Friday, 4 June 2010
Monday, 10 May 2010
Main Task: Rough Designs for my Logo
The drawn rough designs
Design 1
Design 2
Design 3
Design 4
Above are the 4 different variants of logos which I have photoshopped from my initial sketches. They all stick to the same theme of the British colours (Red, White and Blue, Desert and DPM camoflage) and they also stand out against my dark blue background, making them more significant on the page.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Main Task: Evaluation
For the main task I had to create a website for a charity which I believed in and felt strongly about. It had to include original photographs, my own made navigation bar, written text, information about the charity and a video with sound. I choose a charity for helping wounded Armed Forces Personnel, Servicemen and Women who are injured in warzones because friends I know are serving in Afghanistan and I believed they need recognition.
The target audience for my charity are wounded Armed Forces Personnel, and their family and friends. It is also aimed at anyone who wants to help with charity fundraiser events and raising money for the soldiers. This means that my site needs to include the proper information and the focus is on the text, not the images. To attract and address my audience then, I made the website simple but informative, by placing the text in the centre with the necessary images around the sides. The text is addressing the readers directly, and is treating them like intelligent people and not being too demanding or critical. The images are there to show all the great things the charity do, so help to promote our cause and attract more people to the site.
My website tires to stick with normal website conventions because of it's layout and navigation. Like the websites I analyzed, it has the charity name, logo, slogan and page title along the top of page, so the users instantly know where they are, and can navigate easily around the site. Another convention I have kept to is to put the logo in the top left-hand corner, because it follows a lot of other charity websites and is generally useful for the audience. Overall, it is much easier to follow normal website conventions because then the audience can use it easier, and the whole point of a charity is to have public appeal. The analysis of other websites helped me to identify these conventions and I have tried to implement as much as possible into my website.
To get my website distributed, I would place it on Internet Search Engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo and Ask Jeeves so when people search for certain keywords my site should appear on the list. However, if I want it to appear on the first search page or at the very top, I would have to keep altering the content to give it a good page ranking. My website has to be consistently much better written than competitors, and be constanlty updated with useful and relevant information so Search Engines rank it higher up on their list. I will also distribute and advertise my website by having the web address written on posters and banners during the charity fundraising events so we recieve as much publicity as possible.
While doing this entire project, I have learnt many things on how to construct a successful website. I have learnt how to effectively use Paintshop Pro in creating navigation bars and logos, by using all the tools to make something which looks stylish but professional. I also learnt a lot about using Serif Webplus 10, in inserting the created nav bars, adding the rollovers to them and anchoring them to each page so they work. As I went along, from the preliminary task to the main task, I developed these skills of using the programmes and have put my full effort into creating a Professional, high quality Charity website which audiences will like.
As I look back and compare my work from the Preliminary task, I can see a clear improvement in areas such as logo design, navigation bar design, use and placement of photographs, filling in empty space in on each page. My first website looks empty, unfinished and generally rubbish because I didn't have the skills which I gradually learnt whilst creating my proper website.
However, there are many things which I could have improved on in the finished product. The first is adding a video into my website. As time was pressing on, I focused more on photographs, creating the website and updating the blog, so it eventually got too late for me to create a video and so the website is left without one. This a great weakness because my site is now left unfinished which would not go down well if this was real. Also, I think my website appears rushed and it looks like it has been put together in only a couple of minutes. I could have spent more time refining and polishing up each page so every one looks as professional and stylish as possible, instead of this cluttered up mess. I also could have kept looking back at the colour theory, audience identification and Preliminary Task evaluations so I knew exactly what I had to do and not to do, because as you go through the pages it looks as if I had forgotten these things and just thrown together a load of images and text. Overall, the one thing I am most concerned about was time. As the deadline got nearer and nearer, I didn't spend much time on the website so with only a couple of days left I had to rush everything which is why I think it is of poor quality overall.
The target audience for my charity are wounded Armed Forces Personnel, and their family and friends. It is also aimed at anyone who wants to help with charity fundraiser events and raising money for the soldiers. This means that my site needs to include the proper information and the focus is on the text, not the images. To attract and address my audience then, I made the website simple but informative, by placing the text in the centre with the necessary images around the sides. The text is addressing the readers directly, and is treating them like intelligent people and not being too demanding or critical. The images are there to show all the great things the charity do, so help to promote our cause and attract more people to the site.
