The Big Web Show

Rachel Andrew—longtime web developer and web standards champion, co-founder of the Perch CMS, and author of Get Ready For CSS Grid Layout—is Jeffrey Zeldman’s guest. Topics include working with CSS Grid Layout, how Grid enables designers to “do something different” with web layout, why designers need to start experimenting with Grid Layout now, how front-end design has morphed into an engineering discipline, learning HTML and CSS versus learning frameworks, and the magical self-reinventions of David Bowie, RIP.

Longtime web developer, lecturer, and web standards evangelist Aaron Gustafson and host Jeffrey Zeldman discuss the newly published update to Aaron’s best-selling industry classic “love letter to the web,” Adaptive Web Design: Crafting Rich Experiences With Progressive Enhancement, 2nd Edition (New Riders, 2015). Topics covered include: Aaron's superhero origin story as a creator of progressively enhanced websites and applications; "we’re not building things we haven't built on the web before;" "creating opportunities for people outside your comfort zone;" development in the world of Node.js; "every interface is a conversation;" "visual design is an enhancement;" "interaction is an enhancement;" nerding out over early web terminal interfaces; Microsoft, Opera, and more. Save 35% off Aaron Gustafson’s Adaptive Web Design: Crafting Rich Experiences With Progressive Enhancement, 2nd Edition when you enter discount code AARON35 at checkout. Links for this episode: About Aaron Gustafson Adaptive Web Design Second Edition (“95% new material”) Read the first chapter free (PDF) First Edition, May 2011 (read the entire first edition free) Web Standards Sherpa Notebook: Aaron’s blog Engagements: Aaron’s speaking page, using Quantity Queries "Quantity Queries for CSS" by Heydon Pickering in A List Apart A List Apart: articles by Aaron Gustafson Eric Meyer's "CSS Design: Going to Print" in A List Apart WhatsApp Brought to you by: Braintree (To learn more, and for your first $50,000 in transactions fee-free, go to BraintreePayments.com/BigWebShow) DreamHost (Visit the link to sign up and make sure to use the code THEBIGWEBSHOW395 at checkout and you’ll get top rated web hosting for just $3.95/month and a free domain name). Thinkful (Learn to build websites & apps in 3 months and get 20% off when you visit Thinkful.com/bigwebshow)

Touch introduces physicality to designs that were once strictly virtual, and puts forth a new test: How does this design feel in the hand? Josh Clark’s new book, “Designing For Touch,” guides designers through this new touchscreen frontier, and is the launchpad for today’s Big Web Show discussion between author Clark and host Jeffrey Zeldman. In a fast-paced, freewheeling conversation, Josh and Jeffrey discuss why game designers are some of our most talented and inspiring interaction designers; the economy of motion; perceptions of value when viewing objects on touchscreen versus desktop computer; teaching digital designers to think like industrial designers (and vice-versa); long press versus force touch; how and when to make gestures discoverable; and much more.

Josh Koenig, Co-Founder & Head of Product for Pantheon Website Management Platform, is Jeffrey Zeldman's guest in "An Infrastructure For Websites," Episode 138 of The Big Web Show ("Everything Web That Matters.") Josh & Z discuss how the industry is evolving, how smartphones are driving web growth, integrating a pull request with a server, the connection of the web to real life (and the fact that it’s no longer a meaningful distinction), the idealism of the early web, why technology doesn't solve human problems, why truly revolutionary change occurs only when new technologies fade into the background, and a future in which the back-end grunt work of website creation is automated. Josh Koenig is a Co-Founder and Head of Product for Pantheon, the website management platform for WordPress and Drupal. Prior to that he was a founder at Chapter Three, a web consultancy based in San Francisco. Josh has been involved in building the internet with Open Source and Free software for nearly two decades. Brought to you by Braintree (To learn more, and for your first $50,000 in transactions fee-free, go to BraintreePayments.com/BigWebShow).

