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Web Tips 2: JavaScript – The Drama Queen

Authored by Andrew McCrea, May 11, 2012

Today I'm going to talk about an easy, 10 second change that might be a little bit more common but maybe not totally wide known. This tip comes from the book Even Faster Web Sites by Steve Souders. It's definitely an interesting read as it dissects (and sometimes even casts a light of shame on) some of the biggest websites like Google, Facebook and Wikipedia. What is this wonder cure? All of your JavaScript <script> tags should be placed just before the closing </body> tag instead of in the <head> tag. How can this make such a profound change? Part of it is perception but it also has a simple technical explanation. Script tags are blocking and as soon as the browser encounters one, it stops what it's doing to process the JavaScript. It does this on the assumption that JavaScript dynamically changes the website document (which is usually true), so <script> tags get some of the highest priority. Placing Facebook's JavaScript for the Like button(s) at the bottom also works despite what their developer instructions say. As for the perception bit, the browser encounters your CSS at the top, parses your HTML and applies styles to it immediately, then blocks to load the JavaScript at the bottom. It is faster, but it also makes it seem even faster than the actual performance gains.

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An Honestly Good Time

Authored by Kerri Wilkinson, May 7, 2012

Joanna Bulowska
2nd year Graphic Design student from Red River College
3-week internship at Honest Agency

It all started on a crisp Monday morning. The elevator opened and I found myself in a beautiful, bright and modern office. And that’s when the fear set in... there I was wondering what the day might bring, and what kind of initiation there might be. But of course my imagination likes to be wild and silly. No cute puppies were slaughtered and no tightropes were walked. In fact, my first day was very pleasant. I got to meet everyone at the office and was excited to sit by the new employee Jadyn, who started that same day. Right off the bat I noticed how much creativity is encouraged and expressed at the office. From cardboard deer-heads to colorful posters to a room divider made of birch trees (which I had the pleasure of sitting by); the space is filled with things to inspire creation. The first thing I created was a logo for Handemonium—an upcoming rock-paper-scissors tournament. I’m super excited that Kerri and Callum had faith in me to work with a real client. My idea was received well and I got to design a brand package around the event. I can’t wait to stumble upon my design in the future. Other great highlights included going to my first press check with Charity, who gave me generous tips about the printing process. Then there was Kings Head Friday—which entails sharing stories over beer and lunch, followed by a slightly tipsy afternoon. And of course we had a pot-luck, which meant that everyone brought delicious snacks to stuff our faces with. (And did we ever!) Just like that my three weeks at Honest flew by, and it was time for me to go home slightly sad. (Partly because I had to hang my head in shame after the “spin 'n slap” parting gift, but mostly because I will sincerely miss the great experience and great people. To everyone at Honest, Thank you dearly for opening your doors to me and letting me sit in on a bit of genius. I miss you guys!

*Joanna forgot to mention that she brought a basket full of delicious strawberry and plum cookies on her last day (see photo below). Bribery will get you everywhere my dear!

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T’was the Week before Christmas

Authored by Callum Beattie, December 23, 2011

T'was the week before Christmas and all through our space,
Our staff was preparing to meet clients face to face.
Pictures of stockings were hung above the "fire" with care,
In hopes that guests would arrive, and they'd stop, and they'd stare.
And they'd notice how much time and attention it took,
For us to decorate every cranny and nook.
We chopped, and we sawed, and we cut, and we pasted,
We really hoped all this work wasn't time wasted.
There was last minute prep, and we worked and we scurried,
We set off the fire alarm, and got firemen there in a hurry.
Was it worth it, this work? This Primp and this prep?
We'd soon see as off the elevator guests stepped.
They came and they ate, and they drank and we chatted,
They had a good time, they didn't leave empty handed.
After hours of fun, food, beer and wine,
Everyone left feeling warm, welcome and fine.
There's something to be said for getting together with friends,
During this holiday season, the fun never ends.
So thank you to all of you who came,
And for those who didn't, thanks all the same,
For making this year, one of the best ones yet,
Here's to the New Year, and making it better than best.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

(sorry for the bad poem)

POSTED IN: After Hours, Business, Uncategorized, Video of The Week 1 Comment »

I’d Love To Stay, But I Really Moustache.

Authored by Kerri Wilkinson, November 9, 2011

It has been a whole week since my last day of work placement at Honest. I am so sad for that adventure to be over. Before I go on to gush about my wonderful experience, I will say a quick introduction. My name is Anja and I am a 2nd year Graphic Design student at Red River College. You may also know me from my brief fame from an appearance in the CBC online video about the Assent Works grand opening or the Honest tweets about the apple pie cookies I baked (recipe can be found on smittenkitchen.com).

I had the great privilege of being placed at Honest for my work experience this year. Thanks to their website, I already had a big crush on the agency even before I set foot in the office. I became even more besotted with it after I stepped off the elevator into their beautiful studio space. I was immediately greeted by Dexter, the mannequin and then of course, the rest of the staff. They had cleared a desk for me to work at and even though it was "off in the corner," said corner had 3 windows looking down on Portage and Main from eight stories up. Between the cardboard deer heads, the clean white design of the work place and the incredible talent oozing from everyone within it, I was head over heels... and completely intimidated.

