Professional feedback 2

I had a graphic design major named Alex look at my website.  I tweaked my logo to be a little more obvious that it wold be a link.  He said it was not successful and should add a "home" button.
He also said that the home page slider gallery moved too quick and should be slowed down.  He also had commentary on edits for images. He enjoyed the background texture.  The computer that he viewed my site also made my page not fill the screen because Wix is not responsive.

Professional feedback 1

I had my portfolio professor Michael Ramey view my website thus far.  His comments were mainly towards my page's navigation.  There needs to be a clear way to get back to the home page, not just the logos.  It should not be assumed that the viewers will know where to go or drag their cursor over.

Concept and Branding

.    Create a list of all users that may visit your site (not from the WWW but those you’d invite).

                        -Local Retailors

                        -Bar owners

                        -Restaurant Owners

                        -Potential and current models

                        -Art Directors

                        -Photo editors

                        -Photographers I would want to assist (Assistant Work)

.    What will each of those users want to see in order to enjoy their visit to your site?

                    -Local Retailors- A product section that shows well designed photographs that clearly display products, not just “pretty” pictures.

                    -Bar owners-  An architecture section that’s shows both interior and exterior.  A portrait section that displays environmental portraiture.

                    -Restaurant Owners-  An architecture section that’s shows both interior and exterior.  A portrait section that displays environmental portraiture.

                    -Potential and current models-  No images that are unappealing or unattractive (not that these should be included in any type of portfolio) 

                    -Art Directors- Easy to look at. Not cluttered.  A good clean contact page with information easily displayed.  An email box as well as email address shown.

                    -Photo editors-  A good range of topics covered (Portrait, Travel, Architecture, Corporate, Product).

                    -Photographers I would want to assist (Assistant Work)- A good range of topics covered (Portrait, Travel, Architecture, Corporate, Product). Creative and clean layout design

        -All visitors to site will want a simple clean layout that brings focus to photography.  The site must be easy to navigate through with clear decription on where they are in the site, what portfolio they are currently looking at, as well as easy to navigate portfolio galleries.  Be able to jump to what ever photograph catches their eyes with ease.

.    Name your intended audience (the person(s) you need to persuade.)

Target audiences are business owners who are in need of photographs.  Magazine photo “decision makers” who would either contact me directly with work or will relay my website to someone who would.

.    Describe what you need to inform and persuade them of:

                        Promote my: Photography

                        Goals of the site are:  Current photographic works that are organized and displayed in an way which draws attention to the photography, not the website itself.

                        My ultimate message/philosophy (about who you are):   Creative up-and-coming photographer that can shoot just about anything. 

                        What is the story you are telling?  The story I am telling is:  I am a photographer with a background in traditional arts (painting, drawing) and music.  This helps me see things in a way that most other people do not.  Composing is not just to make a “pretty” photo, but to make a photograph mean far more than just a thousand words.

.    Write a 200 word concept statement based on the user, your persuasion, navigation and the assets.

.    List the assets you need to persuade the user: Which 7 (minimum) projects? scans of what?, photos of what objects? images from what computer graphics program? what descriptive text? list them.

CrazyMeTriptic

Cups_1

Cups_2

DJLights_1

DJLights_2

FourthofJulyOceanShores

FourthofJulyOceanShores7

LookAtMe

MechanizedFashion

Mike4

PumpkinHeadV1

SavoryHues

SkateBW

.    For the purpose of structuring your website portfolio pages, list the categories of work you will show. (for a Photographer, for example, it may be portrait, product, sports photography categories).

Portrait

Conceptual

Architecture

Product

Film/Alternative Process

Concept Statement:

My website will be a photographic portfolio that displays only my best images.  The audiences I wish to target are (and certainly not limited to) local retailors, bar owners, restaurant owners, potential and current models, art directors, photo editors and photographers I wish to associate with and/or assist for.   Retailors want to see sections that display architectural photographs, images that clearly are selling a product and even on location portraits.  Bar and restaurant owners will want to see categories that show architectural studies, location portraits, beverage and food shots.  Current and potential models want to see images that are flattering and never just “ok”.  They must make the viewer go “Wow!”  Art directors, photo editors and other photographers want to see a simple and sleek website that does not distract from the imagery but instead compliments images.  Good layout to show layout and image choice skills.  A good range of work will also please these audiences.  The site must be easy to navigate through with clear description on where they are in the site, what portfolio they are currently looking at, as well as easy to navigate portfolio galleries.  Be able to jump to what ever photograph catches their eyes with ease.   My ultimate message is to display that I am a creative up-and-coming photographer who displays skill sets from other arts. 