Digital law specialist Heather Burns is Jeffrey Zeldman’s guest. Heather is the author of The Web Designer’s Guide to the Consumer Rights Directive, a “recovering web designer,” and the founder of a monthly ebulletin with digital law and policy news you need to know. She explains: “While I am not a lawyer, the legislators who create digital laws are not internet users, much less designers or developers. Therein lies the problem. I view my work on digital law and policy as an attempt to build a bridge between the two parties.” Heather and Jeffrey discuss absurd and unjust laws governing transactions on the web, including the birth of the EU cookie law (all 27 versions of it), the slow pace of government versus lightning internet development, and why web design and development need consultative status and a seat at the table. Links for this episode: About Heather Sanctimonious Claptrap: Absurd Quotations by Internet Lawmakers & Influencers? Web Dev Law WebDevLaw blog Safe For Work: VATMOSS and the Adult Industry @idea15webdesign @webdevlaw "The Law Is A Ass" – Charles Dickens Brought to you by Braintree (To learn more, and for your first $50,000 in transactions fee-free, go to BraintreePayments.com/BigWebShow).

Jeffrey Zeldman’s Big Web Show guest is front-end designer Maya Benari (@mayabenari), a leading contributor to the U.S. Web Design Standards. Recently launched, and deservedly much lauded, the U.S. Web Design Standards consist of open source UI components plus a visual style guide, and are designed to create consistency and beautiful user experiences across U.S. federal government websites. Accessibility, semantics, and mobile-first responsive web design are baked in, right out of the box. Maya and Jeffrey discuss the genesis of the project, the teams behind the scenes, and why improving people’s lives is sexier than building sandwich rating apps. Links for this episode: U.S. Web Design Standards Introducing the U.S. Web Design Standards Maya Benari's Website Maya Benari: Front End Designer 18F Guides 18F Maya Benari on GitHub Getting Started with U.S. Web Design Standards Bourbon Brought to you by Braintree (To learn more, and for your first $50,000 in transactions fee-free, go to BraintreePayments.com/BigWebShow).

Designer/developer Val Head (@vlh) is Jeffrey Zeldman's guest. Val is the co-founder of the Web Design Day conference, co-host with Cennydd Bowles of the Motion and Meaning podcast, and author of CSS Pocket Guide (5 Simple Steps) and the upcoming Designing Interface Animations (Rosenfeld Media). Val and Zeldman discuss how to create an animation style guide, the genius of user queries, the web animation API, frame by frame animation, animating with math in Flash, Disney animation and the illusion of life, animating for meaning, how to animate without triggering vestibular disorders, resources for accessible animations, and what to eat in Lawrenceville, PA. Links for this episode: Val Head - Designer & Interface Animation Consultant Val Head (@vlh) | Twitter Designing Interface Animations | Rosenfeld Media Motion And Meaning: A podcast about motion design for digital designers with Val Head and Cennydd Bowles. Web Design Day, June 12th 2015 | Pittsburgh, PA Web Design & Development Conference Designing Safer Web Animation For Motion Sensitivity · An A List Apart Article UI Animation and UX: A Not-So-Secret Friendship · An A List Apart Article More Resources for Accessible Animations · An A List Apart Blog Post Animation switch Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life: Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston: 9780896592339: Amazon.com: Books CSS animations | Five Simple Steps Brought to you by Braintree (To learn more, and for your first $50,000 in transactions fee-free, go to BraintreePayments.com/BigWebShow), Backblaze (You make sites, protect them! Big Web Show listeners get a two week free trial by going to backblaze.com/bws), and DreamHost (Visit the link to sign up and make sure to use the code THEBIGWEBSHOW395 at checkout and you’ll get top rated web hosting for just $3.95/month and a free domain name).

