Attend class to learn about how to set up your website in Dreamweaver. You will learn how to create divs, place images, create an interactive menu and more.
Today we will commence on your assessment for this class. You will need to design a website for a client to promote his work or services. See examples below as a result of an in-class brain storm:
Portfolio of a designer, web-designer, graphic designer, fashion designer, …
Portfolio of an artist or illustrator
Portfolio of a photographer
Website for a horse trainer
Website for a singer
Website for a humanitarian organisation, eg Doctors Without Borders
Website for a restaurant
Four Web Pages
You will need to create 4 web pages using Dreamweaver or a WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) code editor. These are the pages for you to create:
Home Page
About us and Contact
Gallery or Portfolio of Work
Bookings or Purchase Requests
Step 1 – Brainstorm Ideas
Brainstorm ideas for a website (if portfolio for a photographer, what type of photographer, wedding, portrait, famous photographer, …)
Step 2 – Research Content
Go online and research what content you can find for your website. Use Creative Commons sites whenever possible:
Otherwise use Google and add Creative Commons to your search criteria.
Step 3 – Storyboard
Create a storyboard for the website. Before you can create the storyboard you will need to organise all the different elements. Please refer to the Storyboard Workshop from Tuesday:
Storyboarding for Web Designers
Webdesigners benefit from storyboarding. It helps organising content and ensures that every element is included in a logical place according to topic and site.
Create the website in Dreamweaver (or any other Code editor) using HTML, CSS and if necessary JavaScript or JQuery.
Your website needs to have a well-designed layout
Attend class to learn about how to set up your website in Dreamweaver. You will learn how to create divs, place images, create an interactive menu and more.
Design and Layout
Here are some important standards to consider for a convincing, well-communicated web page:
While you are a student you should be able to experiment as much as you can. I mean, you should claim your right to experiment in your work. Rather than always going for a conservative option.
On the other hand you never want to stop searching for inspiration in the work of others and in society, the built environment and nature in general.
As you could see with the first assessment – taking close-up photos can lead to unexpected results. Objects never look the same on screen as they do on the floor or in real life.
Close-up at Fed Square, Federico Viola 2013, Found at p.ic
Some inspirations you will simply find in the artwork and design work of current practitioners and past masters. For current designers you want to look at sites and magazines such as Computer Arts and Computer Arts Projects, Mashable, Design Envy and Dzineblog are just a few inspiring resources.
This week’s Visual Design Component Class covered links and some descriptions of some styles and movements that I relate to very much:
Swiss International Style
Constructivism (often called Russian Constructivism)
Vietnames Propaganda Poster
Photomontage
I highly recommend reading up on each and particularly looking at examples of the works. It is good to find out what stylistic choices each movement made and what ideas were big in their days.
Swiss International Style – Joseph Müller-Brockmann – Beethoven Concert Poster – found at http://www.designhistory.comContemporary design in style of Constructivism by Teo Brito found at LauraGreen92 – click image for more information and link to her WordPress blog
It is fine to be inspired by other artist’s and designer’s work. Actually, you should look for greatness in other works and reference their works. This is done by paying a tribute to the original artist in form of a homage.
Experimental Photomontage by Robert Heinecken
Web Design – Photoshop Workshop
In-class workshop. We will continue to apply the grid system to a website design. This time we will apply the grid to a gallery. The design will depend on your choices of layout and number of thumbnails that you want to feature.
Screenshot – In-class Tutorial: Applying 960 Grid 12 Col layout from 960 Grid System
Access the 960 Grid System site: http://960.gs/ and download their 960 Grid System Templates by pressing the ‘Big ol’ Download Button’. This will start the download of a comprehensive folder by Nathan Smith with 960 Grid System templates and plug-ins for Photoshop, DreamWeaver and many other programs.
In template>Photoshop open the 960_grid_12_col template
Save the file under a new name and in your class folder.
Make sure the guides are visible (Command+; or Ctrl+;)
Add horizontal guides (View>New Guide) at 245px, 255px, 265px, 500px, 510px, 520px, 755px, 765px, 775px and 1010px. Lock your guides (View>Lock Guides or Alt+Ctrl+;) These guides will make it easier to arrange your content and to allow for 10px margins.
Setting the grid up.
Use the M (Rectangular Marquee) Tool to create spaces for a banner, text content, image content and a menu. Fill the spaces with colour (Shift+F5). Place each on individual layers. Name the layers (banner, text content, etc)
Place images (File>Place). Make sure that they are located on top of the layers with the colourboxes.
