Having worked for the last year with a creative design agency, I've seen a lot of the communication between our design team and their clients. While we usually don't have many (if any) issues while working with them, every once in a while we'll get a client who is outrageously picky, or just can't seem to be satisfied. These stories and websites are some of the funniest/worst/truest examples of what designers have to put up with ALL THE TIME. Enjoy, and don't forget to vote for your favorite!
#5 - "Nightmare Web-Design Clients"
This website details 10 of a designer's worst clients. Some of them were kinda funny, but honestly I just threw this one on the list to make it a solid 5, so if I were you I wouldn't waste my time unless you are really bored.
#4 - "If Architects Had to Work Like Web Designers"
This one is a pretty humorous article that someone wrote about wanting a house built, but in the same manner that we often get requests for a website to be built. Literally, we get requests like this.
#3 - "Clients From HELL"
This is a continuously updated site where people can post their own horror stories about working with bad clients. Some of them are extremely funny and/or ridiculous. If you do have time to burn, I'd recommend this one over the first link.
#2 - "How a Web Design Goes Straight to Hell"
This comic is awesome, as it comes so close to real life. The 8th frame is my favorite. I often imagine some of our clients like this... It helps
#1 - "The Vendor-Client Relationship"
This video says it all...
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
TOP 5 Things About In-N-Out Burger
In celebration of the recent (and additional upcoming) openings of In-N-Out Burger in Northern Utah, I think its only proper to declare the TOP 5 reasons why In-N-Out Burger is so great. Many of you probably have heard me rant and rave about how much I love In-N-Out Burger, and some of you may think it is over-hyped. It might be that I only love it because my dad loved it so much, but hopefully after reading the list you'll come to agree that In-N-Out Burger has great food, and maybe you'll even go and grab a burger right after. So without further ado, here is the latest TOP 5:
#5 - Simple Menu
Have you ever pulled up to a fast-food restaurant only to find yourself over-burdened with seemingly hundreds of options to choose from? Maybe this image below is a familiar sight to you:
This is something you'll never have to worry about at In-N-Out Burger! With barely over 10 items listed on the menu (and over half of those being beverages) you won't ever have to fear that there will be too many things you'll want to try and don't know what to get. Here is an actual picture of their menu:
#4 - Scripture References
Ever wanted to think about religious topics while you eat? In-N-Out Burger has got you covered for that too. Back in the 1980s the owners of In-N-Out Burger decided to print discreet references to bible verses on their cups and wrappers as a reflection of their beliefs.
#3 - The "Secret Menu"
While In-N-Out Burger has always striven to "keep it simple", and their menu definitely attests to that fact, they realize that some people out there like a little mystery. They like secrets. Thus enter the "Secret Menu" at In-N-Out Burger. Its not any new food, just prepared in a different way. For example, the Neapolitan shake. Its not listed on the menu, but man it looks tasty!
Or there are the various diet options, such as the "Grilled Cheese" (no meat), the "Protein Style" (no bun, lettuce wrap), and the "Flying Dutchman" (just meat & cheese).
But by far, my favorite thing on the "Secret Menu" is the "Animal Style" option. You can order both your burger and your fries "Animal Style", and essentially it means they add grilled onions and extra secret sauce to your food. Once I tried it this way, I haven't been able to go back!
#2 - The PxC Ratio
The PxC Ratio is something I use to describe In-N-Out's "patty-by-cheese" ordering feature, where you can order any size burger simply by asking for a "3x3" (3 patties and 3 slices of cheese), or a "2x4" (2 pieces of meat, 4 pieces of cheese), etc. The ideal ratio of course is 1:1, but if you are looking for a really cheesy burger you can always alter the numbers. And there is no limit as to how high you can go. As you can see here with this gentleman who apparently has ordered a 20x20.
Or this group who ordered a 100x100.
#1 - Top-Rated Fast-Food Chain
That's right. According to a survey conducted by Zagat's, In-N-Out Burger is the #1 Rated fast-food chain, and also is rated at having the best burger, service, and food overall. Now that is something! To find out more, visit www.zagat.com/fastfood and click on the fast-food tab.
