An excellent article about visual metaphors in web design:
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">“Metaphors visually enhance the subject at hand. Metaphors make you think, inviting you to analyze how two subjects relate. On the web, visual metaphors can enhance content and a site’s purpose dramatically. This works magnificently if you seek to capture the attention of an audience for more than a quick glance.”</p>
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<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">http://www.devlounge.net/articles/visual-metaphors-7-rockstar-examples-on-the-web</p>