The Vodori.com Blog

Your code is being watched: observers and singleton patterns

Salvador Gaytan — Fri, 11 May 2012 06:00:00 GMT

In the web development world, it’s not uncommon to see new projects incorporate frameworks to facilitate the development effort, such as Spring, EJB and Zend. Usually, learning the framework itself takes a while for new developers. So when I recently worked on a system that made use of Zend, I was already expecting a learning curve. However, this project proved to have more curves than San Francisco’s Lombard Street. Upon code stepping, it seemed that code was getting executed when certain variables or conditions changed. After exhaustive debugging and several face-palms, I came to realize that my code was being observed by an entity other than myself.

The observer pattern

The observer pattern is a programming structure that lets other objects know when a certain event occurs. This is especially useful when you have several objects depending on a single object. Instead of making multiple calls from all over your code to check and see if a certain variable or condition changed (adding additional overhead since it may be that nothing has changed at all), the object being observed simply notifies every object observing it that it has changed. This will have the effect of automatically having all objects up to date without redundantly checking at random (or set) intervals trying to guess when something has changed. The reason this project was using observers was so that when model data would get saved, all view data using the model would be updated. (Part of the project’s MVC structure)

The singleton pattern

Another pattern that I noticed while working with this project was the singleton pattern. This allows only a single copy of an object to be instantiated. This is useful for data that will be used in several places, but will not change. The manner in which singletons were used in this project was to encapsulate xml configuration into an object, so that the information could be more easily read. Singletons are also used extensively in other frameworks (like Spring) to minimize the number of objects in memory when they don’t need to maintain state.

These are only two of many programming design patterns that I learned existed. The Gang of Four (GOF) were the first authors to document these design patterns in their book: Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software. Once I realized that these patterns were in play within this project, and most likely used in potentially every future project, I began buffing up on them. Frameworks, it seemed, make heavy use of these patterns because they abstract ideas and don’t tie structure to specifics. Familiarizing myself with design patterns allowed me more readily identify the structure and flow of the framework and make better use of it. Upon concluding my short detour in design pattern land, I was able to efficiently continue my task, now able to understand how the code was connected.

FiftyThree brings realistic sketching to the iPad with Paper

Christine Mortensen — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Since the advent of the electronic revolution, creatives of all kinds have longed for a digital parallel to traditional drawing methods. In the early days, Apple gave us the mouse—a breakthrough in human computer interaction but greatly lacking in any fine control for detailed graphics. Seeing a huge opportunity in this space, Wacom, with their various drawing tablets and stylus products, has been a leading innovator for as long as I can remember when it comes to drawing tablets. Enter in the iPad, mobile company FiftyThree, and their creation Paper.

Paper is a gesture-based iPad app that eloquently allows you to paint, sketch, and take notes with either a stylus or simply with your fingers. The interface is best described as clean, simple and unobtrusive. Unlike other drawing apps, you will find no hints of binder rings, lined paper, or other forms of skeuomorphism here.

The Paper app interface is simple and clean. One of the default journals (shown above) shows you the various tools available to you with an in-app purchase. One is provided for free.

You are at first presented with three sketchbooks, one on how to use Paper, one provided for sketches, and another for ideas. This is their way of queueing users that with Paper, you can organize notebooks into various subject matter. To move in and out of your sketchbooks, use gestures such as pinching, swiping to cycle through sketchbooks, and flicking to turn pages. Buttons are not a common component in Paper and can take a few minutes of experimentation to become familiar but you'll soon find that gestural navigation here is quite natural with only a few hang ups.

A look at the full Paper toolset

"I love using Paper. It's replaced my notebook as well as my sketchpad. I feel less pressure having a digital sketchbook where as a physical one I feel once I have a crappy drawing in it I feel like the book is ruined. This eliminates that irrational fear. While I truly love the app I really am hoping for some updates soon that help it become a more versatile tool."—Collin Green


A sample website sketch in Paper	A sample drawing from Collin

Paper features we love:

Paper features a beautiful and simple interface, which, keeps things from becoming cluttered
Gesture controls are ease use
Responsive to finger and stylus movements so you can still use the app even if you have left your stylus elsewhere, unlike drawing tablets of the past
Share your drawings via email
There are a small and well selected number of drawing tools. Users are not overwhelmed with tools that they would likely never use anyways
Easily undo, or as Paper calls it "rewind," up to 20 previous steps by a simple two-fingered counter-clockwise gesture
Create as many journals as you want
Delete and add pages to your journals
It's fast—this app loads and responds very quickly

Things on our "room for improvement" list:

Since your hand can't touch the surface when drawing or writing, it is slightly awkward to take notes with Paper (either with or without a stylus).
Page turn gestures: Sometimes you inadvertingly write or turn a page. This can be problematic, as leaving a page erases the rewind history so if you don't notice that you (or your friend looking at your awesome drawing) made an accidental mark on a sketch and then turns the page…congratulations that's now a part of your creation.
Brush size options amongst the existing toolset would give users more variety and further control of the look/style of their drawing.
The limited color palette, while very nice, is well…limited. We would love to see the ability to select or create more color options available in the future.
There is currently no support for page or journal reordering
At the time of this writing, there is no export or backup system to save your journals outside of Paper
Edges of the UI are too responsive causing flyout menus to open when doodling. This is probably the one time where you want to introduce a button rather than rely solely on gesturing.
More paper background options would be nice as well, e.g., watercolor paper, plain paper, canvas, etc.

