Duncan Stephen

Article — 16 April 2014 — 225 words

Web designers need to have an invisible hand

Why user-centred design is like a trade.

Article — 23 March 2014 — 1,293 words

Can web design really learn from brutalist architecture?

As a web designer with an interest in brutalist architecture, I was fascinated to read an article about what web designers can learn from brutalism. But perhaps instead of taking inspiration, perhaps the lessons are in what web designers should avoid.

Article — 14 March 2014 — 259 words

Website launch: Study at St Andrews

User experience — Web

Work: Study at St Andrews website

For the past 12 months, I have been working on the new Study at St Andrews website, a full replacement for the webpages aimed at prospective students of the University of St Andrews.

Article — 12 March 2014 — 617 words

The web at 25

Web

The world wide web has more birthdays than the Queen. But it’s well worth celebrating — and protecting.

Article — 8 March 2014 — 618 words

Iceland adventures part 6: New Year’s Eve in Reykjavik

Personal — Travel

Bars are not open before midnight at new year in Reykjavik. But that didn’t stop it from being the best new year’s experience I have ever had.

Article — 6 February 2014 — 1,318 words

Iceland adventures part 5: restaurants, bars and beer

Personal — Travel

It is true that Iceland can be an expensive place to eat out. And their beer is not always great. But with care, you can get around both issues.

Article — 31 January 2014 — 798 words

Iceland adventures part 4: architecture

Architecture — Personal — Travel

There is some interesting architecture in Iceland. Here are some buildings that particularly caught my eye on my recent trip there.

Article — 28 January 2014 — 157 words

Racing car construction kit

Personal

My brother got me this wooden racing car construction kit for Christmas.

Article — 26 January 2014 — 1,004 words

Iceland adventures part 3: natural attractions

Personal — Travel

It’s no secret that Iceland has some stunning scenery. Its geography is just fantastic. Nature does not get much more extreme than volcanoes. But more visually spectacular are its waterfalls — and, of course, the northern lights.

Article — 25 January 2014 — 124 words

Updates from work: University of St Andrews digital communications team

Web

Work: Study at St Andrews website, University of St Andrews

It has been an interesting year at work, and now the digital communications team has a blog.

Article — 19 January 2014 — 970 words

Iceland adventures part 2: in and around Reykjavik

Personal — Travel

About half of my trip to Iceland was spent in Reykjavik. Read about my trips to a geothermal spring, Reykjavik’s museums and shopping for an Icelandic jumper.

Article — 12 January 2014 — 1,243 words

Iceland adventures part 1: general impressions

Personal — Travel

I went on holiday to Iceland over new year. I have plenty to write about, but this first article looks at my general impressions of Iceland as a country.