of the doorways, but I think it does the trick for giving you a basic idea of how everything is laid out:
As you can see, the floor plan is pretty basic. The foyer/entry way contains a couple of glass cases with decorative items including Cinderella’s glass slipper. That area isn’t really part of the suite, but rather serves as a landing area when getting off of the elevator (which holds up to 10 people, by the way).
On with the photos:
You access the suite via an unmarked brown door on the right side as you walk through Cinderella Castle. As soon as you step through that door, you’re standing in a concierge area where one of Disney’s cast members sits at a desk (pictured here) all night in case you need anything while you’re staying inside the suite. Since the Magic Kingdom is full of activity throughout the night, they can’t have you just aimlessly wandering around, getting in the way of maintenance and cleaning crews, so all requests go through this butler of sorts.
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