Good and Bad Assignment

Good Design

Design features:

Text:   

The background must not interfere with the ability to read the text, which is not too big or too small.  The order in which information is given is in an easily understandable layout that depicts the importance of the information given.  The layout of text columns should narrower than in a book for an easier read on a computer screen.                                   

Navigation:

The navigation buttons are easy to find and are consistent throughout the web page.  These should also indicate where the visitor is on the site.  If the buttons are framed, they do not obstruct the visual ease of locating and using them.  A large site should also have an index or site map.

Links: 

These must match the color schemes of the page, be underlined to they are recognized immedietly as links.  Most importantly the links must work.

Graphics:

Buttons are not to be obnoxious, and must have an alt label and a matching text link.  Avoid bitmap images (raster) for text, as it will loose clarity is magnified.  Instead, use vector graphics, which will use mathematical formulas to build an image that can be scaled to any size without loosing quality.  Use colors that not obtrusive and are easy on the eyes.

         

General Design: 

Pages should load quickly and fit within 800 x 600 pixel space.  All pages should have immediate visual impact. All pages should have a consistent theme.  Overall good use of graphic elements used throughout the website. 

           

Notes:

___________________________________

Bad Design>>>

Design features:

Text:

Text that is too small, crowds the left side, stretches all the way across the page, centered type over flush left body copy.  Text that is in bold, italics, all caps, or any combination of the three.  Underlined text that is not a link.

Navigation:

Unclear or overly complex navigation tabs.  Frames that are obtrusive or a too complicated.  Pages with no links back to where the visitor came from.  Page titles that do not discern the content of the page.

Links: 

Default blue links.  Links that do not clearly say where they lead.  Links in body copy that distract readers and take them to useless pages.  Links that are not underlined or do not work. 

Graphics: 

Long load times.  Graphics unrelated to page.  Image thumbnails that are nearly the same size as the full size image. No alt labels, missing graphics and graphics that do not fit the screen.

           

General Design: 

Home pages does not fit within standard browser (800 x 600 pixels).  Frames that make you scroll sideways.  No central point of focus for the visitor or too many focal points. Cluttered.  Lack of contrast.

Notes:

___________________________________

URL of a Poorly Designed Site:

http://www.davidfish.com/

Design features:

Text: 

Black background with yellow text is obnoxious and ugly.  Centered orientation of text on some pages is same color as links which makes the understand of the text convoluted (is it a link...no).  On the fashion page there is underlined text which makes me think that it might be a link, but it is not. Color schemes are horrible.  Black, yellow, red, blue and white.                            

Navigation: 

Navigation is sub-par.  There is no back button for galleries.  Only forward to the next page, or using browsers back button.  There are no tabs which forces me to go back to the main page to enter any other part of the site.  On the main page links are just underlined hyperlinks in a centered orientation. Not pleasing to look at.  

Links:

Some text is underlined like a link should be, but it is not a link.  Clicking on links on the main page takes me to a warning page, not professional.  On these warning pages, the site branding is a link to enter the gallery, as well as the ENTER link immediately below it. 

Graphics: 

Image gallery is horrible.  The images are larger than thumbnails but cannot be enlarged.  The images cannot be viewed any other way than how they are laid out on the page (rows of images).  There is a grey scale table on the bottom of pages and says that "If you cannot clearly see all eleven shades of grey, then your monitor is not properly set up."  I do not want to see this; tells me that i do not know how to calibrate my screen...and I do.  

           

General Design: 

This sites design is absolutely horrible.  It is cumbersome and hard to navigate.  There are no images anywhere besides the galleries which made me question the site immediately.  The links are all placed awkwardly.  The color scheme is horrendous.  The logo sucks.  The only good thing about this site is the copyright information on the bottom.

           

Describe the purpose of this site in the notes. (Include whether it was easy to determine the purpose – why or why not?)

Notes:

The purpose was not easy to determine.  The link I clicked to find this guy took me to his "Location" page which lists, in the same ugly font and color, all of the things that he apparently shoots.  Being taken to a, more or less, warning site to enter some of the galleries is completely unprofessional.  You do not need to demean the visitor by practically accusing them of searching for porn.  Good. Lord.  I a honestly astounded by how unprofessional this site is.  Though its hard to see, I see no other point to this site than it being a portfolio.  If I am looking up photographers, I want to see their work.  I want to enlarge the photo to fit my screen.  This is not possible on this site.  I cannot look at images by themselves.  There is no back button.  I am extremely confused on this guys thought process was.