So overall, we give the Paper app very high marks and think it can help even the unlikely artist create something worth sharing. We greatly look forward to future updates on this creation from FiftyThree as we continue to look for ways to brainstorm and collaborate amongst our teams in new and effective ways. One of the greatest things that any tool can offer, is giving its users the freedom to create and find new ways to express ideas no matter where you are—and Paper for the iPad does just that.

Have you tried Paper yet? If so, let us know what you think in the comments below.

9 articles you need to read about tablets

Andrew Daglas — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Because we at Vodori pride ourselves on our immersion in digital culture, we tend to notice even the subtlest technological trends. Here's one that's taken hold lately, which you may have noticed: tablets are pretty popular.

It's true. These handy devices—not just the iPad, but also the Kindle Fire, various Android-based models, and more—are everywhere. One may even be right in front of your face as you read this.

In fact, if there's one thing spreading throughout digital culture faster than tablets, its media coverage of tablets. Here's a roundup of a few stories which have caught our eyes recently.

Seeing a Future in Tablets, Magazines Unveil the Digital Newsstand - New York Times

Periodicals are well-positioned to capitalize on the tablet revolution. The format plays to the traditional strengths of the magazine; a reader can enjoy in-depth pieces or just "flip" through, while enjoying an eye catching layout.
'Couch Surfing' Takes On New Meaning as Smart Devices Proliferate - Wired

Television is a uniquely communal medium, and the combination of social media and handheld Internet access now lets viewers engage with those communities across the country.
Tablet Computing Is Here To Stay, And Will Force Changes In Laptops And Phones - Co.Design (Fast Company)

The biggest proof of tablets' influence? They're shaping the future of all other personal computing hardware.
Seven Tablet and Mobile Trends to Expect in 2012 - MarketingProfs

An overview of developments to come, and how they'll impact the ways marketers reach consumers.
Microsoft's Windows tablet future: Businesses yes, consumers no - ComputerWorld

Facing an uphill climb against more established Apple and Google Android, can Microsoft find a competitive foothold in the enterprise market?
Tablet boom waiting for corporate wave - Chicago Tribune

And Microsoft's gamble may pay off, if the enterprise market, slow to develop to this point, is ready to take off.
Tablets are at cutting edge of multitasking - Marketing Week

Many consumers are using tablets as time management tools, to help keep track of the multiple-simultaneously-open-tabs known as life. (/deepthought.)
Apple's 'iPad' is the only tablet people know - San Antonio Express-News

Admit it, every time you've read "tablet" in this post, you've thought "iPad." The hottest item on the market is on the verge of achieving the same kind of permanent notoriety as Band-Aid and Kleenex.
Dear Android Tablets: Stay Crazy - Gizmodo

Because nobody ever made a creative breakthrough by following the same old rules. Even if tablets are becoming ubiquitous, they still represent a young technology that deserves plenty of experimentation to keep thriving.

We've been keeping close "tabs" on these devices (get it?), and we'll continue to do so. After creating a few apps of our own for clients, we continue to explore how these devices affect the way we engage and interact with users, and with content itself. Tablets are here to stay, and their relevance will only grow.

What do you think? Share your thoughts on these articles, or pass along a story we may have missed, in the comments below.

Pencil in some creative break time

David Stinnette — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

As a web designer, I spend the majority of my day sitting in front of a computer monitor (or two), because when it comes down to it, nearly the entire creative process from conception to completion is done within the digital world. Wire framing, mood boards, page layouts, and illustrations are all done in one Adobe Creative Suite program or another.

All of these elements are tested on a number of “form factors”—which in layman's terms means asking, “do you have a big screen or a little screen?” At any given moment, my desk will have three or four different screens lit up and blaring their millions of colors at me (and they’re beautiful).

It makes sense that the majority of my working day is spent creating things digitally: I design websites, which, for as long as they’ve been around, have been exclusively electronic entities. Meticulously designing a ten template website on 8 ½" x 11" paper just doesn’t make sense.

The problem with living solely in the online realm is that my brain gets complacent thinking only in digital terms. I find that creativity at its best is usually achieved when it’s pressured and forced outside of its comfort zone. For me, that means putting down the mouse and picking up a pencil at least once a day.

Don’t get me wrong, sketching isn’t a foreign concept to me (or to a designer of any kind, for that matter) I’ve been drawing my entire life—not particularly well, maybe, but drawing nonetheless. Illustration and creating in physical media are a part of my creative background, and I consider them a foundation of my design abilities. I just never draw on my own anymore. So, to both foster increased creativity and to give my eyes a break from the beauty of millions of colors, I’ve begun what I’ve dubbed the “Drawing-a-Day Project.”

The concept is simple: Five minutes, one pen, one yellow sticky note. Draw the first thing that comes into your head. Repeat daily. Not a novel exercise, but one I’m really enjoying participating in. It forces me to be imaginative outside of my daily projects and to just be creative for the sake of being creative.

