Comic Relief Pt.4
Web Designers vs Multimedia Web Designers
Web design and
multimedia/web design seems like two sides of the same job and both have their
challenges and gratifications, and within this essay the two jobs will be
compared and contrasted to see how each will match up. A web designer designs
the graphics of a site or the site as a whole in hopes of selling the design(s)
to a company or corporation. These designs can be for one page or multiple and
must meet with the company or corporation’s ideas and requirements. A
multimedia/web designer deals with much the same thing as a regular web
designer, but they work on web development teams to create a more sophisticated
web site as a whole rather than just a few parts here and there. Both of these
very noteworthy jobs within the graphic and web design industry are responsible
for creating the most appealing visual design possible in their own unique
ways.
There are many similar
aspects between web designers and multimedia/web designers. Customarily, both
jobs are seen as one especially to those outside of the field. Normally, both
are responsible in combining the graphic, textual, and other elements of a site
to create a visually appealing layout. The web designer is responsible for as
little or as much of the layout that is given to them to appeal to the
audience, while multimedia/web designers work with a group to create a whole
interactive website. As web design author Steve Krug is quoted, “If there's one
thing you learn by working on a lot of different Web sites, it's that almost
any design idea--no matter how appallingly bad--can be made usable in the right
circumstances, with enough effort,” and it’s this quote that unifies the web
designers and multimedia designer as one.
There is, however, a huge
difference between a web designer and a multimedia/web designer. Web designers
as said above are generally only put in charge with as little or as much of
project assigned to them using the textual, graphical, and other elements of
the project, while a multimedia/web designers work in lager groups on the
project as a whole in a more dynamic and interactive way using motion graphics,
sound, and videos. Furthermore, web designers have the options of working
freelance and selling a non-functional designed page or site to whomever they
please, where as a multimedia/web designer relies on working within a group
within a company to take a non-functional design and making it a fully
functional website for other companies. There are many other differences
between the two positions, but one must understand, is that both jobs are just
as important and noteworthy for a project to be completed.
-Krista Nelson
- Don't make me think!: a common sense
approach to Web usability (2nd ed.). Berkeley, Calif: New Riders Pub..
Comic Relief pt 3
Simple Wire Frame Setup
Wireframes are the basics of web design. With it we lay out our content and modules for the design we create and use it as a way to keep our designs organized. You can create a wireframe with just about any program you have available or draw it out on paper. For this article we’ll use Illustrator’s grid guidelines to create a simple wireframe.
To start we will create an 800 x 800 pixel art board and use that as our basis for the whole layout. We’ll call it the background to make it simple.
Step 1: Create an 800 X 200 pixel rectangle and position it toward the top of the background. We call this the header and use it to hold the site’s title and navigation.
Step 2: Next is the content. This is where all the fun information of the site goes along with images. We set it with a 600 x 400 pixel box and placed it below the header on the left side of the background.
Step 3: We will now add the sidebar to the wireframe. This is where all the extra content goes like update notes, a bio snippet if this is going to become a blog layout, or you can add what we call widget here that do extra fun things like a game or popular news articles. We set it up as a 200 X 400 pixel rectangle and this sits to the right of the content box below the header.
Step 4: This is the last step in our easy wireframe set up. The footer is where the copyright information is placed along with some extras like social media buttons or a miniature site map.
The setup should fit an 800 X 200 pixel rectangle below the content and sidebar boxes.
This is just a simple wireframe layout. There are actually many more items that can be added to create a more dynamic wireframe. Some extras include actual picture boxes, content boxes, and video boxes, and many more. Let your imagination go wild and set up a wireframe to your liking.
- Krista Nelson
http://webdesign.tutsplus.com/
Layout, Layout, Layout
During these next steps of planning
the design of a web site, I am going to emphasize the importance of layout.
Layout is a major factor in web design. A great layout could make the
difference between a user returning or leaving before they interact with a
single thing. One tip for this process is to start on “paper” (Illustrator,
Photoshop, Sketchbook Pro, or real paper). Every idea should go down in writing
regardless of how “dumb” it sounds.
