John Burrell, Online Learning Journal

Final Screen Designs

2010-03-09T18:41:00.005Z

Home Page (above)

Web work page

Initial Portfolio Designs

2010-03-09T10:19:00.003Z

A8 Online Portfolio: Website Goals

2010-02-09T09:06:00.008Z

Validation: The Website should be validated with XHTML 1.0 (strict) and CSS 2.1 using the W3C validation service. This will help to ensure that the website functions correctly across all common browsers and is a good method of checking for errors in coding.

Size (KB): In order to provide fast load times, each web page should have a global size of no more than 500KB. Although this is slightly larger than the optimal recommended maximum file size of 60KB, it is more realistic given the high image content of a portfolio website.

Readable Content: The content of the web page should be written to a FOG Index of 10 to 12, this is a recommended level to ensure readable content of written English accessible to a wide range of target audience.

Accessibility: The website must conform to CS3 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, to levels 1.1, 1.3 and 1.4. This will help to ensure that my site is accessible to a wide target audience.

Coding: The website will be coded using XHTML 1.0(Strict) and CSS 2.1, and may contain elements of Javascript 1.8.1(such as ‘lightbox image gallery’) and PHP 5.3.1 (such as feedback form and current date display’)

Display Size(pixels): The most common computer display resolution is 1024 x 768 pixels. I will design my website to be displayed in this resolution.

Target Audience Profiles

2010-02-02T15:34:00.011Z

Target Profile 1: Tutors and Peers

With this group in mind, my web presence needs to emphasise both technical competence and graphic design competence. Within technical competence I will need to show my ability in semantic coding while also having a high degree of usability and accessibility. Additionally, my work needs to validate to w3c standards.

The graphic design competence will ensure that all websites are easy to read with information at the right level. The navigation must be clear and obvious. The websites need to have an appropriate grid layout and show evidence of PARC principles.

In terms of content, I would highlight samples of my work that I am most pleased with. Drawing on my strengths, I would want to showcase my work which has the most visual interest. On a more practical level, the site should be easy for me to navigate during the presentation of my work.

Target Profile 2: Potential Clients for Freelance Work

The aim for this target group is to attract sole traders, small businesses and individuals who want an attractive yet straightforward website to provide them with an online presence. This group will be interested in websites that not only displays their business or services, but also has effective Search Engine Optimisation (SEO.)

It is also important that websites provide key information at a glance. In order for clients to see that I am a competent web designer, my website has to appeal to them and show that I can deliver what they require, which is basic but effective websites. If I end up working freelance I might adjust my portfolio once I finish the course to highlight the work I’ve done for clients, for example, the websites we will produce during our team projects.

I might also add other information such as prices and services and change the content to describe myself as a freelance web designer instead of a recent graduate. I think the emphasis for this profile will be to show off live work together with a clear outline of costs.

The theme should be a balance between friendliness and professional competence.

Target Profile 3: Potential Employers

The emphasis with this group in mind will be to show off my work experience, as this is what companies will mainly want to see.

I want to accentuate my key strengths which are the graphic and illustrative side of web design together with my competence in basic coding and any new skills that I might acquire after leaving this course, such as Flash.

I would also highlight some elements that show technical flair, such as using image sprites in the navigation, a contact page that uses a PHP feedback form, and also using PHP to show the current date and time at the top of my website. However I don’t want to have too many gimmicks that could make the website cluttered and confusing to use.

My work should keep to a clean and professional feel to appeal to this profile group, with a clear emphasis on any live work experience as well qualifications. I will also include my experience in other types of design industry, worded to sound as relevant as possible. Even though it may be a different area, it shows that I have experience in the design industry.

Competitive Analysis of a Professional Website

2010-01-25T14:00:00.003Z

Website: http://www.webbositedesign.com/index.htm

Location: West Yorkshire, Leeds area (exact address not given.)

Client group: Sole traders and small businesses, eg: Mobile make-up service, driving instructors, wedding dress shop, cycling holidays in the Yorkshire dales.

Introduction

As I am quite likely to start out as a sole trader or freelance web designer with the basic skill required and no specialist area such as flash or e-commerce, I concentrated my search on professional website designers who appear to have the same skills and a similar market.

The website I found is based in West Yorkshire (he doesn’t give an actual address but his portfolio clients are all West Yorkshire based.)

Although pretty basic in terms of not being Flash or Javascript reliant, his work shows an effective use of imagery and layout to produce sharp looking websites. His own site is quite clear and standard, with a large banner image and logo, and an introduction to his services on the homepage.

Navigation

The links are curiously spread out over two lines, the home and contact links are above the header, and the rest of the links are just beneath the banner. I personally think this could cause some confusion to a viewer as links are usually in a predictable line, either vertically or horizontally.

I would also add a ‘current page’ indicator bar to the navigation links, as this can be done quite easily using only CSS2 and HTML.

Corporate ID and Logo

The name ‘Webbo’ is perhaps a little bit cheesy but it does suggest immediately the nature of the business and is very easy to remember. The cheesy factor is played up by the friendly approach of the website, which may reassure client who have little or no knowledge of website other than being aware that they should have one for their business. A more technical and sophisticated look might actually put off some of his potential clients.

The Logo is friendly looking and uses a nice ‘Courier’ type font with a slightly degraded ‘typewriter’ effect, but the central letter ‘W’ should be reduced in order to have more of the orange background around it, making it more visible as a ‘W’. At the moment it could be mistaken for a small ‘v’ which doesn’t make much sense.

However it is still quite a nice overall effect. I also like the way it has been superimposed onto the header images to break up the linear appearance and make it more friendly looking.

The banner images change for each page and are quite a bizarre assortment of images.

