SOFTWARE - Web session 2

Manage site - useful for when you have to move your root folder between computers or locations.

cmd + tab - allows you to switch between screens.

How to get rid of the 5 pixel border around the preview website.

Last session we used relative to piece the different segments of the website together. WIth this setting you can't get rid of the white border.

TADA

Aligning central.

Creating A DWT (dreamweaver template).

Concerting the index html into the master template.

Templates work be coding them to know which areas are going to change on each page, these are calling editable areas.

Anything visual goes inside the body tags.

from here you can creat new index pages that you can then title for the different pages on your website.

How to create buttons and roll overs.

You need to work in PS and create the art work to the same pixel spec as the button will be in DW. Create the roll overs in layers.

Save for web - you can view the different properties and file types in the save for web window. jpeg is the best compression but it doesn't support transparency. 

We're saving as png24 because it does.

When saving, make sure the rollover layer isn't visible and do the opposite and make sure the original isn't visible when saving the rollover.

ONce you have your buttons ready you then have to add them to the template file (dwt) this will apply the change to all the other html pages that have been made from that template.

Padding

Adding images.

SOFTWARE - Print session 2

This weeks session is focussing on consistency and efficiency and formatting text.

two types of formatting text

Character formatting

Paragraph formatting


Today we're going to be looking ar paragraph formatting.

Identifying a paragraphs

- text being broken up
- spacing
- a paragraph return or linebreak


In Indesign you can turn on indicators to show you where the paragraphs are.


Finding an changing things about the paragraph.

Edit - find/change

Paragraph window. Indents and spaces.

You can use the paragraph window to edit the layout of paragraphs and changing the spacing of lines an gaps between headings and paragraphs.

Widows and orphans - words hanging on the end of a paragraph on their own. Its bad to have these as they make the spacing between the paragraphs look too big or bigger than the other spacing. You can deal with this by kerning the whole paragraph but by no more than 3pt either way, but it's better to not negatively kern.

Keep options. Helps prevent having headings as widows - especially usefully when working in columns.

Tabbing - editing tabs and using them properly.

Soft return - allows you to edit and add text whilst tabbing. Makes it quicker.

You can set new paragraph styles so you don't have to repeat yourself for every paragraph when working.

justified type (left and right aligned) you can edit the amount of justification to your own style.

You can apply your new paragraph styles with short keys that are always cmd + and a number key.

After creating a style you may need to change it so you simple double click the paragraph style in the window and change it from the options and once you click ok it will apply the change to every paragraph you've used that style on.

cmd + / = a hanging heading. This makes a paragraph line up like this...

SOFTWARE - Web session 1

recap from last year

- what is the website for? purpose
- who is the website for? target audience
- what does the audience need from the website?

designing a website for yourself

audience:-
- friends
- design studios
- collaborators
- employees
- clients


Design should reflect the purpose of the website. Look at websites and the first three words that come to mind should describe the brand/ company/ purpose of the website. If it doesn't then its not a well designed site.


Think about what the client wants. Don't design for designers, the client is important and their input can be invaluable.

John Ducket - HTML&CSS (book on webdesign)



Internet is 22 years old (born 1990)

wed resolution - 72dpi WRONG!

its actually 96dpi - designers didn't like the change so they still work to 72dpi



meta tags - for keywords, for when people search in search engines like google



- means from now on we're talking in html

- means that the html is closed
- this is anything that adds to the functionality of the design, not anything to do with the design

- means that the head tag is closed

- close body tag


Working in dreamweaver you have to keep all your files in one folder so the file will work.

URL - uniform resource locator

You have to buy webspace and a domain name to make a website go live and be accessible.


Set up a root folder (in user work) name it but keep it lower case and just letters and numbers.
Create a folder called 'images' within that folder.

Go to 'site' in dreamweaver and click new site and link the root folder and name the site. Click save and the folder should appear in the files tab in dreamweaver.


Always save before you preview in the web browser.

Never copy and paste code from another website as it wont work. Typing it out will though.


CSS - write out the code once and then link it to the html pages - saves you writing out the code over and over or recoding.


CSS

/* */ - symbols for notes to yourself - these wont appear in your website.

{} - these open and close lines of code


body - relates to the html, not necessary but it helps to reference each of them.

alt +3 makes a hashtag # - use these to create a div id (

STUDIO VISIT - Duke Studios

http://www.duke-studios.com

Sophie got in touch with the people that run Duke Studios and organised a visit and posted it on the years Facebook group. Only a handful of us went down and we were there for no longer than 30 minutes but it was well worth it.

The studios take up one floor of Munro house near Leeds bus station and they have different kinds of spaces from hot desk spaces to full desktop space to a complete studio space. As well as the space, you have access to lots of creative in house facilities such as a photography studio and a wood work, design workshop complete with its own laser cutter.

Over all I wsa really impressed with the whole place, it had a great atmosphere and felt very alive and bright which made it seem like the perfect place to start a studio or perhaps join an existing one.