Web
layout trends are changing at a steady rate and there are many layouts for each
web site purpose. As a designer it should be your goal to push the best layout
for your clients’ web site as you can. This means do your research, one of my
favorite web design/ development sites for research is Web Designer Depot. You
can find nearly anything that you would want to know about web design in one
single web site.
So my
recommendation is to start out with an initial layout design based on the web
sites purpose (do your research). After the initial layout is done, create a
site map. In your site map you are going to make sure you have a page for every
bit of content and support that your client is going to provide. Make sure you
refer to the list of content that the client has provided for you. As you go
through the site map you may realize that certain things may be misplaced or
you may have a better idea for the layout. Make those adjustments as you see
fit, but keep the clients goals in mind.
Next week we are going to be covering functionality, and the
many options for user interaction that can be implemented to improve user
experience. Feel free to comment and share work of your own. Be sure to tune in
next weePlan the Design.
k for the next section of
Successful Illustration Career: 5 Tips
Having a career in
illustration might be tough, or easy depending on your skill level and style of
work you produce. In this blog I’ll go over five of the many tips to having a
successful career in illustration.
Tip 1: Plan Ahead.
Planning things out
may seem hard. It’s not always possible to achieve personal goals but it is
still possible to achieve some goals. If you at least try that’s fine.
Setting a goal is the beginning of your
motivation process. It’s very important to know the difference between goals,
desires, and fantasies.
Tip
2: Take Time To Reflect.
Set
short goals so you can ultimately achieve the overall goal.
Tip
3: Learn From The Mistakes You Make.
If
your final piece doesn’t turn out the way you wanted it to, then move on.
There’s no time for regrets. Learn to spot the good that comes out of the ones
that didn’t come out your way. Each failure is a lesson learned, which you
become better for. Failure teaches you about the new goals you can set and
actually achieve.
Tip
4: Think Outside The Box.
Don’t
just go after your first interests in hopes it’ll give you work for years to
come. Explore your secondary interests. They may lead to more work and a longer
career than your first choice.
Tip
5: Don’t Dream, Just Do.
No
matter what the goal is start working towards it. Do what it is you set out to.
Actually starting your goals can get you to where you aspire to be.
Defining the Purpose of the Web Site
As a web designer/ developer it is
your job to have your client define what they want the purpose of their website
to be. This could be anything from a personal resume, e-store, or a business
card site. People have some weird ideas, and as paying clients they want their
vision to be perfectly represented.
List all of the content that is needed on the site
You need
to find out what the content of the web site will be. The aesthetics of the
site are going to vary depending on the content. This list will have literally
everything that is going to be on the website. If it is a store you will need a
product list with pictures. If it is a portfolio you are going to need a list
of their work.
Narrowing down your target audience
The
target audience of the web site is determined by the content. You need to realize that ESPN.com is not
going to attract a majority of middle aged women. If this sounds like common
sense, that’s because it is. This process shouldn’t take all day. The next two
steps after deciding your target audience is what should take some time.
Decide what fonts you want to use
Fonts
are not necessarily the most invigorating subject but it is a necessity. The
font that is chosen holds feeling. Comic sans is not serious in the least bit.
You should not use it for any reason, even if the client is a comic book
illustrator. If you don’t have any experience with typography then you should
do some research. Check out this article by Chiara Aliotta, Evoke
Emotion Through Typography.
Decide on a color palette
Like
typography color creates emotion. Pick a color scheme that matches the feeling
of the website. Choose a palette of recommended no more than 5 colors. Make
sure they match and don’t conflict with your target audience or the purpose of
your clients’ web site.
Feel free to comment and share work flow of your
own. Be sure to tune in next week for the next section of Plan the Design.
Best Way to Learn Webdeisgn
The world is changing rapidly. Just when we were just getting used to seeing websites came mobile phones, now screens have gone into our eyeglasses. With the web design world changing almost every day, it’s almost daunting to think how one learns web design.
