WIREFRAMING!
This article has a bunch of different tools to help out when wireframing…
http://www.dezinerfolio.com/2011/02/21/14-prototyping-and-wireframing-tools-for-designers
MockFlow lets you experience what the user experiences. It also allows you to design from anywhere-even without internet connection.
Balsamiq is cool because it looks like a hand rendered sketch. It lets you rearrange things instantly and more than one person can make tweaks at the same time.
From the Smashing Magazine book #2:
What does the author mean when he says people are social animals?
People want to be social, by any means. We all have certain expectations of how interactions will go, and if they don’t go the way we want them to we get uncomfortable.
Describe some characteristics of user behavior as it pertains to websites…
Users want to feel comfortable. If the load time is too long, or the site isn’t responsive they can get antsy. If the site requires personal information too soon then they may feel it’s too personal. If the site doesn’t save information then it’s like meeting someone and then they forget you. People decide in a split second whether or not they will trust your site. You want the site to be completely professional when it is presented to the user.
Give an example of looking vs seeing…
A person doesn’t always “see” what they are looking at. We assume that since it is there that a user sees it. But that isn’t always the case. Our eyes take in so many things and at such a fast pace, that our brain can’t process it all and bring it all to the level of awareness.
This article was pretty cool. It brought a lot of things to my mind. Like the goal orientation of users, behavior of users, and how we look but don’t always see. That being said, there is a lot in design that can be improved for the sake of our users.
Three spiffy articles on logos and branding
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/01/28/colors-in-corporate-branding-and-design/
http://justcreative.com/2010/04/06/branding-identity-logo-design-explained/
http://sixrevisions.com/graphics-design/5-branding-basics-every-logo-designer-should-know/
Some things that make logos and branding powerful are it’s uniqueness. You want something completely original. You want something that stands out, not something that blends in. Another thing that can make or break you are your details. Complexity isn’t always bad, but it isn’t always helpful either. It’s all up to you, but test things out first. For successful branding everything needs to match 100%. And for long term success it needs to be something you’re happy with for a while.
One other thing to think about is scale. When designing a logo, you must keep in mind that it may be small enough for business cards and stationary, and yet be blown up to fit billboards. Everything with logo and branding always adds up.
Color also has a play with logos and branding. When choosing color, think of the psychology behind it. If you want a calming effect, go for the calming cool colors. If you want something drastic and exciting, go for the vibrant warm colors.
If your company is for exercise equipment, you don’t want to choose colors that have a negative effect on a person’s color psychology. For the best results, you choose colors that will motivate a customer, a client, or a user.
What is invisible design and how does it affect the way users interact with the interfaces we create?
Welllllll invisible design is the part of a design that the user doesn’t see. Hence the name, invisible. When things are created with the user in mind everything typically goes smoothly. And that makes the users interactions with the interface pleasant.
Do you agree with Einstein’s definition of simplicity, and how does this apply to interface design?
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” -Albert Einstein
I do agree! I feel like some things are cluttered with design, just to show skill. Not having the user in mind. When things are kept simple the user has a better time navigating it. Thats why interface design is crucial. It’s got to be about the users experience, not the designer’s skills.
What is a design pattern? Why are they important?
“When an application is praised as being intuitive, it means that an underlying pattern has been followed. Patterns provide a way of communicating with users without having to ex- plain everything from scratch. Patterns give us awareness and an ability to anticipate. Patterns separate meaningful design from visual noise.” -Smashing Book 2 pg. 20
Two of my favorite guidelines discussed were:
1. Balance function with design, don’t just design to design.
2. Be efficient with visual elements, get the most for your pixels.
These are the two guidelines I plan to put into action with my online magazine project. With these guidelines I plan to keep things simple in my project. I want colors to be minimal, not taking away from the design or the content.
I feel that this article from the Smashing Book 2 was incredibly informing. It is important to design how users think. When we are placed in their shoes, our designs become more powerful and easier to follow. Clutter is out, and clean is in.
What features make online magazines successful? Well it all depends on what you are going for. If you want a magazine that showcases the images more than anything, perhaps you want to use few colors. That happens to be my plan. Other design elements that make online magazines successful is the navigation. It’s important that a user doesn’t become lost in the magazine. At least not physically. However you do want your content and images to capture the user and keep them there. I think that these themes that I found do a great job of that.
