This Is How Insane I Am:

(This is also a tip for teachers.)

I use a timer to grade so that I don’t spend too long on any one paper. I also use Google Docs (my students submit their papers digitally), so I do it all in good ol’ Chrome.

For a while, I’ve been using Online-Stopwatch.com. (Eww. I hate to even give you the URL, but it’s important for you to see the sledge I’m talking about.)

A few days ago, I came across this one: E.ggTimer.com. Beauty, eh?

My friend came over, and I was like, “I have to show you something awesome.” I think she was a little disappointed that it was just a timer. No, a web timer! A beautifully minimal web timer! You don’t understand. It’s nothing more than what I need—and that’s the beauty: No more, no less. That’s good design.

I couldn’t stop talking about it. I even pulled up the two so she could compare them side by side. It’s ridiculous, I know. But it’s beautifully simple too. And all I have to do is hit CTRL+R to reset it when I’m grading the next one. Oh, and what’s more—this is brilliant design—the top of the tab shows the countdown, so I can watch my time without having to switch to that tab.

You web designers out there, do this.

Want more? Check out how Google should re-design their suite.