the outbrain post recommendation gadget/widget

Fırat has just found us another goody:

http://www.outbrain.com/getwidget

This website installs a gadget on your blog which puts recommendations underneath your posts, directing your readers to other related posts through thumbnails. Very neat for sites which have a lot of images in their posts. I have already put it into the visual communication history blog where it will make sense to have it since I do have a lot of images on that one.

Although the gadget configures it's appearance based upon your CSS there are still a couple of design problems with it: The "You might like" thingy, for one. Not sure if this is needed in the first place - stating the obvious it seems. But even if we do need it, do we need it to be quite that large? And bold? And then those fat wide borders around the thumbnails too, I could certainly live without...

I added a dotted line at the bottom of the posts, with an added space ( ) underneath it, and that seems to help since it gives the gadget a bit more negative space to breathe in. And yes, unfortunately once one starts one has to do this to all of the past posts as well, since the thumbnails appear on the entire blog. No sweat, did that too. Just a fast copy paste job really, took all of 10 minutes or so.

However all nit picky stuff aside, this is a very cool thing indeed. So, once again, thank you Fırat!

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playing around with free vectors and photoshop layer modes

The original vector file is here >>>
And here's what happened to it:

Read all about it (and also see other versions) here >>>

Download the photoshop file from here >>>

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how to add a poll into a blogspot post

Easy enough to add a poll as a gadget, however what happens if you want to put a poll into one specific post only? Can be done as well, and this video shows us how:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoK9lHMjnDc
Ingenious, huh? Tried it, works like a charm... ;-)

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Digital/Interactive Creative Director - Ad-Verto - Lebanon

Ad-Verto is looking for an accomplished and highly talented Creative Director to join a team of digital experts who specialize in the production of interactive recruitment solutions for clients around the Globe.

The primary role of the Creative Director is to develop Web Creative Concepts based on our client's brand guidelines, campaign objectives, and desired communication platforms (landing pages, microsites, career sites or media campaigns).

The Creative Director collaborates closely with Ad-Verto's Technical Director to implement innovative technical solutions, as well as with our Wireframe Specialist to produce highly appealing yet effective digital solutions.

The Creative Director also coaches Web Designers to ensure proper execution of the Creative Concepts at the Design stage.

What's in it for you?
This exciting role is a unique opportunity for candidates to strengthen their expertise in developing creative concepts - as it becomes the sole hat they have to wear - and further enrich their knowledge as they get exposed to clients of all sizes, across many industries, and in many regions of the world.

The Ad-Verto team also strives to be at the forefront of innovation, which is an exciting opportunity for forward thinking candidates who seek opportunities to advance their career and constantly sharpen their skillset.

Qualifications and Requirements
The ideal candidate is an innovative thinker who has the ability to produce visually appealing designs, and communicate effectively the creative direction to get clients' buy-in. Top candidates will attach their portfolio with a selection of top creative concepts and present their executions to demonstrate the above-mentioned and required skillset.

Apply online

Senior Project Manager - Ad-Verto - Lebanon

Ad-Verto is looking for an experienced Project Manager to lead the agency's Production and Delivery operation with a goal of executing projects on-time, on-budget and on-spec.

The primary role of the Senior Project Manager is to build from the ground up a Digital Production Operation leveraging Project Management tools and Ticketing Systems to efficiently organize the flow of requests from our Global Partners.

The SPM will collaborate with the Creative Director and Technical Director in order to optimize production budgets and resource allocation. He/she will also implement Quality Assurance standards and perform final QA / testing prior to signing off on deliverables.

The SPM will also need to track project deliverables and build reports defining project progress, problems, and solutions. The SPM will also lead the definition of project scope, goals and deliverables. He/she will also build dashboards to enhance product definition, optimize team efficiencies and reduce production costs.

What's in it for you
Ad-Verto aims to attract the best talent hence allowing the Senior Project Manager to execute projects in a professional, efficient, and positive environment, using the most advanced systems and tools.

Furthermore, being at the center of an Operation servicing clients in several Continents, you will be exposed to multiple cultures and business practices from around the World, which significantly accelerates one's professional and personal development.

Finally, in this role, the candidate's career path leads to the role of Director of Operations, and later on to the highest rank, the General Manager.

Qualifications and Requirements
The candidate needs to have excellent organizational and planning abilities, and possess outstanding communication skills.

The candidate needs to handle well pressure and know how to keep the team engaged and focused to deliver projects on time and on-spec. Furthermore, he/she needs to be self-motivated yet an inspiration for others, and exemplify the qualities of a super contributor as the candidate greatly influences the Agency's culture and ability to attract and retain Top Talents.

Apply online

Graphic Designer - Digital Limits - Lebanon

Our team needs your imaginative flair!
Full time graphic designer to join our creative department, able to produce visual solutions to the communication needs of clients, using a mix of creative skills and commercial awareness.

Responsibilities
- Able to create identity Logos, Stationery, Website designs and Advertising Campaigns
- Provide expertise and a creative input from the inception stage of design work through to its final production
- Developing design briefs by gathering information and data to clarify design issues
- Thinking creatively to produce new ideas
- Using innovation to redefine a design brief and meet the constraints of cost, time and client
- Using a wide range of media, including photography and computer aided design
- Producing accurate and high quality work
- Contributing ideas and design artwork to the overall brief

Requirements
- Good skills in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, In design
- BA in Graphic Design or Equivalent
- Knowledge in Adobe Flash is a plus
- Work well under stress and tight deadlines
- Working well in a team, with printers, copywriters, photographers, other designers, account executives, website designers and marketing specialists

Send CV and portfolio to jobs@dlimits.com

how to replace a blogspot widget title with an image

From your dashboard, go to design and into Edit Html. Make sure that you have ticked the Expand Widget Templates checkbox on the top right. Now you have to find the widget ID of the widget title you wish to edit. To find the ID of the gadget you wish to modify, please read this previous post here.

For example, the widget id for my widget is Label1, you will find something similar to this code below:

<b:widget id='Label1' locked='false' title='Topics' type='Label'>
<b:includable id='main'>
  <b:if cond='data:title'>
    <h2><data:title/></h2>
  </b:if> 

<--------------lots of data here that you don't need--------------------->
    </b:if>
    <b:include name='quickedit'/>
  </div>
</b:includable>
</b:widget>

Replace the data:title tag ( <data:title/> ) with the code below:

<img src="YOUR_TITLE_IMAGE_URL" alt="YOUR_GADGET_TITLE"/>

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