Of course, when it comes to learning, there are a lot of avenues to choose from, and sometimes it’s not a matter of availability of such avenues (or the lack of them), but one’s desire to learn
But what is the best way to learn web design?
In this article, we will delve into the more popular ways on how one learns the art of designing websites. We will try to note the advantages and disadvantage of each method of learning and hopefully, come up with an end result.
Universities
Advantages
Since the boom of the internet, more and more information technology and computer-related jobs have become more prevalent. And with the rise of such demand of manpower, calls for a lot of students. That is why more universities have funded the propagation of design-related programs.
Although contrary to the common thought, universities offer benefits for web designers. If a student chooses to enter the university, he will have to study the basics of web design. He will learn from teachers the fundamentals of color, type, composition, and maybe, a few coding languages.
With this, and with the help of projects and tight deadlines, students are conditioned to work under pressure without sacrificing the quality of work. This is somehow a foreshadowing of what the real word looks like, and when the time comes where clients are dealt with and workloads go heavy, it becomes a bitter but fruitful brunt.
In addition, universities are filled with professors that can mentor, critique or appreciate your work. This becomes an advantage because you’re allowed to make bigger mistakes with lesser the cost because you can tweak your style and methods without sacrificing potential clients.
Disadvantages
While the security that houses its students into the four walls of a classroom is a main selling point of universities offering design courses, it also becomes its greatest disadvantage.
With the explosion of online courses, and as the Internet becomes a staple of human culture and living, web design school are slowly fading into irrelevance.
These days, the papers and documents presented by universities are becoming a thing of the past (with web design, at least). Today, diplomas aren’t the golden eggs of the world. Paper proving that you’ve studied enough hours to become an expert in something aren’t instant employment passes anymore. According to Adecco, a job placement agency, almost six of 10 college graduates from the United States are underemployed, meaning they aren’t full time position holders in their professions.
Nowadays, especially in web design, employment decisions are usually based on interviews and previous work, and diplomas aren’t even a factor.
Aside from that, the world of web design isn’t something you can’t confine in walls anymore. It’s changing rapidly that universities don’t catch up anymore.
Online Courses
Advantages
I started learning web design a few months after I graduated from college. Afraid that I might not be able to afford the high tuition, I thought of alternative solutions to increase my knowledge. And seeking the help of online courses, I pretty much got what I want.
I am not the first person to find such enlightenment from online education. Before me were a myriad of curious minds seeking the same thing. Online education made every learning opportunity reachable by anyone anytime.
This is what makes learning from the internet phenomenal.
The reach and availability of the material extends into an unimaginable rate. Now, everybody can learn about HTML and CSS without even leaving their seats. And this gives opportunities to people who want to learn and make a name for themselves.
Also, it becomes more practical to learn via the Internet. Compared to universities who charge for loans, living expenses, lodging, and, at times, books, online education goes easier and smoother. Now, tell me, would you pay for a ridiculously high expenses when you have cheaper ones and still are as useful?
Disadvantages
Like many things in the world, learning web design online presents some evil too. In many cases, learning web design through the internet becomes a one-way system. Although there are richer communities that offer help, often, you’ll not get what you are looking for because it lacks a human element.
Often, people who have shifted into web design finds it confusing because there is so much available resource and there are many ways to funnel them. And the differences of style, approach, and opinion usually caused by differing views by different experts often lead to confusion, and, in the long run disappointment.
Unlike in universities, it is easy to seek for help and opinion because your teachers can readily give that. You can have a mentor who can teach you all the tricks without suffering confusion, and if there are things you want to tweak with your own views, you can easily do that because you were already laid down with the basics.
Moreover, because of the freedom in pace web design courses online offer, it becomes difficult to find that pace. Sometimes, one overloads his mind with information thus stressing him, and at times the pace is too complacent, thus leading to procrastination.
What makes this a lot more difficult is that a good pace is difficult to find. Although universities, especially professors, sometimes force their own pace to the students, it becomes an advantage because what they teach is fairly the average and more universal methods.
