BASIC INFOR FOR DESIGNING A SITE

http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol23/rules.htm

This site has some basic information about designing a website. It just explains what we all should know already, but it is good to have some solid information that you can go back to while designing new sites. It also talks about how different sites need different visuals and information according to the companies main goal.

Something that I really agree with is the fact that the web is for surfing. People like to skim content on a page. They don't read everything and the content on the page must be so successful and staright to the point that the viewers can understand your point without reading everything. One thing I have realized this semester is that people do not like to read. I feel that the images should be so impactful that the viewer can know what you are trying to say without even saying it.

Overall, I think this site is helpful to have in your bookmarks. You never know when you're going to need this information and when it can be helpful.

Ashley Matejka

Portfolio Site

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/02/26/10-steps-to-the-perfect-portfolio-website/

I found this site while trying to update my portfolio site. This website helps designers go step by step in creating their site to promote their design skills. I know not everyone will want to be a freelance designer, but I think it is very important to have a site even for when you are looking for a job. By promoting yourself you show a sense of individualism and responsibility.

This site explains the importance of a few things that can make you or break you. A logo is one very important item to have on your site. It helps define you. I would recommend this site to someone that wants to build a simple site to help get some freelance work and promote themselves in the design world.

Ashley Matejka

Another i-phone

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bloom/id292792586?mt=8

While researching for the I-PHONE app project, I found some awesome apps on the apple website. I'm sure many students have visited the apple site, but I'm not sure if anyone has found this one.

It has tons of different apps in many different categories. It has a brief description below each app along with the actual icon next to the phone. I love this setup. You can click on the different apps and it shows you different pages that you may encounter while using the app. Some allow you to scroll and experience the whole app, and some only have a couple pages.

I found this site to be really helpful in designing my app. I couldn't believe the amount of information you can put onto a tiny phone and make it work at the same time! It's crazy.

Ashley

I-PHONE APPS

http://www.raywenderlich.com/1797/how-to-create-a-simple-iphone-app-tutorial-part-1

Since we are in the process of creating an i-phone app, I wanted to do some research and figure out what goes into creating an app. I found this site that goes through the basic information for beginners.

I found this really fascinating to learn some information about how to create something I use almost everyday. It shows you some code that is required as well as the design of the layout of these apps. I don't think I will be using any of this information in the near future, but I hope some other people will read this and find it helpful.

Ashley

Scrolling Effects

www.imageflow.finnrudolph.de/

This is a site I found that has different effects you can use for scrolling through images. The lightbox effect is very overused and I am interested in new ways of displaying my works.

This specific effect is pretty interesting, but not the best. I like that you can take the ball on the bar at the bottom and scroll through many photos. It goes a little too fast for me, even when I try to go extremely slow. I also do not like the way it enlarges the photos. I do not want to be taken to another window. I think if you hover over the image it should just get larger on the same screen(if that's possible).

With a little work to perfect this effect, I think I would use it to show some of my photos.

Ashley

E-COMMERCE/INTERACTIVE WEBSITE

www.ikea.com

This is a site i'm sure almost everyone has been to. They have so many products, but have it organized in such a neat way that doesn't confuse me and I am capable of finding what I am looking for.

I also love the way they have the large photos like the one to the right. There are little plus signs throughout the photograph that you can click on. It then zooms you in for a closer look at, for example kitchen cabinets. I think that is extremely neat and very important so the viewer can see what they are buying.

Overall, I think this site is successful because of the neat way it is organized and the little effects that help the viewer see what they are going to buy.

Ashley

http://jeannieweb.com/

I chose to write about this website because if the unique way the navigation is laid out. The design is kind of weird for a design agency, but I was intrigued by the way each section of the site was incorporated into the image. The "portfolio" link especially. It is on the suitcase, which could represent a portfolio case. Again, this is not your standard site. The site is just one main image with different pieces to it.

I like to see people creating different ways of laying a whole site out because it gets very repetitive after a while. There is no difference between many of the most popular sites out there right now. We as Americans get very bored with things and i think it is important to discover new ways of keeping their attention.

Ashley