So far it’s been going on for a week. Here's a sample of what I've whipped up so far:


"Portrait of the Muppet As A Young Frog"	"Jellyfish Descending"	"Ampersand in Repose"

Bringing e-commerce to Creative Converting’s party

Dave Shapanka — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

When Creative Converting decided to launch its first full-fledged e-commerce site, it represented a wide-open opportunity for everyone involved. Even as one of America's leading manufacturers and distributors of paper party goods, Creative Converting had little experience reaching their customers online. Their solution was to bring in Vodori. (Call me biased, but I think it was a darn wise decision.)

Needless to say, we were excited. Building a comprehensive digital presence almost from scratch gave everyone on the team a chance to flex their imaginations and try new things. All three of our core units—Strategy, Creative, and Technology—relished tackling the limitless possibilities offered by a blank canvas.

Everyone’s on the guest list

Our strategists started out by identifying the site's audiences and their various needs—primarily, seeking product info and direct purchasing. Understanding how customers would browse and search for product offerings (and other company information) was vital to shaping the catalog's top-level navigation.

This customer research was served up to our creative crew. They pored over the data and constructed a visual home that reflects the client's signature aesthetics—a showcase for the fashion-forward design of Creative Converting products (my personal favorite being the Monster Mania Standup Centerpiece, of course). Textures from the party goods were transformed into graphic elements seen across the site.

It was up to the technology team to bring it all to life on the web—implementing, testing, and supporting a host of new features. Chief among these are a complete web catalog of over 7,000 products and an online ordering system powered by Magento software, integrated with Creative Converting's own ERP system.

The fruits of all three disciplines come together in one popular feature, right on the homepage: a crowd-pleasing color wheel, which helps you browse through all thirty-six Touch of Color swatches for single-tone plates, cups, napkins, cutlery, tablecloths, etc. 'Round and 'round it goes!

All work…and some play

Our partnership was as energizing as the work itself, thanks in part to Creative Converting's laid-back style and sense of humor—evident in product offerings like the Bandanarama Plastic 100' Banquet Roll and Paw-ty Time! Honeycomb Centerpiece. In short, they know how to paw-ty! (Or purr-ty, if cats are more your speed.) Little touches injected plenty of fun into our daily working relationship. One day it might be hearing clients sign onto a conference call as "Bonnie and Clyde." Another day it might be having my face Photoshopped onto Zach Galifianakis's body. And of course, we provided a shoulder for our Indianapolis-based clients to cry on during Manning-induced sadness.

It's all combined to make the 15-months-and-counting experience pretty special. We've helped our client open up a whole new sales dimension, built a beautiful website, and had fun doing it. Not too shabby.

A Timeline primer for healthcare brands

Carrie Blood — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

If you have a Facebook Page, you’ve probably already heard that Timeline changes take effect on March 30. These changes will impact the way you organize and present information on your company's Facebook page, which naturally will impact the message it conveys. At Vodori, we've been thinking a lot about what these changes will mean for brands—in particular for healthcare brands, which represent a large portion of our clients.

1. First impressions:

Pages are no longer able to select a custom landing page—all fans are directed to the Wall, which is now called the “Timeline.” At the top of the Timeline is a cover photo (more about this below). This redesign relegates the profile picture to a smaller corner. Due to this shrinkage, if your profile picture contained any text content (such as contact info, or Important Safety Information in the case of a healthcare brand), that content may need to be shifted elsewhere.

2. Cover photos:

These will be 851x315 pixels, and will span the top of your new timelines. We highly recommend you create a custom image that reflects your brand’s identity; this is your "welcome" sign, the first thing users will see when they come to your Facebook page. If you don't have the means to create a custom image, Facebook will accept any image at least 399 pixels wide. Bear in mind, however, that your image will be stretched to fill designated cover photo space, and small ones could become quite distorted.

Additionally, cover photos cannot contain promotional information, such as calls to action, arrows pointing to the Like button, or your contact info (which should live in the About section). This is not intended as ad space, but rather as a place for you to put a face to your brand.

3. Tabs:

Pages only display four tabs initially: the Photos tab, and three others selected by the page administrator. Users must manually expand the custom tabs to view the rest. Admins can specify which tabs appear first and which appear after expansion. Brands will need to think carefully about which sections best communicate their message and deserve to be featured up front.

The Photos tab is permanently set to the first slot (the Likes tab is also mandatory, but it can be shifted out of the "front four"). Combined with the prominence of the cover photo, this suggests a trend towards heavy visual elements. These may not currently be the strong suit of your brand's online presentation (as is often the case in the health care industry). Nevertheless, developing a strong and relevant visual sense is more important to your digital presence than ever.

4. Timeline columns:

The Timeline itself consists of two columns which display your posts. Your friend activity appears at the top of the right column.

The Timeline also allows you to "pin" posts to the top of the column for up to seven days at a time, letting you showcase the most relevant material or links. Either presents an attractive option for meeting the disclosure requirements of a highly regulated industry like healthcare. Critical or mandatory information can be pinned to the top of a timeline column, where it remains conspicuous without overwhelming the brand message on the rest of the page.

5. Highlight posts:

Page administrators can now choose to highlight a specific post, expanding it across both the left and right Timeline columns. Hover over the upper right corner of the post to reveal the star icon to highlight that post.

Unlike a pinned post, which gets promoted to the top of the timeline, a highlighted post will maintain its position within the timeline. It will simply expand, which may make it easier to read a block of text or view a horizontally-aligned picture.

