Interaction Design

In a previous post, I said that I wanted to use Georgia for the type on my portfolio site but as I was working on my portfolio and started to really think through my options, I felt that since I used Futura in my identity, I felt that Palatino was a better option. I would like to use Futura extra bold condensed for the page titles and/or page headers (I may need to insert this as an image) and Palatino for the body.

When first tackling this assignment, I wanted to include many more things on my portfolio site but the more I research and think about how I want mine to work, the more I want it to functional and the elements included to be relevant to my portfolio.

Overview

My portfolio site is just that, it focuses on my portfolio (graphic design, fine arts and book arts) with a few examples from each section. I don’t want to put everything I’ve ever done on my site because I don’t know that that would hold interest. I want to show my work but I don’t want to be a show off.

Goals/objectives

I want people to get a feel for my style and who I am. My main goal is to make it as easy as possible to navigate through my portfolio site.

Audiences

My primary audience is potential employers, whether it be freelance, design firms, agencies or companies. My secondary audience is family, friends or anyone who would like to see my work or learn more about me.

My site is britjc.com and that is what I was hoping my logo would convey. I’m not 100% sure it reads as britjc, I need some input as far as colors, modification etc in order for it to be more readable.

I used futura and helvetica neue in my logo but I would like to use a serif for body copy. My first choice would be bodoni but as far as my web choices, I think georgia is the most fitting.

Overall, I’m happy with what I have but I would love input for revisions.

When asked what classes I’m in and I explain a beginning web design class, the common response, “Cool, so you are going to learn how to do flash and stuff?” My response, a quick “no”, usually results in a sudden loss of interest.

The purpose of graphic design is to solve problems, get the point across and communicate in the simplest visual form, not just to look pretty or “cool”. When applied to the web, design should improve functionality, gain site credibility and trustworthiness through an aesthetic approach.

The web, originally created as a form of communication, continues to explore different communicating methods. In theory, web design has existed as long as the internet itself (early 90′s) even if it was just created straight through a developer. The first considered web designer was Tim Berners-Lee who developed the first website in 1991 with hyperlinks, allowing easy navigation (Web Design). Even though just a simple site with header, footers and navigation, websites greatly improved communication. Basic HTML markup was used at first then, when cascading style sheets (CSS) began to be applied to websites, it allowed greater flexibility for web design, allowing images, graphs and charts. Designing for the web really didn’t take off until then.

Since the internet has continued to grow in popularity, web design has become more and more competitive. In order to stand out and be recognized, most people instantly think big, loud, flashy. However, eye tracking studies conclude that large graphic elements attract few “gaze fixations” (Visual Decision Making). Most important in good design, whether it be web, print, motion, etc. is functionality. How do you navigate through the site? Tim Berners-Lee, allowing web navigation through hyperlinks, even though just through basic HTML, greatly improved the functionality of the internet itself. It became interactive, it became an interactive aesthetic experience.

“There have always been designers who have not mainly been interested in making beautiful images, but solving problems following a more analytical approach. Often, however, the analytically derived solutions have lacked in finesse — they simply weren’t attractive. This schism still exists when it comes to web design: business consultants may define the problem well, but don’t care what the visual solution looks like. Engineers as well as programmers tend to use the constraints of the backend implementation to deny designers the freedom to explore more exciting graphics, interesting interfaces or surprising visuals. Who, then, is equipped to formulate good information design for the web?”

Designers and developers need to work hand in hand to create an optimal website. Developers tend to think more logistically and designers more creatively. The marrying of these two disciplines is optimal in the birth of a website. It is important for non designers to understand that design (web or other) is necessary. It isn’t just fluff, a good designer will undoubtedly create a credibility and trustworthiness.

WORKS CITED

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_design#Historyhttp://www.innervisions.com.au/webhistory/first.html

http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webeval.htmlhttp://www.aiga.org
/content.cfm/information-design-on-the-web?searchtext=web%20design

http://www.innervisions.com.au/webhistory/first.html

http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webeval.html

My website is still in progress but this is what I have so far.

I spent too much time being overwhelmed by coding. When I dove into it, some things seemed easier than others but it confused me still. I watched the tutorials while doing it and, while they helped, I still struggled. I am able to have what I do for my site so far because of the help I’ve gotten from classmates and my instructor (thank you!). I got a lot of ideas during the class presentation today and am forming plans for better navigation and more pages for less content per page. I would rather not have my audience have to really search for what they are looking for.

Wondering if it would be better without the fish? Is there too much going on? Not enough?

The plants are at 60% opacity. I like it a lot better now.

Home

organism survival

I’m still playing around. I’m thinking the seaweed, fish will be static on all of my pages. I don’t know how I feel about the shark yet, it felt kind of nice in the corner for now. Once I get more images completed I will be able to get a better feel for it.

I would like my site to be primarily image based, possibly a static image in the background displaying the information that is being presented on the particular page.
For example, on the home page, I’d have an image of an ecosystem such as the marine. Illustrations of such an ecosystem, an ecosystem being a physical elements combined with the living population, would also include fitting organisms. If my home page had a static picture of the ocean, it would not only include water (obviously) but also sand, plants such as anemones; herbivores such as snails, crabs and seas stars, omnivores, most fish and carnivores, whales and sharks. Categories and subcatagories would include imagery as described:

Energy

Use: plants (alage, seaweed) and a simple diagram of how plants use the sun and water to create sugar and oxygen
Transfer: a simple food chain/pyramid (seaweed on the bottom indicating the most energy, snails, fish, whales)

Environment

Survival of the fittest: Show a few organisms in their environment, one being more dominent than the other (maybe a few crabs and just one seaweed)
Adaptions: Starfish grow exteremities back when injured by a predator
Migration:a few organisms leaving to a new location (maybe a school of fish leaving a desolate environment)

I hired an illustrator for help because I thought I wouldn’t have the time to do them myself. My illustrator turned out to be busier than I but still tackled the project. I’m deeply indebted to him for his sacrifice and the talent he has offered me.

omnivorious fish

carnivorious shark