10/07  : :  09/07  : :  08/07  : :  07/07  : :  06/07  : :  05/07  : :  04/07  : :  03/07  : :  02/07  : :  01/07  : :  12/06  : :  11/06  : :  10/06  : :  09/06  : :  08/06  : :  07/06  : :  06/06  : :  05/06  : :  04/06  : :  03/06  : :  02/06  : :  01/06  : :  12/05  : :  11/05  : :  10/05  : :  09/05  : :  08/05  : :  07/05  : :  06/05  : :  05/05  : :  04/05  : :  03/05  : :  02/05  : :  01/05  : :  12/04  : :  11/04  : :  10/04  : :  09/04  : :  08/04  : :  07/04  : :  06/04  : :  05/04  : :  04/04  : :  03/04  : :  02/04  : :  01/04  : :  12/03  : :  11/03  : :  10/03  : :  09/03  : :  08/03  : :  07/03  : :  06/03  : :  05/03  : :  04/03  : :  03/03  : :  02/03  : :  01/03  : :  12/02  : :  11/02  : :  10/02  : :  09/02  : :  08/02  : :  07/02  : :  06/02  : :  05/02  : :  04/02  : :  03/02  : :  02/02  : :  01/02  : :  12/01  : :  11/01  : :  10/01  : :  09/01  : :  08/01  : :  07/01  : :  06/01  : :  05/01  : :  04/01  : :  03/01  : :  02/01  : :  01/01  : :  12/00  : :  11/00  : :  10/00  : :  09/00  : :  08/00  : :  07/00  : :  06/00  : :  05/00  : :  04/00  : :  03/00  : :  02/00  : :  01/00  : :  12/99  : :  11/99  : :  10/99  : :  09/99
prior listings

 

• Van Gogh at Etten 8/30/00 
  Description: Sketches and Billboards - shows Vincent's first serious steps on his way to his mastery. At Etten he makes his first studies: sketches of labourers and the landscape around Etten.
  Comments: Today's pick, like several other recent winners, comes from this year's long list of entries in the ThinkQuest Internet Challenge — thanks again to ThinkQuest for encouraging so many young, talented web teams to bring it on!  The team is from The Netherlands, Singapore, and Nigeria and the theme is art, or more specifically, the artist, Vincent Van Gogh.  They couldn't have picked a more appropriate theme — it seems that Hans Westerbeek, one of the team members, actually lives in Etten, the small town where Van Gogh began doing his art.  In 1990, 150 students at a school in Etten participated in a project to erect 10 billboards along a highway which were huge reproductions of Van Gogh's works to commemorate the death of the master 100 years before.  There's information on how it all was done — the "great schoolproject" is quite interesting, and if I'm not mistaken, Hans was part of it.  Along with that, the site offers a uniquely designed timeline of Van Gogh's life and galleries of sketches and paintings from his early years at Etten.  The galleries load a little slowly as 10 pictures are included in each section, but I feel it's worth it because of the unique presentation which includes information on each piece.  Nice use of frames to pull it all off, and the overall site design is excellent.  Great color, balanced layout and excellent content.  Congratulations to Hans Westerbeek, Zhuagn Shenqguan, and Oyinda Osonowo for producing such a wonderful piece of webwork around such an interesting theme.
   
• [ nosource ] 8/27/00 
  Description: It's about voxel, fragmentations, experiments, guestdesigners, submicroscopic, yourfutureself (Flash)
  Comments: I'm really not sure what to make of this site.  I'm still checking it out as I write this... using Flash to the hilt, this appears to be one of those sites that's experimenting with media more than anything else.  "Where's the content?" I ask myself as I continue playing with the somewhat blind navigation.  And what's with that "height map data" thing, anyway?  I really don't get it.  But there is something intriguing here -- it appears to be a little inspirational portal and showcase of sorts, if anything, but it certainly lacks clarity -- maybe the lack of clear structure and real content is something we need sometimes -- maybe it balances out things.  I discovered two new cool sites right off the bat, even though I could barely read the names that appeared as I moused over the little thing that looks like a radiator.  The little news window is also hard to read.  So here I am picking a site because, for some reason, the lack of clear navigability and use of words that I think they made up and the challenge of trying to figure out the purpose or motivation behind it all added up to my becoming interested.  There's a piece called "submicroscopic" that entertained me for a few minutes, and the hot spots on the main page have some cool mouseovers, but all and all, I really can't tell you why I picked it... maybe I just thought that pointing it out to you might provide yet another useless diversion that the web seems to have an overabundance of... maybe I'm just curious to know if others find it engaging or not.
   
