Not Sure Why..

but all my evaluation I wrote up on here didn't post! :(

Social Networking..

Todays lecture ( and the last one of the year! ) was on social networking, we discussed twitter, facebook and various other networks. Shaun showed us his personal facebook page & then his own facebook page which was effectively like an online portfolio - nothing from his personal facebook just work he wanted to show - I am going to make one of these.

Also linked my facebook, twitter, vimeo & blogger to my website! :)

Not many people in the lecture had twitter although I have had mine a while now & not only use it to tweet about what i'm doing but it's really good for finding out news, celebrity gossip & jobs are always advertised on there if you search for it.

Embedding Video! :)

Embedding video onto my film page of my portfolio! Alot easier than I expected, now I just need to finish the Gallery page..

Typography

Todays seminar was about typography. The font used for a design - website, tshirt, book - anything.

Problems for web typography:

- Has to work across different computer platforms and screen sizes
- The Web designer must understand issues and to address them
- Maintain some kind of control
- Line length and number of lines
- Font sizes

Association with branding logos due to typography:

Less is more:

- Don’t mix too many fonts in a web page.
- Generally, 2 fonts are sufficient in any design.
- Don’t forget you can use the typeface variations (bold, italic, etc) for different content areas.
- Try designing a page that uses only 1 font for all text areas.

Opinions Please..

Can't decide if to keep the background the same throughout the website or to change it for each page?

Ideas...

I then saw Simon who I asked what he thought about changing the background he said it was a good idea as it relates to the zone of the website.

visual identity of 'zone' expressed using colour or design

visual communication is about:
communication
visual interest/drama
and the play between the two

for example:

This is the navigation - where you look where to go. i.e my links like home, about, gallery, video & contact.

This is the zone to see where you are & where else you can go.

This is the identity of the page, you know where you are on the website & it is clear to see.

Simon said the backgrounds I use are a bit "busy" which may distract from the content - so I suggested maybe keeping the background the same image but changing the colour of the dots in the box of content.

For example here I have used green dots

So far...

Screenshots So Far..

These are shots of what I have done today, i'm still unsure if this is the theme and colours I will be using but the layout is how I wanted from my wireframes! :)

3 Websites..

3 websites I really like & will have inspiration for my portfolio from.

Kate Nash: http://www.katenash.co.uk/home.php

I love the layout of this & images used. Not everything is boxed in like a normal website. Texts used are very simple but balanced out with abstract images.

Rihanna: http://www.rihannanow.com/

For this one it's clearly the pink colour theme I like :) The contact buttons eg facebook & twitter are in pink which I now want for my portfolio! I also think the logo makes it look proffesional & identity of her is know straight away.

Orange Tree: http://www.orangetree.co.uk/

This one is really effective, different website & probably a bit out of my league to try and copy some aspects such as the navigation but I like how the pictures connect with the link, such as the camera for photo albums, phone for contact & c.d player to control the music on the site.

Interactive

Today was the first day back & I used many codes on dreamweaver to get some ideas for my portfolio. I tried using background images & different div tags which can be seen here:

2 Weeks Off :)

Now have 2 beautiful weeks off! I am quite mardy as the second group have all been uploading their animation work & they are all amazing & I need to work on mine! I am also going to try & do as much of my visual essay possible!

:)

Digital Me - Moodboard

Today we created a moodboard to reflect our personal interests & describe our personal branding.

Personal Branding:
"is the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands.It has been noted that while previous self-help management techniques were about self-improvement, the personal branding concept suggests instead that success comes from self-packaging. Further defined as the creation of an asset that pertains to a particular person or individual; this includes but is not limited to the body, clothing, appearance and knowledge contained within, leading to an indelible impression that is uniquely distinguishable. The term is thought to have been first used and discussed in a 1997 article by Tom Peters."

"Personal branding often involves the application of one's name to various products. For example, celebrity real-estate mogul Donald Trump uses his last name extensively on his buildings and on the products he endorses (e.g Trump Steaks)"

http://mashable.com/2009/02/05/personal-branding-101/

"Many people think that personal branding is just for celebrities such as Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, yet each and every one of us is a brand. Personal branding, by definition, is the process by which we market ourselves to others. As a brand, we can leverage the same strategies that make these celebrities or corporate brands appeal to others. We can build brand equity just like them."


This is my moodboard:

I created it on the IMGSPARK website, there is a colour theme of pink - hence being my favourite colour. I like "girly" things such as make up, shoes, my boyfriend. I feel this moodboard portrays me well as someone whom has never spoke to me could guess my personality from this. Doing this moodboard did give me ideas for my portfolio - such as themes I could use, what I want to include in the portfolio & how much I can put onto the portfolio to make it about me as much as possible. I also thought about font & although I love pink - keeping it black & professional will look better!

Interactive..

Seminar with Giselle today in which we went over the basics of html in dreamweaver. We created an index page & CSS.

We used text codes & added images for backgrounds. I have a rough idea how I want my portfolio to look already.

Also had a look on this website which was good for ideas: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/02/26/10-steps-to-the-perfect-portfolio-website/

Loving the sunshineeeeeeeeeeee!

