It’s time for the last Magic Monday of the year!

I’m finally back home from vacation so expect Sentences to be updated a lot more often. I’ve also been fortunate enough to be in contact with a few interest people who will be submitting some guest articles. If you’re interested in that as well, make sure you check out the Jobs page and give me a shout. With that said, Happy New Year to everyone and I can’t wait to see what 2008 will have in store for us!

Most Original:

Ludo Escrime is an award winning site and is one of the most original designs I’ve ever seen. The artwork is completely unique and moving with intricate details and composition. I really like what Ludo has done here and if you haven’t visited their site yet, I suggest you do it. Even though the site is done completely in flash, it still functions pretty well and is user friendly. There is an alternative navigation at the bottom, but the real fun is interacting with the layout and watching the animations.

Tip: Flash isn’t dead! As much as I wish it was sometimes, flash still remains as one of the most impressive tools a designer can incorporate. However, if you do decide to go the flash route and build a flash heavy interface, you need to view it from all perspectives, especially the user end. All too often a full flash site is hard to navigate, read, and leaves little or no room for versatility.

Boldest Design:

Loic Sattler’s portfolio website delivers a bold statement. With hardly any navigational elements or other sub pages, it is simply his work and contact information. He’s saying one thing: My work speaks for itself. Either you like it, or you don’t.

Tip: Sometimes less is more. Don’t be afraid to let your work speak for itself. Sure a fancy portfolio will take you a long way, but if you have a significant amount of work that looks good, then perhaps you should consider letting your portfolio be the main piece - not the way its displayed.

Most Professional:

Green Street Development has a great looking site with fresh colors. It matches the site’s theme and reinforces the industry they are in. The site is clean and offers various ways to subscribe to their content. The layout is simple but very attractive. The only thing I do NOT like is the angle at which the “remodel” in the banner is at. I think it would’ve looked much better at a regular 90 degree angle, instead of slanting it. I’m not sure what that provides as it doesn’t lead me towards the content, but away from it.

Tip: Sometimes a small detail can either make or break a design, and it’s often that these small details are overlooked. Remember to keep your site’s theme and design aspects as consistent as possible so that it makes sense. It may not matter much to a majority of your audience, but it’ll enhance your overall image and appeal.

Site of the Week:

Sitemakers delivers a website that blends all aspects of design into one. It creates a professional image while maintaining a bold and confident image. There are a lot of small details that really make the design. The roll overs are crisp and logical, the color scheme exudes confidence and sleekness, and the icons maintain a bold image that answers the question all users ask when they arrive - what is this website? Continuing with the sleek design, the sub pages within the website are an excellent example of consistency and flow. The overall site is a great inspiration for designers who are searching for an original and simple layout to display their client’s products.

Tip: Remember what your design needs to accomplish. In this case, the main priority seemed to be the products, not the company. All to often I go to eCommerce websites where the main focus is the company. Although I care about who I am buying from, I want to know more about the product I’m seeking first, and if necessary, I can read about the company. Don’t lose your focus and make sure you accomplish the goals your design needs to set.

Artist of the Week:

Zero 7 is one of the BEST bands out there to listen to while you work. Their smooth instrumentals keep you calm and focused, while their unique and upbeat sounds keep you motivated and creative. There aren’t many words to distract you while you work, and their music gives off an inspirational vibe that I really enjoy. If you are hesitant to download ANY music I’ve recommended, now is the time to change that. Zero 7 is where it’s at.