#5 - Simple Menu
Have you ever pulled up to a fast-food restaurant only to find yourself over-burdened with seemingly hundreds of options to choose from? Maybe this image below is a familiar sight to you:
This is something you'll never have to worry about at In-N-Out Burger! With barely over 10 items listed on the menu (and over half of those being beverages) you won't ever have to fear that there will be too many things you'll want to try and don't know what to get. Here is an actual picture of their menu:
#4 - Scripture References
Ever wanted to think about religious topics while you eat? In-N-Out Burger has got you covered for that too. Back in the 1980s the owners of In-N-Out Burger decided to print discreet references to bible verses on their cups and wrappers as a reflection of their beliefs.
#3 - The "Secret Menu"
While In-N-Out Burger has always striven to "keep it simple", and their menu definitely attests to that fact, they realize that some people out there like a little mystery. They like secrets. Thus enter the "Secret Menu" at In-N-Out Burger. Its not any new food, just prepared in a different way. For example, the Neapolitan shake. Its not listed on the menu, but man it looks tasty!
Or there are the various diet options, such as the "Grilled Cheese" (no meat), the "Protein Style" (no bun, lettuce wrap), and the "Flying Dutchman" (just meat & cheese).
But by far, my favorite thing on the "Secret Menu" is the "Animal Style" option. You can order both your burger and your fries "Animal Style", and essentially it means they add grilled onions and extra secret sauce to your food. Once I tried it this way, I haven't been able to go back!
#2 - The PxC Ratio
The PxC Ratio is something I use to describe In-N-Out's "patty-by-cheese" ordering feature, where you can order any size burger simply by asking for a "3x3" (3 patties and 3 slices of cheese), or a "2x4" (2 pieces of meat, 4 pieces of cheese), etc. The ideal ratio of course is 1:1, but if you are looking for a really cheesy burger you can always alter the numbers. And there is no limit as to how high you can go. As you can see here with this gentleman who apparently has ordered a 20x20.
Or this group who ordered a 100x100.
#1 - Top-Rated Fast-Food Chain
That's right. According to a survey conducted by Zagat's, In-N-Out Burger is the #1 Rated fast-food chain, and also is rated at having the best burger, service, and food overall. Now that is something! To find out more, visit www.zagat.com/fastfood and click on the fast-food tab.
Friday, June 26, 2009
TOP 5 Resons to Procrastinate (for real, sorta)
I found a real list of "Five Reasons Why We Procrastinate" from a reputable website and thought I would evaluate their reasons by seeing how well they matched with my reasons for not updating my blog. The website's advice will be in orange with my comments in the usual white.
#5 - You Haven't Really Committed to Doing the Job
You may chronically put off an activity because you aren't really sold on doing it at all. Reasons include:
Now, to address the two FUNDAMENTAL questions that I'm supposed to answer:
#4 - You're Afraid of the Job
This is a hard thing for many of us to admit--to ourselves let alone to someone else. If you can identify your reluctance as fear and track it to its source, you can deal with the fear and get on with the job. Here are three of the most common varieties of performance anxiety:
Fear of Failure
I wrote the best post in the world about the TOP 5 ways to be successful, but no matter what I did, the "Publish Post" button always erased my post instead of publishing it!
Fear of Success
The TOP 5 blog became one of the most visited, best-loved websites in the world, but then everyone started expecting me to be highly-successful in everything else I do and wondering why I wasn't successful in the past.
Fear of Finishing
I ran out of ideas of to post on TOP 5 and started received death threats unless I kept posting. I couldn't think up any more ideas though and eventually died in a variety of ways (give me new ideas in a comment if you have any!)
#3 - You Don't Place a High Enough Priority on the Activity
You're sold on the idea that somebody ought to do the task. You'll even agree that you're the person to do it. You may even want to do it. You just don't want or need to do it enough, and you always want or need to do something else more. Thus, the poor task keeps getting bumped down the list, below other, more pressing jobs.
Well, while I can't blame school anymore for keeping me busy since its summertime, I can try to pull the marriage card and the moving-into-a-new-apartment card. It's amazing how little time there is left in the day though after you come home from working all day, and after you make & eat dinner. Especially on days when you also head over to the Plasma Center to donate!
It is true though that it takes a long time to write these blogs. All the research and options to choose from, not to mention all the formatting that I have to do because I'm so OCD about how these things look. Its quite a time-commitment for me when I decide to sit down and write a post
#2 - You Don't Know Enough to Do the Task
When writers get "writer's block," it's often their subconscious mind's helpful way of suggesting that they don't really know what the [heck] they're talking about.