Khoi Vinh is Jeffrey Zeldman's guest this week. Khoi is a Principle Designer at Adobe, design chair at Wildcard, and former design director at NYTimes.com. He blogs at subtraction.com. The two designers discuss the surprising results of Khoi's recent design tools survey; being creative on the iPad; the inspiration behind Adobe Comp CC; juggling multiple projects to stay fresh; choosing an extracurricular project; how design has changed in the past two years; how to watch TV; and more. Links for this episode: @khoi on Twitter Subtraction.com The Tools Designers Are Using Today Sketch digital design software Design Tools: What Are You Using Khoi's latest book Wildcard Kidpost – Photo Sharing for Families Brought to you by Braintree (To learn more, and for your first $50,000 in transactions fee-free, go to BraintreePayments.com/BigWebShow), Casper (Visit the link and use the code BIGWEBSHOW at checkout to get $50 towards your brand new mattress), and DreamHost (Visit the link to sign up and make sure to use the code THEBIGWEBSHOW395 at checkout and you’ll get top rated web hosting for just $3.95/month and a free domain name).

Sarah Parmenter (@sazzy) and Jeffrey Zeldman discuss social media, the truth about Facebook Likes, growing your design business, getting bigger clients, sucking the joy out of web design, how the industry is changing, hair care for manly men, and more. Links for this episode: Sarah Parmenter - User Interface Designer. The blog of designer, Sarah Parmenter.Sarah Parmenter - User Interface Designer. | The blog of designer, Sarah Parmenter. UI Design, iPhone User Interface Design, UI Designer - You Know Who, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex Blushbar - The Blow Dry Bar Learning FlexboxSarah Parmenter - User Interface Designer.Sarah Parmenter - User Interface Designer. Sarah Parmenter (@sazzy) | Twitter Brought to you by Casper (Visit the link and use the code BIGWEBSHOW at checkout to get $50 towards your brand new mattress) and DreamHost (Visit the link to sign up and make sure to use the code THEBIGWEBSHOW395 at checkout and you’ll get top rated web hosting for just $3.95/month and a free domain name).

Jeffrey Zeldman’s guest is Jen Simmons (@jensimmons) of The Web Ahead. The two long-time web designers discuss moving beyond cookie-cutter layouts on the web, the ins and outs of podcasting, designing a website, learning from your users, and Jen’s journey from theater to technology. Links for this episode: Changing the Shapes with Sara Soueidan | The Web Ahead Jen Simmons (@jensimmons) | Twitter The Web Ahead Labs jensimmons/thelayoutsahead · GitHub CSS Shapes 101 · An A List Apart Article The Shapes of CSS Creating Non-Rectangular Layouts With CSS Shapes The Complexity and the Humanity with Trent Walton | The Web Ahead CSS Grid Layout Module Level 1 CSS Layouts with Rachel Andrew | The Web Ahead Zen Grids: a responsive grid system built with Compass and Sass About | Jen Simmons 216 color chart Sponsored by DreamHost (You’ll get top rated web hosting for just $3.95/month and a free domain name if you visit dreamhost.com/thebigwebshow and enter the code 'thebigwebshow395').

Jeffrey Zeldman’s guest is web pioneer Jeff Veen (@veen), cofounder of Typekit and Adaptive Path, co-creator of Measuremap, author of The Art & Science of Web Design and Hot Wired Style, ex-Google, ex-Adobe, now with True Ventures capital investment firm. Jeff and Jeffrey discuss creating the tools our community uses to make the stuff the world consumes, agency versus in-house design, consulting design monetization versus product design monetization, parent hacks, mentoring, the early web design days of Debabelizer and using server-side push for animation (because animated GIFs didn’t exist yet), how companies get valuated, what it takes to make a thing (versus what it takes to scale it), speaking versus writing, research, empathy, and saying no to products that kill kittens. Links for this episode: Jeffrey Veen (@veen) | Twitter Leaving Adobe Typekit Jeff Veen's blog Books by Jeff VeenAmazon.com