I would at least keep them to one colour theme (orange) in order to improve repetition of the overall site.

Grid Layout and PARC principles.

The Website ‘content area’ uses a consistent column structure throughout: A central double width column and a half width column on either side.

This consistency adds to the clarity of the website and shows a competency of using the grid system, whilst also being quite a simple layout.

Repetition of the colour theme also follows the PARC principles.

The proximity is helped by having key information for each page in the central column, the left hand column remains constant, showing the price list of various packages, which could be immediately reassuring for a potential client.

Contrast is helped by using a white background and dark text. The clear headers also break up the content text making it easier to follow.

Overall I think this website would appeal to a sole trader looking for a simple but attractive website in order to create an online presence.

Competitive Analysis of a Student Online Portfolio.

2010-01-18T16:51:00.016Z

www.beakable.com

As I wasn’t sure where to start looking for student website portfolios I started with Wakefield College graduates. However I couldn’t find many sites even though I thought they’d be the obvious choices.

The one that caught my eye was a friendly looking site by a ‘Web Development’ student at Glasgow.

The first impression of this site was that as well as being quite quirky and original it was also very clear to read, having well spaced out text and containing an appropriate amount of information on each page.

The Website uses a common layout throughout its four pages, having a common banner which stretches across the whole page. This adds to the Repetition of the overall website.

The background imagery of the website uses a mottled pale blue paper effect which blends into the header image, which is slightly darker and has more detail.

The background image spreads across the whole screen and is repeated, although this is not obvious at first glance.

The main content area of the website is centred on the screen. There is no obvious grid structure to the web pages, although it seems to be based on a simple two-column structure which is adequate for the site.

The overall website comes across as being fresh and energetic, with the content of the text being very positive about the author’s work and experience.

The Home page has horizontal links along the top part of the web page in a fairly standard position, followed by a very obvious introduction in large text briefly telling the user about who the author is.

Underneath the introduction is a box containing more detailed information. This box can be scrolled by clicking on a button just underneath it, however it is not a very obvious link and looks more like a background graphic, being a pale pink colour. I would prefer it to have some text instructing the viewer to use it, or also have the button as a stronger image to make it stand out.

Once clicked the box shows a sample of previous work, and provides more detail about his professional background.

The Portfolio page is nicely presented, continuing with the friendly fun theme as two image links to his recent work are displayed as notice board images on scrap paper. One link is for Website work and the other for Flash work.

In the website's portfolio the links show a screenshot of the website design, rather than taking you to the actual site. An ‘info’ tag then provides some background to each of the projects. It is very clear to follow and has an appropriate amount of information for each project.

The Projects page has some of the author's Photoshop and Flash work; and although in itself the digital artwork is not very impressive, it does show a high level of competence in Flash.

The Contact page has a fairly basic feedback form with some background graphics added to it to give the impression of a letter and envelope. This also fits in with the quirkiness of the overall website.

The Blog page is the final page containing posts about the author’s college course and his professional work, and written in a casual yet semi-professional manner.

The Second Year So Far..

2009-11-24T09:44:00.005Z

This semester has been started at quite a pace, but I have felt generally more comfortable with the workload and pace of learning, as I feel more confident that I can apply my newly acquired knowledge and skills towards the new assignments. I am also more confident in online forums such as the WP CODEX Forum in order to find answers to specific tasks such as how to use Wordpress functions. I used the WP CODEX Forum for the A11 word up in order to learn more about the WP list items function.

I am pleased with my overall work on the A9 Up Your Street assignment. I wanted to create a humorous and mock-sinister theme for the subject as I had the idea to use the iconic Godfather movie poster as a basis for the website.

I struggled, however, with the java script element as I wanted film strip effect for the gallery using a 'scroller' along with a 'lightbox' feature. With a bit of help from
Two more technically-minded students I managed to get it working. The current A10 assignment is good fun and also helpful in pushing us to explore and practice our creative-thinking skills.

I am confident with drawing skills so I am trying to look at different subjects and also use a mixture of techniques and media in order to create artwork and patterns.
I have found that last year's sketch work has helped me to develop my drawing and artistic skills. This assignment doesn't suit everyone on the course, especially those that regard themselves more as 'coders', but I am in my element.

I'm looking forward to another week or so of generating ideas before developing a selected work into digital artwork for packaging design.

Web Design Interview Questions

2009-11-10T21:56:00.002Z

What experience do you have which is relevant to this post?

This would be a good opening question, to allow the interviewer to get a sense of the interviewee’s experience. While the CV should show past posts and qualifications, asking the interviewee to highlight relevant experience will also show how a person can cope with being put on the spot. An interviewee who has prepared in advance should be able to answer this easily and well. A weak answer will illustrate a lack of basic preparation.

Of the portfolio pieces you have shown us, which are you most proud of and why?

This question also allows for an overview of past work, but this time in terms of specific work that has been done. Like the first question, it will also show if there has been preparation. But in addition, it gives a chance to see not only what an interviewee is capable of doing, but also whether they are able to talk about their work. I would follow it up by asking the interviewee to explain the technical basis of one of the pieces in the portfolio. This will go some ways towards showing whether the interviewee is able to communicate with potential clients.

Here is a sample script of PHP. What do you think it might be used for?

This question will show the technical knowledge of the interviewee. It could also show whether the interviewee is able to think laterally to think of a use for a website.

What is the value of teamwork, if any? Describe a situation which you have been involved which required teamwork.

This question moves the interview to more general job requirements. It’s important to not only ask what the interviewee thinks about teamwork, but to ask them to give an example because it’s very easy for people to give the expected ‘right’ answer to a question like this. Asking them to give a real example shows whether or not they actually believe what they say.