• thespot 8/21/00 
  Description: "bequietandjustfitin"
  Comments: Lookie here -- another cool inspirational portal -- I say the more the better!  And like other great sites of its type, being an alternative kind of portal is just a small part of its total package.  It's also a gallery of sorts, featuring visual art contributed by others -- the "covers" archive already has a number of cool pieces in it, and from what I can see, the site's only in its fourth week.  Then, there's the "design area" described as a melting pot of art and design -- Bishop, one of the site's founders shares several of his works (or should I say tasty works) in this area, and someone called just "z" shares of bunch of his/her stuff here, too.  Z is described as a friend of the site, and he/she clearly fits in.  There's already 6 interviews of designers, too and I immediately recognized 4 of the names -- I find it most enjoyable to see where other designers are coming from.  To top it all off, there's wallpapers and MP3 downloads plus a section called "free speech" that left me wishing I could read French.  Some people will say "yeah, they're just like k10k and three.oh and surfstation -- what's the point?"  Well, my friends, the point is that sites like today's winner are doing something powerful for the web -- they're offsetting the inevitable over-commercialism of the web -- sorta balancing things out -- by celebrating the creative side of things and sharing with all.  Every new websurfer that bumps into a site like today's pick will get a taste of what many think the web is really about and after following just a few of the many pointers, that new websurfer might enjoy a most eye-opening experience...
   
• submethod 8/17/00 
  Description: "You have no reason for being here unless you are looking for something." (Flash)
  Comments: The face on the splash page is enough to make you start wondering... you immediately expect that this is about visions but you're not sure what you might see.  The immediacy of the cover art is an invitation to explore but it's clear you're on your own, having only a list of numbers to choose from.  The usability experts will simply leave... surprises wait for those willing to be surprised.  Those without Flash installed will follow the usability guys out, too.  Being one who chooses to stay, I blindly pick #13 and find "redemption."  The cool photograph in the background has words moving quickly about but I discover that holding the mouse down stops the motion, bringing clarity as it allows me to read... the music has my attention, too and I'm ready for more.  So I close the popup and for some reason, I choose #5.  An interesting collage of New York scenes with an intriguing narrative on the sound track asks several questions about visiting New York for the first and last times... a click on one of two interactive boxes sheds light on the message the artist is sending out... And on and on, I continue clicking on numbers and enjoying the mystery of it all.  This site is totally creative and downright engaging -- bigtime visuals and the spirit of the designers/artists behind it jumping right out at you with sight, sound and motion... my kind of site!  Hope you like it too...
   
• spent2000 8/15/00 
  Description: the post millennium conundrum - world domination through deconstruction & design
  Comments: Today's pick is a step into the future... somewhat of a mystery that you dive into and wonder about as you take in the multimedia attack on your senses.  Tim Nolan a/k/a Webjunky apparently has some visions to share that defy the expected and the usual, though with a little patience a lot of open mind, the user can taste the meanings behind it all without really understanding any of it.  The Flash intro is subtle and demonstrates an uncanny sense of timing and balance, and the three directions you can choose to go to from there each provide a unique mulitimedia experience.  If I had to categorize the trio of sites that make up today's winning "site" in a word, it would have to be entertainment... web-based entertainment.  As far as web design goes, it's as good as it gets.  If you're a modern web surfer with a basic set of plug-ins installed on your system, thanks for visiting and please come back to CoolSTOP tomorrow -- but for now, take your plug-ins and check out today's winner -- it's an excellent way to spend the time...
   