Visual Essay

Over the last few weeks I have been concentrating on planning my visual essay. I know roughly what i'm doing & have begun creating the structure.

I am intending to choose the interactive pathway so am creating my essay in Dreamweaver. I feel this is a good way of showing my interest, enthusiasm and knowledge in the subject but through the project itself will also show where I want to be and how I want to improve.

My 3 practitioners will be the design company Un.Titled, which are a very good web and graphic designers. I know of them through the college i went to before joining NTU. One of their designers used to go to the same college as me and had designed the art and design prospectus for NTU from 2009. The other is Andrew Warwick from Warwicka, a local designer who has been submitted for many awards and worked with many high profile clients. The final is the company called Seismik who have once again been submitted for many awards and worked for many high profile clients, my personal favourite being the website for the small but eccentric shop called Le Chien Et Moi. Other references are Green sheep designer, JDR, Bubble and Kebler.

Starting Interactive Space! :)

Finalllllllly starting interactive tomorrow which i'm excited about as it was my favourite project last term, i've looked at the other groups blogs of what they have been doing & it does look like something i'll enjoy. Plus i'm hoping to choose it for my pathway next year! :)

Brief from the Now:

Project title: “DIGITAL ME”

Task: You are to design a 5 page interactive website using Adobe Dreamweaver that acts as a digital portfolio and promotional online resource for your artwork. This should display good design principles, a flair forself-promotion and a good understanding of the underlying coding. It should also show an understanding of the importance of networking and linking to social networks.

At your presentation: Submit the Dreamweaver source files (html, swf, etc) on a CDROM along with your presentation file/s.

In your online journal: A 500 hundred word rational describing your design decisions such as screen layout, user interaction and methods used. Provide appropriate references to support your decisions and contextualise your practise.

Influences: You will be given various links to designer and artist websites and online design resources. You should research your own particular interests and design preferences and write these up on a weekly basis in your online journal. We shall be looking for innovative and original lines of enquiry and a willingness to experiment.

Content: Via considering the various elements needed to make an interactive and multimedia website we shall explore the various aspects of incorporating graphics, video, sound and text as well as considering the
audience and social networking aspects of contemporary arts promotion. We will consider various existing designer portfolios and their methods of promotion and distribution. After completing this pathway you will be able to build an interactive and multimedia website for promotional advertising.

Slumdog Millionaire

Today in Phil's seminar we watched a scene on editing from the opening of "Slumdog Millionaire." I've never seen the film before so decided to go home & watch it. I thought it was such a good film & the storyline was brilliant. I also enjoyed how it had the set theme that everything you do really does happen for a reason.

Reflective Practice..

Lecture with Simon as Jools wasn't there, pretty boring about reflecting on our work to have continous learnin & the habit, structure or route about examining experience.

We do this on about journals & through rehearsal.

Rendering Animation

Today is the deadline to submit the animation work, I have completed my animation but my 3dsmax anaimtion won't render I have been trying for hours :( Going to try again tomorrow and upload to my blog.

Updated Pumpkin..

Andy has just helped me with my pumpkin as I struggled to put him onto my track due to his mouth being higher up than my track. Also smoothed the edges off & added a stalk.

Valentines Day & Film..

Happy Valentine's Day - ultimate waste of money & the only good thing about it is an excuse to go out for food!

Finished animation now, will render all on thursday with a bit of help from Andy & post to blog with evaluation of it.

I will now be starting film so had a look on the NOW at the brief..

Project title: "Interpretation"

Task: In your allocated group of five people and working in a specific production role you should plan, film and edit the short fiction script allocated to your group.

Roles to take are: Producer, director, camera & lighting, sound design and production and editor.

Other jobs and roles, not attached specifically to a major role in pre and post production should be divided amongst the group in an organised way. For example a location researcher, booking equipment, risk assessment, etc. The producer will need help to complete these tasks and should allocate the jobs in preproduction as appropriate.

At your the end of the module presentation: Submit the film (approximately 3 minutes max) on a data DVD format Pal format – H264 codec with dimensions HDTV 1080p, 25, High Quality (1920 x 1080, square pixels).

In your online journal: On a weekly schedule for the five-week duration you should each produce an entry that describes and
reflects on your specific role. Each entry should make explicit the research you have undertaken each week and what you have done towards your coursework during the week. You should include the preproduction research and paperwork you prepare as part of your role.

The reader at the end of the five week journal should be clear about the visual and conceptual influences for your piece, your reflections on your role and your ongoing reflections on the work as it progresses and
concludes.

In addition to these weekly ( minimum) entries you should also, at the end of the five week project insert a web link to your finished film work and a 500 word self-evaluation on the NOW module drop box. Deadlines for this link and entry are given in the module guide in the deadlines section.

There are 6 scripts to choose from for the film - ticket, dog, gaze, brick, herds and shift. When I am in a group and decided what script to do will post it on here

:)

Gagagaga

Lady GaGa's new song, Born This Way. Not sure on it but I now want to go & see her again! :( (LLL)

My Pumpkin :)

Coming along okish...