<?php
// $url_data is an array
$url_data = explode("/",$HTTP_SERVER_VARS['PATH_INFO']);
?>

Source: http://snipplr.com/view/4562/nice-urls-php-htaccess/

# 1 YEAR
Header set Cache-Control "max-age=29030400, public"
# 1 WEEK
Header set Cache-Control "max-age=604800, public"
# 2 DAYS
Header set Cache-Control "max-age=172800, proxy-revalidate"
# 1 MIN
Header set Cache-Control "max-age=60, private, proxy-revalidate"

Source: http://www.askapache.com/htaccess/speed-up-sites-with-htaccess-caching.html

Dump out all custom fields as a list

	<?php the_meta(); ?>

Display value of one specific custom field

“companyName” would be ID value of custom field

	<?php echo get_post_meta($post->ID, 'companyName', true); ?>

Display multiple values of same custom field ID

	<?php $songs = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'songs', false); ?>
		<h3>This post inspired by:</h3>
		<ul>
        	<?php foreach($songs as $song) {
		echo '<li>'.$song.'</li>';
	} ?>
		</ul>

Display custom field only if exists (logic)

	<?php
    $url = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'snippet-reference-URL', true);
		if ($url) {
			echo "<p><a href='$url'>Reference URL</a></p>";
		}
	?>

Source

Include Basic WordPress Functions

<?php define('WP_USE_THEMES', false);
require('/server/path/to/your/wordpress/site/wp-blog-header.php');
query_posts('showposts=1'); ?>

Run Loop

<?php while (have_posts()): the_post(); ?>
   <h2><?php the_title(); ?></h2>
   <?php the_excerpt(); ?>
   <p><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>" class="red">Read more...</a></p>
<?php endwhile; ?>

Clear and Light Web Design

     I believe that one of the purposes of the designer is to keep information in order and presentable. As internet evolves, it is a responsibility of a designer to do so. Keep information organized and easier for the visitor/user to get to – easily identified and with less clicking. There are numerous websites spring up everyday with some kind of information that someone is looking for – visiting user’s attention span is getting smaller and smaller if website doesn’t grab the attention and lure the user further into the website. As a web designer, one needs to engage with the user and deliver information efficiently, straight to the point. Now, when I speak of simplifying a web design, I do not mean to do away with functionality and access to vital information to the visitor. As a designer, one has to think of a new way to create a new user experience by employing available tools at one’s disposal. I’ll give you an example that I see all over the new mobile phones – roller ball/button, one controls everything, i.e. iPhone, Nexus or Blackberries.

One Page Website

     Another interesting trend that I’ve noticed that has grown over the past year is one page websites. There’s so much new technology available for web designer today, it’s very interesting to see what they can come up with. A single page website can, at times, deliver more information than a multi-page website. It’s like a homepage is the main navigation to all of the content from the website. If you don’t have much of content to put up, you can provide pages of information without clicking off the page. Single page web design, as some designers use tabs, java scripts, modal boxes, sliders and toolbars to give more information in a single page. Single page websites can be easily managed, and a designer can think outside of the box when designing them.

Content and Image Slider

     Here’s another trend that’s upcoming – I keep seeing many websites using image sliders with various JavaScript frameworks as a featured content slider or image content slider for the portfolio to showcase their work or on a homepage to deliver information right away. By using sliders, it actually gives visitors a better impact and clear overview about the site. Plus, comparing to flash image sliders, JavaScript loads faster and it is search engine friendly. On top of that, you are increasing user experience.

Modal Boxes

Taking user deeper and deeper into your site will make user lose interest. Maybe you don’t want user leaving from a certain page on your website. Why load a video or contact form on a separate page? I’ve used a few CRM, like SugarCRM and vTiger systems lately and noticed that modal boxes appear there also. Modal boxes can be used for almost anything – login or signup forms, contact forms, lead generation, and etc.

Page Layouts going BIG

Today, a lot of web users don’t just use 15″ monitors anymore, monitor sizes have increased over the past few years to 20″-30″. What does that mean for a designer? More room, real estate to play around with for page layout. Now with that said, doesn’t mean that we need to cram up every bit of that space with something unnecessary, doesnt’ mean to clutter web page. It just gives desigenr a bit more room to present information more efficiently.

Use of Type Visually

Utilizing typography in today’s web design trend is growing rapidly. Large and bold text carries message clearly, at times, better than imagery itself.