Jeffrey Zeldman's guest is web developer and long-time standards evangelist Aaron Gustafson (@AaronGustafson), author of Adaptive Web Design. The two web design and development veterans discuss web design then and now; why Flipboard's 60fps web launch is anti-web and anti-user; Genesis's "Land of Confusion" video, and other bad ideas from the 1980s; design versus art; the demise and sendoff of Web Standards Sherpa; how the web community differs from other creative communities; and the 2nd Edition of Aaron's book, coming from New Riders this year. Links for this episode: A Bit About Aaron Gustafson Adaptive Web Design: Crafting Rich Experiences with Progressive Enhancement Responsive Issues Community Group Easy Designs - Web Design, Development & Consulting Web Standards Sherpa Code & Creativity WebStandardsProject (@wasp) | Twitter A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites Genesis - Land Of Confusion [Official Music Video] - YouTube Sponsored by An Event Apart (The design conference for people who make websites).

Today’s guest is Jessica Alter (@jalter), Cofounder & Chief Connector of FounderDating, “a Linkedin for entrepreneurs.” Jessica and @zeldman discuss growing an online community while maintaining quality and avoiding spam and anti-patterns; how to become an advisor or cofounder; the biggest mistake budding entrepreneurs make; getting to your first customers; why the people side of things—experiential information—is more important than ever (and more important than fundraising); and how listeners can empower themselves to become entrepreneurs. Links for this episode: Jessica Alter (@jalter) | Twitter Connect with Entrepreneurs, Startup founders and Advisors | FounderDatingFor Entrepreneurs, By EntrepreneursConnect with world-class entreprenuers and advisors FounderDating (@founderdating) | Twitter Sponsored by DreamHost (Visit the link and use the code 'TheBigWebShow395' for top rated web hosting for just $3.95/month and a free domain name) and An Event Apart (The design conference for people who make websites).

Khoi Vinh (@khoi) is a web and graphic designer, blogger, and former design director for The New York Times, where he worked from January 2006 until July 2010. Prior to that, Khoi co-founded and was design director for Behavior, an NYC web design studio. He is the author of How They Got There: Interviews With Digital Designers About Their Careers (http://howtheygotthere.us) and Ordering Disorder: Grid Principles for Web Design (New Riders, 2010), and was a leading proponent of bringing grid-based graphic design principles to web design in the mid-2000s. In 2011, Fast Company named him one of “The 50 Most Influential Designers in America." Links for this episode: Subtraction.com + Khoi Vinh’s Web site Khoi Vinh (@khoi) | Twitter How they got there. — A book by Khoi Vinh Wildcard Khoi Vinh -- Talk to the Newsroom -- The New York Times -- Reader Questions and Answers - New York Times Khoi Vinh on using Sketch instead of Photoshop | Adobe | Creative Bloq Behavior Design Sponsored by DreamHost (Use the code TheBigWebShow395 for top rated web hosting for just $3.95/month and a free domain name).

Jared Spool (@jmspool) of User Interface Engineering and Jeffrey Zeldman (@zeldman) discuss the goals and workings of Center Centre, a new school Jared cofounded with Dr Leslie Jensen Inman to create the next generation of industry-ready UX designers. Topics include "teaching students to learn," what schools can and can't do, working with partner companies, "Project Insanity," and designing a program to make students industry-ready. Links for this episode: Jared Spool (@jmspool) | Twitter UIE Brain Sparks UIE (@UIE) | Twitter User Interface Engineering - Usability Research, Training, and Events - UIE All You Can Learn - Home Center Centre (@CenterCentre) | Twitter Center Centre UX Immersion Mobile 2015 — April 13–15, 2015 — Salt Lake City, UT Unicorn Institute Over 1,500 names are on our Wall of Awesomeness — Unicorn Institute Sponsored by DreamHost (Use the code TheBigWebShow395 for top rated web hosting for just $3.95/month and a free domain name) and Thinkful (Visit the link to get 10% off).