6. Milestones:

Pages have the ability to publish “Milestones,” which appear full-width across the Timeline. It’s possible to outline a company’s history as far back as desired via the Timeline. This is a good way to build trust by emphasizing the company's track record—a paramount concern in the healthcare industry, where longevity and proven results are often vital to a brand image.

7. Messaging and comments:

Pages can now receive private messages from fans, although you have the option to remove this feature. Commenting, on the other hand, cannot simply be disabled by a page administrator. As a social channel, Facebook wants to foster discussion, so comments are mandatory (with few exceptions). Pages dedicated to a specific drug, for instance, may cancel this functionality by contacting Facebook directly and requesting it. A representative from Facebook will review your page and determine whether or not to turn comments off on your behalf.

For more coverage and additional details, Mari Smith has outlined 21 key points to know about the Timeline changes.

Better Know A Vodorian: Collin Green

Collin Green — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Part of an ongoing series to get acquainted with the citizens of Vodoriland. Collect them all!

Name: Collin Green
Title: Senior Designer
Specialties: Branding, illustration, abstract thinking, finding solutions—but not always the immediate solutions.

So, what exactly do you do around here?

I'm in charge of most things creative. That ranges from Photoshopping random employees' heads onto animals bodies to the creation of branding and websites. I have more of a focus on branding; within our team that's my little specialty.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Inspiration comes from everywhere. Luckily I sit by a window, so a fair amount comes from that. The music I'm listening to, that intrinsically creates emotions that effects what I'm doing. My bike rides to work are surprisingly littered with all kinds of snippets and details and sound bites and colors.

What sites do you visit most often?

I've been paying a lot more attention to technology stuff, so The Next Web, I check that out at least once a day. Of course Dribbble, and A List Apart. The blog Brand New. And bldgwlf.com, a site dedicated to contemporary design and illustration.

What do you do when you're not at work?

I go to as many concerts as possible, and I'm trying to get the outdoors stuff going. Bike rides are a big thing. Especially now that the weather's getting going. I don't like to be closed up during winter—makes me grumpy.

I'm trying to read a stack of books that never seems to dwindle. Books range from fantasy to career-based stuff. I'm currently reading The Wise Man's Fear, which is fantasy, and then How to Be A Graphic Designer without Losing Your Soul. I like to read stuff in tandem.

Do you find a lot of overlap between the fantasy world and the design world?

Kind of. It does kind of put a spin on some things. My desire for bringing magic from the fantasy world into design would be great, if I could find a way to make that happen.

Since we're on the topic, what would be your superpower?

Teleportation. I guess flying has its advantages, but teleportation is immediate. FaceTiming with my friends on a regular basis, we make jokes about "how come Apple hasn't invented Wonkavision?" So that'd be pretty wild. I could dig that. I could visit everybody and multitask that much more if I could teleport.

Who are your heroes?

As cheesy as it sounds, my dad was always a tremendous inspiration. He taught me everything from how to draw to hooking up lighting. He's my go-to "What would he do?" guy.

I also had a huge admiration, when I was very young, for Frank Lloyd Wright—his living structures, things like that. I was into architecture. Ever since I was little I was fascinated by people's sanctuaries, and where they came to get away from everything. He created these cool, unique environments that were also integrated with nature.

And when I was very little, Tom Cruise's character in Top Gun was pretty badass. Maverick.

The face of 1980s America, in all his badassery.

Do you have a theme song? Other than "Danger Zone" of course.

"Feel It All Around," by Washed Out. That's the song I play in my head every day when I smack my alarm off. It's smooth like me.

Do you have a nickname?

"C-Bear."

And where did that come from?

From an older Vodori employee. It originated from my passion for hip-hop, and if you look up C-Bear, it was a cartoon in the '80s where Tone Lōc did the voice of C-Bear. It was Calvin-and-Hobbes-esque, where this kid had a teddy bear who was alive when people weren't around. But this teddy bear was a gangsta. He has a blue cap and dark sunblocker shades on.

Notice that Collin's idols all share an affinity for awesome shades.

What's your definition of a Vodorian?

Someone that's going to be open-minded, willing to say yes to a challenge before even taking it on, and of course following through at any cost. Self-sacrificing, determined individuals.

What do you like most about working at Vodori?

The dress code's pretty nice. The relaxed environment. It's an opportunity to work not only with brilliant minds and hard workers, but people I can call my friends as well. That's pretty awesome.

Better Know Other Vodorians:

Conrad Akier, Consultant
Jeremy Arnold, Technology
Carrie Blood, Strategy Analyst
James Kearney, Program Manager
Jesse Krantzler, Technology
Christine Mortensen, Design/Strategy
Erin Willingham, Platform Engineer
Peter Winter, Office Manager
Matt Young, Technology

Can Facebook pique your interest?

Christine Mortensen — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Nothing is truer than the old saying that the only constant is change. That must be Facebook's motto, because in addition to the recent Timeline launch to brand pages over the next few weeks, they have also added "interest lists" to profiles.

What are interest lists?

Quite simple, really—they're collections you can create and subscribe to in order to see and organize the Facebook content you find interesting. Sound a lot like Twitter lists? That’s because they are.