This is true for other sorts of motivational blocks as well. You may simply not know enough to do the job right. You haven't consciously recognized or admitted this to yourself, but you know it deep down, and this knowledge is manifesting itself in strong aversion.
While I can't say for sure whether or not I do know how to effectively write a blog, I do know that there's a whole lot out there that I don't know. Some TOP 5 blog suggestions that I've gotten from people (Best Vacation Spots, for example) are about subjects that I have little or no experience with. While I can't guarantee I'll post about everything, I will do my best to do my research before I make any claims
#1 - You Just Plain Don't Wanna!
On a preference scale of 1 to 10, giving "Rover" his flea bath rates a minus 2. It isn't merely unpleasant. It isn't just disgusting. It's downright DANGEROUS. Rover does not like his flea bath. Last time you tried this little experiment in torture, you wound up scratched, Rover was traumatized, and the bathroom looked like a tidal wave had hit it.
But now the fleas are back. Rover is scratching. If you don't do something, and fast, you'll have fleas all over the house.
Identify the reason for the procrastination. Confront your attitudes and fears. Weigh the consequences. Then deal with it!
I couldn't really think of any negative reasons that were just downright, out-of-the-question scenarios that would prevent me from keeping up this blog. Maybe if I started getting carpal tunnel syndrome?
So overall, which one do I feel most fits with my reason to be MIA on my blogs? Sadly, its probably option #3. Its just difficult to balance out my time.
Wow. Sorry, this ended up being a lot more boring & depressing than I thought it would be. Stay tuned though as more, much more EXCITING, TOP 5's are on their way!
"Reputable" Source: www.businesstown.com
#5 - You Haven't Really Committed to Doing the Job
You may chronically put off an activity because you aren't really sold on doing it at all. Reasons include:
- You don't think it's your job
- You think it's somebody else's job
- The job's a waste of time
- What's in it for me if I do it?
- What will happen to me if I don't?
Now, to address the two FUNDAMENTAL questions that I'm supposed to answer:
- What's in it for me?
A sense of satisfaction at completing something? A source to express and vent my feelings? A place to share my thoughts and humor? Yes. But overall, not much (I'm not getting paid or anything) - What will happen to me if I don't?
Nothing.
#4 - You're Afraid of the Job
This is a hard thing for many of us to admit--to ourselves let alone to someone else. If you can identify your reluctance as fear and track it to its source, you can deal with the fear and get on with the job. Here are three of the most common varieties of performance anxiety:
- Fear of Failure
- Fear of Success
- Fear of Finishing
Fear of Failure
I wrote the best post in the world about the TOP 5 ways to be successful, but no matter what I did, the "Publish Post" button always erased my post instead of publishing it!
Fear of Success
The TOP 5 blog became one of the most visited, best-loved websites in the world, but then everyone started expecting me to be highly-successful in everything else I do and wondering why I wasn't successful in the past.
Fear of Finishing
I ran out of ideas of to post on TOP 5 and started received death threats unless I kept posting. I couldn't think up any more ideas though and eventually died in a variety of ways (give me new ideas in a comment if you have any!)
#3 - You Don't Place a High Enough Priority on the Activity
You're sold on the idea that somebody ought to do the task. You'll even agree that you're the person to do it. You may even want to do it. You just don't want or need to do it enough, and you always want or need to do something else more. Thus, the poor task keeps getting bumped down the list, below other, more pressing jobs.
Well, while I can't blame school anymore for keeping me busy since its summertime, I can try to pull the marriage card and the moving-into-a-new-apartment card. It's amazing how little time there is left in the day though after you come home from working all day, and after you make & eat dinner. Especially on days when you also head over to the Plasma Center to donate!
It is true though that it takes a long time to write these blogs. All the research and options to choose from, not to mention all the formatting that I have to do because I'm so OCD about how these things look. Its quite a time-commitment for me when I decide to sit down and write a post
#2 - You Don't Know Enough to Do the Task
When writers get "writer's block," it's often their subconscious mind's helpful way of suggesting that they don't really know what the [heck] they're talking about.
