Duncan Stephen

Article — 15 December 2013 — 159 words

Fyrish Hill

Last weekend I took a trip up to the Highlands. There I climbed up Fyrish Hill, overlooking the Cromarty Firth near Alness.

Article — 6 November 2013 — 783 words

Not voting is a valid democratic act

Economics — Politics

People often claim that if you do not vote then you automatically lose your right to have a say in any way. This idea is dangerous and wrong.

Article — 9 October 2013 — 1,205 words

Implementing header images

Personal — Web

I decided to add header images to this website’s design. I opted for a parallax effect, despite the fact that I normally rail against them.

Article — 7 September 2013 — 774 words

I recently made some tweaks to the colours of this website. I have always felt that colour theory was one of my weakest points as a designer, so I like to take any opportunity I can to learn more about it.

Article — 20 August 2013 — 982 words

Internet Explorer: time for Microsoft to start afresh?

Web

Happy birthday Internet Explorer, which has turned 18. But there is not much to celebrate. What can Microsoft do to stem the browser’s decline?

Article — 31 July 2013 — 487 words

How studying social science made me a better web designer

Economics — User experience — Web

I thought I had joined the many people who don’t use their degrees in their careers. But I have come to realise that my degree in social science has been absolutely vital to my web design work.

Article — 10 July 2013 — 664 words

Ignorance is inevitable

Economics — Politics

A survey showed that the British public is “wrong about nearly everything”. But the main lesson is not that so many people are stupid. It is that we are all ignorant, no matter how well-informed we like to think we are.

Article — 3 July 2013 — 1,495 words

Derby Street demolitions – aftermath

Architecture

On Sunday, Dundee’s tallest buildings disappeared from the skyline forever. They were merely 40 years old, but were said to be too costly to maintain and too difficult to rent out. In seconds, these proud, sturdy structures collapsed into rubble — but not without a fight.

Article — 24 June 2013 — 1,267 words

The power of the web has not yet been unlocked

Technology — User experience — Web

I think about the web all the time. I like to believe that I get it. But I am still surprised by the advances in technology and the promise the future holds.

Article — 21 June 2013 — 404 words

The Blue Door and the Rocks of Solitude

Uncategorised

For our latest Angus and Dundee walk, we decided to go a bit further afield. The Rocks of Solitude are situated at the River North Esk, just north of Edzell, on the border between Angus and Aberdeenshire.

Article — 20 June 2013 — 980 words

Migrating to another Google account

Personal — Technology

I recently decided to switch my main Google account. But how can you do that when your old account contains all of your data? I found out that the process is not entirely straightforward. But with some care and a few sacrifices it is possible.

Article — 31 May 2013 — 264 words

Derby Street demolitions, Dundee