A number of articles have stated that this feature is in fact a direct challenge to Twitter. But I'm not so sure about that, especially considering that people use Twitter and Facebook in vastly different ways and for different reasons. According to a recent study, Twitter users tend to be “focused, no-nonsense information-gatherers.” Information seekers on Facebook, however, tend to be “considerably less intellectually curious.”

Why is this relevant?

Interest lists organize information by subject matter where as Twitter lists and Google+ circles organize people. For example, Facebook curates its own lists, such as one collecting the pages for all 32 NFL teams. Die-hard football fans certainly will be interested in that, even if few others are.

But will the average Facebook user start curating their own custom lists on Facebook? I’m not entirely sold. Perhaps in time, Facebook users will discover and adopt interest lists—but they aren’t widely promoted right now, leaving them to be discovered by happenstance.

How does this apply to my business?

For now, interest lists are only available to user profiles, but that doesn't mean brands can’t benefit. If you and your company have a Facebook presence, you might consider starting a personal list of content relevant to and from your brand that others may want to subscribe to. Take for example my own list, “Social Media,” which includes information from Mashable, Facebook guru Mari Smith, and others— with Vodori added for good measure, of course.

While I don’t see interest lists being a “Twitter killer,” I do think that they offer a new and interesting way for Facebook users to find and interact with content relevant to them. And even though I don’t see list use becoming widespread, those looking for more than the normal random banter on Facebook may consider them a great tool.

Either way, it will be interesting to see where interest lists go. Do you see yourself using interest lists for yourself or for your brand? If so, how? Let us know in the comments below.

4 suggestions - and 1 warning? - hidden in our blog

Andrew Daglas — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

The start of another month at Vodori Blog HQ means that it's time to deploy Wordle and examine the mysteries, secrets, and cheat codes contained herein. As devoted followers know, last time we peered into the blog's word cloud, we spied a handful of less-than-charitable pointers.

This time around, the Oracle seems to be more sympathetic to (if a bit cynical about) the challenges we face as marketers:

1. Expect ROI, get grey.

No lie: figuring out how to consistently measure, predict, and boost return on investment isn't easy. But nobody here has suffered grey hairs as a result. So far.

Maybe to counteract that perceived stress, or maybe just because spring is around the corner, the ol' blog is feeling downright festive this month.

The February 2012 Vodori Blog Word Cloud.

2. Something social first

Sounds right up our alley. Team fun is in the Vodori DNA, whether we're partaking in Friday happy hours around the office (complete with crowdsourced jigsaw puzzles) or venturing out for some competitive high-speed collisions. What did you have in mind?

3. Pretty technology

Shiny things—good call. I'm sure we've got a few high-tech party favors around here. But our developers are hard at work on the pièce de résistance: the forthcoming, über-snazzy version of our Pepper® platform.

4. Go large strategy

Well, sure. What good is pretty technology without large strategy to guide it? Executing that strategy, however, is a little tougher than just announcing it like you're summoning Captain Planet.

5. Dress honchos

Let's not go nuts here. I'm sure we can rock suitably fancy attire without big-shots turning this into cotillion. Besides, I defy you to tell me that this is a group in need of sartorial guidance:

Ain't no party like an argyle party, etc.

Parties are a group effort, of course. Do you see any other tips or tricks in the cloud we should heed? Let us know in the comments.

Looking for Tweetspiration

Christine Mortensen — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Inspiration is a funny thing. You never know when it will strike and it seems to come when you expect it least. Twitter is a perfect tool to facilitate your next great “AH-HA!” That’s why
I try to keep an eye on the following companies, resources, and people.

Have a few of your own? Please share with us in the comments below.

Dabble (@dabblehq)

Commitment-phobes, this is the learning community for you! If signing up for multi-week classes is just too much, here you’ll get a smattering of information on a wide variety of topics. Whatever you’re into (or not quite yet) there’s always something interesting to learn. And since inspiration sometimes comes from the strangest of places, the more variety the better!

Technori (@Technori)

About once a week, Technori—a community dedicated to Chicago entrepreneurs—turns it’s focus to just one Chicagoan and tells their life story. If you’re in the tech business and looking for inspiration on a range of topics, this is the place to look.

I Love Typography (@ilovetypography)

All the way from Japan, John Boardley brings you nothing but the best in type-related topics for font-philes. Truth be told, John does a good job making type interesting to more than just the geekiest of designers. A great place to start is “On Choosing Type,” in which, he walks us through the thought-process a designer undertakes when selecting fonts.

Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama)

Yes, the Dalai Lama is actually on Twitter (and apparently so is the Pope). Tune in here for an occasional burst of sage advice, such as, “The ultimate source of comfort and peace is within ourselves.” Don’t you already feel less stressed?

Interactive Design Archive (@idarchive)

For a little more work–related inspiration, be sure to take a look at some of the great digital finds posted here daily—from apps, to Flash, to OpenGL, and much, much more.

Dictionary.com (@dictionarycom)

If you tend to fancy words over pixels, then be sure to follow Dictionary.com for a daily dose of linguistic leisure. While I can’t promise you true inspiration with this one, you’ll at least learn a few interesting facts.

There are a plethora of great resources on Twitter...far too many for one post alone. What accounts or sites do you rely on when you need a little disruptive innovation? Tell us below.

