Pretty much everyone has a smart phone or some kind of internet capability on their cellular device.  Because of this, many sites are looking to create an app or at least a version of their website specifically designed to be accessed from a cell phone.  If you do decide to design a webpage for a phone, keep in mind that there are specific requirements and needs that need to be met.  Here are some tips:

1. Include high res images for the iPhone 4 retina display - You want your images to look good no matter what type of phone they're being viewed on.  For this reason, you need to design them to work with the highest of displays.
2. Make clickable elements big enough for a fingertip, ≈44px² - For those phones that are touch screen based, your site needs to be the right size to accomidate the average fingertip.  Too small and people will just get frustrated.
3. Create icons for your site - Again these are easier for people to see and use when they're on a cell phone.
4. Make your site operate offline - Not everyone who has a smart phone has unlimited data.  For this reason, it will benefit your users to have an offline version.
5. Include an option for your mobile visitors to view the normal website - Sometimes the thngs people need won't make it to your mobile site or perhaps they just know the layout of the traditional site better.  Whatever the reason, having the option for people to view the full site will help.

Would you do any of these things?

Fatpaint, a relatively new graphic design software, launched a year ago but has no been picking up speed.  According to the press release, Fatpaint is a free, all-in-one cloud-based graphic design application and image editor, with tools and resources so anyone can create pages, images and illustrations, and have it printed on custom products. It is integrated with Zazzle, a world leading custom printed products company, so that at the press of a button, the design created by the user is accurately displayed on products from within the graphics editor.

The website also has options where you can design your own iPhone cover, or purchase one designed by a fellow Fatpaint user.  You are also able to design your own shoes, tee shirts, or coffee mugs. 

Have you used this graphic design program?

The smartphone has re-invented the way we look at life.  Now we can search the web, listen to the radio, shoot flying birds out of slingshots, and play card games with one trip to the app store.  Androids, iPhones, Blackberry's, and others have now made graphic design portable and affordable too.  There are many free or cheap apps for graphic designers that may be fun and helpful at the same time. Here are a few:

1. Cliqcliq - This allows you to change colors and come up with your own colors to make the photo entirely yours.
2. Layers - It lets you use tools like paint, brushes, erase, and smudge along with others.  You can create multi dimensional photos with the touch of your finger.
3. Quick Office - Much like the already existing programs for mac and pc, this allows you to use dropbox, mobile me, google docs, and others.  With wifi you can connect the program on your computer and on your phone.
4. The Typography Manual - it's a 60 something page manual about the history and styles of fonts. 
5. What The Font - Identify the type of font on any poster, billboard, newspaper, etc.  Never spend hours looking it up again.
6. ColorToy - Can help you find your ideal color scheme.

You can find others here, here, and here.

What other apps do you use? 

“Concentration is the ability to think of absolutely nothing when it is  absolutely necessary.” - Ray Knight, professional athlete

Calm your mind. Quiet all of the distractions surrounding you.  Concentrate on the one task at hand. Often a naysayer can cloud our  minds and break our focus. What in your life distracts you? In the  moment of need, silence your brain and allow yourself to stay focused.  Save your worries about tomorrow and guilt over yesterday's failures for  another time. Maybe you need to meditate, pray, or simply spend a few  moments quietly gathering yourself before tackling the project at hand.  Now is the time for just one thing--reaching your goal. Today, focus  your energy, clear your head, and achieve!

1. Calm your mind. Quiet all of the distractions surrounding me. Concentrate on the one task at hand.

Often easier said than done, although when I am working on a project I  can at times literally shut out the entire world, which is good for when  I need to really focus.

2. What in your life distracts me?

a) E-mails – I just got through deleting over 600 unread e-mails and my  goal is to open my e-mail every day and only see today’s. So far I'm  doing farily good in that I have todays and yesterdays, and some from my  mom that I’ll save to read later…you know those that people forward to  you.

b) SPAM – I have a spam blocker, but I still have to go in and mark it as junk or spam.

c) The urge to check my e-mail or Spark People when I'm getting bored with a project.

d) My precious little Izzy (my cat) when she starts roaming around my desk. She’s  gotten a lot better and usually only does this late in the afternoon.

e) Personal or family problems – when the family isn’t getting along it  REALLY truly bothers me. I absolutely cannot stand discord between my  immediate family.

f) Fear and anxiety – fear that I’ve made a wrong choice which then  leads to anxiety and worrying that I’ve made a wrong choice.

3. In the moment of need, silence your brain and allow yourself to stay  focused. Save your worries about tomorrow and guilt over yesterday's  failures for another time. Maybe you need to meditate, pray, or simply  spend a few moments quietly gathering yourself before tackling the  project at hand.

a) I have a GOD box that I use when I'm facing a particular difficult  situation. I write a note to GOD, fold it up and put it in the box. It’s  my personal post office that as soon as I put it in the box it goes  directly to GOD. I actually have several that have filled up over the  years. I haven’t been doing this as much lately, but I will be.

b) I will be starting the 12-month online Graphic Design Certificate  Program (as soon as my books arrive, which should be today as they are  on the truck toward my house now) to help advance the skills I use in my  business which is editing & designing publications. Of course, once  I get my books I may be back up to 2.f) “Fear and Anxiety” wondering  “What have I gotten myself into”. At least I can get a refund if I feel  that it’s going to be too much for me to handle. I will definitely be  filling up my GOD box!

c) I started out doing books, but am now doing publications, and so far  have done ten for the same client. Before I even finish one, while it’s  being proofed, I have another one to start on, not to mention the one  that I started before I received the other rush ones. Which is good because it means I'm doing a good job for them, so I just need to focus and keep doing my best or better than my best.

4. Now is the time for just one thing--reaching your goal. Today, focus your energy, clear your head, and achieve!

a) I signed up for Chalene Johnson’s “30 Day Challenge to Master Organization and Achieve Your Goals”

www.30daypush.com/

which is designed to learn organizational skills and task  management…something I will definitely be needing between work,  studying, etc.

b) I share my home office, which can make it difficult at times,  but we’ve developed a plan where I place something on the printer  between us which tells him I'm working and need to focus. But I might  need to find a different place to do my actual studying. When I'm at my  desk, I get too tempted to check my e-mail and/or internet. After all,  it’s been 35 years since I’ve actually studied for a class, other than  doing video tutorials for a program. So this will be a true challenge  for me and one, with GOD's help, I will succeed at.

Then there’s the regular daily chores of keeping the house clean, doing  laundry, fixing dinner…you know the things that a normal housewife does.  I finally cleaned my house (well most of it) since the last time at  Thanksgiving, but I still have some scrubbing that needs to be done.  Then, my plan is/was to pick one room a day and give it a quick  cleaning. Hasn’t happened yet, but maybe with the tools I have coming  and praying to GOD it will.