My website tires to stick with normal website conventions because of it's layout and navigation. Like the websites I analyzed, it has the charity name, logo, slogan and page title along the top of page, so the users instantly know where they are, and can navigate easily around the site. Another convention I have kept to is to put the logo in the top left-hand corner, because it follows a lot of other charity websites and is generally useful for the audience. Overall, it is much easier to follow normal website conventions because then the audience can use it easier, and the whole point of a charity is to have public appeal. The analysis of other websites helped me to identify these conventions and I have tried to implement as much as possible into my website.
To get my website distributed, I would place it on Internet Search Engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo and Ask Jeeves so when people search for certain keywords my site should appear on the list. However, if I want it to appear on the first search page or at the very top, I would have to keep altering the content to give it a good page ranking. My website has to be consistently much better written than competitors, and be constanlty updated with useful and relevant information so Search Engines rank it higher up on their list. I will also distribute and advertise my website by having the web address written on posters and banners during the charity fundraising events so we recieve as much publicity as possible.
While doing this entire project, I have learnt many things on how to construct a successful website. I have learnt how to effectively use Paintshop Pro in creating navigation bars and logos, by using all the tools to make something which looks stylish but professional. I also learnt a lot about using Serif Webplus 10, in inserting the created nav bars, adding the rollovers to them and anchoring them to each page so they work. As I went along, from the preliminary task to the main task, I developed these skills of using the programmes and have put my full effort into creating a Professional, high quality Charity website which audiences will like.
As I look back and compare my work from the Preliminary task, I can see a clear improvement in areas such as logo design, navigation bar design, use and placement of photographs, filling in empty space in on each page. My first website looks empty, unfinished and generally rubbish because I didn't have the skills which I gradually learnt whilst creating my proper website.
However, there are many things which I could have improved on in the finished product. The first is adding a video into my website. As time was pressing on, I focused more on photographs, creating the website and updating the blog, so it eventually got too late for me to create a video and so the website is left without one. This a great weakness because my site is now left unfinished which would not go down well if this was real. Also, I think my website appears rushed and it looks like it has been put together in only a couple of minutes. I could have spent more time refining and polishing up each page so every one looks as professional and stylish as possible, instead of this cluttered up mess. I also could have kept looking back at the colour theory, audience identification and Preliminary Task evaluations so I knew exactly what I had to do and not to do, because as you go through the pages it looks as if I had forgotten these things and just thrown together a load of images and text. Overall, the one thing I am most concerned about was time. As the deadline got nearer and nearer, I didn't spend much time on the website so with only a couple of days left I had to rush everything which is why I think it is of poor quality overall.
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Main Task- Construction- Making My Website
To create my website, I used Serif WebPlus 10 because it is a simple programme to use but gives you a professional looking finished product. I used this programme to create my entire website, and below is a step by step log of what I did.
Firstly, I created a master page which acts as a template for all other pages, so anything on that will go onto those. This is my base and will include the website title, logo, nav bar and search bar.
Here it shows me editing the website's dimensions, so every page is 750pix by 600. This means that it follows the 'Rule of Thumb' where all the important information is above the fold so users don't have to scroll down. Also, on my site there is no scrolling needed and everything is easily seen and accessible.
Now I have inserted my logo, and added a background colour and Charity slogan below the logo. The name of my charity is on the logo so as soon as you enter the website you immediately know where you are.
Above, I have inserted my navigation bars which I created on Photoshop, and I am now editing the rollover so when you roll the mouse over each one, they light up which makes it more user friendly and attractive.
Now that the Nav bars work as rollovers, I need to anchor them to each webpage so when you click on them they take you to that page. I created an anchor on each page and then set the nav bars by going- rightclick- edit rollover- set- an anchor on your site. I then selected the anchor point as the ones I created.
Finally, to finish the Master Page I added a fake 'Donate Now' button and Search bar, to make my website more realistic, user-friendly and appear as a charity site.
Home Page
Now that the master page is done, I can put all the information and images onto each webpage. This was very simple because all I had to do was add the saved images and type out the text. On the main page, the text is central with images around it because that is the most important thing the audience need to see, with the images supporting the information.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Colour Theory
In order to make a good website, I need to use colours effectively to make it look appealing to my audience. The first thing to know is how to combine colours together.
Colour Combination
This is the most important part of Colour Theory, and comes into what colours look good together. How many to use then? Lets just say it's better to use too few than too many colours. Using too many makes the page look cluttered and harder for the reader to find what they want because it looks so busy. Using too few however, means the page looks boring because there is nothing to look at. The best idea then, is to use three colours:
Primary Colour: This is the main colour and will take up most of the page, while setting up the tone design of your site.
