Monday, June 14, 2010

Client Website Upload

This is the final product for the Client Website Assessment.

http://sjbcreative.com/jbrumwellartist/

The website will eventually be further more built for the Client as the Client requests me to keep it updated from time to time.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

My Client Website Experience


My Client was for Julie Brumwell Visual Artist, my latest mockup I posted was used and finalized into the end result, and now this post will reflect on my process through this.

Initial Brainstorming / Mockups

I managed to get this part of my website process done quite easy, with a few concepts, keeping a few mockups similar, I only did 4 mockups before I awaited showing them to the Client.

Pre-Dreamweaver Development of Website

I had to change the concept completely after showing my first mockups as the Client wasn't fully satisfied, this did annoy me quite a bit but after doing a 5th mockup the Client was very pleased and I began the process of cutting up the design for Dreamweaver implementation.



Dreamweaver Development

The Clients needs weren't too strict, It was a 5 page website with some Flash objects, mainly banner and nav, no problems there. Had an issue getting actual Clients content to fill the pages, other than that the Client viewed the half-completed Dreamweaver process and loved it, If i do quote it looked "classy"

Working with the Client

As I did mention before the Client was not too strict on the design so I managed to kind of take control and tell the Client what they needed. The only issue with the Client was changing the mockup look COMPLETELY, I had actually initially started some basic Dreamweaver placement, had to ditch this. Content was yes also hard to get, though there was lack of communication with the Client as they were busy most of the time.


Finalization of Website

The end result came out fantastic, the Client was satisfied with it, not all the Clients images were fully in the website as of yet because they hadn't actually taken images of their artwork, but I was okay to add these for them later on in the year. It was a very challenging and enjoyable experience in developing this website and it felt real in terms of workplace Client to Designer Relationship.

Overall in What I've Learn't

Don't start cutting up a website until the Mockup is definitely confirmed! I was annoyed when the Client changed design ideas, but It was partially my fault jumping right into it. Clients also need to be assured and sometimes hassled for content sometimes, sometimes felt like I was pestering them but it was all for the best. I've also learn actually more into Web Design, mainly with 100% fitting content on the browser screen, better layouting.

Search engine optimization and Flash

Links: Search engine optimization for Flash http://www.flashnseo.com/

Search engine optimization and Flash http://www.adobe.com/devnet/seo/


Encoding video with Flash Video Encoder

http://livedocs.adobe.com/flash/9.0/flvencoder/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp.htm?context=LiveDocs_NoParts&file=FLV_17.html


Portello

http://www.portello.org/

Robot.txt - use this to block folders or html pages from search engine listings
http://www.dwfaq.com/Tutorials/Miscellaneous/robot_txt.asp

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

2nd mockup, and most likely final design!



This is my 2nd mockup, big change from my other, reasons are because of different client needs, I am more happy with this decision though and so is my Client. The Design has changed drastically from the original earlier mockups, the Client requested a darker look and to match some websites they had given me, eg:

www.kittyhorton.com.au

Monday, May 10, 2010

Client Website Current


Current Design for my Client, still in mockup form to confirm layout before putting into dreamweaver.

Basekit competition Interface


Monday, April 19, 2010

proposal mockup

Quite happy with this as a frontpage cause the design is still relevant to my buisness, open for comments and criticism though!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Dreamweaver Template Questions

Stephen Brumwell 7400433704 - Template Questions


1. What is a Dreamweaver Template?

A Dreamweaver template is a file that is used over a range of pages to create a "fixed" page layout. Specific Regions are allocated to allow these parts to be edited and change over all the webpages that are using such template.

2. What are the advantages of using templates?

Using templates makes it easier to change certain parts on a page that needs to be the same on all other pages, simply changing the template updates all the pages using the template.

3. What is a 'editable region'? How to set it up?

An Editable Region allows a field on the page to be edited in the template, which will change on the other webpages, anything else is fixed and not editable.

the Editable Region is in the dropdown Insert -> Templates > Editable Region.