PROGRESS TUTORIAL - individual

The tutorial was the first one on one tutorial time I had and this time it was with Amber.  The feedback I got was good and constructive like in the group tutorials and it was very critical. It felt like for the most part, I was being asked questions that I couldn't fully answer and at this point I should be able to answer all of them.


These are the notes I took during the tutorial.

PCL

Don't let it distract me from the other briefs
Contact dots about printing


MONK

Constraint for deadline
break it down into two parts
- Brand & identity
    - corporate collateral
- package, branding and space

Get on with it


BIKOLOGY

go visit them
get permission to photograph the shop and bike parts
branding a publication


VIEW

Why are you doing it?
Who is your audience?
Get pitch together - make it a live brief
Define our purpose
Is the deliverable appropriate?


Basically what I got from this tutorial is that I need to really focus on balancing how much I'm working on each brief. I think I'll start with getting lots of contextual references and research done for each then move on to designing because each brief could be solved in the space of 2 weeks which is what I aim to do. Then from their I can push them further.

PROGRESS TUTORIAL - 1st crit with Fred

Had my first group crit with Fred today and on a general overview the crit went really well, we had plenty of time to talk about our 4 main briefs focussing in on what we want to get out of them, what skills we want to develop, where we want to head with them and the progress we had already made.

Feedback giving by Sarah Roberts

Rationale:-
- knows the end goal - focussed on the end
- branding in retail and identity - different aspects

Statement of intent:-
- retail design
- rebrand
- photography
- illustration
- social networking

Briefs:- each brief is different
- collab brief - Marty // clothing label // identity and branding // social networking // significant blog // colab with photography // focus what is the deadlines and products // don't try to do too much and fail, not enough time

- monk brief // rebrand of the bar // cocktail bar // live

- bikology - publication // photography // illustration 

- view holographics - print forms

Additional Comments:-
- a lot of live briefs in the real world
- good starting point to 3rd year
- learn more on the job
- try not to get carried away, seems collab with Marty is massive
- not just one thing - make sure you do varied products


Feedback given by Sadie Thompson.

Rationale:-
- making briefs live - weather existing or independently written
- focus your briefs - make sure you have enough time to do everything by crimbo

Statement of Intent
- collab on clothing label - looking to carry into FMP
- bar branding - live brief
- bike biology brief - what audience? is it for promotional purposes or stands as a separate product from the shop? - inform educate - DIY bike repairs
- holography

Briefs:-
- retail spaces - looking at just products or interiors also? collar with Marty is quite a substantial brief, need to allow time for other briefs

Additional Comments:-
- in depth research on holography - need to make sure all information is accurate
- make sure you use a range of disciplines - screen, print - don't pigeon hole yourself
- good range of briefs - allows you to show variety of skills in your portfolio

Some useful points made here about audience for Bikology and keeping the briefs focussed whilst avoiding pigeonholing myself.

Feedback given by Charlotte Bourke.

Rationale:-
- know what you want
- client based brief - test. very good though

Statement of Intent:-
- solid plan?
- week by week?

Briefs:-
- delegation already (brief Marty) very clear foresight
- scope for realistic view
- very clear
- holography? - think of your audience
- varied briefs - allows you to full fill your skill set

Additional Comments:-
- very good to hear such clarity
- you want to make it big
- remember you can propose

Go solid advice at the end from Charlotte. I've often bitten off more than I could chew in the past with my briefs so it's great to hear so advice that suggests i make it easier for myself and propose some of the deliverables.

Feedback given by Kirsty Fruin.

Rationale:-
- clear design direction for year and briefs which will aid the development of this...keep interested

Statement of Intent:-
- already making progress and clear direction
- make sure you plan week by week
- work on briefs up till Christmas and evaluate and rewrite for next semester

Briefs:-
- collaboration: clear roles within
- live: opportunity to be experimental
- research driven brief
- good variety of briefs

Additional Comments:-
- make sure you have fun with your briefs!


Again, really sound advice at the end.


I'm going to go over the feed back with Marty for our collaborative brief to get his opinion and maybe write a few questions for him to ask about the brief in his crit tomorrow. This way we can see if more people are thinking the same about our brief or if they go a completely different way with the feedback.

Overall the conversations were good and everyone seems to have strong briefs and high set targets. Just need to crack on. Also next time I'll need to bring print outs for people to see and aid them in giving feedback.

PCL - Business cards

During the market research trip Marty and I took last Friday we managed to do a little bit of networking and got a few business cards. Unfortunately Marty didn't have any on him but I gave mine out to two clothing companies both of which had instant positive reactions which felt great. The cards I gave them were the same ones I printed for my PPD module in level 5 so the type was still tiny on the reverse side but the recipients didn't seem to mind at all.

Nicole Leech who works at Dirty Girl menswear in the Corn Exchange even mentioned deisgning a look book for her jewellery designs. This could be a collaborative side project for Marty and I further along the line.

It felt great leaving my mark with some people and seeing them happy to take it and I've got a few more contacts added to my network now.

This one is really interesting and was actually designed by a my friend James who is a 3rd year on the fashion course here at LCA.