If you’re asking, ‘Where is Dirk+Weiss!?’, then this may satisfy your curiosity, we hope. Truth is, we are the busiest we have ever been. Maybe a clear sign of a rebounding economy? We have been busy working steadily with our clients to provide the best solutions possible.

Since May, we have broken new ground with our website client from India, and are almost ready to launch a brand new website for them. We have also been in talks for a few new Apple iOS apps with local companies here in Boston, that range from utilities to more advanced experiential applications.

On a more technical note, we have gone 100% HTML5 and JavaScript in lieu of Flash for web and mobile based projects. While we believe flash can still have appropriate applications, the ever growing sector of mobile devices and platforms has shown it’s demand for such lightweight, open programming environments. And at the end of the day, we are looking at solutions for our clients that can range from computer screens to mobile devices, maximizing return on investment, as this is the road we are all on as consumers.

As the summer continues, we are preparing for a busy fall. We have some projects in the pipeline, and are working on what seems like a million things all the time. In addition to all the new projects that we are working towards, Matthew White of DW is working hard expanding his teaching experience over at the Art Institute of Boston @ Lesley University and Bunker Hill Community College teaching marketing and design classes.

Stay tuned to dirkweiss.com for a fresh, new, fast, efficient look coming soon. While the economy is rebounding, we all still live in an environment where trimming the economic fat is a necessity. If you’re unsure who to contact about your new design or marketing project, just give us a ring.

We recently completed a new website and branding for Speed Club Inc. Speed Club Inc. is a Minnesota bases chopper motorcycle website, forum, store and blog. The website’s focus is on Yamaha chopper (custom built) motorcycles, and chopper culture.

Dirk+Weiss created both the Graphics, layout and programming for this site, and included some great add-on’s for increased Search Engine Optimization.

“Manufactured in the Midwest, Speed Club Inc. is dedicated to all things speed. We’re talkin’ about that blow your hair back, demon on wheels kinda speed, man. We’re talkin’ about gettin out and choppin it up. You get it? Speed Clubs’ for people like that… people like us. See, It dont have to be pretty but it’s gotta be fast. Bob it, chop it, cut it, twist it. Your job is to live it. Speed Club Inc. is here to document it.”

The site and brand is fresh, updated daily, and receives about 100 views a day, and is growing each week. If you are into motorcycles, or speed, visit Speed Club Inc.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010 –

Last night, Dirk+Weiss attended the launch party for Design Museum Boston. The party started at 7:30, and by then, a good amount of attendees had already shown up. By the 8:00 hour, the place was booming, shoulder to shoulder.

The event had many interesting components, including a silent auction, with many donated items from such companies as Bose, Philips, Wacom and Converse. All proceeds going to help fund the new museum initiatives.

By far, the most exciting thing to see was the turnout. The almost overwhelming number of people out at this event, supporting design, was fabulous. There was definitely an electricity in the air, and lots of networking going on.

We believe that design is strongest when collaboration happens (www.ourdesign.us). Pigeonholing your self as one type of designer can be limiting. The Design Museum Boston launch event was proof that there is strong motivation towards melding the formerly narrow paths of design (graphic, industrial, instructional, marketing etc..), into a unified mission.

Speaking of missions, Design Museum Boston’s mission also is a reflection not only the design profession, but our economic environment. Firstly, having many venues and locales for events and showings, rather than one space that rotates work. Maybe even renting spaces that have been long vacant, to help support local realtors. Secondly, a focus on design education, especially to the general public, about the role of design in their lives. Communicating, and creating a new value for design.

Design Museum Boston’s crew is currently working on two new events, to be coming soon to the Boston area. When they happen, we will most certainly support in any way that we can, even if it’s just buying the special drink at the bar. We feel that this initiative is a real push forward for design, in the right direction.

Above Graphic: How are phishing sites created? – Symatec

This is mostly and update to let you all know we have officially eradicated our Dirk+Weiss website hackers. They did quite a number on us. Besides leaving files everywhere on our server, they also deleted folders and created new ones. So, some content from our site had gone missing! But now it is back.

So, on that note, here is some information about what hackers like to do with your web server and websites –

Most people now-a-days know two main things about websites. First, websites are designed on the front end and run by some sort of code on the back end.  Well, theres the back end, and the way back end.

The way back end, is your server. Your server, or web hosting, is where all your files live that make up all the bits of your website. Basically, a web hosting server, is just another computer like what you are reading this on now. While servers are pretty secure, there are always vulnerabilities.

Last week, the Dirk+Weiss hosting server was hacked by a South African phishing scam. Phishing scams are usually fake emails or social media messages. The messages will tell you that your bank, or some other secure site, needs to verify your personal information. Theses fake sites look just like real sites, except they are collecting your personal information to steal your money, or identity.  The scam that hit our server, was a bank scam.

How did we know we were hacked? Website Analytics. Our analytics engine tracks every page view and visitor to the site, and the unique internet address of the visitor. I noticed an increase of site hits to a certain folder on our sever. Then one folder location turned into many folder locations. All from the same internet address. I then took that internet address, and plugged it into a trace program that tracks the signal back to it’s source. In this case South Africa.