Think of this, if knowledge is an investment and your profit or gain is all the same, would you choose to spend more hours, more money and more effort? Or would you choose the easier route?
- Krista Nelson
- Krista Nelson
Career In Book Illustration: The Essential Tips
Some may say book illustration had its
moment back in the day. They may say digital reading is becoming more popular
than reading a physical book. Well they’d be wrong. Unlike the music industry, people
buying books prefer the physical copy over the digital, especially when these
books have amazing artwork.
The publishing industry needs skilled
illustrators whose work will stop readers as soon as their eyes see that book.
You have to be able to completely grab the potential reader’s attention and
convey them to pick up that book off the shelf or click on the thumbnail icon
when browsing the web. This need will lead to a career by allowing you to show
off your creativity and artistic style.
With easy access to illustrative software
and graphic tablets there are more illustrators out there creating competitive
work. However they don’t have the same creativity and style that you do.
Tip
1: Judge A Book By Its
Cover, Always.
If it’s an actual book and not a metaphor
about people, then judge it by its cover. Whatever form of book it is, the cover
is the most important page. It should grab the reader’s attention and show some
glimpse of what the story is about.
Tip
2: Know The Genre.
Really know the genre and execute it
well. The illustration must show exactly what genre the book is. Try to make it
obvious. You can be bold, or you can be subtle.
Tip
3: Absolutely No Spoilers.
Please do not give away the story before
even reading it. Find a scene from the story that would hint at the types of
characters and action that awaits inside. Turn it into a broad hint of what’s
inside.
Tip
4: Manuscript Isn’t
Everything.
A manuscript isn’t always necessary. You
might think you need to read the manuscript to create the cover but that’s not
always the case. Sometimes book covers are commissioned before the book is even
written. Focus on the notes written in the commission instead. The author might
already know want they want which could lead to a faster completion. If it’s an
impossible idea to execute however, than don’t work from it.
Tip
5: Sketch, For The Love
God Sketch!
Roughly sketch out concept ideas to find
the one with the composition that works. Then make tighter sketches until
you’re ready for the final piece.
Tip
6: Practice And Network.
Don’t wait, start early. If you’re not
currently doing book illustrations of are waiting for your next project, then
practice. Pick a book and create a cover. Even if you randomly choose a book
you’ve never read. Read it and get started. That could lead to the beginning of
your career or could bring you your next project.
Book illustration isn’t dead. Use these
tips and strive for your career in book illustration. The only person keeping
you from getting started is you.
Remarkable HIV Magazine
Magazine printed with blood from HIV + people
The Life Ball, is one of the world’s largest AIDS charity
events, hosted annually is in Vienna. Vienna is the hometown to Vangardist’s, a
magazine company that has printed 3,000 special copies of its spring edition
dedicated to HIV+ people. The magazine set out to team up with Saatchi &
Saatchi Switzerland to brainstorm ideas to trigger debate and raise awareness
of the disease. Vangardist used blood donated by three HIV positive individuals
– a gay man, a heterosexual man and a mother. Their donated blood was infused
with ink in the special edition copies. Ason Romeyko, a global chief creative
director at Saatchi & Saatchi said, “We wanted to take the image of HIV
patients beyond the gay stereotype. Hence the combination of a gay man, a
heterosexual man and a mother add a deeper dimension to this.” “By injecting
the blood from HIV positive people into the printing presses, we transformed the
media into the root of the stigma itself," said Romeyko. "Every word,
line, picture and page is printed with the combination of blood and ink.” The
magazine is packaged in a plastic wrap for legal reasons, but the wrapping also
serves as an added dimension to the project, inviting readers to overcome their
pwn prejudice when opening the sealed wrapper. "The legal restrictions
advised us to not just distribute the magazine without a warning,"
explained Romeyko. "There is nothing like a 'restriction' to heighten
creativity. Hence the re-sealable wrapper which actually makes the
communication so very much stronger." I love the creativity of this
project that has such a strong underlying meaning, hitting all the most
important prejudice and stigmas our society has about HIV+ people.
