The New Internet Design Project II Reloaded: The Best of Graphic Art on the Web Reloaded

Following the quick sellout of the 1998 edition, The Internet Design Project moves from a straightforward presentation of great sites to the inner workings of the internet. Highlighting some of the best online environments developed in the last year, this volume documents the movement of online design from mere 'eye-candy' towards more sophisticated environments. Like its predecessor, The Internet Design Project includes a wide range of sites and, in addition, features case studies such as John K's (creator of Ren and Stimpy) Spumco site which broadcasts animation on the web. Patrick Burgoyne is the Editor of Creative Review, the leading monthly magazine for the communication arts. He has published two books on design, Bored: Surf/Skate/Snow Graphics and FC Football Graphics. Liz Faber is a CD-Rom producer and writer for Creative Review magazine. Her previous books include The Internet Design Project (with Patrick Burgoyne) and Re:play: Ultimate Games Graphics.
Following the quick sellout of the 1998 edition, The Internet Design Project moves from a straightforward presentation of great sites to the inner workings of the internet. Highlighting some of the best online environments developed in the last year, this volume documents the movement of online design from mere 'eye-candy' towards more sophisticated environments. Like its predecessor, The Internet Design Project includes a wide range of sites and, in addition, features case studies such as John K's (creator of Ren and Stimpy) Spumco site which broadcasts animation on the web. Patrick Burgoyne is the Editor of Creative Review, the leading monthly magazine for the communication arts. He has published two books on design, Bored: Surf/Skate/Snow Graphics and FC Football Graphics. Liz Faber is a CD-Rom producer and writer for Creative Review magazine. Her previous books include The Internet Design Project (with Patrick Burgoyne) and Re:play: Ultimate Games Graphics.

In an effort to encourage a new visual language for the Internet, the people behind the British magazine Creative Review have chosen to feature 50 innovative Web sites in The New Internet Design Project Reloaded, which they feel make full use of what the Web has to offer. These sites don't rely on the "established syntax" of pages, windows, and "quasi-objects;" rather, they explore new ways to visually represent data and new means of user interface and interactivity.

There are thousands of great new ideas here; all the work is outstanding. Most of the sites push the medium as far as it will go today and are best viewed on the fastest connection possible. Sites profiled include Type Me, Type Me Not (acg.media.mit.edu/people/pcho/typemenot/), Peter Cho's engaging Java applets that react to user input to "play" a letter on the keyboard (try sounding out a name or the word "love") and Potatoland (www.potatoland.org), Mark Napier's collection of wildly interactive pages that generate artwork depending upon the user's movements (in The Shredder, plug in your own URL and see your Web design literally deconstructed).

There are plenty of screen shots, but it's more fun to go through the book while at the computer. Along with the goals and concepts of each site, the applications used are listed. The designers answer questions on what's best about the Web today and what will be the next big trends in the future. And they even list their favorite Web sites.

This book is a follow-up to last year's first volume and, if the sites in that book now seem old hat, the work here surely lives up to the title "cutting edge." --Angelynn Grant

Topics covered: Profiles of innovative Web sites and designers, including screen shots, discussion of concepts and software used; and interviews with the designers on the state of Web design today and outlooks for the future.