Still craving more?

Where do you get your design inspiration by Collin Green
Twitter Creatives: Who to follow and why by David Stinnette
5 copywriting tools that have nothing to do with copywriting
by Andrew Daglas

12 tips for nailing that job interview

Vodori Staff — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Congratulations! You followed our super-handy resume and cover letter tips to a T, and consequently advanced to the next stage in your job search: the interview. But our helpfulness doesn't stop there—we've also gained a few insights into the interviewing process. If you're in the running for one of our open positions, heed this handful of pointers to ensure a smooth interview, on the phone and in person.

Phone Interview Tips

When scheduling a time to speak on the phone, remember to factor in time zones.
Just like in real estate, location is critical: Choose a spot with reliable signal service, and without any background noise. After all, we want to hear what you have to say.
Keep your energy high. Communicating clearly without the benefit of eye contact or body language can be tricky—your speech and tone of voice have to do the heavy lifting. Coming into the call sharp, alert, and prepared makes that much easier.
It's understandable to be nervous, but don't let that stop you from being yourself. Within a 25-minute call, your goal is to persuade us to bring you in for an interview; in that short amount of time, personality goes a long way. Bring up a topic you're passionate about—a technology, a project, a design, a book, whatever—and be able to articulate why it sparks your interest.

In-Person Interview Tips

Naturally, you don't want to be late. But please don't show up more than five or ten minutes early, either. You'll end up feeling awkward while you sit around waiting, and so will we.
Dress appropriately. Even though we inhabit a casual work environment, you still want to present yourself in the best possible light. This is the first impression you're making in person.
Take the interview seriously, but let your personality shine through. We're a business, and we're also people. Show us not only how you can help grow the business, but also why we'll enjoy having you around the office.
Be prepared: Bring extra copies of your resume, your portfolio or relevant work samples, and a pen and paper to take notes.
If you're unsure of the answer to a question, it's better to admit it. We've all been in that position in interviews—none of us knows everything, and we don't expect you to be the first person who does. Humility and self-awareness are much more admirable than faking your way through.
Do your research and come up with unique questions. Think a level or two beyond, "What's a typical day like?" or "What are the things you look for in an employee?" Stellar candidates should give the impression that they are interviewing us just as we're interviewing them. Asking thoughtful questions will reflect that.
Refrain from raising the matter of salary right away. However, if we ask what salary you expect, you should be prepared with an honest and reasonable answer. Severely over- or undervaluing yourself may color our impression of you as a candidate.
Remember the names of the people you speak with, both over the phone and in person. And follow up with your interviewers within a reasonable time frame.

Top 21 rejected social media job titles

Andrew Daglas — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Gurus and ninjas and rock stars, oh my.

I'm not sure what it is about social media that attracts so many colorful job titles. Maybe it's still viewed as something "young people" use, and the head honchos think all us Gen Yers still love to play pretend in the backyard. Or maybe social media's a domain where all the head honchos are Gen Yers and really do still love to play pretend in the backyard.

Either way, it's not as easy as you might think to come up with flashy new appellations. You've got to strike a careful balance—hip and imaginative, yet credible and professional. Also, you want to avoid any insinuation that your job description involves murdering your clients. (I'm looking at you, "social media assassins.")

With that in mind, here are 21 business cards you won't see us printing anytime soon:

21. Community Management Mogul
20. Hashtag Viking
19. SEO Leftenant
18. Reddit Ronin
17. Grand Moff LinkedIn
16. Content Commandant
15. ROI Maestro
14. GetGlue Viceroy
13. Khal YouTube
12. StumbleUpon Stevedore
11. Social Channel Sous Chef
10. Foursquare Conquistador
9. Green Lantern of Social Media Sector 2814
8. Pinterest Admiral
7. Tumblr Dungeonmaster
6. Caesar Googleplustus
5. Sultan of Ping
4. Paladin of Metrics
3. Blog Rawk Gawd
2. Dowager Countess of Facebook
1. Pharaoh Ptwitter IV

Better Know a Vodorian: Peter Winter

Peter Winter — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Part of an ongoing series to get acquainted with the citizens of Vodoriland. Collect them all!

Name: Peter Winter
Title: Office Manager
Specialties: Organization, communication, team-building, maintaining morale.

So, what exactly do you do around here?

The role is evolving. Right now, my goal is to streamline as many of the administrative procedures as possible. I'm creating documents, and forms, and routines that are reusable for me and the other administrative staff. Making it easier to pass along.

What sites do you visit most often?

NPR, CNN, just general news. I try to stay tuned in to what's going on in the world.

What do you do when you're not at work?

I play music, compose. I play guitar, bass, drums. I sort of play a bunch of other things—mandolin, harmonica. If it's got strings I can probably figure it out. I'm horrible at piano—I've tried. I'm a singer, and mostly I enjoy composition for large ensembles. Trying to make a dozen or two dozen different things work in harmony. Or disharmony, depending on what I'm going for.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everywhere. That's a very vague answer, but it really can be everywhere. Oftentimes I find it in architecture, in the dichotomy between man-made and naturally occurring things. The big picture of the human state is probably where I draw the most inspiration from. Just the moment where you're sitting and you're looking at something you pass every day, and you see it in a different way, that's pretty amazing...or pretty awful, depending on what you're looking at.