Here’s a brief for a logo. Please take ten minutes to sketch a design and prepare to tell us what technical tools you would use to design it.

This question could show the applicant’s ability in a realistic situation. It will challenge the interviewee in terms of both the more creative, graphic side of the job and the technical side. In addition, it will reveal whether the interviewee is able to talk about their work to a potential client (an important requirement in the job description). Lastly, it will show what a person is able to do under pressure.

Here is an example of a working brief. Can you comment on the design and say what you like about it, as well as any improvements you might make.

This question could show the interviewee’s level of knowledge design considerations such as PARC principles and use of grids in layout. It could allow them to show both what they know when they describe the brief, and their ability to solve problems or be creative in suggesting changes or improvements.

Self Marking for the Self Managed Learning Plan

2009-10-22T17:36:00.011+01:00

A8 WEBSITE LINK

For the Pass Criteria:

1 and 2. Investigate applications and learn the fundamentals of PHP and MySQL.
My sketchbook shows my exploration and investigation of the use of PHP and MySQL. The notes show research of the fundamentals of PHP script and the way it communicates with the MySqL RDBMS.

The sketchbook also includes annotated printouts of PHP script, screenshots and email correspondence to show my investigative efforts and the development of my website, along with a database table.

3. Create a Website which uses PHP and MySQL. (Creative Brief)
As shown in the sketchbook, I used a range of books, websites and online forums to gather information on the subject, and to write my evaluation.
Following a guide in the book PHP6 and MySQL5 by Larry Ullman I downloaded and set up XAMPP on my laptop to provide a local server in order to use as a test bed for building the website.

I followed textbooks, notably PHP Solutions by David Powers and PHP6 and MySQL5 by Larry Ullman adapting the examples to create the solution to the creative brief.

4. Evaluation.
I wrote a 1000 word (approx) evaluation of the SMLP, justifying the application of PHP and MySQL and my experience of answering the creative brief. After finalizing the website I reviewed it and highlighted the improvements that could be made.

For the Merit Criteria.
M1. The sketchbook includes notes and annotation of various sources, showing an understanding of the particular theoretical principles that are relevant to this assignment. Going beyond the gathering of information, however, the emails show an ability to synthesize information from a range of sources in order to overcome a problem that arose from initially relying on one source.

M2. The sketchbook shows the development of the assignment over time. The preliminary stage involved gathering information from a range of sources (books, online tutorials, online forums, and email correspondence). Drawing from the gathered information, I built the first element of the website, an include file. This required adapting PHP script and customizing it to suit my own requirements.

Problems encountered along the way are recorded in the sketchbook. The ability to overcome each problem allowed me to build the next element, leading to the eventual completion of the website.

M3. When devising the Creative Brief, I chose features which would require a number of variables to be used in combination. Specifically, I wanted the website to include a gallery, a feedback form and PHP includes to add further features.

These elements required a range of technical skills for example, in addition to using CSS for the layout, I wanted to create an online gallery which requires communication with a MySQL database. This retrieved information is specifically linked to each image as it is selected whilst the PHP script links a thumbnail image to a larger image. To do this, I had to adapt a PHP script from another source for my own purposes.

I also adapted an include file which highlights the current page; this required customizing a navigation script to suit the style of my website. Another include file is one I used on the footer element of my website, which will calculate the current year from the year the page was copyrighted.

The result of these creative and technical endeavors is a website of a near-professional standard.

In conclusion, this work satisfies the merit criteria.

Web Designer Role

2009-10-13T08:19:00.011+01:00

Link to online job advert

The job I have seen advertised is for a front end web designer/developer based in Leeds. Though it is listed as an advert for a ‘Web Designer’, the description includes everything from design and development to maintaining and updating existing websites, as well as communicating with clients in order to understand their web requirements and to explain technical issues in a way that they can understand.

In terms of specific technical skills, the job requires knowledge of and experience with the following: CSS, (X)HTML, JavaScript, Photoshop, Illustrator and Dreamweaver. I have made a good start on mastering these skills, but am aware that I need a lot more hands on practice to gain confidence and professional working knowledge of these elements. I plan to develop my ability in these technical skills and to show how I can use them effectively in this current assignment and future projects.

I’ve noticed that this advert specifically states that all websites from this organisation are required to abide by W3C standards. This makes me appreciate the process of showing validation on the website work we are doing on this course as this is a web design standard expected in industry.

There are a few skills listed in this job advert that I do not yet have. One core skill requirement is Flash. I hope to have a chance to learn Flash, if not on this course then on my own or on an evening course. Not only does there seem to be a demand for it, but it also looks interesting to me.

The job also requires an understanding of online marketing tools such as SEO and PPC. While I have not yet had experience with these, I hope there will be a chance to learn about these types of tools. Additionally, although it’s not mentioned in this particular job advert, I’ve seen ads requiring Content Managing Systems (CMS) such WordPress and so look forward to learning this as well.

Finally, this job mentions Fireworks and Quark as desirable, though not strictly necessary. Obviously, the more technical knowledge I have, the better equipped I will be to find employment.

One current concern of mine is whether I should purchase a Mac. This job specifies both Mac and PC familiarity. To date I have always used PCs. I have noticed that many job adverts seem to require both. If not having a Mac means that I won’t be able to get a job, then I might need to consider it as an investment and overcome the cost issue.

The job also specifies other less technical skills that may not be as easy to demonstrate. According to the advert, this position would involve interaction with clients which would require both listening to understand their website requirements and the ability to explain technical issues, both verbally and in writing. While I have had to rely on my communication skills working with others on this course, I am also hoping to draw on my experience in other jobs to date for these less technical skills.