Create Clipping Masks: make sure the banner image sits on top of the banner layer (with the colour space). Have only the layer with the image selected and right click on the active layer (beside the name of the layer) and click on Create Clipping Mask. Your image should take on the dimensions of the layer below. – Alternatively you could use the short cut Ctrl+Alt+G (Cmd+Alt+G).
Concept for Gallery Screenshot
The 960_grid_12_col template is based on 12 columns. You can then place your text and images over 1, 2, 3 or more columns. The grid system allows you to organise your website in a visually pleasing way.
Pink Ribbon Day – Swiss International Style Reference – by Hwan Rochanabuddhi
Custom Shapes and Custom Shape Icon
The underlined text and insertion point at end of the word indicates that you are still in the type mode.
Study – Lines and Grace Kelly – by Federico Viola photo: courtesy of GettingCheeky.com and curved lines wallpaper: courtesy of FreeFever.com
Using the Reflect tool (o) to reflect the i downwards as if it has collapsed in front.
The concept was used on the German side as well with this ‘Auch du sollst beitreten zur Reichswehr’ [You too should join the German Army], design by Julius Engelhard, Image: courtesy of mental_floss
Massive Attack – The Essential Mix
Leonardo’s St. John the Baptist, Louvre, Paris, Image: courtesy of A World History of Art – www.all-art.org
Illustration by Kate Miller, found on DzineBlog.com
Photo by mcconnors on morgueFile
Contemporary design in style of Construcitvism by Teo Brito found at LauraGreen92 – click image for more information and link to her blog
Geese in Ameland, Photo by Frans Schouwenburg
Photo by hotblack on morgueFile.com
Milk Poster – Swiss International Style Reference – by Annabel Stephen Salip
Table of Content from Textbook – This design lends itself to an interactive use – found at: Smashing Magazine (click image for inspiring article on table of content design)
The grass layer has been turned into a clipping mask with the shape of the rabbit below.
Close-up at Fed Square, Federico Viola 2013
Based on photo by dhester from morgueFile.com
Illustration by Tavis Coburn found on DzineBlog.com
Text and Shapes – This design lends itself to an interactive use – found at: Smashing Magazine (click image for inspiring article on table of content design)
Michael Pointing in GTA V – Courtesy of Rockstar
“Step into my office” Source: The Age, click image for link
Vista Lighting Effect – Courtesy of: Tutorial9
Text and Shapes – This design lends itself to an interactive use – found at: Klafferty.com
Britons, Lord Kitchener Wants You! Propaganda poster design from WWI by Alfred Leere. Image: courtesy of WorldWarEra.com
Good Morning! Photo: wallyir, from: morgueFile.com
I Want You – Emily Strange, The lovable Emily Strange came to life in 1991, designed by Nathan Carrico for Santa Cruz Skateboards. She is referred to as a counterculture icon. I would just call her a sceptic. Image found at: Kollectable Kaos
From ‘Henri’s Walk to Paris’ 1962 – children’s book by Saul Bass Found at: Brainpickings.org
Light Streaks – Courtesy of: PhotoshopEssentials
Courtesy of The Art of Mass Effect Universe’, 2012
Only practice will help you learn! Photo by BreonWarwick on morgueFile
Illustrator unknown – found at: Ephemera – World of Rare Books
Photo by matthewbridges on morgueFile.com
Illustration: Tavis Coburn – Illustration for for an article predicting trends in Apple’s mobile strategy. Found on: TavisCoburn.com
Screenshot of Endless Alphabet 2, courtesy of AppsPlayground.com
Constructivism Reference – by Lylah Livingston
Luminescent Lines – Courtesy of: PSDLearning
Setting the grid up.
Photo by agathabrown on morgueFile
Illustration by Jessie Ford, found on DzineBlog.com
Peace- Swiss International Style Reference – by Maryam Chananeh
Jenga, photo courtesy of: Design-Crit.com
Multimedia Production Cycle – This image is under the Creative Common Agreement, you can use it but will need to reference this site: www.classoffederico.wordpress.com
Illustration: Jamie McKelvie – Suburban Glamour Comic Series
Italian movie poster found on Abduzeedo.com
Vertical lines of a dark fence, image courtesy of p.ic – Photo Internet Collection – www.photoic.wordpress.com, photographer: Federico Viola
Photo by clarita on morgueFile
Image source: Data Center Knowledge
Grassy Rabbits
Colourful Table of Content – Ribbons in Primary Colours – found at: LifeBlue.com
Mosaic of Sofia Coppola – by Maurizio Galimberti – www.mauriziogalimberti.it
Photo Montage by SGlider12 on Webdesign.org – Click image for great Gimp tutorial
Examples of Output and Display for web-content. Image: live.surveyshack.com
What Time is it Now? by King_Bobbles
Photo by omdur on morgueFile
Couple found at http://frenchbydesign.blogspot.com.au
Poppies – Vector art Federico Viola based on photo by hotblack from morgueFile
The Face by drfranken found on ChromoArt.de
Image Source: www.photoshopessentials.com
Photo by dharder on morgueFiles.com
Fruity Design – This is great for a menu, very appetizing thumbnails – found at: WeddingPhotography.com
Illustration by Gary Neill found on P.A.P.-Blog – http://garyneill.com/ http://garyneill.tumblr.com/
Steel Curves, Image: courtesy of flickr.com, photographer: Margeois.
