Unit 9

Unit 9 Response:

First thing i have to say about this article is: "It is supper cool because i have never seen something like that before." I really like the fact that the designer choose to make more content appear while user scroll the mouse. Indeed, it makes the website more interesting in term of visual. Also, it won't make the user bored while using it. What make this website even cooler are all the links that direct user to other places so that they can also learn how to make their website responsive.

This makes me think about how am I going design my website (portfolio) later because it will be really cool if i make my portfolio responsive. However, I have never experience coding this before, so it will be another challenge that i have to go through. It also makes me think about the platform, screen size that i have to design so that it get my message across. Yet, there are still many challenges awaiting for me ahead and as a designer, i got to prepare all the tools i need so that i can overcome all of the obstacles which is trying to stop me from achieving my goal.

Links:
1.http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/hh653584.aspx

2.http://coding.smashingmagazine.com/tag/responsive-web-design/

3.http://designwoop.com/2012/03/15-detailed-responsive-web-design-tutorials/

Unit 8

Unit 8 Response:

Just like any other kind of design, designing an application for a phone is a process of analyzing and trying to solve the problem so that the end-user can have a good experience with the app. Not only solving a problem, it requires a specific niche. It can be funny and interactive as long as it works for its audience. Starting out with a great idea then it comes to research to see what work and what doesn’t. Next step will be sketching out the entire thing on paper because it is easier to see and organize things. Information and things are set, but like everyone else, money for all the tools will be a whole other issue that I have to deal with.

An icon is very crucial to any app because it speaks out the concept for the app itself. Indeed words in the icon are unnecessary unless it serves the concept. The standard gloss issue is interesting because I always thought that designer add the gloss to their app so that it can be consistent. Personally, I don’t like the gloss because it took away so many good things in the icon. It is good to know that we don’t have to include the gloss in the icon. Yay! Also, keep the icon simple so that it won’t confuse the user. By saying simple, it doesn’t mean plain looking or lazy design. It means thoughtful, awesome design that people love it. Also, bring the theme of the icon into the design itself so that it stays consistent, and WHO WANT THEIR APP TO BE SIMILAR TO MANY EXISTING ONE? Definitely not me.

Links:

1. Another useful tips for designing icon: http://mobile.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mobile-design-tutorials/killer-tips-for-iphone-and-ipad-icon-design/

2. Awesome examples to look at: http://iphone.appstorm.net/roundups/design/30-gorgeous-iphone-app-interfaces-icons/

3. Some free tools to create icons: http://ramotion.com/icons/

 

Unit 7

Application Definition Statement:

1. App: Digital tour guide that allow user to take snap shot of a landmark then access the fun history of that specific land mark.

2.Lists of all features users might like:
- Interactive map that will help user to navigate (no need internet)
- Linked to camera app to take snap shot of the sights.
- If there is a price for this app in app store. It will be $20 max.
- Pin that interesting landmark or landmark that users have been to.

3.Target Audience:
- People who love to explore the world around them.
- People who doesn't travel a lot and afraid to get lost.
- People who interested in the history behind a land mark.
- People who carry an apple device: Ipod, Iphone, Ipad, etc.

4. Color scheme: (not decided yet)
 

Unit 6

Unit 6 Response:

                In Chapter 10, Steve said that as web or interface designer should try their best to make users happy and keep their interest in the website. A successful website will hook users’ attention and make them come back again. In order to do that, designer should make things that people want to use obvious and easy to access, save steps wherever we can, put effort into the website, know the FAQ and answer it, make it easy to recover from error, when it doubt apologize.

                In chapter 11 Steve focus on making the website accessible to people with disabilities according to “508” of the Amendments to Rehabilitation Act. In order to do that, designer need to clear out any confusion that normal people have so that it will be even easier for people with disability to access that website. Also, designers need to do research to find out how other designer deal with the same problem so that they can come up with their own. Implementing Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to format the layout or content on the website so that it will be easier to read and access. These are the main keys to create a good design, easy to access website. If we follow these key; we will definitely can create a 100% better than we previous made.

Links:

1.http://www.sigmainfotech.com.au/articles/importance-of-CSS-in-web-development.html
2.http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9610.html
3.http://achecker.ca/checker/index.php this is a cool website that will check the accessibility of any other website.

