Unit 3 Reading

Chapter-6:     He is so cute- such a man!
Especially in those emotionally exasperating charts of travel through the department store. Now, most women would just ask - in other words - look for a site map. (Which reminds me that I have not completed the chart yet.) But it brings to mind the frustration of many sites ( including  my own) which do not have a map. Inefficient.
Clarity on a website makes our internet world far more peaceful. Titles of the pages should match or obviously coordinate with the title on the link. Making the links stand out in some way, when at that location is very helpful, prominence is necessary. As well as making an indicating color change (breadcrumb) to let the guest know that they have already been any certain page. Breadcrumbs are handy but should not be considered the prominent guide. They are very handy at the top of the page in a very complicated large site. File Tabs can be very helpful & appropriate on many website formats. Clean & efficient. [If kept in one row. I have been very annoyed with selecting a tab from the back row & suddenly the back row becomes the front row - irritating.] Sharp contrast between the selected section & the remaining ones is very helpful. Having the Welcome page as a tab also makes sense. I love the "trunk test," sometimes we can be pretty discombobulated when researching. [I have always made it a point to have a HOME link on virtually every page of my (needs to be improved) site - except for enlarged pictures where the link will take you back to the medium - then the medium page link back to HOME. But I do not have the title&logo on each page. Although I always try to have the screen tip appropriate.]
So, we all need to have:
1: Site ID
2: Page Name
3: Sections & Subsections
4: Local Navigation
5: "You are here" indicator(s)
6: Search
[NOTE: Search is very helpful on some sites - irritating as Satan's playground on others. I have experienced many (such as tv.adobe.com) that cannot interpret your quest properly - if it isn't in their proper words - they can't find it.] A simple index or site map would be the way to go.

Concept Statement Project

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

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

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

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

                                                Promote my:  talent & artistic dexterity

                                               Goals of the site are:  enticing people to understand & appreciate my work

                                                My ultimate message/philosophy (about who you are):   creative ingenuity

                                                What is the story you are telling?  Here is a talented creative artist, that you would be foolish not to contract for your business project!

.      List the assets you need to persuade the user: Which 7  projects? Variety: web format, logo/trademark, abstract portraits, fantasy musical performance posters.

.      What projects which do not exist yet will you want to show? Whatever looks better

.      What categories will you depict in your mockup? - even if you don’t have examples of them.  Logos, Portraits, Mascots,

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

Concept Statement:

As an artist of the Northwest, also showing in New England, Adrienne Anderson-Smith has been well versed doing freelance & contracted work in many media. She has won awards in freehand graphic arts (Grand Champion in Calligraphy.) Done contract & charity work creating logos, mascots, advertisements, newsletters, posters, ballots, t-shirts, mugs, ‘album’/cd covers, banners, brochures & fliers.

As the Art World moves into the future it seemed appropriate to pursue another unusual tangent of talent. She has grasped the opportunity to expand her artistic horizons into digital design. The precision of Calligraphy, knowledge & experience in many media - along with a great deal of variety regarding approach - all of these work well together in application by means of computer art. From realism to abstract, classic to contemporary, profound to humorous, serious to amusing, philosophical to emotional, her spectrum is wide to say the least.

Observing an array of faces throughout life helps expand awareness of diversity, depth and character. Character is essential in graphic art, engrossing and inspiring, captivating.

The clientele to captivate with the contract prospective has been a rather wide range, from large business to individuals, event sponsors & organizations. They range from mid-twenties to upper-fifties. Reaching out to captivate various audiences can embrace a wider range, even youth.

Unit 2 Reading

Almost got ahead of myself & forgot to post!

Chapters 3,4 & 5

It is logical to adopt the simple standards of size & magnitude indicating priority. It can be done in creative, entertaining methods. It was amusing using the term “conventions” in one of its least used definitions. Made me think of how unconventionally some maps are formatted – such as putting north to the right instead of the top. Some people have a very hard time grasping that simple variation. We have become dependent on simplicity & find grandiose annoying & pompous. I have often fussed about the variety of credit/debit card readers, “Can’t the government or the industry declare one style standard, so we don’t have such a learning challenge at every store!” 

Now I have seen the meaning associated with websites. Conventional. Yes, familiarity is reassuring. Some designers seem to feel that they are not going to be considered needed or necessary if they aren’t wildly inventive, thus slipping away from logic. Ease is essential in grasping the format to tell you at a glance where each necessary element is & what it should do or take you to. It is very interesting that there is an insistence on the distinct layout with ease to recognize what is a link & what is not. [As an artist, I detest the gleaming links that change color when used – they distract from the artwork.] But, it is understandable to have a little dimension to the appearance – a little optical illusion perhaps. Placement of arrows can make it or break it. Love the term, “visual noise.”  Making the decision of what to click should not be a challenge. Simple clarity, which also holds true in needless words. Personally, I enjoy SHORT paragraphs on the index page, at least in art. It is somewhat of a welcoming dedication, but not for the hardware or office supply stores. LOVED his editing of the instructions! Short, quick & to the point.

Inspiring Mood-Boards

With construction nearby we lost our land-line & internet connection for a day & a-half. It was not fun.
[But they are significantly smoothing our gravel road - For "FREE!" - just with their presence.]

Here are a few of the mooding samples that inspired me a bit.

Oh... NATURE! Tropical at that. Beautiful tone & eye grabbing depth

Nature - simple - clean - calming
with a little "dirty brown" nice theme

Domestic - simple

Enjoyed color scheme

Appreciate Typographic presentation - just do not appreciate how busy it is

If links are difficult - here is the list:

http://www.sampleboard.com/boarddetail/9694

http://essencebaker.wordpress.com/category/uncategorized/

http://caro-interiors.com/mood-boards/

http://gogogloglo.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/project3-ws-moodheaders1.jpg

http://chmiewliski.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/moodboard.png

A Mood-Board thought - earthy? Georgia is the font.

Unit 1 Reading Response

an Awakening...

this explained a great deal to me on how impatient & ignorant our general public is.
My whole perspective as an artist has to be shifted for the internet market.
As an artist I like to inspire thought & search, get each observer to find their own interpretation & enlightenment - evidently that will not fly online.
Pooh.
Personally I detest overwhelmingly simplistic formats. But I am obviously not the majority.
Alright, it is understandable that if someone wants to go to a site to find something simplistic or definite they will give up if it is too confusing & complicated.
Oh, my reminder alarm went off. I have to leave & work a shift at Parklane Gallery.
I will get back to this.

Spring!

 is Here... finally

Please come out & have fun Friday the 12th at 

130 Park Lane - Kirkland, Washington 98033 - 425.827.0162

6PM to 9 PM (Door Prizes! Refreshments! Raffle!)

Adrienne Anderson-Smith is a featured artist