Start of the Second Year

2009-09-22T10:26:00.037+01:00

Despite having quite a long summer break it seemed that it has gone by in a flash, and on the first day back at college as a second year student everything felt very familiar. It was certainly a lot more comfortable than the introductions at the beginning of the first year.

For the final two assignments of the first year: A1 Sketchblog and A7 Rasterized, I was pleased to find that I had improved on my grades compared to previous assignments. I was hoping this was the case as am feeling much more confident with the digital imaging software and graphic design elements of the course. I am also pleased with my sketching and visualising skills as they appear to be a basic requirement for all-round web designers, which is what I aspire to become.

As for the summer break, I'm quite pleased with myself for having managed to find the self-discipline to create a website for my partner's 'Personal home page' which is now in her work-based ftp site. I feel a lot more confident about using XHTML and CSS for web design, although I realise these are just the basic elements and elements of other coding languages such as Javascript and PHP will also be required for professional looking websites.

Bearing this in mind I have also looked at PHP and tried out some script, setting up an Apache local web server in order to test out web pages with PHP. I think that I am now at least familiar with PHP although still see myself as a beginner. I now have an appreciation of the way PHP works as a 'server side' code whilst HTML works in a web browser. For the A9 assignment I intend to use the open source XAMPP package as it includes the MySQL database.

We certainly hit the ground running on the first day back, launching straight into the first assignment of the second year. This is the A8 iMe Assignment, the first component is the Self Managed Learning Plan (SMLP) which involves choosing a course-related subject (PHP and MySQL in my case), and devising our own project through a creative brief.

This all seemed quite daunting to me at first but I have been looking into PHP during the summer months and have (hopefully) a fairly good idea of what I would like to achieve and what is realistic for me given the limited timescale and my limited PHP knowledge.

For the SMLP I intend to create an online thumbnail gallery for a friend who is researching monuments in Cumbria and North Lancashire for a book he hopes to have published, and has supplied me with a collection of photographs for an accompanying website which will form the basis of the creative brief.

I'm quite excited about the project as it's a 'live' project and quite similar to the work I hope to be doing on a self employed basis. It is also quite an interesting project in itself.
I'm also quite anxious about getting it all working correctly within the timescale...

SMLP: Resource list for PHP/MySQL

2009-08-26T18:44:00.023+01:00

I intend to explore the most important and commonly used applications of php by developing a website which will incorporate these applications.

This could include: Providing a content management system using MySQL, creating secure contact forms, image galleries, and navigation guides.

This will provide me with working practice and experience of PHP and also provide me with a showpiece website to add to my portfolio.

I intend to use online and textbook tutorial(s) to find out what applications to incorporate into the website and to learn how to write them. To this end I have looked at a number of books on php and have a personal preference for 'PHP Solutions'by David Powers.

My resource list will contain:

1: PHP version 5.3: Open source

2: Apache local server: Open source

3: MySQL: Open source

4: Microsoft Notepad

5: Online tutorials: eg: PHP.net/manual, WC3 tutorials,
phpjabbers.com.

6: Text book: PHP solutions, By David Powers.

7: XHTML and CSS

8: A sketchbook and Digital Imaging software will be used for the website design.

Self Managed Learning Plan: Proposal for PHP and MySQL

2009-08-21T12:45:00.024+01:00

With a view to what my future aspirations are in terms working as web designer, I am keeping an open mind at the moment.

With the current downturn and lack of jobs I am planning on developing the most currently in-demand skills and being prepared to work as a web designer initially on a self employed basis just as a means of building up a portfolio, and also developing the necessary skills. After gaining some experience I hope to be able to work either in contracts or full time as an 'all round' web/graphic designer.

Having looked at the required skills on various online jobsites (such as totaljobs), the most commonly sought - after coding skills after html and css apears to be PHP. So it makes sense to me to develop a working knowledge of this language. As it is also an open-source language, it is widespread as web development tool and integated into the GNU project, so is likely to be around for some time.

Learning the fundamentals of php will also allow me to incorporate secure contact and booking forms into any websites I build whilst working on my own. Online purchasing and feedback forms are a common requirement of websites for small businesses and sole traders - which will be my most common source of work.

I will also learn MySQL as it works alongside php as a database management tool.

I am hopeful that with these 'core' skills I will be able to answer the requirements of most websites, and in the future may consider other coding skills such as 'Ruby on Rails' or Javascript but for now I will stick to the 'basics'.

First Year Summary

2009-05-12T15:54:00.038+01:00

Looking back at my first journal entry I can read the reasons why I started this course, and what my initial expectations where.
I remember how I felt at the time, which was basically worried about a lack of knowledge in even the most basic aspects of web design and the social networking aspects of the internet, such as blogging, using forums and even creating an avatar.

I found the first couple of weeks to be quite a steep learning curve due to such seemingly small tasks as the creation of an avatar in das-forum, setting up this blogger site and adding links to forum and blog posts. These tasks have now become second nature to me, as they are frequent requirements of the course.
I was also apprehensive in returning to college as a mature student, and was hopeful that there would be other students with similar backgrounds and reasons for returning to college.

I found the first assignment quite frustrating, although it was useful in providing us with a basic knowledge of the technologies, equipment and programmes involved in web design and the Internet, there was a distinct lack of creativity involved. There was also an emphasis on precision of the assignment presentation and in particular the referencing which I thought made me more apprehensive and took some of the enjoyment of learning out of the tasks. I realise of course that precision is an important element of graphic and web design so it was a kind o preparation for other tasks and for the industry we will hopefully become professionally involved in.

During this period I also had to set up my email account, which despite having a few teething problems went fairly smoothly. This was relevant to me and I gained some confidence from the experience.

