Funky Friday Collection – 17 April 2009

Here’s this week’s selection of what I found coolest on the web this week.

Wordpress

A to Z of WordPress .htaccess Hacks – Nometech.com

.htaccess is one of the most useful files for configuring the way your blog (or any other site) works. This is a great selection of techniques for using .htaccess to get the most out of your Wordpress blog, and a lot of the advice is equally applicable to non-Wordpress sites.

Design Technique

Essential PHP Techniques for Web Designer and Developers – Desizn Tech

While a lot of PHP relates to functionality rather than design, a reasonable knowledge of the language means you can add a lot more to your site on the design side. Desizn Tech have collated a good selection of easy to understand techniques that will help you out even if you’re not responsible for the main functionality of the site.

Accessible, pixel perfect font sizing – Steven York.com

The majority of sites out there still seem to be using pixel specific font sizes in their CSS. Probably because from a purely design point of view it can make life a little easier. But it’s not great for accessibility or overall site flexibility. Here’s a cool tutorial on how to get the pixel perfect font sizing you want, but in an accessible way.

16+ Easy CSS Techniques that Simplify the Webdesigner’s Life – WebAir

We all have our ways of working that we’re used to. Simplifying things can save time and still come up with great visual effects with CSS. WebAir have a nice collection of very simple techniques that look good and keep code clean and light.

Design Inspiration

Lunch Bag Art

Kind of random, but a great collection of art on kids’ lunch bags. Eclectic, amusing and impressive, you probably don’t want to look at this daily updated blog if you’re sending your kids to school with lunch in a plain brown bag!

Vestas Wind System – Mikkel Bache

Architecture is one of the best inspirations for web design. The lines and curves that come from great architecture and machinery can be a real boost to creativity and many of them translate well to the digital format. This Behance portfolio creates a visual identity for the Vestas Wind System and is hugely impressive and surprisingly powerful photography.

Geek Humor

iPhone Killing – SubStandards Compliant

I don’t have an iPhone, and have always been a bit of a cellphone Luddite. I found this amusing, as the iPhone is stalked by the ‘iPhone killer’, presumably the latest release from any cellphone company!

In addition to all the web pages linked to here, I’m choosing one of my favourite Flickr images from the past week available under Creative Commons. This week’s original image is by Flickr user Alejandro Groenewold.