This is true for other sorts of motivational blocks as well. You may simply not know enough to do the job right. You haven't consciously recognized or admitted this to yourself, but you know it deep down, and this knowledge is manifesting itself in strong aversion.
While I can't say for sure whether or not I do know how to effectively write a blog, I do know that there's a whole lot out there that I don't know. Some TOP 5 blog suggestions that I've gotten from people (Best Vacation Spots, for example) are about subjects that I have little or no experience with. While I can't guarantee I'll post about everything, I will do my best to do my research before I make any claims
#1 - You Just Plain Don't Wanna!
On a preference scale of 1 to 10, giving "Rover" his flea bath rates a minus 2. It isn't merely unpleasant. It isn't just disgusting. It's downright DANGEROUS. Rover does not like his flea bath. Last time you tried this little experiment in torture, you wound up scratched, Rover was traumatized, and the bathroom looked like a tidal wave had hit it.
But now the fleas are back. Rover is scratching. If you don't do something, and fast, you'll have fleas all over the house.
Identify the reason for the procrastination. Confront your attitudes and fears. Weigh the consequences. Then deal with it!
I couldn't really think of any negative reasons that were just downright, out-of-the-question scenarios that would prevent me from keeping up this blog. Maybe if I started getting carpal tunnel syndrome?
So overall, which one do I feel most fits with my reason to be MIA on my blogs? Sadly, its probably option #3. Its just difficult to balance out my time.
Wow. Sorry, this ended up being a lot more boring & depressing than I thought it would be. Stay tuned though as more, much more EXCITING, TOP 5's are on their way!
"Reputable" Source: www.businesstown.com
TOP 5 Reasons to Proscrastinate My Blog
#5 -
#4 -
#3 -
#2 -
#1 -
Sorry, I haven't quite gotten around to making this list yet...
ALRIGHT. Alright. I know I've been bad at posting lately. I'll do better. Promise.
#4 -
#3 -
#2 -
#1 -
Sorry, I haven't quite gotten around to making this list yet...
ALRIGHT. Alright. I know I've been bad at posting lately. I'll do better. Promise.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
TOP 5 Barats & Bereta
For those of you that haven't had a chance to experience a Barats & Bareta video, I hope that my TOP 5 favorites will give you a good look into some of their funniest work. Find out more at www.baratsandbereta.com
#5 - "Superhero Dunks"
#4 - "Just Wonderful"
#3 - "The Other Son"
#2 - "Cubicle Wars 2006"
#1 - "Mother's Day"
#5 - "Superhero Dunks"
#4 - "Just Wonderful"
#3 - "The Other Son"
#2 - "Cubicle Wars 2006"
#1 - "Mother's Day"
Monday, March 9, 2009
TOP 5 Worst Websites
This is a TOP 5 that I've been looking forward to doing. Being a Web Developer, one thing that is vital to my job is creating a website that is easy to use, looks fantastic, and doesn't inflict bodily harm (or cause the user to want to inflict bodily harm to themselves) in any way. These website gems that I've uncovered are lacking in one or more (sometimes all) of those categories. I'll be sure to point out the key ares of a few of them that you just can't afford to miss. Enjoy!
(NOTE: IF YOU ARE PRONE TO SEIZURES, EPILEPSY, OR MOTION SICKNESS, SOME OF THESE SITES MIGHT NOT BE FOR YOU)
#5 - www.paperrad.org
To start us off today we have a website of this... children's cartoon? Not quite sure what is going on here, but if you click on the main image of the page (it says something about solving problems) you'll see a FANTASTIC video that might help explain a little bit more about the site.
#4 - www.dokimos.org/ajff
My favorite part of this website is, surprisingly, not the headache-inducing background, but instead the error-message at the top of the screen. Be sure you read it in order to get the full experience.
#3 - www.moire.ch
While this site may seem simple and innocent enough at first, after you start moving your mouse over the various links you will understand why this site makes it onto my list. Be sure you click on the link I posted above because they have updated their site. My link points to their old site before it was updated.
#2 - www.havenworks.com
This is a REAL news website. People actually come here to get their news. Now why someone would go here to get their news is beyond me, but if they can navigate the page, understand where they need to go, and not strain their eyes beyond belief... more power to them.
