Details of Web Design

The internet is not a new concept. In recent years everyone all over the globe has most likely had some interaction with the World Wide Web. With this in mind, Web layouts are something we encounter everyday but most of us don't give them a second thought. However, after reading chapters 3,4 and 8 in Information Architecture, the detailed process of web design and especially web page organization have really opened my eyes.

I never realized just how many different ways a person could categorize a singular item such as a scarf.  What is cool about the internet is that unlike in real life, one item can go into a  plethora of categories without ever becoming confusing. This being said, the trick it so make sure things are labeled correctly. If labels are too vague or ambiguous, this can become frustrating for the customer. Furthermore, in this same vein, the actual placement of your labels/categories on your web page play a huge role in the fluidity of your page. I never would have thought that the debate between whether your category links should be on the top (as most web pages usually are) or on the side was that important. However, after reading Information Architecture it seems that something as simple as where to put your links is actually incredibly important and can really make or break the success of your website.

After watching the rollover tutorial I still am impressed at how much Photoshop is capable of. This tutorial was really helpful  but I still think it would be easier to fully grasp if I was able to watch the tutorial while sitting in front of Photoshop and doing it along with the tutorial, however this was the easiest tutorial to follow and understand.

After watching Tim Berners-Lee's presentation on Linked Data, I have to say, I'm incredibly confused. He seemed to assume that we all know what he was referring to and perhaps the audience did. I however, kept getting lost. I vaguly understand the concept, but I don't really understand how to use it, where and when to use it and how it all works. I think a more detailed, and slower description would have been beneficial.

The Endless Possibilities of the Internet

With the birth of the Internet, our world changed forever. One element that was profoundly impacted by the evolution of the World Wide Web was graphic design and art in general. Now with so much software there seems to be endless possibilities for designers.

When watching Scott McCloud's presentation I was blown away by the way the internet has really taken a hold of cartoons and graphic novels. What use to be a very two dimensional medium, now has transformed itself into something incredibly dynamic. While print comics still serve a purpose, the possibilities for webcomics seem to really take the artistry to a whole new level. Looking at McCloud's website I began to understand the impressiveness and challenge of translating the uniqueness of print comics to the web.

Found on classroom20.com

People still want the comic feel but expect that visual and auditory impressiveness that the internet can provide. Finding the proper balance between the two takes a skill that Scott McCloud possesses. 

On a different note, I am constantly amazed at the possibilities that software nowadays is capable of. With Photoshop and Dreamweaver  designing websites is no longer limited to the professionals but is now available for everyone to take a part in. 

As technology continues to evolve and advanced, I look forward to seeing what is in store for graphic designers. I wonder what medium they will be dealing with in the years to come?

Web design, slicing, layers

Web design has always been something that is way beyond me. I've had classes where we touch upon it, learn very basic HTML or 30minute overview of Dreamweaver, but I've never really had the opportunity to design my own website. After reading Information Architecture and watching the video about slicing in Photoshop, things are starting to become a little more clear. However, I now am realizing that there is no one way to create and design a website. The possibilities are endless. This being said, the concept of building my own website is even more mind boggling. I think things will become clearer once I just delve in and begin playing around with various tools such as Photoshop, InDesign, and other web builders.

Tangible Design

Design is often considered to be used primarily for art, however I tend to take for granted the practicable uses that design posses as well. In reading chapters 13 and 14 of Digital Foundations I was not only informed, but also reminded of the very prominence  design has. The major example that the book uses is news paper layouts.

Through the use of design tools such as InDesign and Photoshop, newspapers are able to create perfect columns such as the ones found in The Washington Post. When we read the newspaper, nine times out of ten we do not even realize the design behind what we are reading. In actuality, design is in everything.

In reading the chapters from Graphic Design, I loved looking at the visuals that provided a more creative paradigm for common and typical concepts such as patterns and texture. One thing that really resonated with me with texture. Not only do physical designs have texture but through certain elements online, designs can posses various textures in the digital world as well.

The following are examples of this digital texture:

Design: A Powerful Tool

Design is incredibly powerful. We live in a very visual world so creating dynamic, memorable designs is important. Although it is something that I knew, I never realized just how influencial design really is until doing the readings for Photoshop this week. While reading Note for the New Millennium, what really struck me is that even the simplest of designs can be used to better our world or make it worse. Furthermore, the concept of design and how it has evolved alongside our consumeristic tendencies is both startling and understandable.  In the beginning designers believed "that design was alive with social implications" (Ewen , 192).  However, as we've become more reliant on the free market, design has become a means of selling.

This being said, I suppose design was always used for selling, just in past it was predominently used to sell ideas, where now it is predominently used to sell products.

Our other readings focused more on web design. Pairing this with the Note for the New Millennium reading, it is easy to make the connection how design is not only important but also very prevelent since the creation of the World Wide Web. Now a design can reach everyone all over the world. This also means that with so many designs out there, there is more pressure to ensure that your design will be unique and powerful enough to have the impact and effect that you want.

Animation

A few years back I had an internship at an animation studio, Bent Image Lab. While there, I mostly did office work. They focused heavily on claymation as well as other textile forms of animation. Although they do computer animation I never became familiar with the software or process they used. After reading the chapters, especially  from Digital Foundations I am even more curious and interested in the animation process. I'm still pretty unclear as to the process but I look forward to experimenting with animation in the future.

The Jonathan Harris video on TED was truly inspirational. I had never heard of WeFeelFine.org before but now I am obsessed with it. Being able to see how the world is feeling on both a global as well as deeply personal level is quite extraordinary. Furthermore, the layout of this site is a lot of fun with the colors, animation and interactive nature. An example of some of the quotes you'll find are:

I walked away, I was feeling dirty and humiliated.
--A female in South Carlonia

I'm feeling quite content.
-Anonomous

I am over the hill 25 and am feeling kind of old physically.
-A female in the United States

Linked are the blogs that these quotes lead to.

I love that the infinite possibilities of the internet paired with software such as Flash and Photoshop allow imaginative people to create sites such as WeFeelFine. The internet never ceases to amaze me, but more often than not it is the creative minds behind the project that are truly extraordinary.

The Ins and Outs of Photoshop

Since starting this class I have come to realize that Photoshop is an amazing tool for artists. However, for a Photoshop beginner it can be very overwhelming. I find that I have creative ideas and no clue how to implement them. Furthermore, the ideas I have are difficult to translate into Photoshop being as I currently have rudimentary  Photoshop skills.

What struck me about the readings was the focus and emphasis on color and the role color plays in image. When I think of the color red a standard shade of red pops up. However, after looking at examples, the shade of red may appear differently if it is next to an orange versus a green. This never really struck me until I read the chapter on color and saw examples of it.

Additionally, while reading the various books helps me get a good idea what Photoshop is capable of, it is difficult for me to really comprehend it through reading. I find that if I go to YouTube and look up Photoshop tutorials that I am able to grasp the ideas better. Here is one such video I found to be helpful:

Cut, Copy, Paste and Layer

Day to day I come across images that capture the imagination and are intelligent, interesting or just really cool. When I stumble upon these images I often wonder how the artist created the art piece. With the readings over the past week, especially from the Graphic Design book I have been introduced to a whole new world of Photoshop possibilities. What really interested me was the cut, copy and paste aspects of layering. When surfing the web I came across the following image:

I would love to be able to make images like the one above. Although the chapters confirmed that this is possible, and provided instructions. I am more of a visual learner and can't wait to try it out in class.