Do you have a nickname?

I have a lot of nicknames that go along with the name Peter—it's bound to happen, the Peter Rabbits and Peter Pans. No official nicknames.

Who do you look up to?

Definitely my father and my mother. And a lot guitar players and musicians, when I started getting into music. Artists, in general, who are able to make a difference by creating something from scratch, get people's attention.

Do you have a theme song?

Carmina Burana. It’s like the doomsday choral orchestra piece. I think that’d be a pretty awesome theme song.

What would be your superpower?

It's hard to pick one when you're put on the spot, you've got to pick a good one—as if it's actually going to happen! I think telekinesis. But on a very large, powerful scale. I think that's implied. I want to be able to knock the world off its orbit if I choose.

You're not gonna go halfway. You want the full Jean Grey.

Phoenix, not Jean Grey. Though hopefully more controlled.

Phoenix but not Dark Phoenix.

There you go.

What's your definition of a Vodorian?

In the two weeks I've been surrounded by Vodorians, I'm astounded by the welcoming nature of the group. It's a very diverse group of people. Even people in the same job description, you have drastically different personalities and traits. In my limited experience, I'd say a defining feature of a Vodorian is an accepting, multi-disciplinary individual, someone who's got a lot to share with others, and someone who is eager to have others share with them.

Better Know Other Vodorians:

Evaluate your success with the Pre_Scribed webinar series

Christine Mortensen — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

Every day, thousands of online marketers embark on an ambitious journey to promote their wares, sell their “widgets,” and engage prospective and current customers. Amid all this competition, how can you stand out and achieve your goals?

Realizing that we can’t answer that question in a singular blog post, a year ago we decided to give marketers the tools and guidance necessary to start the journey. So we launched Pre_Scribed, a six-part webinar series geared towards the specific needs of the healthcare industry.

If you’ve followed our series, you know that so far we’ve taken you through five major steps every healthcare marketer must take when kicking off new digital marketing initiatives. Whether you're creating a targeted online ad campaign, social media marketing strategy, global product launch, or anything in between, there are many considerations to keep in mind before even getting started.

The first 5 steps to a digital marketing launch

A quick recap of the topics we've covered so far—check them out if you need to catch up:

That leaves us with the last and most crucial piece of this complex puzzle: measuring the outcome. There's truth in the old cliché that you don’t know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been. As such, the last portion of our six-part webinar series focuses on gauging results, analyzing ROI, enhancing your program, and planning for continued content creation.

Our hour-long presentation covered many recommendations for evaluating and optimizing your initiatives, and we encourage you to listen for yourself.

Pre_Scribed Step 6—Evaluate Your Success:

Aligning your analytics to each stage of the traditional marketing funnel
Understanding site metrics
Reaching actionable insights
Aligning conversion criteria with marketing objectives
Formulating ROI
Mapping out your channels (look across the whole continuum)
Honing goals and tools for Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Promoting digital strategy globally (syndication)
Extending your program into other channels
Reviewing the campaign process with the team
Applying lessons learned to future campaigns

A whirl of an evening–WhirlyBall that is

Meghan Palmer — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

“During our weekly company meeting, the skies parted, leaving the sun with no choice but to shine its mighty rays over our windowless conference room. This prompted Scott to ask me if I would be willing to plan a Whirlyball event. As social coordinator and bumper car aficionado, I happily obliged.” —Conrad Akier

And thus the first Vodori WhirlyBall outing was born. For the uninitiated, WhirlyBall is a “sport” that mixes lacrosse with basketball with zipping around in bumper cars.

What was the reason for this company outing you ask? Well, nothing says teamwork better than slamming into your coworkers in a barely-controllable, most-likely-combustible motorized vehicle, of course. As Greg Lyon would so profoundly summate through laughter afterwards, “My back hurts.”

While no major injuries occurred beyond mild soreness, the evening provided the team a chance to come together and revel in topics other than the best way to solve dependency injection issues. Instead, we focused on the camaraderie we share as Vodorians, cheered each other on, and shared many, many laughs.

The event also gave us a great chance to meet our new office manager, Peter Winter who immediately made quite an impact, “Several of my new coworkers introduced themselves mid-collision. I guess it was like a kiddie version of a gang initiation—if you can make it through the beating, you’re a member.”

While Peter’s experience was unique, we take the time we spend outside of the office just as seriously as we do inside the office. We firmly believe that forging great relationships after-hours translate to happy, productive teams within the workplace.

Needless to say, everyone had a good time—as evidenced in the photos captured by Conrad below:

13 tips for keeping your resume out of our recycling bin

Vodori Staff — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:00:00 GMT

As you may have heard, we're hiring. The ranks of Vodoriland have been growing steadily for a long time, giving us occasion to read a lot of resumes and conduct a lot of job interviews. And as you'd expect, we've learned quite a few things about what we like to see from a prospective candidate—and what we don't.

Whether you're a Vodori hopeful or trying to land a job at a company like ours, these tips should help your resume and cover letter earn more gold stars and raise fewer red flags.

1. Rid your resume and cover letter of any typos or grammatical mistakes. Often, it helps to have someone else look them over to be certain. Sure, you're not applying to be an English professor, but your attention to detail shows in your writing. That's something we require of everyone who works here.

