Sawyer Paul's Blog, page 71
August 2, 2013
627am concept
One of my favourite apps is 627am by Justin Liu. It sits at the top of my start screen, and is the only Windows Phone app I never move around. The app is inspired by the Microsoft Productivity Future Vision video, which is pretty slick. Basically, the app is the 'beginning' to one's day. It is an alarm clock (the default time is set to 6:27 AM, naturally), and it works even if the phone is in another app or sleeping. The app also has a quick to-do list, which I find perfect for jotting a quick note that I need to remember in the morning. Finally, the app has built-in weather. The idea is that these are three things you do right when you wake up, and instead of individual apps, the tasks are grouped by context.
Inspired by the Microsoft video, I wanted to take a crack at designining UI for the first time. Windows Phone 8 has a simple structure based on flat objects and a singular colour scheme, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try to make a concept work based on 627am.
If you look at the current 627am home screen, you'll see notes, alarm, and weather. I kept the basic setup while adding a stacked structure. I have no idea how to do the kind of impressive motion work Justin has inside the app (you really have to experience it firsthand). I added location (because I can sympathize with people who wake up and don't know where they are--and need to be comforted) and a horoscope, but that fifth block could be anything you'd like to see right away.
One of the first things I do when I wake up is check my messages. I'd love it if they were all in one place, where I could quickly glance at the important stuff and worry about the rest later (hey, remember when Windows Phone was about using a smartphone less?) A quick dossier of updates would be available with a swipe to the right, with links going to the dedicated apps. Again, I have no idea if this stuff is possible. I also want to make sure nobody thinks I'm criticizing 627am for not having these features. It is a wonderful app as-is, and I love not only how it works but the thought process behind it. This is just me daydreaming.
At 1:41 of the Microsoft video, a man swipes his phone past an email and gets a birthday reminder. What I like most about the phone concept is how it seems to be task-based, generating UI based on what the user could do at that moment with the amount of time and resources they have. For instance, the phone shows things the user could do if they have 5 minutes, and one of them is to do something about a birthday. The man sighs and does nothing, but I saw an opportunity there. Theoretically, the people hub of Windows Phone already has birthdays and photos, and could include links to social media beyond Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Why not Amazon too? More swipes in 627am could reveal more things to do with the time you've got, like this.
+ Thanks to Justin Lui for making the awesome 627am.
+ Thanks to Microsoft for making a concept video we can strive to create in real life in less time than they think. And, of course, for Windows Phone.
+ Thanks to Pietro Schirano for his free Lumia 920 template. I could not have put this together without it.
July 23, 2013
July 20, 2013
Stormy Toronto Skyline
I don't normally mock up my photos, but with these I felt I had an opportunity to play with colour. Hope you like them.
July 18, 2013
Lattice Issue 2 Cover & Wallpaper
Lattice 2 will be out next week. Click on the art to go to Flickr and download it full-size.
My Graphic Design Certificate
Over the last two years, I've been taking courses at George Brown for Graphic Design. I finished my last class in March, which earned me the certificate you see above.
People who have followed my work over the last few years have undoubtably noticed a huge shift in quality. In 2011, I considered myself someone who could put together a pretty good book in InDesign and craft an all-right cover for it. Today, I have the fundamentals down in all three of Adobe's major creative apps. George Brown's classes have all helped me in getting me here. Without them, I wouldn't have the job I have today. I wouldn't be able to put something like Lattice together. I wouldn't have this blog. I'll be returning next year after my wedding for some of the advanced classes. Can't wait.
July 11, 2013
Skypunch pop art girl
I started with some stock pop art and created this cute thing for Skypunch.
July 8, 2013
International Object splash phone wallpapers
In my last entry, I showed off a few desktop wallpaper designs (good for retina screens) promoting International Object. I wanted to make a few for phones as well. I removed the IO branding from them, since phone wallpapers should be more subtle. Hope you like. To make them your wallpaper, click on any of them to make them larger, then right-click to save to your desktop, or hold down on your phone and save it to your device.
July 5, 2013
Rdio: Unsync all music from your phone in one click
If your sync'd music has gotten out of control and you need to clear it and start again (something necessary since Rdio is pretty bad at telling you exactly how much space it takes up on your phone, unlike the Music app), there's actually a really easy way I just figured out. Go to Rdio in your browser, click Settings, then "Advanced." Then click the button "Reset sync to mobile". This'll clear out your sync status, and you can start again. Sweet!