I also had another learning curve using Photoshop for the first time (apart from resizing photographs which I have done in the past.) This was due to creating an entry for the college Christmas e-card, I think I was more involved in learning techniques in Photoshop (such as layers and masks) than in sticking to the brief, as I managed to create a reindeer theme which was not really the modern look required of the brief.

The A3 'Sounds Like a Plan' assignment was the first taste of web design proper, it required research and development of a minimal one page website, which was plenty enough for me to cope with at the time. I didn't have much confidence in my Photoshop skills in creating a banner, and often felt quite confused as to what was expected from us as a final outcome. I spent a lot of the Christmas break learning Photoshop and In-Design techniques to develop the website plan.

Looking back now I think I could quite easily achieve the same results with much less time and with much more confidence, due largely to having more familiarity with the whole process of presenting a web design plan prior to creating it online. I can also see the wisdom in this approach as a lot of the design process can be resolved at an early stage,saving considerable time in the web development stage.

The A4 assignment was a grounding in layout and graphical presentation, introducing us to basic printing elements such as the use of grids, white space and leading. The assignment was refreshing as it allowed us to get more creative, albeit within tight production specifications. I found that the limited scope for creativity actually helped t develop skills in page layout, and kept us focused on the basics and helped us to produce effective designs.I also enjoyed learning about typesets and fonts, some of which can be linked to certain periods in time and have historical significance.

The A5: Builder assignment was our first real taste of creating websites with XHTML and CSS, and also of using Dreamweaver, which is not everyone's favourite tool for building websites. I certainly preferred hand coding rather than Dreamweaver and will concentrate on learning to build websites this was before I start to use other software. I had a lot of help on this first website-build, but I did at least begin to understand how the two languages work together. I also managed to edit some of the code to make minor alterations.

My sketching skills have been brushed up and put to good use in the development of both A6 and A7. I was hoping to do better in the final part of the A6 Magic Circle website design but the finished artwork lacked the finesse I was hoping to achieve, and so I will have to put it down to a learning experience.

On the positive side I was pleased to receive some very positive feedback for my sketch-book work and initial designs, so with a bit more practice I am hoping to achieve some more effective final designs.Having just handed in the final assignment of the year: A7: Rasterized. I am more confident with the final outcome although have the familiar apprehensions about missing out fine detail...

Looking forward to the next academic year...

My experience of web coding with XHTML strict and CSS has developed skills in coding, and I am please with my progress in this area, as I feel it may be a potential source of future work. I am considering learning Php as the Self-Managed Learning Programme as another facet for future employability, although I also intend to keep improving my skills in Photoshop, Illustrator and possibly Flash. I am also looking for a short course in a relevant area during the summer break. My aspirations for the next year:

Have more confidence and working knowledge in the most commonly used software packages relevant to web design.

Develop my coding skills, and also to practice during the summer break.
Learn an additional related programme such as PHP.
Learn an additional software tool such as Flash.

One Last Hurdle...

2009-05-01T16:45:00.017+01:00

Well, the last few weeks of the first year are upon us and the deadline for the last assignment is looming. Fortunately the assignment has been divided up into various stages which has so far gone well for me (I think).

The very first task was to listen to the music and create a review of it in five hundred words, which was quite difficult for me as it involved expressive writing and trying to avoid various cliches about music and art.

The logo design was next, and we had to develop three logos, one of which was selected by the 'client' during a sales pitch. I found it quite difficult trying to sell the designs and try to make them sound special and unique. I also felt under pressure from the rest of the seminar group who were also judging my sales pitch.

I was happy enough with the selected logo, although I had also put a lot of work into trying to design 3-d style logos.All of the logo designs involved learning how to use the pen tools in Freehand and Illustrator, which was a steep learning curve but both enjoyable and useful, as I also used Illustrator to trace an image for the CD packaging artwork.

I have also developed more skills in Photoshop, bringing in vector shapes and rasterizing layers, creating background images, overlays and adding shading and reflections. So far I am quite pleased with the graphical side of this assignment and my supporting sketchbook work.

I am a bit anxious about creating the A7 web page as I am not yet fully confident with the coding side, although I realize coding requires practice and partly learning through trial and error.

Almost There...

2009-04-02T14:59:00.018+01:00

There's been a lot of project work carried out since my last journal entry, and a lot of learning. This includes creating my first web page in XHTML and CSS for my A5 Builder assignment, following the web design goals set out in the A3 assignment.

I enjoyed the learning process of coding, although I did require a lot of help in getting it finished. I'm feeling more confident for the next coding project in the A7 assignment and will attempt to complete as much of it as possible on my own. I was quite pleased with a pass for this assignment but hope to achieve better results for future coding projects.

I have also completed the A6 assignment which was based mainly on digital imaging manipulation using Photoshop. I have mixed feelings about my overall performance in this assignment: Pleased with my sketchbook work, but a bit disappointed with the final outcome of my web design for the Magic Circle.

I experienced a steep learning curve using Photoshop to create my web design and feel that with a little more practice and experience I could have made something a lot more finished and cleaner looking. However I am confident that I have learnt a lot from this project and think I am on the right track. I am please to know that my initial sketch work is to a good standard and realise that this is one of the most important aspects of creative design work.

The technical knowledge I need to transform my ideas into digital work is just a matter of perseverance, and the current A7 assignment should help me to get a step further..

A Review of Insen by Alva Noto

2009-03-22T18:58:00.017Z

Insen is the 2005 follow up album to the highly acclaimed Vrioon (2003) album created by Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Insen is a modern album done in the minimalist electronic tradition. While its modern sound may not be readily accessible to the general listening public, research of professional musical reviews shows that Insen has been well received by music critics.