#1 - www.yvettesbridalformal.com
Okay. Just take a deep breath before you head on over to this one. It's gonna be BAD. Once you are at the home page wait for a second to make sure you get the full experience while the page/music loads. Then be sure you click the lady/lamb artwork to head over to the [even better] 2nd page. Isn't the floating image wonderful? Why does it change into that creepy face? Also for your further enjoyment you can view the map to Yvette's location that has been conveniently drawn up in MS Paint (located on the top-left of 2nd page - red text on gray box). Not only is this the worst website I've ever seen, but the music, floating images, and everything else combined together make me question the sanity of whoever designed it!
(NOTE: IF YOU ARE PRONE TO SEIZURES, EPILEPSY, OR MOTION SICKNESS, SOME OF THESE SITES MIGHT NOT BE FOR YOU)
#5 - www.paperrad.org
To start us off today we have a website of this... children's cartoon? Not quite sure what is going on here, but if you click on the main image of the page (it says something about solving problems) you'll see a FANTASTIC video that might help explain a little bit more about the site.
#4 - www.dokimos.org/ajff
My favorite part of this website is, surprisingly, not the headache-inducing background, but instead the error-message at the top of the screen. Be sure you read it in order to get the full experience.
#3 - www.moire.ch
While this site may seem simple and innocent enough at first, after you start moving your mouse over the various links you will understand why this site makes it onto my list. Be sure you click on the link I posted above because they have updated their site. My link points to their old site before it was updated.
#2 - www.havenworks.com
This is a REAL news website. People actually come here to get their news. Now why someone would go here to get their news is beyond me, but if they can navigate the page, understand where they need to go, and not strain their eyes beyond belief... more power to them.
#1 - www.yvettesbridalformal.com
Okay. Just take a deep breath before you head on over to this one. It's gonna be BAD. Once you are at the home page wait for a second to make sure you get the full experience while the page/music loads. Then be sure you click the lady/lamb artwork to head over to the [even better] 2nd page. Isn't the floating image wonderful? Why does it change into that creepy face? Also for your further enjoyment you can view the map to Yvette's location that has been conveniently drawn up in MS Paint (located on the top-left of 2nd page - red text on gray box). Not only is this the worst website I've ever seen, but the music, floating images, and everything else combined together make me question the sanity of whoever designed it!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
TOP 5 Feel-Good Videos
This first category consists of videos that give you that tingly feeling, deep down inside, that just leave you feeling happy. I had a few different videos in mind when I created this list, but these were my top picks:
#5 - "National Anthem at Fenway Park"
This video was shot during "Disability Day at Fenway Park", where they had a special needs individual sing our National Anthem.
#4 - "Paul Potts on 'Britain's Got Talent'"
Many of you have probably already seen this video, but I was surprised by how it made me feel. Maybe I'd like opera? I'm still too scared to try it out. But if it always makes you feel like this then I probably could enjoy it.
#3 - "Christian the Lion"
A really cool story, although the video does a horrible job at explaining the story. If you want to find out more about the story search Google here. P.S. the music is really cheesy.
#2 - "Where the Hell is Matt?"
I don't know what it is about this video that gets me, but there is something just about it that I enjoy. Maybe it is just its simplicity, or there might even be a subliminal message, but I think I could watch it forever...
#1 - "CAN"
This man deserves to be father of the century! I don't think anyone can watch this movie without feeling some kind of emotion and spirit.
#5 - "National Anthem at Fenway Park"
This video was shot during "Disability Day at Fenway Park", where they had a special needs individual sing our National Anthem.
#4 - "Paul Potts on 'Britain's Got Talent'"
Many of you have probably already seen this video, but I was surprised by how it made me feel. Maybe I'd like opera? I'm still too scared to try it out. But if it always makes you feel like this then I probably could enjoy it.
#3 - "Christian the Lion"
A really cool story, although the video does a horrible job at explaining the story. If you want to find out more about the story search Google here. P.S. the music is really cheesy.
#2 - "Where the Hell is Matt?"
I don't know what it is about this video that gets me, but there is something just about it that I enjoy. Maybe it is just its simplicity, or there might even be a subliminal message, but I think I could watch it forever...
#1 - "CAN"
This man deserves to be father of the century! I don't think anyone can watch this movie without feeling some kind of emotion and spirit.
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