Hey y’all!
Wow, I am honored.
I have not seen a drop in my RSS subscriber count since I left. In fact, it has increased!
Thank you very much for sticking around.

Although, at this time, I cannot promise a regular posting schedule.
But what I can promise, is Live Blogging coverage of this year’s Photoshop World!

Yep, that’s right!
I shall be going to Photoshop World, and it’s just around the corner - April 1 - April 4.

While I’m there, I’ll use this blog to take notes and post pictures.

I’ll post what classes I’ll be attending in a future post.

So make sure to be subscribed to my RSS feed and stick around!

I’ll also be on AIM and Skype most of the time, feel free to contact me!
AIM: BrianPurkissNet
Skype: BrianPurkiss

But please note, the live blogging is dependent on laptop battery life and the existence of wireless internet.
If anything, I’ll share every night about my day.

Hey y’all.
You know about life?
The thing outside of our design world and computers?
Yeah, well, it’s kinda taking over.

I’m beginning the transition out of the home and onto my own. So I need to sort some things out before I move out.
Thus I have all but shut myself off from the computer until I get these issues taken care of.

Therefore I’m not blogging, playing internet games, accepting new design jobs… nothing.
(I will finish up my current design jobs though.)

Although, I shall be working on the World Design Association during this time.
It’s my final project for one of my classes, so I have to get it done.

I hope to launch it at the end of the school year.

I’ll get the ‘launch blog’ up soon.

Please stick around!
I’m not giving up on plainbeta, I’m just placing it on temporary hold.
I should be back in a month or two - I hope to see you then!

Part One of The Power of Minimalism

Minimalism is arguably the most effective form of web design currently in existence.

Visitors don’t have to wait for annoying flash animations to zip across the screen…
Nor heavy images and graphics to load…
Nor try and figure out confusing animation…
Or anything annoying design related ‘harassment.’

Minimalism fights against it all.

The problem with minimalism is it’s complexity.

Yes, that’s an oxymoron.
But it’s true.

Minimalism strives to remove as much as possible from the design as well as keep as much as possible in the design.

Yes, that is another oxymoron.

Think about it.
Good minimalist web sites (usually) employ simple navigation, simple graphics (or an image), a logo, and effective colors.

Those four components form an extremely delicate balance.
If one element is a little too much, the entire formula can be thrown off.

Even though minimalism is one of the greatest forms of design out there, it is the most difficult to use to it’s full potential.

I have addressed minimalism before, and perfecting Minimalism has become sort of a passion of mine.

Thus, I shall be turning this into a mini-series, and (eventually) write an eBook on Minimalism.

If you know of a good Minimalist web site, please let me know.

Again, stay tuned for the rest of the mini-series.