I attended the Irish premiere of Public Enemies yesterday evening. The new film, directed by Michael Mann, is based on the life of 1930’s American gangster John Dillinger, played by Johnny Depp. The film hadn’t even made the final cut (as the end credits had yet to be added) but I was one of the lucky few who got to see it in advance of its worldwide release (thanks to movies.ie for the tickets).

Set during the Great Depression, the film is an adaptation of Bryan Burrough’s non-fiction book Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI. The story focuses on the true story of criminal John Dillinger and FBI agent Melvin Purvis’s efforts to stop him (Purvin is played effectively by Christian Bale). Concentrating on the gangster’s last years (1933 – 1934), Dillinger is portrayed as a Robin Hood type character, whom was somewhat idolized at the time by a public that was bored, broke and struggling during a depression. His manipulation of the press and his tendency to rob banks while letting the customers keep their own money added to his appeal at the time.

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This month’s cool tune is “Stick to Your Line” by R.S.A.G. 

Known as one of the most innovative Irish musicians around, Jeremy Hickey performs solo with a ‘virtual band’ projected onto a screen. I first saw him perform on Irish television last year. What I noticed first was the screen projections, then the one-man drummer band and then the music, which I like very much.

“The genesis of the new visual experience – sound and vision hand in hand. A multi-media rock and roll cornucopia; the future is here.”
- Psychonavigation Records. 

Watch the video on YouTube.

I have been featured in Smashing Magazine’s latest article “How To Create A Great Web Design CV and Résumé” by Kat Neville of safetygoat.

Kat devised a CV design challenge/ competition in which ten Web designers had to design the same résumé in only a few hours. Each designer had to translate a fictional character, Steve Stevenson’s work experience, education and interests into their own unique style. A summary of good tips for Web designer résumés is featured at the end of the article. If you’re interested in taking the challenge yourself, visit misterstevenson.com for all the rules each of the designers followed and the chance to add your own entry.

If you are interested in learning about my design methodology, please continue reading below.

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My contribution for Ada Lovelace Day is dedicated to Susan Kare.

Susan Kare, the “Mother of GUI”:

Have you ever used a Macintosh computer? If yes, do you know the key on the bottom left of your keyboard that says  “command”. Can you picture the cloverleaf-like “infinite loop” symbol beside that? Or how about the the “Happy Mac” icon image to the left? Kane designed them.

OK, so you’re not a Mac user. Do you know the fonts Geneva, Chicago and Monaco? Kane created them.

How about Facebook – have you ever received or given a “gift” on Facebook? You know the pixel images that you can send to a friend? Kare designed many of the icons for the Facebook Gifts application.

So, you don’t use a Mac, you haven’t heard of those fonts and you’ve never been on Facebook?! Have you played Solitaire? Kare designed the graphics for the computer game. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo by Aristocrat (cc)

Today, 24^th March 2009 is the first Ada Lovelace Day. Bloggers around the globe are invited to write a blog post about  a women in technology that they admire. The aim is to highlight female role models and encourage women to become leaders in technology.

What does “in technology” mean?

It’s up to you how you interpret the phrase “in technology”. We’re not just interested in hardcore ninja programmers, but any woman who creates, invents, or uses any technology in an innovative way. Feel free to interpret it as widely as you like.

- From the website FindingAda.com

Who is Ada Lovelace?

Ada Lovelace is today appreciated as the first computer programmer. Read the rest of this entry »