We are pleased to announce the availability of our first eBook, in PDF format, entitled “Budget Design: Increase Profit by Improving Process.” We postponed launch several times due to our busy schedules — but Dan e-mailed me last night to announce that the web site was live and that downloading can start as of now. Many thanks to Dave Shea for adding his stamp of approval by way of contributing the foreword.
The best part? We offer it free for 7 days! Yup. Free. So get it for free while you can. After 7 days we will charge $9. That’s still a bargain. The payment phase will be an experiment of sorts, to see what kind of interest there is in this sort of publication. Please let us know what you think. Leave a comment here or send us a message.
As for me, I’m somewhere in Europe waiting to catch a flight to Greece. Vacation indeed. Dan e-mailed me that he was catching a flight too (nice timing, eh?) so I decided to find a moment to write up this entry. See you all again in 10 days.
Comments
25 responses to “First Publication”
Wow, that is one beautiful site. I’m very impressed!
Can’t wait to read the e-book.
I will put this on my weekend reading list. Love the site design, Clean clear and to the point. I would like a link to see a larger image of the newsgater and possible a link to the product.
Are they ducks or geese on the logo?
Awesome eBook. I especially like how you clearly illustrated recycling in all facets of web design (graphic and markup). However, I’m not sure you gave the content piece enough of its due.
I know this eBook is focused on the low-budget realm (hell, my internal work is in the no-budget realm), but isn’t quality content important at every level? How do you ensure that you are using correct, quality content? And then, how do you fit it into a speedier development process?
Sorry to be a pill, but this is typically where all of my projects bog down, whether it’s internal or external (but especially internal to my company). Maybe your next eBook can detail how you handle the problems of getting, proofing, editing content for the web in a limited design cycle?
I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed your ebook. I found it very beneficial becuase I am thinking of starting my own web design business sometime in the next year. Beautiful organization of your message. Thanks a bunch!
have only skimmed so far, but excellent ebook…however, the font is way too small and light — almost impossible to read on a b&w printer, and not much better on our color printer, either.
I agree with Sean; I’d love to see something focused on budget content. :)
Thanks for sharing this with us!
Yep, great read! Hate to be a nerd, but in the foreward Dave says “To say that Dan and Didier are talented is to say Iceland is cold.” I thought that Greenland was actually the cold one and that Iceland was the warmer one? In which case, that sentance means the complete opposite of what he intended it to. Unless he already knew that fact … ;)
I’m totally kidding by the way, you guys are awesome. :)
Hmmm… I tried to dowload it, but when I click on the link you just sent me (1 hour ago) it says the download link has already expired. :-(
Same here. It hasn’t been 24 hours. Something’s wrong over there.
I have the “Sorry, the requested download has expired.” error on a fresh link as well…
Also experienced the “download has expired” error despite the fact that I signed up less than an hour ago. Would appreciate a new link when the problem has been fixed. Many thanks!
Important note
I’m not sure why the download expires before the indicated 24 hours, that certainly should not be the case. Dan will hopefully address technical issues as of Monday when he gets back. Unfortunately I can not be of much help sitting here at some airport.
We apologize to all those that are having trouble with the download of the eBook. We will however make sure that all those that have tried to download the eBook within the 7 days will receive a free copy no matter what. Please let us know your troubles and forward the download message to us.
I read the eBook while sitting in stop and go traffic this holiday weekend. I thought that it was pretty good, and very nicely designed. I enjoyed the “recycle” segment and would like to see a follow up publication focused specifically on that topic. I also thought that the content section of the book was way too shallow. Given how huge of an issue content is, I’d like to see much more space devoted to it.
Can you let us know if you’re planning on any other books in the near future? Your first publication seems like a preface to a series of “budget-design” mini-books.
I really loved the design and overall feel of the mini-book. Looks like you have borrowed some elements from your portfolio (other sites). Nah…its rot recycling! Its branding!
I really like the sticky notes (or post it notes) idea for doing quick/rough sketches. That one is a keeper. I will be trying that out in my next project.
Thanks again for a wonderful piece of literature, and that too for free. Excellent work and keep it up!
I just want to say thank you, its very useful book.
Loved this e-book. Thank you. Too many times in ‘the early days’ did I get carried away with a project and move straight into making it look good … before having to go back and make a weeks worth of changes that should have been 1 days worth of preparation!
Thanks again.
Nice piece of reading! Very easy to follow and not overweighted by some non-understanding-tech-crap. Examples are perfect! Looking forward for your next publication.
For those who is dying to get a copy, try to sign up without using web-based email account like Yahoo Mail.
Initally I signed up using Yahoo Mail and I have problem downloading. I got “Sorry, the requested download has expired”
Frustrated, I try using email account of my ISP. It works! Hope this helps
looks like an interesting read, thanks very much for the efforts.
one snark, though. you did work for the Gator corporation? yikes. you may want to read google’s software principles.
Download Problems, et al
I’m finally back in town (my Monday return didn’t happen, so I’ve been without ‘net access since last Friday) and will be working on the download issue today and tonight. We tested quite a bit before making it live (and after making it live just in case), but initially it appears to be related to certain email addresses, though I’m not sure why… Because of the problems, we will extend the free download period (and if we can’t immediately resolve the download issues, we’ll just switch to a direct link to the file for the time being so everyone can get their hands on the PDF).
Also, to respond to David G’s comment: Our client is “NewsGator Technologies”, a company that produces newsreader software (not the Gator corporation that is infamous for producing spyware).
Thanks to everyone for your feedback and your patience!
-Dan
I also experienced the link expired issue, then a few days later I thought I’d try again, and using the same address was able to download the file. It’s the same email I used for posting this comment, if that helps track down the bug. I can give you the ID numbers, too if that will help – though you probably already have those or can find them easily enough.
I forgot to add that I really enjoyed the read as well. Since I am pretty much the lone web designer for our group, many of these tips will come in handy. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I will echo Elaine’s sentiments that the type is too light when printed in grayscale, and although it looks great on screen, the type is a bit small on large monitors.
Just finished reading, and i found it to be quite informative. Alot of good tips and useful information.
A Job Well done :D
While I haven’t had a chance to read through it, I did have one quick comment: why not add bookmarks to the PDF? Making the table of contents clickable. It would certainly make for a more usable document. :)
Good idea Jonathan, and I certainly agree — I’ll dig into the InDesign manual again and take a look at how that’s done (though I suppose it can be done easily in Acrobat after export, but what fun is doing something the easy way? ;-)