Unit 5

Unit 5 Response

What makes most web design team about web usability is a waste of time because it rarely result in anyone change his/her point of view to figure out what works, what doesn’t rather than what is right or wrong. I totally agree because I experienced this in many group projects. We just said what we like to do for the web without consideration for the end user’s experience. “If we find something that works, we stick to it. Once we find something that works — no matter how badly — we tend not to look for a better way” (Redd Horrocks). We’ll use a better way if we stumble across one, but we seldom look for one. As the result, testing is crucial to figure out what need to be fixed or enhance. Indeed, usability testing is one of the most important parts of designing a web. Steve advises to test often and simply because it will save us a tons of time in the design process. The more testing we do in the early process; the better result it will be at the end. As Steve’s advise: instead of using carefully picked samples, renting cameras or a special room for testing, all that are necessary are a computer, a test subject and a simple camera to record the process of testing. The facilitator asks questions and gives tasks. At the same time the camera records the process and the results can be later seen and analyzed. Krug emphasizes that the results should be reviewed right away and solutions should be offered. Testing should be done once every month. The mornings are the best time – 2-3 user tests in the morning and debrief over lunch.

Links:
1. http://www.usertesting.com/blog/pages/website-user-testing.php?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=usertesting&utm_campaign=usa-campaign&gclid=CLPO3_eS6LECFQJN4AodrTgAtA

2. http://www.blinkux.com/services/usability/?gclid=CP_57YaT6LECFVR7OgodoXQAPw

3. http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20000319.html

Mood Board

Other Stuff

Project 2

http://www.wwsport.com/

Week 4

Unit 4 Response

                I totally agree that a homepage is beyond our control because it is the most important page of any website. It contains everything and it has to appeal to everyone who visits the website. It is so important that everyone who involves want a piece (space) of the website. “the best home page design can’t do it all” indeed, it is the matter of creating a big picture that will clearly state what the site is rather than trying to fit every tiny bit of things to please everyone.

                What is this? What can I do here? What do they have here? Why should I be here-and not somewhere else?

                Those are the 4 questions that a good home page has to answer clearly at a glance. Other than that, it is the homepage job to get the message across as well. That is when welcome blurb or a good tag line will be handy. A good tagline has to be clear and informative. It should be 6 to 8 words long that will convey differentiation, clear benefit. It also can be personable, lively etc. After all of that, it comes back to navigation again. Basically, home page has to reveal as much as it can of what is below which makes the navigation in the home page very crucial. So, the navigation on the home is more unique comparing to any other below pages; however, they still need to have enough in common so user can recognize immediately.

Links

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=608&tbm=isch&tbnid=x0V1q5z32IH3mM:&imgrefurl=http://catchwordbranding.com/naming-work/taglines/the-nature-conservancy/&docid=gY517lAwLm-LPM&imgurl=http://catchwordbranding.com/static/uploads/2010/08/context_natureconservatory.jpg&w=503&h=344&ei=23ghUImQEsjgqgGE2oGYAQ&zoom=1 (pic of a good tag line)

http://blog.jibemedia.com/2012/01/17/taglines-what%E2%80%99s-the-point/

http://www.babycenter.com/

Bad Website

Oceanside: http://www.oceanside-ca.com/
Air Mac: http://www.airmac.com/
Dancing Baby: http://burningpixel.com/Baby/Babygif.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20000618114243/http://bonzi.com/bonzibuddy/bonzibuddyfriend.asp
http://www.estella-nyc.com/designer-brands.html

Week 3

Unit 3 Response

            It is always so true that “people won’t use website if they can’t find their way around it”. Personally, I think for any kind of good website, the navigation should stand out, clear, simple and consistent so that user can navigate around the website easier. Indeed, if users go to a website that is hard and confusing to look for thing they need; more likely they won’t come back for the website again. Navigation is the heart and the very basic for any websites because it gives us something to hold on to, tells us what is here or not, tells us how to use the site and even gives us confidence in people who built it. Consistency is something needs to be concerned in every pages of the website so that users know whether or not they are still on the same website.  Also, every page needs its name, and its name should be prominent enough to be recognizing by the user. In order to do those or I can say commonly, web developer put pages’ name into tabs to organize the names. Making a long story short, a good website needs a simple, clear engaging navigation. It includes the use of spaces, position of each elements, consistency, indicator and organized content.