According to BBC writer Colin Buttimer,¹ Insen is an exploration of electronic sounds combined with traditional acoustic instruments, which in the case of Insen, uses the piano skills of the multi-talented Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. Alva Noto is the pseudonym of Carsten Nicolai, one of the three members of the recording label Raster Norton (the other two members being Frank Bretschneider and Olaf Bender).

The Raster Norton label is renowned for its spectrum of electronic based music that is largely experimental and ranges from stripped down incidental sounds to abstract and experimental music. The music can be linked with art movements such as Minimalism and Futurism and harks back to the days of Kraftwerk and early electronic music of the past 1980’s, although it belongs to a more creative and artistic plane than popular music.²

The album is the result of Nicolai’s masterly dissection and rebuilding of Ryuichi’s delicate piano scores, complimenting these notes and rhythms with a network of interwoven electronic sound that has the effect of encompassing the entire album in a reflective ambience, tugging at the emotions and heart-strings of the listener.

The music takes on a simplistic, elegant yet stripped-back style to produce delicate sounds which provide both contrast and harmony. The subtle notes of the piano are complimented and augmented with the meanderings of digitally created sound, as if they are being carried on the air like delicate bird song.

On the first opening notes of the leading track ‘Aurora’ the feelings of melancholy and heady emotion are already apparent. The bass elements of the track vary in intensity and volume, grabbing the listener’s attention without warning.

‘Morning’ has the feel of a clear and still air of an early winter’s day; cold repetitive notes become hauntingly familiar as the track continues.

Both of the tracks ‘Logic Moon' and ‘Moon’ combine sudden stops and interruptions by using a glitch effect to break into the gentle melody.

‘Berlin’ is perhaps the most memorable and distinct track, having a more defined rhythm countered by an infusion of background recordings, giving an ethereal feel which includes the distant sound of birdsong.

‘Iano’ begins with a brief introduction of piano notes, electronic background samples and a crackle which forms into a part of the rhythm which picks up slightly before being rejoined by the piano. Static sounds become blended into the mix gradually giving a feeling of rainfall in the background. The beat can then be picked out and becomes pronounced with a more obvious fusion of piano and digital pulse before gradually fading away.

It seems clear that the two artists have worked together to create a natural fusion of their own individual and highly developed skills into creating a piece of work that is both mesmerizing and emotionally charged.

1 Buttimer, 09 May 2005, Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto: Insen,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/rmhj/, Accessed 20 March 2008.
2 ibid

Beginning of Semester Two

2009-02-02T16:40:00.015Z

This is the second week into the second semester and we have just missed a half day due to severe weather. This is disappointing for me as I am eager about learning the technical aspects of the web design such as HTML and CSS, and this afternoon would have covered an introduction to Dreamweaver which I am completely new to.

We have been given some self study work to be getting on with but I am currently not too confident about the A5 usability checklist we need to provide for next week. Looks like I'll be spending a fair amount of time researching WCAG2, Web Standards and other related issues.

Last week included feedback for our two previous assignments A3 and A4 and I was both pleased and relieved to discover that I have passed both of them.

Most of the feedback I received for both of these assignments was positive, although I could have improved on my results by producing some more sketchbook development work, especially for the A3 assignment. I also need to maintain a high standard of time-keeping if I am to achieve better results on future assignments.

Although I am pleased with my results I would like to do better in the next assignments and think this is possible for me to achieve if I put enough work and effort into them.

For the current A6 assignment I have started to create some tutorial hand-outs for our presentation tutorial on Photograph Repairs in Photoshop. I have enjoyed spending time learning the various methods and practising using them, and then making step-by-step guides for other students to refer to. I'm looking forward to learning some new Photoshop techniques during this assignment although I will probably get a bit nervous during our presentation.

Ding Dong - End of Round One!

2009-01-21T09:31:00.016Z

This semester break allows us the chance to look back over and reflect on the first semester. For me, one of the most noticeable things is my growing confidence in my (potential) abilities in both the graphic design and the technical aspects of the course.

Its true that we haven't quite started on the most technical aspects, such as writing in XHTML and using CSS, but we have covered crucial areas such as setting up a website through a shared web hosting provider, using a control panel to upload images, setting up web mail and accessing this using outlook express (or the 'mac' equivalent). This was all completely new to me as I have never set up a website before, so it was quite a steep learning experience.

As I have just mentioned we are about to embark on our first (for most of us) journey into Markup Languages, and I was probably more anxious about this aspect of the course than any other. However having read a few chapters of HTML Dog (a few times in some parts) and also looking at the online help at W3C Schools, I am now looking forward to 'having a go' which the practical side of next semester should necessitate.

My familiarity with some of the industry standard software has also developed, and I am looking forward to developing more skills over the next semester with an assignment which covers imaging and Photoshop techniques. This will involve a presentation which may fill a lot of the students with dread. Whilst I expect to get a bit nervous I know from experience that we will all be in the same boat and that preparation will go a long way to calming the nerves.

One of the often tricky aspects of the course is the annotation of our inspiration work for the sketchbooks, which - it is important to remember - is a crucial part of an ongoing assignment. I am gradually finding it easier to annotate and describe why I find most of the pieces inspiring, useful or interesting, and I think this has been aided by listening to other students describing their inspiration during the weekly group seminars. The proces is perhaps a good way for students from more technical I.T. backgrounds become familiar with visual skills and techniques.

The sketchbook annotation is also useful in providing a starting point for debate and to help some students gain confidence in talking out in a group meeting situation. I realise that whilst my descriptive writing is advancing there is still some way to go and I need to keep making plenty of effort with it.