___________________________________

http://www.segielskiphoto.com/

Design features:

Sleek consistent background for every page.  Cool home page layout that has a row of images that when you 

scroll over the images, the genre type 

(People, Food, Panorama, etc.) 

is immedietley shown underneath the photo while the other portfolio images fade slightly.

Text: 

Text is minimal and gives only important information where necessary.  It is in a good and simple color scheme.  Consistent throughout that page.                                          

Navigation:  

Navigation is clear and easy to use. Background is consistent throughout the site, so the same navigation tabs or consistent no matter what page the visitor goes to.  The home page has the same background but a row of different style images.  When you scroll over the images, the genre type 

(People, Food, Panorama, etc.) 

is immedietley shown underneath the photo while the other portfolio images fade slightly.  I thought this was a cool feature.  

  

Links: 

Seems that text is minimal, there are not many links.  What are links turn into a lighter and distinguishable color still easily seen on the background.  I have no problems finding links to essential things like pages, the home page (which is merely the photographers branding attached to the background in the top left on every page); and his contact page does not underline his email but clearly when I bring my cursor over it it is lightens in color and leads me to my email.  

Graphics:

All images are bitmaps sized for web (low resolution, but good for screen).  The layout is very nice.  I have the option of scrolling through the images one by one, or I have the option to bring my cursor over to the right side of the window, which slides in a small vertical viewer of all the images in the gallery and lets me jump to any of the images.  This viewer also does not obstruct the large image on the page

  

General Design: 

It is a nice and simple layout.  Basic color pallet lets me look at the images without distraction.  Easy to navigate which makes the viewing process much more favorable.  There is not stumbling and if I absolutely love his work then I am able to "share" or "follow" him via the links on the bottom right on any page. 

Notes:

This is clearly a portfolio site.  It is sleek and easy to use, but most importantly it shows off his work without any other distraction that a website can cause.  It has a "Client List" page which tells anyone that he is a working professional.  He website displays this very well. 

___________________________________

URL of site #2:

http://www.davehillphoto.com/

Design features:

Very large photos.  Something that is interesting to me is that he has a "Behind the scene" page where he provides thumbnails of photos, with a title underneath, which also act ask links to a video of behind the scenes of the shoot.  

Text: 

Small text, but there is enough contrast that makes it easily read.  When on a certain page the title, which is in a bar on the top of the window, Changes color to red.  Easy to read, easy to tell where I am at in the website. 

Navigation:

Very easy to use.  Like other well done photography sites, the background remains the same no matter what page I go to.  When on a certain page, the title changes to red rather than grey is easy to see and note.  Again, like other well done sites, merely clicking on the branding in the top left corner will take the visitor to the home page.

Links: 

Links are minimal, but are clearly marked by a title which darkens to black when the cursor moves over it. 

Graphics: 

Large images in the galleries.  Good size that is large enough to see but fit within the window.  Other than his images or films, there is only texts.

General Design: 

Very clean layout.  Simple color pallet is ideal for viewing images.  I know where exactly to take my cursor on every page to find the next thing that i am looking for.  Makes for easy browsing.

Notes:

There is no doubt about what I am looking at when I come to this site.  It is a professional photographers online portfolio and it displays it with the same level of quality that the images are at. Professional. great website. Text might be a little small. just a tad.

Week 1 Skills Inventory

Name:

Ian Kolbas

 Department/Program:

Photography

Are you graduating this Quarter?

No

If not, current graduation date by Quarter/Year:

I will be graduating Winter/14

What Online Social and Professional networks do you have accounts with:

Facebook

WordPress

Website URL (if already developed or domain name purchased):

NA

What software experience do you have? (explain all that apply)

Photoshop:  As a photographer I know how to manipulate photos subtly through color and tonal range through use of layers and tools or drastically creating new images through the use of many. Excellent grasp of tools and workflow.

Illustrator:

Dreamweaver:

HTML/CSS:

InDesign:  Basic magazine spread layouts.

Other:

Explain your objective for the class to the best of your knowledge:
To make a visually stunning website to showcase my work.

Publish web site?
Yes

Revise and update current site?
Maybe wordpress blog.  Doubtful.

Begin the process of a professional web presence?
Absolutely