The first day was a blur, and now thinking back, the whole 2 weeks seem like they went by very quickly. I was tremendously excited to work along side them on a couple of projects, mostly attempting to soak up as much of their magic as possible in the short amount of time I had. I was teased about being quiet on many occasions (good-hearted teasing only) but I believe this was due to my acute focus on learning as much as I could from them. And learn I did. I learned that I only want to work at a place that allows pets, making clipping paths on fur hats is annoyingly tedious, field trips are fun, lunchtime is best spent watching Two Broke Girls, Fridays are the best day of the week because you go to King's Head for lunch (and you only order the cajun chicken pasta), you drink beer, and you play 30 second DJ. I also learned never to succumb to peer pressure when everyone wants you to participate in a little game called "Spin and Slap."

In all honesty, I was more than pleased with my time at Honest. Callum, Kerri, Charity, Erin, Andrew and Sherril, thank you so much for taking me under you wing and spoiling me with such an awesome work placement experience. You guys are the bomb diggity. Miss you lots! -Anja Hladky

TAGS: apple pie cookies, Design, graphic design, Honest Agency, moustache, RRC, students

POSTED IN: Company News, Design, Uncategorized 4 Comments »

Boston Boozins

Authored by Erin Heroux, October 5, 2011

I'm sure everyone, or most of you have heard about the ridiculously expensive bar tab the Boston Bruins racked up after they won the Stanley Cup this year. But, if you didn't, well, here's a little infographic for you to help you get a better idea of just how $156,000 could be spent on drinks in a single night. All I'm saying is, I wish I was the server that night because, good god that tip would have been amazing. I also can't resist pointing out the very disappointing amount of Bud Lights drank that night. Bud light guys, really? Come on.

TAGS: infographics

POSTED IN: Company News, General Life, Uncategorized, Web, World News Leave a comment »

Natural Born Logos

Authored by Callum Beattie, September 23, 2011

Logos can be like relationships. Sometimes it's love at first sight. Sometimes it's like looking at someone across a crowded bar and thinking, "Meh, good enough." And sometimes it's a long courtship that grows and evolves. In Ferrari's case it was more like a blind date set up by a pushy aunt. What does this say about how much weight rests on logo design as it pertains to a company's success? Is logo design now more critical than it was "back in the day"? I would argue it is given the fact that design in general is held in higher regard today than ever before. I'd also say that people hold brands to a higher standard than they ever have and that logos are created to represent those standards. It would be interesting to think of what Ferrari's logo might look like if it was created today. I would almost guarantee that the idea of a horse wouldn't even make it from pencil to the sketchpad.

TAGS: brand, car, crazy aunts, Design, farrari, logo

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Eighteen Guitars and the Wrong Shirt

Authored by Sherril Matthes, April 4, 2011

Jackson Browne played the Concert Hall on Saturday night and reminded us what happens when anyone (musicians included) match their product to their values.

In these days of pre-fab, insert city-name here, concerts that we’ve grown so accustomed to, Browne put on a show that made Winnipeg concert-goers from the day remember what it was like to actually interact with a performer. For those of you who don’t know, bands used to stop in Winnipeg because of the reputation of our crowd - that we knew music and we knew how to make an artist feel appreciated. The challenge was always to get them out for the third encore, and many times, out at the Winnipeg arena, they did.

That doesn’t happen much any more. But on Saturday, we saw a genuine performance. A few songs in, Browne admitted there’s no real set list, because he’s lazy and he likes it that way.

So people started calling out songs to play. Now, I don’t know how, or if, this works in other cities. But as usual, Winnipeg music fans knew what they were talking about - calling for a few hits - but lots of requests for album cuts.

A while later, Browne says he’s hitting a few off notes because he’s distracted - by his shirt. He’s worn it quite a bit, apparently, on this tour, but somehow, tonight, it’s not right (even though, we’re assured, he washes it regularly). So off stage for five minutes, a change of shirt and back to it.

He moves regularly from the keyboard to one of his eighteen guitars, as he plays through almost two dozen songs. Some I haven’t heard and now need to get, and a few that I forgot I knew. Each time, it was like finding $20. that I didn’t know I’d lost.

For those who know, here’s a partial song list: Rosie; the Load Out; Love Needs a Heart; Take it Easy; The Pretender; Peaceful Easy Feeling; Cocaine, the Rehab mix - including Ron and Nancy just say no references; These Days; Doctor my Eyes; Running on Empty; In the Shape of a Heart; I’m Alive and The Naked Ride Home.

Browne looks great without the beard, sounds a little more breathy than he did on vinyl and emits an integrity that reminds us of those days of high ideals, but now includes the wisdom of time.

Somewhere near the end, he says, ”There’s a whole bunch of songs I usually play that I didn’t get to do tonight.” I believe we received a truly unique concert. Like the best brands in the world, this actual experience was in every way consistent with what I had hoped for on the way in.

POSTED IN: Inspiration, Music, Uncategorized Leave a comment »

The Web Department Just Got A Lot More Social…

Authored by Andrew McCrea, February 8, 2011

Andrew here, coming to you from the *honest agency web department, where this week we've rolled out a Facebook application on the cityplace Winnipeg page. Programmers are usually know for being so busy building the web, that they have little time to really socialize face-to-face, but this cityplace application presented some unique challenges, and I certainly added a lot to my skill set. For instance, I already know how to build a website, so the fact that Facebook applications are websites that run inside the Facebook template gave me a good head start, but then you need to 'talk' to Facebook to get some information from the users of the app, such as an email address, name, and profile picture.

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