The first and most important step in eradicating hackers, is to change your web hosting passwords. Make them difficult to guess, and use lots of numbers and symbols. Then, go through and clean up all the files left behind by the hackers. The last step to do, is to add the internet addresses from your analytics, to the Blacklist or Blocked List on your hosting account. This prevents them from getting in from that internet address again.

Most of the time, hackers are not stealing data from you, but from others by taking over functions of your hosting account.The best advice we can give, is to keep a keen eye on your website traffic, and make note of any odd behavior. Also, it’s in your best interest to keep all your installed files and services up to date.

Matthew White of Dirk+Weiss will be co-presenting with Environmental Science professor Scott Benjamin at the ‘13th Annual Massachusetts Community College Conference on Teaching, Learning and Student Development‘. This conference is being held this year at Bunker Hill Community College, in Charlestown, MA.

The project to be presented is a digital lab, used in professor Scott Benjamin’s science classes at BHCC. The lab’s subject matter is understanding Evolution by Natural Selection. Matthew worked directly with Scott to translate a previously analog lab, comprised of seeds, paperclips and bits of paper, to a Flash driven, interactive experience.

The process of creating this lab involved collaborating with Scott on every step, from graphic design to Flash Actionscripting.

The results of translating the lab to digital media, has proven to be quite successful. Scott has collected statistical data from his students, including pre and post lab usage. Based on his testing, Scott sees a definite increase in concept retainment after students have used the software. Matt and Scott will split the presentation between the design and development process (Matt), and the statistical data and impact of this digital lab in the classroom (Scott).

The 13th Annual Massachusetts Community College Conference on Teaching, Learning and Student Development happens on April 9th, 2010 at Bunker Hill Community College.

We are pleased to announce the new interactive website for Matthew White of Dirk+Weiss.

The site contains a collection of ideas and projects, and is loaded with lots of information and connections.

This new site is built in Flash, and contains information graphics, video, marketing, web development and graphic design.

Creator Jason Stevens asks Matthew White of Dirk+Weiss a series of questions about what and how we do, what we do. Here is our response to our questions.

Read all the responses from other designers.

“Small Talk: 3 or 4 questions to 150 designers”

[DIMT] What does an iphone app look like during development, what’s the file type and what are the major components?
[DW] In a nutshell, during the development stage, Apps are code. But, thanks to Apple’s XCode environment, iPhone Apps have two overall parts: XCode (Under The Hood) and Interface Builder (The Look). The file extension is .xcodeproj until the building stage when they are packaged into .app files.

[DIMT] How is it there are 120,000+ iphone apps, plus those for other mobile devices, are apps easy to make?
[DW] First and foremost, Apps are lucrative if you know how to make them, and sell companies on having them. At this point in the game, to make apps, you need to know the CocoaTouch (Objective C) programming language. Could be a hurdle for some, but in the reality of things, that is no excuse. I am a designer, and I continue to learn code. Its not difficult, it’s actually quite logical. There are websites and forums out there that have thousands of developers sharing code and project files for learning. If you have time, you can learn to make apps. PLEASE do not go buy a $40+ book at Barnes and Noble. Just last week I watched a YouTube tutorial on how to incorporate horizontal finger gestures into my app. We all know Apple is known for there easy to use applications like iMovie and iPhoto. I would put money on the next iLife series having an iApp program so anyone can make Apps (ugh…Apple tablet…ugh). Speculation only of course.

[DIMT] Apps are just a portion of your business under your technology focus, what else is keeping you busy these days?
[DW] Designers that need programmers, and business that need results. Like I said, I am a designer that does development. There is ample value in being able to drive on both sides of the street, and clients know it.  I would also say that clients (a.k.a the people and business of the world) expect graphic designers to be able to at least talk about current web solutions right off the bat. If this is not the case, you can appear a bit antiquated. In our case, we find clients almost never request print design. Apparently this is a trend for not just us but lots of designers. In addition to clients, we also work on new initiatives for Dirk+Weiss that include our weekly Podcast, workshops, and of course iPhone Apps. I also am an Adjunct Faculty member at the Art Institute of Boston (AIB) @ Lesley University, teaching design and marketing related courses.

Can AIGA be free to it’s members? Lets work this out!!

Comment Below, and let us know your thoughts.

If you have not seen or heard our podcast, then now is your chance! The Dirk+Weiss podcast is available in multiple places including the iTunes Podcast Store. And yes, its 100% free!

Our show format includes discussion about one or two topics, and then a follow up, on-the-spot phone call with a colleague to some third party insight into the topic of discussion.

Topics Surround:

• Graphic Design as Industry
• AIGA (Professional Association for Design)
• iPhone and Mobile Apps
• Web Technology
• Content Management
• Mobile Tech News
• Design World News
• Marketing and Design Events
• and More!

We have decided to release “Seasons” of podcast episodes. Each season of podcasts will contain various topics related to Graphic Design, Mobile Tech, and Marketing.

Subscribe in iTunes // Podcast RSS

Note: The views in this podcast are strictly those of Dirk+Weiss and its Interviewees.

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