I'm just hoping to get through this week...
The New Student Orientation is finally done!
As the Art Director, I'm in charge of: Storyboard, layouts, visuals
* Art direction samples, with a discussion of the design standards
(fonts to be used, color palette, etc.) and design approach.
* logo design
* navigation icons
* any technical requirements (with technical director)
My goal:
* Design a site that will feel welcoming
* Diversity (colors)
Enjoy!!!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
New Student Orientation site
There are a few things needed for improvement.
Here are the viewer's comments:
-In the Activities section you have an extra 'to' in the first sentence! Actually there's quite a few wordage errors in that paragraph.
-Once you click on one of the individual sections is there anyway to get back to the index page without using the browser back button?
-In the Transportation section you may want to include this link: http://tripplanner.transit.511.org/ - it lets you type in your originating address and end point and then plots out a way to get there via the public transportation. This is usually what I use b/c it'll make a path using multiple modes of transportation as well as lets you specify which modes you'd rather use or avoid.
-Under housing make sure to include the link to download the housing application.
-Did yall think about adding 'Back to Top' anchors at the end of each section? It's a bit easier than having to scroll back up to the top.
-Overall the site looks really good! It's functioning very nicely! I would however recommend that some of the wording be reworked in most of the sections. The information is there, but I think there may be a way to get it across a bit more eloquently!
We'll see how the final site goes...stay tuned!
Here are the viewer's comments:
-In the Activities section you have an extra 'to' in the first sentence! Actually there's quite a few wordage errors in that paragraph.
-Once you click on one of the individual sections is there anyway to get back to the index page without using the browser back button?
-In the Transportation section you may want to include this link: http://tripplanner.transit.511.org/ - it lets you type in your originating address and end point and then plots out a way to get there via the public transportation. This is usually what I use b/c it'll make a path using multiple modes of transportation as well as lets you specify which modes you'd rather use or avoid.
-Under housing make sure to include the link to download the housing application.
-Did yall think about adding 'Back to Top' anchors at the end of each section? It's a bit easier than having to scroll back up to the top.
-Overall the site looks really good! It's functioning very nicely! I would however recommend that some of the wording be reworked in most of the sections. The information is there, but I think there may be a way to get it across a bit more eloquently!
We'll see how the final site goes...stay tuned!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Busy...very busy...
The new student orientation site is a work in progress. There are quite a few things that we need to work on. One: we need to make it look like the design comp :) Two: clean up the HTML and CSS. Three: gather images??? I'm not too happy with the ones I got from Getty, I would consider taking my own pictures if I have time. Four: Spell check, function/usability check, etc...other than that we're on the right track :/
Internship with Stergeron - thecoolmeter.com (coming Oct. 3rd)
Internship with Stergeron - thecoolmeter.com (coming Oct. 3rd)
Monday, September 8, 2008
What's new with me?
The past couple weeks I've been on a mission looking for an internship/job to gain more knowledge and experience in the industry. I was on facebook, and a colleague from A.I. posted that her work had an opening position for a front-end web developer.
After seeing her post, I immediately contacted her and gave me all the info. Next thing I know I got an email from Stergeron.com saying that Lisa Unson talked me up about my skills and capability for the opening position and asking me to come in for an interview...
Well, the meeting went well and I'm scheduled to start this Tuesday! I will be doing some front-end work (HTML/CSS) and design with some fellow A.I. folks (Lisa Unson, Mark Condon, and Jason Lock). This should be a great experience!
After seeing her post, I immediately contacted her and gave me all the info. Next thing I know I got an email from Stergeron.com saying that Lisa Unson talked me up about my skills and capability for the opening position and asking me to come in for an interview...
Well, the meeting went well and I'm scheduled to start this Tuesday! I will be doing some front-end work (HTML/CSS) and design with some fellow A.I. folks (Lisa Unson, Mark Condon, and Jason Lock). This should be a great experience!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
National Federation of the Blind files Target lawsuit
A claim by disabled internet users that Target's website discriminates can proceed, a judge ruled last week. But she stopped short of suggesting that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) puts duties on all websites.