• the art of Neil McIrvine 8/14/00 
  Description: "a comprehensive amount of my artwork from 1993 onwards"
  Comments: Australian artist Neil McIrvine has no formal training in art, but his oil paintings are masterful.  "Call it what you will, I believe it's a thing you can't be taught, you either have it or you don't. I believe everyone on this earth has a gift, be it writing, dancing, football, athletics, any one of hundreds of things, but it's Art for me. Follow your own gift."  I like the attitude.  Today's pick is Neil's gallery of works and I like the clean, straightforward design.  Unlike most sites of this type, when you click through to one of the galleries, you immediately get the first one or two pieces on display with easy navigation to the next page.  Compared to the typical "thumbnails" approach, sometimes I like getting right to the content with as few clicks as possible -- though I do like the thumbnails approach, this is an interesting change of pace.  Neil displays works from 1993 to the present, sorted into galleries by year, with two additional galleries pertaining to his current exhibitions in Melbourne.  Well-designed, nicely organized, fast loading, easy to navigate, and rich in original content... it's a winner, for sure.
   
• mediapill.com 8/13/00 
  Description: Your indispensable fortnightly guide to Hollywood goings-on and general show-business related unusualness.
  Comments: To keep the fun thing going this weekend, I'm gonna stick my neck out again and let my sophomoric side overtake the normally rigid criteria-driven process.  It could be worse, you know -- I could just say "sorry, no pick today" like one of those other major daily picking sites has done for the last two days, or, better yet, I could pick some nifty e-commerce site and let you rate just how cool it is, like that other major daily picking site does about 90% of the time.  But since I wasn't born to shop or to leave you high and dry, I'll just bring you yet another site that may tickle your funnybone a bit as I continue my endless search for excellence in design and content, wondering if there's enough well-designed, non-commercial websites left out there to stop CoolSTOP from putting a big sign up that says "sorry, but we've already shown you every decent non-commercial website out there, so, that's all, folks."  Hey!  I'm just kidding -- really!  Fact is, there's a wealth of great, non-commercial websites out there and I'll continue bringing them to you every single day, but a guy's gotta have a little fun sometimes, so lighten up and check out today's pick.  Satirical and sarcastic and as far as design goes, I kinda like it.  If Hollywood's your thing, you probably will, too...enjoy!
   
• VolkStudio 8/10/00 
  Description: Photo and rant gallery of Oleg Volk
  Comments: As a photographer, Oleg's strength seems to be capturing people through the lens... the style of his portraits and the personalities of his subjects provide an intriguing visual experience for the viewer.  What I really like about Oleg's site, though, is how he combines his observations and comments about the subjects through the narratives that accompany the photos.  Many of the subjects are friends and acquaintances and the combination of text and image makes it all quite interesting -- it has the flavor of being a personal site and viewing his many exhibits leaves you knowing as much about the photographer as you do about the subjects of his work.  I also like the way he's organized the site -- a site map is readily available from wherever you are and two dropdowns are always present that categorize all content by "chapter" and "specific page."  It's not only people that Oleg captures, either -- cars, cybercafes, lizards and landscapes are some of the other types of things you'll find.  This site pulls together excellent visual and written content, personality and user-friendly, functional design... cheers to Oleg for a job well done.
   
• Rocky Mountain Scenery 8/9/00 
  Description: Photos and QuickTime panoramas from the mountains, national parks and ski resorts of the American west.
  Comments: Today's pick for the Best of the Cool was a featured cool site back in June and recently acquired its own domain.  Finding a new, great website every day is not always easy and I rely sometimes on re-visiting sites that were previously featured to consider them again for the award -- having to update the information in the database for this site was the perfect excuse to check it out again last night and I'm tickled that I did.  Some things may have changed a little since I first looked at it, or maybe my first look wasn't thorough enough or maybe it just didn't hit me the first time -- whatever -- but when I looked at Dave's site again last night, it was crystal clear that this site belongs with the best!  It's not about cutting-edge design (though it is well-designed) and if you're looking for bells and whistles, this site will quietly disappoint you.  But if you're looking for content -- real content -- and lots of it, then Dave's one-man show is gonna knock your socks off!  A wealth of great photography of some of the most beautiful natural attractions in the world awaits you here -- the American West is a vast, magical place and Dave is very busy capturing its visual beauty for us... and he is very, very good at it!  To tell you the truth, I'm not really surprised at the power of Dave's site... he just happens to be one of the Internet Brothers, ya know...
   
