Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Website Link

So here is my website. I'm hoping that it works. When I first tried to put it up it wasn't working but now it is...oh computers how I hate you let me count the ways....so we shall see.

The Website Showdown

Website Progress

So I'm trying to put my website on my public folder but for some reason onid doesn't recognize the folder online. I'm going to keep trying and hopefully it will work. Does anyone have ideas about what I might be doing wrong?

Friday, November 28, 2008

Webmap


So I think I've coded for at least the basics of my website. I'm under the impression that you just put the basics in Dreamweaver and then put together the fun stuff in CSS. So that's what I'm doing. Wish me luck.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

What I Give Thanks For

On this lovely Thanksgiving day I'm giving thanks for no classes, for family fun and for eggnog. However, what I'm not thankful for is the inventor of the internet. This html stuff is not going to go smoothly. I'm going to spend some time looking at Dreamweaver, keep your fingers crossed.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Website Designs

Here are my designs for my website. I want it to be simple and easy to use. I don't like when websites are confusing and overdone. I prefer them to be functional and informative. That's how I plan to make my website. So here is the initial look.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Critique 3

Site: Brooklyn Children's Museum

Navigation

This website is again extremely straightforward. Each page links to new information and allows you to get back to the other information categories. It relies on color and typographic hierarchy to point out how the categories are organized. It uses the metaphors of imagery, like a letter referencing email, or hands to show that you can belong to their group. The pages link simply and don't have elaborate transitions.



Information Architecture

The information is structured and ordered. It is organized in a way where it seems the museum thinks some information is more important than other information. Visiting information is the first large link and the following categories are also important. The structure of information helps to display the content of their website (which is a lot) without making the site confusing for the viewer.

Usability

It is very easy to use. Information is given without confusion and the visual elements keep the pages from seeming stiff.

Meaning-Making (Narrative and Metaphoric Structures)

The first page has somewhat of a narrative. There's a lot of activity and bright colors draw you to it. However there is no metaphoric structure throughout the website. Although if you wanted to say that there is a narrative it would be in the photographs of the children on each page. I would say this is a narrative because it shows all the fun that kids could have at each category of what the museum offers.

Reflection of the User

Despite nice colors and cute photos this website is primarily content driven so there isn't any real reflection of the user. This site is more natural than it is transparent. The viewer would pay more attention to the information than the overall design of the website. I think it makes sense because I don't think anyone would look to a museum for real interaction. They would want to know what shows were offered, when and for how long. There's a lot of information needed to be shown for a museum and complicated designs would only hinders someone from learning this information.


critique 2

Site: Switch Mediaworks

Navigation

The navigation of this website is fairly easy. It’s pretty linear and allows the viewer to move from one desired page to the next without complicated transitions. The clues of arrows, squares that highlight a page scrolled over and the commonly known sign of an “x” for exiting that page are used to show the viewer how to move about. The moving elements also make the site more interesting and fun to interact with.

Information Architecture

The information is set up pretty orderly. On the left side are the categories the site holds and when you select one it gives you the subsequent information, also organized. Visual hierarchy is used with color, larger words than others and structure of major information to information that is not as important. There is also very small amounts of information. I think the website is driven by design and not so much on content. Which could be good and bad. If they want to show off their talents a well designed website is a good way of doing this, but with so little information they may not convince a client that they are the best choice for the job.

Usability

It is very easy to use and gives the information directly. The content and visual activity work together well. There isn’t a lot of movement to distract from the information but it’s just enough to make me read what comes up. I think the metaphors work fine for the site. It’s simple but structured and the various elements show that.

Meaning-Making (Narrative and Metaphoric Structures)

There isn't a narrative to this website and it is linear. It follows a simple structure with some interesting movement but it doesn't move along a timeline. There also isn't a metaphor that somehow carries the site.

Reflection of the User

There is an interesting addition to this site, it has a live messenger. You can talk to others on the site and I think talk to the techs but I'm not really sure how it works. Otherwise there isn't a whole lot of viewer feedback on this site. It doesn't change depending on your choices and it doesn't take you somewhere that may interest you.