I am relieved to hear from our tutor that the most theoretical assignments of the first year are over and in the next semester we can look forward to more practical based study, where we be seeing the relevance of what we have already learnt. I am hoping that by the end of this academic year I will have designed and produced my first web page complete with web authoring in XHTML and CSS.

Back to Reality

2009-01-09T10:13:00.006Z

We are now back to work after the Christmas break, and it's the last week before two assignments have to be handed in. There's plenty for me to do this week but I did manage to get a fair amount of it ready over the holidays.

Having said that I'm still feeling the pressure- I just realised last night that some of my reference links for my A3 assignment weren't working properly and at first didn't have a clue why. Fortunately when I deleted and re-linked them they were fine. Even though I think I'm just about finished with the assignment I'm still anxious about handing it in in the correct order and not missing or messing up any details such as the date at the footer of the pages, or the naming of the data files.

I have enjoyed the A4 mini assignments and the element of creativity work it has provided, using InDesign to design page layouts and banners, albeit under a bit of pressure. Its a nice way to gradually finish steps towards an assignment. There's just the font and type test next week to get through but with a bit of reading up this should be ok.

I also managed to find time this week to design a 'Type Trumps' card for an in-course competition, using the Eras font which I was assigned. Despite being a bit pushed for time this week I enjoyed designing it and regretted not being able to spend a bit more time on it. But I guess there'll be plenty more opportunities to develop my graphical design skills...

CARPing on...

2008-12-09T17:00:00.014Z

Probably a poor play on words- the title refers to our first presentations which were based on examples of the PARC (or CARP) rules (Proximity, Alignment, Repetition and Contrast) for Page Layouts, and apply to everything from business cards to websites.

My seminar group was the first to be called up for the presentations. There was an element of anxiety in the class which seemed to spread around, as I was feeling fine about it until we were about to be called up. As I went to the front I suddenly felt a bit panicky about remembering my lines and going 'blank', but the adrenalin kicked in and once I started I was on a roll. It was a very short presentation on proximity and when it was over I felt relaxed and enjoyed watching the other groups going through the same process.

On the whole, the presentations were well arranged and planned out, although there were a few technical hitches which I have to admit I found rather amusing, as people struggled to muddle through with some impressive ad-libbing.

With the A4 Mini-Assignments we are starting to be involved in more 'hands-on' practical design work and it feels a lot more like learning for the 'real world'. Whilst being more enjoyable it does contain a level of intensity which can turn into stress when time starts running out. Its an effective way of learning InDesign as a little bit of pressure is a good motivator.

The year is coming to a close and the first term of the course is almost over. We've learnt a lot of the basics and will soon be learning how to put websites together and scratching our heads over XHTLM code.

Ramping it up.

2008-11-25T16:59:00.008Z

As promised, the workload is starting to ramp up, and also the responsibility of us students to make sure that we are heading in the right direction with our assignments and managing our workload effectively. I am currently feeling a bit concerned with the research needed for the A3 Website plan and how to present it, as there is a total word count of only 1000 words. I intend to make a table of aims for the competitive analysis and the website goals and have a tick-list in order to save words.

The Christmas e-card design project has been an interesting sideline to the assignment work and I have really enjoyed getting to understand the way in which Photoshop uses layers, and how these can interact. I had a fair amount of advice from other students but quickly learnt that their are several ways to achieve the same affect. I spent quite a lot of time on it considering how much other assignment work needs doing. I had some trouble uploading the finished work onto my website but found it to be a useful exercise in itself as it was the first time I have used File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

The A4 assignment is also well under way, and there will be a font test next week which will include all aspects of layout and elements of a font, as well as the ability to distinguish certain fonts. This will require quite a lot of revision and will probably add a certain amount of stress to the assignment, but I'm sure it will encourage people to read up on the subject!

Industrial Visit Review

2008-11-11T17:10:00.012Z

David Pannell and Craig Burgess delivered a presentation about their work in the Design Mechanics, which also included a question and answer session. This journal entry is a summary of this presentation.

Dave Pannell is the company director of the Design Mechanics. After initially working for other companies in advertising, he set up his own advertising agency in Huddersfield, called D.P. Design and Marketing, and worked for large companies such as McVities, but realised he enjoyed being more involved with smaller companies.

He then set up the Design Mechanics with a business partner with a web design background. Initially the company set-up was too large to manage and this led to complications, so the company was stripped down to just three people, which included Craig Burgess as a web and graphic designer. Craig is a former student on this course. After his first year on the course he worked part time as a designer for a vehicle renting company, which he said was a steep learning curve.

With this three-man team, the company then started off small as originally advised. Currently, the company claims to have around 800 clients.

One key feature of this company is its marketing strategy. This includes a price list in the brochure, which appeals to smaller companies as it shows transparency and reduces the mystique of design agency work. They also combine both web and print in their products as the design agency companies that are struggling are the ones that are too specialised; and a good logo or design will work across both web and print media types.

The company asks for a twenty five percent deposit from a client before work starts, to cover against the client pulling out. Another technique to discern seriously interested clients is to ask them to visit the Design Mechanics offices.

The Design Mechanics set out to offer value for money but still provide good quality and exciting design work.

VAG Rounded.

2008-11-04T15:03:00.071Z

Also known as VAG Rundschrift (Rundschrift is German for round writing). This font or typeface was designed in 1979 for the automotive manufacturers Volkswagen AG. A distinguishing feature of this typeface is the rounded end-stroke.¹

VAG Rounded is based on earlier grotesque sans-serif typeface designs ² which became influential in the 1920’s largely due to developments with the German Bauhaus movement, where it was adapted to express simplicity of form.

