Open Classic Difdots.com

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2nd animation intro? > Open

Difdots.com ( Different Dots ) launched winter 2000, when I was studying in MA course in Britain. That moment I was learning Macromedia Flash and I wanted practice skills through making my personal website. It was introduced monthly magazine ‘Web Design’ 2001.

The visual identity came form one of my project call ‘Dot Interface’. Just before I made this site, I studied about navigation that generate by only typing. When you type, the letters shows on 'dot interface' at the same time, and if you type certain words that were memorized already, then it operates system.

I loved quite big and dull dots which remind me old big signs with many light bulbs. So I decided to apply. I wanted keep looking old through the whole site, therefore I adjust speed of on/off slowly, also limited number of colors I used.

I tried to reflect myself as much as I could. A person who does digital art... used to be a graphic designer did V.I, GUI...
who likes playing and gaming in general... and so on.... So I put many of gaming elements as well.

I enjoyed it, so did a lot of other people. People know me as ‘difsots’, called me difdots...
I just cannot get this away from my life. Strange name... but you will used to it. : )

Sketches

Main Menu Difdots Illustrations
For the main menu, I put big dot illustration with little moving.

Navigation & Sub Menu
The navigation part was the main issue of my website for all the time. Because people just struggle to click right places. Some got fed up, some called and shouted on me.. ‘Where are the fxxxing buttons?!!!’...

Of course it was not easy to navigate on space without anything obvious. But there are clues, right? 30 seconds would enough for everyone to find those. Can’t you play around for only 30 sec? ...That is the point.

I did on purpose for users to struggle. The concept was ‘Finding me! Not clicking’. At the same time put a message to growing number of people who has not patient front of screen, get something too easily; which I was not particularly happy about.

1st Intro Difdots Animation > see now

2nd Intro Difdots Animation > see now