I like this theme because it’s clean. It’s easy to follow and there is very little clutter. I want my magazine to have the same feel. Nav at the top and a 2 column layout rather than three. I want it to be similar so that the images I chose to use can be seen clearly. And this theme is successful in doing that.
This is a theme for a blog, but I figure that I can still have a similar layout. Once again I prefer the two column layout. I even like the design element in this where there is little color. I plan on doing my topic on Photography so if I use few colors like this theme did, then my photos will stand out more. That is one thing that online magazines have to take into account: color. I feel like for this project, the fewer the better.
This theme has a three column feel that I am not opposed to. Everything is still clean cut and easy to read and follow just like the other two. Yet the columns are spaced and sized so that the content portion only feels like two. I like that a lot. Once again there are very few colors, other than the ones in the actual images used. And that is what I’m striving for.
In order to successfully gather new clients, a few things need to be done first. One of the painfully tedious to-do’s is a web proposal. What is a web proposal you say? It’s similar to a resume. In it you will be targeting your client’s (or possible client’s if it’s still in the beginning stages of collaboration) needs. You outline what there is to be done, how long it may take, a schedule pinpointing the time line, as well as why you are the best to do the job. Below are a few links on how to write winning proposals.
Article One:
http://speckyboy.com/2011/10/03/guidelines-to-writing-a-web-design-proposal/
What I liked about this article, was that it said to target exactly what the client needed done as the priority. It makes sense. Why waste time trying to fix something that the client didn’t think was broken? It makes sense to do what the client wants and get that done, and then talk to your client about future adjustments that can be made later, heck even bringing in more business for you later. Do the research on the client, and then targeting the client’s problem. I feel that that is one of the best things to do, and this article feels the same way.
Article Two:
http://blog.popstalin.com/articles/business/writing-a-website-design-proposal
This article is rather simple. It outlines the main things that need to be addressed in the proposal. But sometimes the big things seem to go overlooked. That’s why it is crucial to have a written and signed web proposal.
Article Three:
http://www.sitepoint.com/7-tips-for-writing-a-winning-web-design-proposal/
I like these seven steps for writing a winning proposal. It’s easy to follow and just plain common sense.
All in all, web proposals are a necessity. They may seem like a waste of time to some people, but I bet the ones who take the time to do it don’t regret it. Business is business, the more the merrier. So why not do yourself a favor and learn what goes into proposals. If you take the time, you’ll get the clients. I feel like these three articles are successful based on their simplicity. When things are put into terms that the client can easily understand they will feel comfortable leaving their site in your hands, and having you apart of making their business better. Which in terms makes your business better. So get to proposin’!!
I’ve learned quite a lot by redesigning my jumpage, but not the obvious of how bad my first jumpage design was. That was obvious. Now that I have more know-how I’ve been able to take into mind who all will be browsing on my page. I had to keep in mind to have the interface remain simple so that navigation is easy. I’m wanting to keep the design simple while impacting. Less is more in my mind.
But here are a few examples of what I think is a great way to show off a portfolio:
I chose all of these as examples because I love the way of boxing everything in, while giving a small preview. I find it intriguing. If I know that I want to click on it, other people may feel the same way. That is my strategic approach behind my design.
So check this out! I’m in this pretty cool class learning about all kinds of ways for getting promotion through the internet. My teach, Ross Jones, knows his stuff! It’s pretty impressive. He’s working for one of the top Nashville web design companies around! He’s got tons of knowledge when it comes to SEO, for all my non-web friends out there, it means Search Engine Optimization. And for those still confused it means,”how google works”. We’re learning how to get our web sites to come up on Google searches. If you’re interested you should check out the local Nashville SEO meetup group. You will walk away with some serious knowledge! It’s pretty cool.
Right now we are learning all the tips and tricks on our web site we are creating in class. The site is dedicated to the best of Nashville, whether it’s restaurants, music venues, coffee shops, salons, or bars, we’ve got it all. You can check out some of the reviews we’ve done! I wrote the one on Fulin’s Mount Juliet TN, 37122 and I’m currently in the process in completing one for Rocketown. But hey! Check it out for yourself at www.nashvillenashville.com. Be sure to keep coming back every now and then to check out what else we’ve posted. Because Nashville Nashville is better than just Nashville!!