Secondary Colour: This is the backup for the Primary, and is a colour very similar to it
Highlight Colour: This is a colour used to emphasize certain areas, and so is therefore the opposite the the primary, and won't be used much. It is common to use a complimentary or split-complimentary colour for this.
Colour Combination
This is the most important part of Colour Theory, and comes into what colours look good together. How many to use then? Lets just say it's better to use too few than too many colours. Using too many makes the page look cluttered and harder for the reader to find what they want because it looks so busy. Using too few however, means the page looks boring because there is nothing to look at. The best idea then, is to use three colours:
Primary Colour: This is the main colour and will take up most of the page, while setting up the tone design of your site.
Secondary Colour: This is the backup for the Primary, and is a colour very similar to it
Highlight Colour: This is a colour used to emphasize certain areas, and so is therefore the opposite the the primary, and won't be used much. It is common to use a complimentary or split-complimentary colour for this.
This is a colour wheel, and is used to select the best matching or complete opposite colours.
Analog Colours
Analog colours are ones which lie either side of another- they are often found together in nature, and work very well together. A Secondary Colour is usually an Analog Colour.
Complementary Colours
These are colours which are directly opposite each other, so they contrast and stand out against one another. It is best to use a complementary colour as the highlight colour, because of this reason.
Split Complementary Colours
Split complementary is a colour and the analogous colours to its complement colour. They give you a high level of contrast, but not as extreme as a complementary colour.
Triad Colours
These are three hues equidistant on the colour wheel (three complete opposites). They suit for a colourful but well balanced scheme.
For my website, I am using a dark blue background (Primary), a lightsih blue colour for the navigation bars and boxes (Secondary) and a light orange for any important areas (Highlight). This is because I have followed these colour rules and have chosen colours which work effectively with or against one another. My colour choice connotes a respectful, professional tone since dark blue is often assigned with The Navy or RAF, and it keeps with my website's theme of an Armed Forces Charity. This also suits my audience because they are most likely to be in a service or supporters, and the associated colour is not too contrasting and is easy on the eyes. This therefore gives my website a relaxed, but also professional feel because it is there to help wounded so needs to be taken seriously, but has to make the audience relaxed while they read all the information.
Monday, 8 March 2010
Main Task- Research And Planning: What Makes A Good Logo
After reading the article by Duncan McAdams and looking at successful logos from other websites and charities, I think I know what makes a good logo.
It has to be easy to read, and ideally not contain too much or any text, so people can quickly see it and instanlty know what charity it is. It should only have the Charity name- and mabye their cause- like the Help For Heroes logo has 'Support our Wounded' under it's main name. This also means it has to be a recognisable shape- mabye the companie's image, or it could be an edited photo/drawing which everyone can link back to the charity. However, it has to be simple to replicate and draw again- so no complicated images, and distinctive enough for people to recognise it without colour.
As a general rule, two colours is enough for a logo. It all comes down to expense, especially when reproducing your logo on business cards, letterheads and other forms of printing. It's not a worthwhile business expense to spend money on more than two colours, as you will not see any return on your investment.
It is also best to make the logo a rectangular shape rather than a square because it has been found that this is easier to look at. Furthermore, rectangles work better on the web and on TV.
Finally, a general idea about logos are that they have to be memorable, simple, describable and partially colourful- all in order for them to be an effective logo.
It has to be easy to read, and ideally not contain too much or any text, so people can quickly see it and instanlty know what charity it is. It should only have the Charity name- and mabye their cause- like the Help For Heroes logo has 'Support our Wounded' under it's main name. This also means it has to be a recognisable shape- mabye the companie's image, or it could be an edited photo/drawing which everyone can link back to the charity. However, it has to be simple to replicate and draw again- so no complicated images, and distinctive enough for people to recognise it without colour.
As a general rule, two colours is enough for a logo. It all comes down to expense, especially when reproducing your logo on business cards, letterheads and other forms of printing. It's not a worthwhile business expense to spend money on more than two colours, as you will not see any return on your investment.
It is also best to make the logo a rectangular shape rather than a square because it has been found that this is easier to look at. Furthermore, rectangles work better on the web and on TV.
Finally, a general idea about logos are that they have to be memorable, simple, describable and partially colourful- all in order for them to be an effective logo.
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