• Pixy-Led 8/7/00 
  Description: "To find oneself heading in a totally different direction than the way intended and no amount of re-alignment of the course seems to put it right."
  Comments: When a personal site helps the viewer gain perspective on their own life, it's like magic -- maybe the same type of magic that many find in reading a good book or seeing a great movie.  That temporary escape from the reality of the moment into someone else's reality is what keeps many of us sane, I guess.  We all need diversions to stay balanced and staying on track is sometimes a matter of daring to take the side roads on the way to our own clarity -- our own understanding of the world around us.  Whoa!  I guess what I'm trying to say here is that when someone like Tamini dares to share the details of her emotions, her dreams, and her soul through her website, it's a powerful experience for the user who pays attention to it all... I guess what I'm trying to say is that I was somewhat moved by her honesty about what makes her tick.  From "Idle Prattle" to "Managerie" to "Self", I found myself totally engaged - I can relate to many of her experiences and though I don't have any friends quite as extreme as Paco, I can certainly understand why she has such respect for him.... mysterious enough for you?  That was intentional (hehe) - you'll just have to check out today's pick to understand.
   
• The Art Filled Eye 8/5/00 
  Description: to see... like your eyes do
  Comments: "With my newly redesigned site I hope to take it to the next level" says Jason and though it looks like he's still putting it together, this site is clearly on its way to great things.  There's a certain kinda spirit operating here that I've grown to appreciate... in fact, if I had to define what the web means to me, sites like this could be quite helpful in helping me express it.  Jason is inspired and wants to inspire others... his creativity is vibrant and the urge to express and share tempered by the need to say something meaningful seems to be part of the force behind the window.  The single desktop available in his download section called "a fire in the sky tonight" seems to best show what Jason is envisioning -- I think it's profound and this section is one that I hope he expands... he promises to add some screensavers, too.  His simple portfolio shows a few websites he's done and a number of 3D pieces that are most unique and colorful, and the experimental section is another unfinished part of the site that I'm looking forward to seeing.  With the tasty design and original graphics throughout this site still in my mind as I write this, I want to reach out to Jason with a thank you and the hope that what's coming will be here soon... like Jason, we're all looking for a little fresh inspiration to keep our spirit alive!
   
• untickalock 8/3/00 
  Description: it's all about the pixels...slapped together with pride by seth neilson
  Comments: Though the "about" section does a little soft-sell mention of the fact that you can contact Seth if you're interested in him doing some art or web design for you, I doubt that the motivation behind today's pick is commercial.  It seems more like this site is done for the sheer enjoyment of pixels.  A little piece called "jakob nielsen - the movie" is a totally amusing little ditty about that usability expert that everyone loves to hate lately.  After all, people are having a little problem with someone telling them that all sites should be the same, as if design is some evil force that ruins it all for the user.  I really like the way the little ditty pokes a little innocent fun at Jakob... it does a good job of conveying the feelings people have been expressing lately about his stuffy concepts.  Another thing called "the box factory" also shows Seth's JavaScript and layer savvy, and if I have to say what his site's all about, I think it's a little personal playground where he can amuse himself and others with the joys of coding... nothing wrong with that -- I enjoyed his unique little diversions (and his list of "places" is good, too)...
   
• Billionaires for Bush (or Gore) 8/2/00 
  Description: "a participatory media action that humorously exposes how Big Money has stolen our democracy and distorted national priorities to serve corporate power"
  Comments: I saw this site a few days ago and when I woke up this morning my first thought was "I better not wait too long -- before you know it, we will have elected one of those bozos and this site will be history."  You see, this one's all about the presidential election, and though it's all rather tongue-in-cheek, it actually does make a serious point about it all.  Having just concluded the "Million Billionaire March" a few days ago, today is the official coronation of the "two-headed BushGore candidate" which was intentionally planned to coincide with the Bush nomination.  This well-designed site is both satirical and serious at the same time, and it appears that fun is the main objective.  You won't wanna miss the "Candidate Price/Performance Analysis" and full information on how you can "Become a Billionaire."  You can wrap up your understanding of the whole thing in the "Political Platform" section where an actual photo of the two-headed candidate can be found.  So - let's all give our consideration of stuffy designer sites with slow-loading Flash a rest for the day and go have a little fun instead...