Links (clear navigation)

http://www.amazon.com/

http://www.ebay.com/

http://shop.nordstrom.com/?origin=tab-logo

Week 2

Unit 2 Response:

What makes a challenge for designing an effective website is how can designers design a web page that is barely going to be read by the majority? The answer will be creating a website for scanning not reading because people have tendency to skim and scan through the website to find the information they are looking for rather than reading every single piece of text displaying on the web site. Indeed, the website should be visually clear to establish the first look. Also, it should have a clear hierarchy for each page on the website. Breaking pages into easily identifiable areas with different purposes will help user understand the page better, making obvious what is clickable and what is not, removing any unnecessary clutter. Also, presenting simple choices to the users that are totally unambiguous will be another option because they just like it. Another way to create a better website is to cut all the crap and get straight to the main point because user won’t read it. For example: kill the happy talk (Welcome to our website blah blah blah) or cut down the instruction just like the example Krug shows for Verizon’s intro. The more text appears in the website, the less valuable the website will get. Therefore, it is best to cut half the words on a site and then get rid of half of what is left.

Concept Statement:

Users that may visit the website:

Clients

Employers

Fellow Designers in the field

Friends/Family (whoever interested in)

What they want to see in the website:

My cool art works

Information about me

My Resume

Intended Audience:

Clients and Employers

Describe what I need to inform and persuade them of:

Promote my: Creativity skill and Design capabilities

Goals of the site: Getting the business going, attracting the clients

Ultimate message: What makes design matter

List the assets I need to persuade the user:

Folk Life poster: photo and description

Absolut vodka ad: photo and description

Some Logo design I have done: vector file, photo and description

Supreme Digital: website, app, photo and description

Categories depict in mockup:

Web

Print

Identity

Misc

Concept Statement:

For a portfolio website, my ultimate goal is to present my awesome art works to the clients, customers in a way that will give them a pleasure experience. Indeed, the art work will always be the focal point throughout the entire website so that the users can concentrate more on the work of art. The feature work will be displayed on the home page so that it will give the users an instant pleasure experience when they visit the website. Also, the users can directly click on any art work that they are interested in to see more information about that particular work, or they can freely navigate around the website to any section that is available to them.

As far as navigation system, headers, links info go; it will be simple in size and color so that it won’t scream for attention. Ideally, I want my website to be subtle, relaxing, professional looking that can portrait and even enhance my art work more. Because of that, I will step back from my original color palate and choose and simple one so that will create the look and feel that I want it to do. The transition between pages will be smooth, content may fade in and out so that it will match and enhance the entire design.

Homepage:

Week 1

Unit 1 Response

    After reading the first paragraph in “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug I realized the first law of usability for any website is “Don’t Make Me Think”. It surprised me that how a simple everyday talk sentence can be the usability law. Indeed, it makes so much sense when it gets to navigating around websites to look for useful information because people don’t want to think much to navigate through the website. The lesser user have to think, the more users that website will get. In order to achieve that “Don’t Make Me Think” goal, designers have to get rid of questions they think their users may have because it will just make the website more complicated. Simple name to categories will aid users navigate better through the website. In chapter 2 Krug shows the harsh-but-true reality of the hard work designers put into making a website. People just skim and scan through and choose the link that catches their eyes the most no matter if it has great information or interesting stuff. It is true the people scan and look through a website really quickly, but it is only when they try to find stuff. After having found their stuff, people tend to settle/slow down more to look for great content. I agree with Krug that breaking the website into words or phrases that match what user looking for; however, it is hard to create that website because different users will expect different things from a website. It is best to create a website will good and catchy name because people will tend to click on it more. Also, people don’t spend time on figuring out how thing should work. They tend to muddling around to find what they need as I do the same thing all the time without even realize it. These two chapters are really helpful for me because it helps me realize many things that I need to do to make a better website. It is also fun and easy to read with interesting visual that backs up and restates the crucial idea of the book “Don’t Make Me Think.”



Some Inspiration Portfolio website
1/ Rob Young: http://www.eisforeffort.com/
2/ Daryl Campbell: http://www.madelikeme.com/
3/ Sebastian Nikolaou: http://www.sebdesign.eu/


Concept Statement
(Will be updated later)


Thumbnails Sketches

Hello! I guess

I just started this blog and I have no idea what to write so far