Yesterday saw the launch of the new 9rules. The post announcing it’s launch on the 9rules blog - 9rules vol 3 edition 1 - shows the focus has moved back onto members content and the design reflects this. My first reaction on seeing it was ‘wow’, my second was ‘woot’ and my third was akin to a little girl excited noise just like someone had given me a new toy.

First a brief update

Whilst I don’t usually like to go personal on this blog I feel that a bit of an update come explanation is due. I haven’t been writing at all compared to my usual schedule. There are several reasons for this and I’d like to take a moment to explain why I’ve fallen down the back of the blogging sofa. First up, I’ve just moved which in itself defined the word hectic. I’ve now got a lovely studio space that I’m realising the joy of as it’s attached to my new home - something so great about a large studio you just have to walk a short way to get to.

There really seems a return to the minimal in design lately, something I’m more than happy to see after the gradient madness of the last year or so. I’m seeing more and more new designs coming out where less is really more. Galleries seem to be once again brimming full of powerful minimal design, it’s a refreshing change. In part minimal design never went away it seems now the focus is coming back to it though as it rightly deserves as one of the most effective and often hardest to achieve design styles. So, what does make a minimal design?

Before I go into the full details of this a little bit of a disclaimer. I had the problems I’m writing about back in December but didn’t write about them as it was going through compensation and a long chore of sorting out. I’m in part writing this as a warning and in part writing this as a still not overly happy with the entire situation that Apple created.

Whilst I’m all for being busy, the last few months have had that extra sprinkle of eeep on top. I’ve been very lucky that work has not even let up with the expected Christmas lull. The downside of this has to be my lack of blog and own project working on. As many of you know this past year I’ve been battling a few health issues and as a result some of the treatments have taken a lot out of me. This has all added up to my usual good coping mechanisms for work loads to break down.