Web Directions

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So, if you're responsible for a web site launched or significantly updated since September 20 2009 which you think deserves recognition for its adherence to web standards and accessibility, as well as its great usability and visual design, now is the time!Nominations close on September 21, the shortlist will be announced on October 7, and then the McFarlane Prize will be awarded at Web Directions South on October 14.Founded in 2006, in memory of the late Nigel McFarlane, The McFarlane Prize is awarded to an Australian designer or team for a site launched or significantly upgraded between September 20th 2009 and September 21 2010. Sites may be designed for Australian or non Australian individuals, organisations, companies or governments, but must be designed and developed by an individual or team which works in Australia for an Australian company, or by Australian citizens or permanent residents. Anyone may nominate a site, and there is no cost for nominating or being nominated for the prize.We’re very proud of the prize, the way it has grown over the years, and in particular the way it has provided inspiration to Australian web designers and developers to push for “the things that matter” about the web within their organisation and on their projects. We're very much looking forward to some more great submissions again this year - be sure to get that nomination in by September 21." ["post_title"]=> string(68) "The McFarlane Prize for Australian web design - nominations now open" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(66) "the-mcfarlane-prize-for-australian-web-design-nominations-now-open" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2010-08-25 12:29:03" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2010-08-25 02:29:03" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(36) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=2770" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "1" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [1]=> object(stdClass)#116 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(2760) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2010-08-23 16:18:26" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2010-08-23 06:18:26" ["post_content"]=> string(2656) "When you hear about the latest web technologies and techniques do you ever think "damn, I wish I could play with these right now"?Enter Amped - the Hackday, reloaded.We've taken the traditional hack day, pulled it apart, thought long and hard about what's great, what's not so great, and how as many different kinds of web folks can come together for one intense 10 hour period of hacking, designing and making amazing things.Then we've assembled all the pieces to create an event that's challenging, inspirational, and more fun that it should be legal to have with technology.Amped USA follows Web Directions USA, in Atlanta, Georgia Saturday September 25th. Amped AU follows Web Directions South, in Sydney, Australia, Saturday October 16th. Both are free - but sign up now as places will go fast.Whether you're a developer, designer, an IA, IxD, whatever your role, at Amped you'll find

• challenges to engage you
• mentors to inspire you and bring out your best
• prizes including an all expenses paid trip for Tokyo for Web Directions East for the top FOUR place getters
• A sensational closing party

Not only that, but Amped is catered, with food and drink to keep you energized throughout the day.And best of all, thanks to our generous partners, Amped is free.How does it work?Step 1 - sign up. Places will go fast! Step 2 - in the weeks leading up to Amped, we'll let you know more about the challenges, so you can be prepared to hit the ground running on the day Step 3 - turn up ready to rock on the dayThe challenges will help provide structure to your work on the day - you'll be able to choose from a range of possible challenges focussing on front end design and development, interaction design, data and information visualisation, back end development, mobile web application development and more.Each challenge area will have mentors on hand to help you, and there'll be prizes for the best work on each challenge. Then, the winners from each challenge go into the Amped smackdown - with the overall winners off to Tokyo for an all expenses paid trip to Web Directions EastThen it all wraps up with a fantastic party - food and drink, music and more.It's free, fun, and open to everyone, but places are limited, and will go fast. So register now, and clear your diary for Saturday September 25 [Atlanta] or October 16 [Sydney]. " ["post_title"]=> string(69) "Introducing Amped, the hackday, reloaded coming to Atlanta and Sydney" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(67) "introducing-amped-the-hackday-reloaded-coming-to-atlanta-and-sydney" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2010-08-23 16:18:26" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2010-08-23 06:18:26" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(36) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=2760" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "1" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [2]=> object(stdClass)#117 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(2756) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "3" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2010-08-16 18:47:41" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2010-08-16 08:47:41" ["post_content"]=> string(835) "Hot on the heels of my recent HTML5 course with SitePoint, is our new CSS3 Live course, starting today, August 16. It features screencasts, exercises, articles, and live streamed FAQs, and runs for 3 weeks.We cover selectors, properties, media queries, and more in real depth - so if you're comfortable with CSS, and want to really get up to speed with CSS3, I promise this will do it for you.And it's just $14.95.Plus, I've lined up all kinds of goodies for attendees, so you could save many times the cost on conference tickets, books and software.If you are at all interested in getting more acquainted with CSS3, then do check it out. HTML5 was a lot of fun, and I know this course will be as wellJohn " ["post_title"]=> string(28) "Learn CSS3 with John Allsopp" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(28) "learn-css3-with-john-allsopp" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2010-08-16 18:47:41" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2010-08-16 08:47:41" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(36) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=2756" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [3]=> object(stdClass)#118 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(2749) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "7" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2010-08-14 10:26:39" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2010-08-14 00:26:39" ["post_content"]=> string(2216) "

