Wednesday 24 February 2010

Portfolio Initial Screen Designs



These design are yet to be fully completely but it gives you an idea of what I amt trying to achieve. Feel free to leave any feedback.

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Online Portfolio Goals and Requirements

Website Goals
During the making of the website I must ensure that I use well structured code. This can be assessed by the use of notes within the code.

The code I create must use validated XHTML and CSS throughout. These can both be checked by W3C's online validation tool.

The website must have a clear sense of visible hierarchy. This can be assessed using a small questionnaire regarding the visual appearance of the website.

I aim to design the page for a screen resolution of 1024 x 768. I will do this by using a grid system that will be visible in the early designs.

I aim to make each page of the site less that 80k in size. This is to allow the slower internet connections comfortably open each page. This can be assessed by viewing the file sizes of each page.

I must ensure that I have cross browser compatibility within my coding. This can be tested by viewing the portfolio across a number of popular browsers.

Delivery Requirements
I will require the use of Adobe Photoshop CS4 to develop my initial ideas for a screen design. It will also be used to create my final screen design.

I will also require Adobe InDesign CS4 to present my final screen designs in. This will allow me to easily annotate and place the measurements on the design.

For the coding I will be using Adobe Dreamweaver. This will be used purely for the coding side of things and it will allow me to structure my pages with ease.

I will be using XHTML, CSS and Javascript to create my website. In particular I will be using Top-Up LightBox to display my images as it is a very user friendly application.

When it comes to uploading I will be using a private web hosting service with the aid of Cpanel. These both combine to allow me to upload my portfolio onto the internet.

Wednesday 3 February 2010

Target Audience Profiles

Target Audience 1 - Tutor and Peers
This audience requires me to follow a distinct set of guidelines. I must be able to portray my work over the full two year course, showing where I started, and where I'm at now. For this particular audience I think it is key to show how I have built as a designer and I must highlight the new skills I have learnt, and how I have put them into practice.

The portfolio must be well thought out in terms of assessment. Although this is something I could take on after college I must also keep in mind that it is an assessed piece of work and must follow the requirements in order to pass the course.

Potentially my peers may be looking at my work for inspiration and as a sign of how far I have come over the course. It is a very good opportunity to show off and gain a good reputation with potential colleagues of the future.

Target Audience 2 - Clients
For a client looking for a designer, the portfolio is the main catch. A well designed portfolio can alter the look of any piece of work. Using samples to cleverly display even the most boring piece of work is very important.

Clients will want to see samples of your work and there is no better way than through the portfolio. They will also want to find out a little about you, so I must portray myself in the best light in order to impress. I need to keep the portfolio strictly professional and incredibly user friendly.

Search Engine Optimisation can also bring in many clients so it is something that should be considered right the way through the build. For the people who stumble across the site, clear contact information needs to be easily accessible.

Target Audience 3 - Employers
This is the key target audience as I look into the future. Employers within the design industry aren't as bothered about paperwork and seeing qualifications, it is down to the quality and style of your designs.

I have found with clients in the past that even if they have no jobs available they will still ask to see a portfolio. This is because a well design portfolio can influence anyone into offering you a job.

The portfolio has to display professionalism, as this is something that all employers look for. It must also highlight my strengths and smooth over my weaknesses, so to give me the greatest chance of employment.