2. Make sure your cover letter states which position you're applying for. Do you want to join us as a developer, an analyst, or an in-house juggler? If you force us to guess, you'd better show up for the interview ready to juggle.

3. Spell our name correctly. (It's right there at the top of this page, if that helps.) Also, while we're on the subject, spell your name correctly.

4. Do not use a cut-and-paste cover letter. Take the time to customize it for the job you want. Let us know how your skills align with the job posting in your cover letter.

5. And yes, you still need to include a cover letter (either in the body of your email or as an attachment). If you send us a resume without a cover letter, we assume you're sending your resume to any email address you can find—and we won't get the opportunity to learn as much about you as we'd like.

6. Including your name in the file name of any documents you attach sure makes it easier for us to keep things organized.

Don't let this be your resume's fate.

7. If you list a programming language or technology on your resume, be prepared to answer specific questions about it. We don't ask "Do you know C?" We ask "Using C, how do you implement TreeSort?"

8. Be judicious with the skills you claim on your resume. Most developers have a higher level of expertise at one language than the others that they list. Few people are experts at anything after three years of experience. We're very happy to teach people what they need to know on the job - and we'd rather have you present yourself as an eager student than a know-it-all.

9. In general, don't artificially pad your resume. It's often hard to know what to include in your resume, but its length should be commensurate with your experience level.

10. If you're a designer, your resume should be designed by you (we can tell). The standard Microsoft Word templates are not acceptable. Also, your resume design should match your portfolio site design—think of yourself as a brand.

11. Also for designers: more important than your resume is your portfolio. Explain your role in creating or working on each piece, and relate the design considerations you made for each project you showcase. If we don't know how you contributed to the work you're showing then we can't accurately determine if your skills match the open position.

12. On the flip side, if you're not applying for a design job, resist the temptation to get too gimmicky with your resume. Naturally you want to stand out, but unorthodox formatting and random color schemes aren't the way to do it. We may take that as a sign that you don't trust your talent to stand out on its own.

13. Avoid expressions like "I believe I'm the perfect/ideal candidate." Everyone says that, and no one is. We aren't perfect and you might not be either. Explain why you'd be an excellent candidate in concrete terms. Humility is a very alluring quality.

The Vodori.com Blog

Your code is being watched: observers and singleton patterns

The observer pattern

The singleton pattern

FiftyThree brings realistic sketching to the iPad with Paper

Paper features we love:

Things on our "room for improvement" list:

9 articles you need to read about tablets

Seeing a Future in Tablets, Magazines Unveil the Digital Newsstand - New York Times

'Couch Surfing' Takes On New Meaning as Smart Devices Proliferate - Wired

Tablet Computing Is Here To Stay, And Will Force Changes In Laptops And Phones - Co.Design (Fast Company)

Seven Tablet and Mobile Trends to Expect in 2012 - MarketingProfs

Microsoft's Windows tablet future: Businesses yes, consumers no - ComputerWorld

Tablet boom waiting for corporate wave - Chicago Tribune

Tablets are at cutting edge of multitasking - Marketing Week

Apple's 'iPad' is the only tablet people know - San Antonio Express-News

Dear Android Tablets: Stay Crazy - Gizmodo

Pencil in some creative break time

Bringing e-commerce to Creative Converting’s party

Everyone’s on the guest list

All work…and some play

A Timeline primer for healthcare brands

1. First impressions:

2. Cover photos:

3. Tabs:

4. Timeline columns:

5. Highlight posts:

6. Milestones:

7. Messaging and comments:

Better Know A Vodorian: Collin Green

So, what exactly do you do around here?

Where do you get your inspiration?

What sites do you visit most often?

What do you do when you're not at work?

Do you find a lot of overlap between the fantasy world and the design world?

Since we're on the topic, what would be your superpower?

Who are your heroes?

Do you have a theme song? Other than "Danger Zone" of course.

Do you have a nickname?

And where did that come from?

What's your definition of a Vodorian?

What do you like most about working at Vodori?

Can Facebook pique your interest?

What are interest lists?

Why is this relevant?

How does this apply to my business?

4 suggestions - and 1 warning? - hidden in our blog

1. Expect ROI, get grey.

2. Something social first

3. Pretty technology

4. Go large strategy

5. Dress honchos

Looking for Tweetspiration

Dabble (@dabblehq)

Technori (@Technori)

I Love Typography (@ilovetypography)

Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama)

Interactive Design Archive (@idarchive)

Dictionary.com (@dictionarycom)

Still craving more?

12 tips for nailing that job interview

Phone Interview Tips

In-Person Interview Tips

Top 21 rejected social media job titles

With that in mind, here are 21 business cards you won't see us printing anytime soon:

Better Know a Vodorian: Peter Winter

So, what exactly do you do around here?

What sites do you visit most often?

What do you do when you're not at work?

Where do you get your inspiration?

Do you have a nickname?

Who do you look up to?

Do you have a theme song?

What would be your superpower?

What's your definition of a Vodorian?

Better Know Other Vodorians:

Evaluate your success with the Pre_Scribed webinar series

The first 5 steps to a digital marketing launch

Pre_Scribed Step 6—Evaluate Your Success:

A whirl of an evening–WhirlyBall that is