Web Directions @media 2010, Southbank Centre London, June 11 2.40pm.

• Audio recording of session
• Session description
• About Aral Balkan

Session description

Most apps suck. Making an app that doesn’t suck is hard work and requires uncompromising focus. We call apps that don’t suck “usable”. However, in the Age of User Experience, making apps that are merely usable is no longer good enough.So how can you go beyond making usable apps to creating exceptional experiences that evoke powerful emotions in users?In this inspirational session, Aral will offer you an impassioned glimpse into his approach of authoring apps that people find joyful and fun; apps that people fall in love with.Delight, story, empathy, character, voice, beauty, fun, and play are just some of the topics that will be covered and illustrated with examples from Aral’s decade-long experience in authoring web, Flash, desktop, and mobile apps, including his latest top-selling iPhone app, Feathers.

About Aral Balkan

" ["post_title"]=> string(41) "Aral Balkan - The Art of Emotional Design" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(410) "

Most apps suck. Making an app that doesn’t suck is hard work and requires uncompromising focus. We call apps that don’t suck “usable”. However, in the Age of User Experience, making apps that are merely usable is no longer good enough.

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Looking to develop world-class websites using the latest web technologies? Keen to be part of an organisation that is a great supporter of the Aussie web industry?SitePoint are in need of a talented PHP developer - check out their job description at our jobs board and get your application in - you never know, they might even end up sending you to Web Directions in Sydney this year!" 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Featuring a combination of insights from leaders in the tech industry, and a shootout for some serious prizes by 23 early stage technology companies, and all wrapping up with a great awards night, it's no doubt an event for those in the web directions community in, or looking to enter into business for themselves. Great insights, opportunities to meet with investors and government types involved in helping new ventures get off the ground, and other technology innovators like yourself.Tech23's on Thursday 19th August, in Surry Hills, and you can go for just $165. Just check the special rate checkbox when registering" ["post_title"]=> string(45) "Tech23 - for Australian Technology Innovators" ["post_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(43) "tech23-for-australian-technology-innovators" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2010-08-05 14:53:20" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2010-08-05 04:53:20" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(36) "http://www.webdirections.org/?p=2742" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } } ["post"]=> object(stdClass)#115 (25) { ["ID"]=> int(2770) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2010-08-25 10:53:45" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2010-08-25 00:53:45" ["post_content"]=> string(1732) "Nominations for the McFarlane Prize for excellence in Australian web design have just opened. So, if you're responsible for a web site launched or significantly updated since September 20 2009 which you think deserves recognition for its adherence to web standards and accessibility, as well as its great usability and visual design, now is the time!Nominations close on September 21, the shortlist will be announced on October 7, and then the McFarlane Prize will be awarded at Web Directions South on October 14.Founded in 2006, in memory of the late Nigel McFarlane, The McFarlane Prize is awarded to an Australian designer or team for a site launched or significantly upgraded between September 20th 2009 and September 21 2010. Sites may be designed for Australian or non Australian individuals, organisations, companies or governments, but must be designed and developed by an individual or team which works in Australia for an Australian company, or by Australian citizens or permanent residents. Anyone may nominate a site, and there is no cost for nominating or being nominated for the prize.We’re very proud of the prize, the way it has grown over the years, and in particular the way it has provided inspiration to Australian web designers and developers to push for “the things that matter” about the web within their organisation and on their projects. We're very much looking forward to some more great submissions again this year - be sure to get that nomination in by September 21." 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