If Latin is a Dead Language... Why do I See it in Design Mock Ups?

I am sure you have all seen design samples with paragraphs of Latin text like this:

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diem nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut lacreet dolore magna aliguam erat volutpat."

Have you ever wondered where it comes from or why it is used?

Well, it isn't random Latin text - its roots originate from a book on ethics written in 45 BC! It was in the 1500's when a printer first used it as filler in a sample book he was creating to display different fonts.

It has been around since then and used by many to display fonts - especially in the 1960's on Letraset pages, as well as content filler when text hasn't been written.

Why use it for content filler?

When we are designing, especially page layout and we don't have the text yet, we want to create a design that provides an overall impression. We don't want the lack of text to create a distraction from the main design theme.

If you were to use "content here content here content here" throughout the page you would find it to be unnatural and distracting. Using the Latin "Lorem ipsum" phrasing we find the page content flows evenly and you don't notice (at first) that it isn't true content.

Compare the two samples below - which one looks to be more natural?

We find it interesting that 2000 year old text is still implemented in a method created more than 500 years ago!

Now you are aware and part of this ancient tradition!
 
If you would like more information or require our design skills, please feel free to contact us!

Sean Smith
Twitter: @ci2group
Website: www.ci2group.com

What is the Heartbleed Bug?

As you are aware the Heartbleed Bug issue is very much in the news right now. 

Many websites with security certificates (recognized with HTTPS:// at the beginning of the URL website address) are vulnerable. Heartbleed exploits an element of the site's security called OpenSSL. It allows malicious hackers to obtain personal information such as passwords etc.

Safety Measures

Be careful where you go on the internet. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) temporarily shut down their site to remedy the situation on their end. Canadian banks appear to not have been compromised.

When visiting a site you log into, check and see if they have a statement on how they have handled the issue. It is recommended you change your passwords. You can also clear your "cookie" settings and delete your cache of temporary internet files - you can do this in the settings area located in your browser's menu.

The safest measure is to not access the sites you log into until you hear this has all been rectified. 

Be safe.

If you require more information please feel free to contact us!

Sean Smith
Twitter: @ci2group
Website: www.ci2group.com

Agents of Change

As the World Wide Web turned 25 this past week, I paused to reflect on how technology has empowered a generation to be “Agents of Change” in a way never possible until now. No matter what our role, there is a never-ending expectation to improve, be creative, and embrace what’s next.

The prevailing conviction is that the current status quo can always be improved.

Whether we’re following or leading change, “managing change” is woven through the fabric of every day. New technology & new methods are empowering us to be more efficient, more accurate, and more effective but how about the down side? Well, there is certainly lots that can be written and “rushing into change” has more casualties than success stories. Staying with our time tested practices of evaluating, and carefully analyzing new solutions and opportunities in an intentional & deliberate way is more important than ever.

As we consider what the next 25 years of technology might bring, it’s the human ‘agent’ element that I believe will bring the most satisfaction and reward.

Jason Caldwell
Twitter: @ci2group
Website: www.ci2group.com

See One, Do One, Teach One

We can all take a cue from the medical profession when it comes to training new team members quickly. Interns have a lot of ground to cover in a few short years so teaching hospitals have adopted the mantra of “see one, do one, teach one”. We can all benefit from that mindset to help us progress. It’s the second step which really causes us to accumulate our own skills. Let’s face it, you can watch someone else play a guitar forever but you will never be a guitar player yourself until you get to strumming.

Perhaps the most important step though is the last one – “teach one”. There are two big benefits to this. You start the cycle all over again, setting someone else on their path to learning but the value to you in teaching someone cannot be overlooked. Through the act of teaching, you will need to understand the task at a much deeper level to properly articulate your thoughts and answer questions that you’ve never considered before.

Through personal experience, I’ve discovered that teaching others has caused me to ask questions that I’d not considered before and in doing so, I’ve connected experiences and thoughts that have lead me to some creative and unexpected ideas. The exercise is so worthwhile. Don’t ever be so busy that you don’t have the time to pass on your experience to others.

After all, someone else did it for you.

We’ve all got the capacity within us. What will you see, and do, and teach today?

Interested in how we can be creative for you? Drop us a line - we’d love to chat!

Keith Kern
Twitter: @ci2group
Website: www.ci2group.com