Tweaker

Some websites utilize what I like to call “tweaker”. It increases user experience exponentially in my opinion. I think this would work great for sites like NewEgg. This trend is there, but very slowly picking up.

So, I think I’ve covered some of the main points that I can think of at the moment. Hopefully these trends, elements will grow even more in 2010 and we should see some exciting works in the future.

1. Fan pages that Facebook allows you to create are publicly accessible. Since Facebook requires a login, it prevents search engines from indexing. Nevertheless, quite a few of Fan pages do not require a login and thus search engines can index the page. On the other hand, people still stumble across Fan pages through search result, visit it, and then get to your site via the link.
2. Fan pages allow you to include links, and because the Fan pages are public, you can get a nice link credit from facebook.com. It’s free.
3. As more and more people visit your Fan page and become fans, you can send updates to them. On top of it all, you can send updates to your fans whenever you want. It’s a nice to start building a database of interested users and potential future clients. Send messages about promotions, products, website, or pretty much anything you’d like.
4. Who’s controlling the content on Fan Page? YOU. Making the page before a competitor is critical. You’ll be able to send the messages, edit or remove sections – to an extent that Facebook allows you to.
5. Another neat thing about Fan pages is news feed. By joining your Fan page, feed off of your Fan page is published in fan’s news feed for all their friends to read (note: user can turn this off in their Account settings). Nevertheless, it’s viral campaigning – really helpful in establishing your brand and spreading the word.
6. Last, but not least – Facebook Fan page is free and easy to set up. To make a Fan page takes will take you just a few minutes – add URL of your website, some information, your schedule (if you have one) and don’t forget to upload the logo and that’s it.

If you’d like to create a Fan page for your business or for yourself, go here and you can start right away, or click here and join our Fan page.

Found these few interesting samples:

Also, check out this interesting video:

One of the most critical factors in ensuring that your project is successful is writing an effective design brief, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a client or a designer.

In the next article, we’ll try to tell you how to write an effective design brief that will be beneficial to the client and the designer.

Note: We’ll be writing from the client’s perspective.

First: What Is A Design Brief?

You’ve probably asked yourself before: what is a design brief? From the sound of it, it is something that’s very important to any design project as it is like a guideline for the designer to use to exceed your expectations.

In a design brief, one focuses on the results and outcomes of the design and the business objectives of the design project. You as a client do not need to worry about how it’ll look, that’s the responsibility of the designer. From client’s point of view, the design brief will allow you to focus on exactly what you want to achieve out of the commissioned design project. Writing a good design brief will help and make sure that your project is of high quality and meets all your needs – given that you’ve chosen the right designer.

Second: How To Write An Effective Design Brief?

By answering questions below in detail and ordered manner will only get your design brief up to about 90%, the other 10% of the questions will come from the designer. Answering questions doesn’t mean one line answers, give as much information as possible.

• What does your business do? (Don’t assume that designer knows anything and/or everything about your company. Be clear.)
• What does your company / organization do? What is your company’s history?
• What are the goals? Why? What is the overall goal of the new design project? What are you trying to communicate and why? Are you trying to sell more products or get awareness of your product / service? How do you differ from your competitors? Do you want to completely reinvent yourself or are you simply updating your promotional material?

If you got any marketing material from your company, provide it to the designer.

Who is the target market?

What’s your main audience’s demographic, i.e. profile of your clients? Got multiple audiences that you’re trying to get, rank them in importance.

What content is needed, i.e. text and pictures?

• What do you want to see in the design?
• Who’s providing the content?

As a client, you must clearly state who will provide the content, since dealing with pictures and text will touch the subject of copywriting, so might need to get a professional photographer and/or copywriter.

What are the specifications?

• Size of the design.
• Is it for print? Is it for web? How is it going to be used?

Do you have a point of reference for the design?

Setting a benchmark for the designer by providing relevant design work will definitely help out. Tell the designer what not to do or do and things that you do or don’t want to see in your design – that will avoid the dissatisfaction on your behalf.

What’s your budget?

Giving designer a budget to work with helps with maximizing valuable time and resources.

What’s your deadline?

When giving a schedule to the designer, set a realistic deadline. When setting a schedule, think of various stages of the project – consultation, concept design, actual production and the final delivery. Rushing the project will not help anyone and mistakes will happen. If project is on a rush, let the designer know upfront.

Hopefully after reading article above, it’ll be clear for your as to what the design brief is and will help you write a better one next time.