Swiss travel poster from 1934 by Herbert Matter – Source: http://swisstype.wordpress.com/work/
Swiss International Style – Joseph Müller-Brockmann – Beethoven – found at www.designhistory.com
Study – Lines and Grace Kelly – by Federico Viola photo: courtesy of GettingCheeky.com and curved lines wallpaper: courtesy of FreeFever.com
Based on photo by xandert found on morgueFile
The Glossy Reflection is transparent on top and gets whiter towards the bottom.
A Beautiful Piece by Aerosol found on his Facebook
ruthworkx -http://ruthworkx.files.wordpress.com
Based on photo by hotblack from morgueFile.com
Lines and Gradients- Courtesy of: psdtuts+
The calming effect of horizontal lines, image: courtesy of flickr.com, Photographer: jaikdean
Some of us have there most enjoyable moments in nature at the beach, Photo by rivediamoci on morgueFiles
The swirls in the image are made up of numerous lines. Courtesy of: www.openprocessing.org
Source: morgueFile, Photo by matei
Image from morgueFile by lemai13
Outlined text changed in size and colours dropped into the individual letters with Eyedropper tool using LMB + Alt
Work by Egon Schiele, found at Mom.org
Photo by DTL on morgueFiles
Concept for Gallery Screnshot
Based on image by hotblack on morgueFile.com – F.Viola
Work by Justin Anderson
Your Lipstick Needs You, an entertaining take by Digital Media Artist Samantha Cain. Courtesy of: Samantha Cain, http://www.behance.net/samanthacain
Uncle Sam Wants You, WWI Propaganda Poster for US Army recruits, Design by James Montgomery Flagg, 1916, image found at: Live Auctioneers
Photo by ariadna on morgueFile
Based on a photo by delboysafa from morgueFile.com
‘For Great Road Trips: Switzerland’ Poster by Herbert Matter in (Swiss) International Style – Source: http://swisstype.wordpress.com/work/
Screenshot – 82 Everyone is a Marketer by Seth Godin from What’s Your Story by Joyce Hostyn
Illustration by Gary Neill found on Dzineblog.com – http://garyneill.com/ http://garyneill.tumblr.com/
Found at Inc.com
Photo by mconnors on morgueFile
Photo by frenchbyte on morgueFile
This is a template for a business website found at TemplateMonster. It is interesting in the sense that it breaks up the main image as part of the navigation. The sound it comes with is annoying.
Illustration by Jessie Ford, found on DzineBlog.com
Example of applied changes
Work by Jo W
Text-based Table of Content – Very Graphic and Black and White- found at: Smashing Magazine (click image for inspiring article on table of content design)
Colours, Numbers and Boxes – very happy and alive, personally I do not like the distortion of the word content – found at: Flickr
Photo by Seemann on morgueFile.com
Courtesy of The Art of Mass Effect Universe’, 2012
He loves OHS! – Photo by Karpati Gabor on morgueFile
Photo by clarita on www.morguefile.com
Typographic with Colours and Photos – The use of large numbers is effective and the low opacity of the boxes works, personally, I find it looks a bit dated- found at: JuxtaPost.com
Photomontage: Amir Ebrahim Photography
The gentle curve of the river and the light green tones of the grass give this image a calming feel. The montains and the clouds have a less calming effect. Image: courtesy of Icon Photography School – http://www.photographyicon.com/line/
Free Transform and Ctrl – I am loving it!!!
Finding the Right Candidate for a Job… – Photo AdamRiley from www.projectnoah.org
From ‘Henri’s Walk to Paris’ 1962 – children’s book by Saul Bass Found at: Brainpickings.org
Screenshot from What’s Your Story by Joyce Hostyn
Experimental Photomontage by Robert Heinecken
Layers in Photoshop are like a Collage of images stuck on top of each other…