4. What is a 'Repeating region'? How to set it up?

Repating Regions are used so that the user can add or delete copies of the region when need be. these repeating sections are editble and can be modified, yet the template is still in control.

the Rpeating Region is in the dropdown Insert -> Templates > Repeating Region.

5. What is a optional region?

An Optional Region is kind of like a toggle Region, which can be text or image. They do not always appear in the page, the template user controls whether it is visible or not.

Monday, March 1, 2010

My Banner Storyboard


So this is my storyboard for my foxtel banner, wanted to keep it simple layout and simple animation, might be a little cluttered though.




A few great flash tutorial sites‼

Flashkit is a big one to obviously note.
www.flashkit.com

This one has a few handy tutorials, and some basic ones aswell if you ever get stuck on that one simple thing.
http://www.flashperfection.com/

This one has alot too, and alot more specifically directed to cs4.
http://www.kirupa.com/

So what is EM?

So your wondering what EM is, well firstly to sum it to a basic form its a type of CSS sizing for text. In a more detailed explaination EM is a type of sizing for text that is measured using the size of M in the parentfont size, for example if a page body was set to font-size: large, 1 em would be equal to that size.

EM is mainly used to cross between browsers, it has better compatibility for when size is changed in a new browser the text size scales. For example if one site is set to default font-size small and one set to large, the EM will scale to this.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Design Competitions

http://www.graphiccompetitions.com/

Current Logo Design


Made adjustments, from suggestions from many people, I still wanted to keep the darker grayscale like colour scheme though.

ALSO, my flash version one is on sjbcreative.com, added info below the logo aswell :)

Thursday, February 11, 2010

A Few Cool Websites

http://www.mono-1.com/monoface/main.html
very interactive and fun

http://okaydave.com/
This is a flash website of a persons Portfolio, I found it to be quite fantastic and that hes actually recorded video logs of some of his work.

http://www.sectionseven.com/
another portfolio that blew me away.

http://moodstream.gettyimages.com/

http://www.syfy.com/tinman/oz/
Wow.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Websites that Suck

www.websitesthatsuck.com

Chosen list of a few website from this website that I think are designed horribly.

http://www.lingscars.com/

Firstly, it has too much cluttered information, very confusing. Alot of blinking, flashing distracting objects that are quite utterly useless. Website takes too long to load and the Navigation is so confusing that it will most likely direct the viewer away on opening the site. The overall experience of the site is overwhelming.

http://www.photographertoronto.com/#

The website took ages to load, mainly the background, which is also tiled and looks visibly unattractive. The Navigation is confusing, the colour does not work with the background either. Some of the text is unreadable because of bad choice of color and text-size. Too much content on the one page, not organized into an easily accessible navigation of multiple pages.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Web Design Criteria

1. Content
Content is the information provided on the site. It is not just text, but music, sound, animation, or video -- anything that communicates a sites body of knowledge
2. Navigation
Structure and navigation refers to the framework of a site, the organization of content, the prioritization of information, and the method in which you move through the site.
3. Visual Design
Visual design is the appearance of the site. It's more than just a pretty homepage and it doesn't have to be cutting edge or trendy.
4. Functionality
Functionality is the use of technology on the site. Good functionality means the site works well. It loads quickly, has live links, and any new technology used is functional and relevant for the intended audience. The site should work cross-platform and be browser independent.
5. Interactivity
Interactivity is the way that a site allows you to do something. Good interactivity is more than a rollover or choosing what to click on next; it allows you, as a user, to give and receive. It insists that you participate, not spectate.
6. Overall Experience
Demonstrating that sites are frequently more -- or less than the sum of their parts, the overall experience encompasses content, structure and navigation, visual design, functionality, and interactivity, but it also includes the intangibles that make one stay or leave.

First Mock Up Website