Sans serif is French for ‘without serifs’, serifs being the small features at the end of strokes. The term grotesque came about from the controversy surrounding these early sans serif typefaces.³

The demand for the new font arose in the early 1970’s when Volkswagen required a new brand identity to encompass all of their commercial activities, which by then also included Audi, the related car dealerships and financial services.

The design agency GGK Duesseldorf was awarded the design contract. Part of the brief was to develop a typeface which would replace the Futura typeface being used by Volkswagen and the Times typeface used by Audi.

The idea for a rounded typeface is accredited to Wolf Rogosky (Creative Director) and Gerd Hieplar (Art Director). The original font was drawn by hand and refined on a PDP-8 minicomputer. The font was widely in use for desktop publishing by the mid 1980’s.⁴

The font is believed to have influenced many typeface designs including the General Electric ‘GE Inspira’. Although Volkswagen phased out the use of VAG Rounded during the 1990's it is still widely used today and is under license from Adobe Systems.⁵

G.E. Inspira Logo ⁹

VAG Rounded is also arguably influencing a current style of logos in modern Web Design with a soft and friendly appearance.⁶ The font has been in use as a keyboard typeface by the Apple Inc. company since 1999 for their range of notebook computers. ⁷

An example of VAG Rounded⁸

References.

1. VAG Rounded Black, itcfonts.com , 04/11/2008

2. VAG Rounded Std., Adobe.com , 04/11/2008

3. Kirsanov, [02/1998], sans serif history, webreference , 04/11/2008

4. [17/08/2008], VAG Rounded, en.wikipedia.org , 04/11/2008

5. VAG Rounded, absoluteastronomy.com , 04/11/2008

6. Coles [07/03/2006], The Logos of Web 2.0, fontfeed.com, 04/11/2008

7. [17/08/2008], VAG Rounded, en.wikipedia.org , 04/11/208

8. [17/08/2008], Image: VAG Sample.gif en.wikipedia.org, 04/11/208

9. GE Inspira, absoluteastronomy.com, 04/11/2008

The End of the Beginning.

2008-10-21T16:38:00.011+01:00

After having handed my first assignment I experienced mixed feelings about this decision; should I have checked it yet again over Monday night or was I right to ‘draw a line’ under it and start focusing on the next tasks. I felt quite relieved as soon as I passed the folder over at the reception desk yet also a little seed of doubt (had I forgotten something?) but at the end of the day there are only so many times a piece of work can be checked and proof read.

I came into college this morning to participate in a group bonding football session and as I was trying get my breath back afterwards reflected on how well the first year students have managed to get on with each other; I hope it lasts as there is currently a good atmosphere and we are all generally willing to cooperate and help each other.

The first half of the first semester has gone quickly for me, although it has apparently been a gentle introduction in terms of workload. I have a sense of achievement from getting through the initial tasks and getting the first assignment in on time (and hopefully complete), also coping with an initially steep learning curve with setting up and using a website control panel, webmail and email on Outlook Express. I am looking forward to developing my website and uploading my creative efforts into it through FTP.

I feel another sense of achievement about returning to education after such a long time in work, and that I have made a positive move in both my professional and personal development. I am apprehensive about the increasing workload in the next term but am also beginning to feel more confident that I can meet these demands and that I have chosen the right course.

The First Few Steps...

2008-10-07T19:51:00.003+01:00

As a mature student – and one of the oldest on the course – I was a bit concerned initially about being in a group with students much younger than me, but as there are people from a wide range of backgrounds, I haven’t felt too out of place. The initial ‘ice-breaking’ exercises, such as ball throwing, helped to introduce everyone and break down barriers, as did forming into small groups for various exercises. The egg-dropping design exercise also introduced some fun and friendly rivalry into the group and was a good way of introducing team-building.

The first four weeks have been a steep learning curve; for instance I have previously used Email and Instant Messenger but am new to setting up Blog sites and posting messages on forums. I am starting to feel more comfortable with posting messages and blogs and am aware that most of the other first year students are in the same position.

The first critique we had (Monday 6^th October) focused on our Blogger profiles and our first Online Journal entries. As soon as Steve mentioned he had selected a few students’ posts as examples, I knew that mine would be one of them! I was a bit anxious about how it would appear on the Projector screen, but I had fairly positive feedback about the blog and my profile, although there were a few things to put right. I was impressed with the time and effort some people had put into the appearance of their Blogger sites, but I'm sure I'll soon find it easy to improve my own.

Where I've come from; where I am now; where I'm going.

2008-10-01T11:56:00.013+01:00

As a qualified and experienced product designer, I have become increasingly frustrated by the lack of opportunity in my profession. Despite having sufficient qualifications I had difficulty in finding interest from potential employers and in gaining valuable work experience. I have also been disappointed by the limited scope for creativity and conceptual design within these positions.

During the ten years I have spent as a product designer I have worked for three companies, two of which have closed down due to competition from abroad and lack of demand. The third company has closed down its research and development department. I have therefore decided to return to college as a mature student in order to learn new skills which will hopefully open up new opportunities in the digital media industry.

I chose to study Web Design as it combines some of my current skills and strengths and also allows me to draw on previous work experience. It is also one of the few industries in demand in the UK, and potentially offers good career prospects.
I had been planning to move up to the Leeds area for a few months (from Cardiff) for personal reasons and had been looking at a range of courses in the area. The HND Interactive Media course seemed to offer a flexible and realistic approach that is appropriate for mature students. From the website description it seemed well thought out and relevant to industry.

In addition to the skills I will learn on the course I intend to keep up-to-date with new software and programming developments and also to learn new skills such as Flash animation. I may consider further education such as a part time degree, but at the moment I am more interested in finding freelance or permanent work opportunities and in gaining work experience.