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), a non-profit group based in Baltimore, and one of its members, Bruce 'BJ' Sexton, a student in California, are suing the retail giant. The action was filed on behalf of all blind people in California who are denied access to Target.com.
The complaint cites various problems with Target.com: alt-text is missing from images, preventing screen readers from describing them to blind users; purchases cannot be completed without a mouse because keyboard controls do not work; image maps are inaccessible; and headings are missing that are needed to navigate. In short, the site is badly designed, says the NFB.
The lawsuit was brought in February, alleging breaches of the federal ADA and two state statutes, the Unruh Civil Rights Act and the Californian Disabled Persons Act.
Target filed a motion to have the case dismissed. On Wednesday, in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, Judge Marilyn Hall Patel dismissed that motion. But her ruling is not a hands-down victory for web accessibility: Patel did not rule that Target.com or any other website is required to be accessible; and she threw out part of the NFB lawsuit.
READ MORE HERE
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), a non-profit group based in Baltimore, and one of its members, Bruce 'BJ' Sexton, a student in California, are suing the retail giant. The action was filed on behalf of all blind people in California who are denied access to Target.com.
The complaint cites various problems with Target.com: alt-text is missing from images, preventing screen readers from describing them to blind users; purchases cannot be completed without a mouse because keyboard controls do not work; image maps are inaccessible; and headings are missing that are needed to navigate. In short, the site is badly designed, says the NFB.
The lawsuit was brought in February, alleging breaches of the federal ADA and two state statutes, the Unruh Civil Rights Act and the Californian Disabled Persons Act.
Target filed a motion to have the case dismissed. On Wednesday, in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, Judge Marilyn Hall Patel dismissed that motion. But her ruling is not a hands-down victory for web accessibility: Patel did not rule that Target.com or any other website is required to be accessible; and she threw out part of the NFB lawsuit.
READ MORE HERE
Sunday, August 24, 2008
New Student Orientation Site
So I was given the position as the Art Director for AI's New Student Orientation site. My job this week is to come up with design compilations. I decided to do two designs; one black and the other white.
Here's a preview:
The colored navigation tabs, with the general description of each links located right below, will be consistent throughout all the pages of the site. All the contents will be at the bottom.
Here's a preview:
The colored navigation tabs, with the general description of each links located right below, will be consistent throughout all the pages of the site. All the contents will be at the bottom.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Designing with Grid
The main idea behind grid-based designs is a solid visual and structural balance of web-sites you can create with them. Sophisticated layout structures offer more flexibility and enhance the visual experience of visitors. In fact, users can easier follow the consistency of the page, while developers can update the layout in a well thought-out, consistent way.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
CSS Zen Garden
http://www.csszengarden.com
The rules are simple, CSS validate and DON'T MESS WITH THE HTML!
This is simply a demonstration of what can be accomplished visually through CSS-based design. hmmmmmmmmm...
I'm still indecisive about the theme I want to create. That's probably my only struggle for now. I know that once I get started and stick with an idea, I'll be able to get on the roll.
I'm thinking of doing a sports theme, or maybe even the Olympics ;)
The rules are simple, CSS validate and DON'T MESS WITH THE HTML!
This is simply a demonstration of what can be accomplished visually through CSS-based design. hmmmmmmmmm...
I'm still indecisive about the theme I want to create. That's probably my only struggle for now. I know that once I get started and stick with an idea, I'll be able to get on the roll.
I'm thinking of doing a sports theme, or maybe even the Olympics ;)
Monday, July 28, 2008
swapping CSS style sheets
This process proved the significance of Semantic Naming Convention. Using this universal naming techniques allows web designers/developers to check each others CSS with their XHTML. If you do everything right, all contents should still be readable.
I have checked my HTML index page with 3 other CSS sheets and was successful on all of them! woohoo!
