The concept of social media is now an integral part of our modern lives. It governs the ways in which we purchase things, how we publish things, and even the ways in which we come together in the “real world.” A perfect example of this feature exists in Facebook’s event application. Users can create real, or intellectual/digital events through an extremely easy to use interface. Mashable has done a great job of how to best setup a Facebook event on their blog. Go check it out: maybe it’s just the thing you need to bring your readers together!

Collages.net approached us with an already wildly successful company and product; from their website: “From posting to printing, Collages.net offers professional photographers a complete workflow solution.” However, they were missing one thing: a blog that would enhance their preexisting services and fully engage their long list of talented clients.

So, Blog What? Design stepped in to provide a variety of solutions for Collages. First we designed a blog, through collaboration with a fabulous in-house design team, that mirrored the original brand and concept of the company’s website. Then we integrated features such as optimized search, poll management, and a unique “photo of the week” section in their sidebar. These options, along with the great tools Wordpress automatically builds into each site, created a blog that is updated nearly every day and receives comments on every post.

Take a look at the work we did for Collages.NET here. 

Professor McNeal came to Blog What? Design months before his personal project to complete the AIDP Blog project. This time around he was looking for a professional way to showcase his continual work through a “commentary at the intersection of law, policy, and culture.” Professor McNeal’s website contains two distinct features: a blog and a “featured” section. The featured section of GSMcNeal.com contains specially formatted posts with special graphic showcasing so that each of his formal articles is professionally highlighted.

Professor McNeal’s website also contains features such as: a contact form, special media sections, book feature, and a similar posts section amongst other things. Check it out!

In other news, Blog What? Design will soon be taking on a strong team of new designers!

It’s just about that time of year: the time for fresh new beginnings, baby animals being born (ohhh, how cuuuute), and our favorite: spring cleaning!

1. I’ve been sweeping up around Google, and finding link backs (even from way, way back) for BWD. Here are some of the very kind awards and features we’ve been given.
What I enjoy most are not just the features themselves, but the other sites BWD is placed next to. Thank you very much!

• An award for “Best Web Visual Design” at WebHostingSearch.com in Feburary 2009
• 38 Unmistakable Vector Illustrated Characters from Design Reviver in May 2008
• 31 Creative Examples Of Mascots To Grab Your Attention from virology.tv in November 2008
• “Featured Site” award badge on css based
• “Featured Shot” on BrowserShots Excellent tool, by the way!
• Part of the inspiration - websites collection from Bart-Jan Verhoef
• Part of this lovely Flickr set titled “Interaction Design”
• 70+ Very Impressing Website Header Graphics from httpartist in January 2009
• 20 Sites with Beautiful Character Illustrations - v2 from deziner folio in March 2009 (Who has an awesome tag cloud display!)

2. Blog What? Design will be acquired by a new company in the coming months. I have decided to go ahead with a few members of my team here at BWD and create a new media company to act as an umbrella for all sorts of ventures. BWD will still continue to run in its existing form… but will be slightly revamped in terms of its design and business structure. Look forward for some exciting new ventures and projects from Media Plate Studios!

Also: around five new projects long overdue to be in the portfolio section!

After all these accolades… is the red carpet next?!

Just came across Six Revisions who featured Blog What? Design in their ”40 Excellent Blog Designs” post last month. We are extremely honored to sit next to such lovely and beautiful designs. Thank you Six Revisions! We couldn’t be happier!