I noticed on two of the CSS that there was no #container div tags. Since I wrote all my contents in a #container and it made all the contents go all over the place. Adding an extra div tag in the beginning of the content and closing it at the end simply fixed the problem. Of course not everything is there but it gives you an idea on how important it is to label everything correctly.
I have checked my HTML index page with 3 other CSS sheets and was successful on all of them! woohoo!
I noticed on two of the CSS that there was no #container div tags. Since I wrote all my contents in a #container and it made all the contents go all over the place. Adding an extra div tag in the beginning of the content and closing it at the end simply fixed the problem. Of course not everything is there but it gives you an idea on how important it is to label everything correctly.
Monday, July 21, 2008
rebuilding a website
Rebuilding a website is very time consuming especially when the recent code is sloppy and non-labeled. Not only that but converting from XHTML Transitional to XHTML Strict and keeping it validated is a lot of work!
My first step, as usual, was laying out a drawing of how I am able to arrange the divs and from there I make my box models before I put the contents. From there I build up and gather the contents and styling with CSS.
I'm so used to using target="_blank" for opening to new windows but XHTML Strict doesn't validate this so this took some of my time doing some research trying to figure what to replace it with. Thanks to SITEPOINT.COM I was able to do so. Very little coding and adding external Javascript sheet is all it takes!
Here's my final outcome: rebuilt page
My first step, as usual, was laying out a drawing of how I am able to arrange the divs and from there I make my box models before I put the contents. From there I build up and gather the contents and styling with CSS.
I'm so used to using target="_blank" for opening to new windows but XHTML Strict doesn't validate this so this took some of my time doing some research trying to figure what to replace it with. Thanks to SITEPOINT.COM I was able to do so. Very little coding and adding external Javascript sheet is all it takes!
Here's my final outcome: rebuilt page
Saturday, July 19, 2008
new website launched!
I finally finished the website for MALLARI INSURANCE SERVICES
I started about 7+ weeks ago...
This was a redesign of the previous site that they had and I pretty much started from scratch before adding the content at the end.
This whole thing started last quarter when we did a business layout design for Sharon's class. The design I made for the class turned out real well so I showed and proposed to the company that I could give their site a more attractive and professional look. They approved!
I learned so much about writing clean codes, CSS, CSS, CSS, and PHP throughout the project. Not only that but facing the client was harder than I thought; negotiating deadlines, trying to keep their patience and trust(during finals week), and of course getting paid! :)
Working with PHP forms was a pain!!! It took more time than everything else. Thanks to the SAMPLE FORMS that was given by Sharon, it somewhat gave me a start and made it a little easier. Also, I couldn't have done and finished the whole website if Jeremy Le Van wasn't there when I needed help, especially with the PHP forms. He is pretty much like a mentor to me and a partner in this project.
- Thanks for working during the break while you were in Belgium man!
*Check it out! MALLARI INSURANCE
Let me know what you think!!!
And if you're in the Bay Area and need insurance, feel free to fill out a form.
IT'S FREE ;)
I started about 7+ weeks ago...
This was a redesign of the previous site that they had and I pretty much started from scratch before adding the content at the end.
This whole thing started last quarter when we did a business layout design for Sharon's class. The design I made for the class turned out real well so I showed and proposed to the company that I could give their site a more attractive and professional look. They approved!
I learned so much about writing clean codes, CSS, CSS, CSS, and PHP throughout the project. Not only that but facing the client was harder than I thought; negotiating deadlines, trying to keep their patience and trust(during finals week), and of course getting paid! :)
Working with PHP forms was a pain!!! It took more time than everything else. Thanks to the SAMPLE FORMS that was given by Sharon, it somewhat gave me a start and made it a little easier. Also, I couldn't have done and finished the whole website if Jeremy Le Van wasn't there when I needed help, especially with the PHP forms. He is pretty much like a mentor to me and a partner in this project.
- Thanks for working during the break while you were in Belgium man!
*Check it out! MALLARI INSURANCE
Let me know what you think!!!
And if you're in the Bay Area and need insurance, feel free to fill out a form.
IT'S FREE ;)
Monday, July 14, 2008
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