Core Values Website

Core Values Website

The assigned task for this section was to create a website that portrays a core value of my being. Friendly and easily approachable was chosen as the focus on the design. 

Core Values

The core value I tried to express in this webpage is a feeling of easy going friendly sort of person to approach.

Grid

The grid used on the webpage is a 5x6 setup (5 columns and 6 rows)
Helps to organised the main page and to give it that simplistic feel. Also that professionalism look is also achieved. Fun while being professional.

Typography: Style Message

The typography used regarding style is to give the message while fun still a professional at creating websites.
The message "I like to build things. Forts, Sandcastles, Websites" ties in the image used in the background that its all about creating something wonderful whether that is Snow or Code.

Typography: Body Text/Information

Straight to the point information using Calibri face type. Relating back to the core value friendly and easy going.

Colour

The colour scheme used was mainly yellow with different shades of lilac/purple.
This approach was used to create a simplistic feel hoping to translate the task asked of the website builder is not a difficult assignment.

Imagery

Using a basic background image as the main image is used to create a simplistic feel.
The image of a snow fort being created relates to the fact that the website is advertising its skills to build websites. Friendly to do business considering the image is a picture of the owner with his brother.
The background image will be coded in a fixed position so when scrolling down the page the images does not scroll.

Future expansions

If given enough time the webpage will load with blocks falling from the to (Like Tetris) containing images of construction (Sandcastles, Lego building, Minecraft).

The Grid

Grid Vs Non Grid websites

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The following two websites I have chosen to analyse for Grid work are as follows

http://www.bbc.co.uk - Using a strict Grid system

http://www.willitblend.com/ - No real Grid used

The BBC Website

The BBC website is an information website. The main homepage has the latest headlines from its News part as well as other snippets.

• Is there a discernible Grid?

The BBC website is focused on using grids to display its content. Looking at the website I can see they use some mathematical formula strict grid system. This style is generally used across most of the news websites.

• Is all work contained within the grid?

Judging from the view of the website, everything on there is placed in a grid format and is not out of place/overlapping outside of the Grid area.

• Do any of the elements break out of the grid?

Again looking at the BBC Homepage there seems to be no delinquent element that offends the mathematical formula of a grid system. 

• If the elements break out which ones?

No element seems to be escaping the grid rules and everyone of those elements are in place where they should be.

• How do you think this effects the overall design? 

The effect of the overal design using a Grid based system is like Law and Order and no school drop outs to be seen. The website is given a professional look meaning the visitor will take the content seriously.

Will It Blend Website

"Will It Blend" is a website that advertises a powerful blender and contains demonstration videos that show how (awesome) strong their product is.

• Is there a discernible Grid?

Looking over the home page I see no mathematical grid being used and is just a regular non gridded website to me.

• Is all work contained within the grid?

With no strict grid in place elements are lot lining up with the contents adjacent to it. 

• Do any of the elements break out of the grid?

On this website Law and Order is out the window with wild elements doing what they want and will not conform the the long arm of the law.

• If the elements break out which ones?

The question should be which elements are staying in line! By the look of this site the elements are just willy nilliy added underneath the current content with no thought of a grid being used.

• How do you think this effects the overall design? 

The website is designed to be entertaining so not using a grid system seems to give the appearance that this site is designed to be relaxing and fun to look through. I am sure eventually they would want the visitor to buy their product after seeing the Blentek Blender in use :) 

Branding - Massachusetts Institute Of Technology

The website I have chosen to analyse is this Massachusetts Institute Of Technology.

Website: http://mit.edu/

Strong Tone Of Voice

On first inspection of the MIT website, it comes across as a fashion website due to the image in the center. The image in the center was in fact showing today's spotlight which was Spring Arts at the MIT.

The tone of voice I get from this website is professionalism. Serious about education and not a Micky Mouse project.

I get a sense of a strong tone of voice for this brand as the brand this website is trying to give out is high education standards at the MIT.

What is that Tone of Voice

The strong tone of vice is the professional look and the use of colour and structure with the focus being the center of the page. In this case its a picture of a woman looking sophisticated advertising Arts.

Elements Helping

The elements used on this website to give the brand a strong tone of voice are the use of colors effectively and spacing out the content for easy reading. Giving that crisp professionalism intrigues the visitor to find out more about this Institute. The Use of a rotating background quickly informs the user what this website is about and gives focus on the branding as being a professional institute for learning.

Analysis of:

Colour - The use of colours on the website works out and is pleasing to the eye. A consistent colour scheme ensures the branding is successful.

Layout - The layout of the elements is evenly spaced with the use of white space.

Content - The content is placed around the page leaving the center the focus for the advertising of the course of the day. For the purpose of branding having content evenly spaced in a consistent manner keeps the brand recognizable.

Imagery - The only image used on this website are the Logo in the top left and the main image that is the background. For branding purposes the logo in the corner is consistent keeping the branding image the user is used to.

Typography - The font used on this website is Arial which is a well used font type used on professionalism. Using a consistent font keeps the branding in focus.

Interactivity - ????

On further inspection browsing different pages of the MIT website there were some inconsistencies with the layout and colour scheme but only a select few. Most of the pages were of consistent design.

The OLIN Studio

OLIN
http://www.theolinstudio.com/flash#/profile/people

Laurie D. Olin

After analyzing this profile on the OLIN website, the main focus I first noticed was the profile photo used. The photo comes across as someone who is confident in what they do.

One of the tactics used is a lot of white open space is used so the focus is on the profile of Laurie D. Olin.

From my own personal point of view the hierarchy of information is first the photo then  Laurie's details and finally a description to the left of his photo.

The layout of information on this page has come across successful as its not confusing to the visitor as its broken down into the simple elements of Name, Photo and Description.

IMDB

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Tom Hanks Profile

The Internet Movie Database has information of Actor's, Film's and other related information.

The page I have chosen is Tom Hanks profile.

The hierarchy of information on his profile is laid out making it easy to assimilate the information.
The first item noticeable is the profile photo of Tom Hanks to the top-left of the screen. His name it next to this photo which is the second most piece of information. A brief description is under his name which is the third noticeable piece of information.

The profile is laid out in a grid with white space in between the items making it easy on the eyes and not tire from analyzing the page.

The tactics used has been successful as the information is laid out for easy access to the information the reader wishes to retrieve.

Cork Institute of Technology

http://www.cit.ie/

Cork Institute of Technology

The home page to the CIT website.

The arrangement of information is cleverly well done as its smooth and easy to assimilate.
The first thing you notice on this website is the announcements the cycle through to attracted the user to select one of the links. This would be the main focus of the website.

The way the website is laid it helps the user navigate the many links available to them.
From my personal view of the website I do not grow tired of reading through the options as its briken up into sections and can quickly adapt to where to click.

The CIT website has successfully used the many tactics to keep the visitor interested in navigating around the website and even sign up for one of the many courses available to potential students.

Personality of Fonts used on websites

Mark Boulton

http://www.markboulton.co.uk/

The font used on this website is Georgia. The first thing I notice about the font used is that it is nice clear to read. Mark's personality that comes through with this font is clear and professional. According to the font used the target market is for professionals and not some kind of joke website.
The fonts don't appeal to me to hire Mark as he could have used a more exciting font to show an easier going kind of guy.

We Love the Web

http://carsonified.com/

The font used on this website gives the feeling of fun and excitement. The personality I get from this website is someone who is easy going and knows how to have fun while being professional.
The target market are for those who like to be creative with their font skills.
I find this website's font appealing as it comes across exciting and fun to be around.

Ebay

http://www.ebay.ie/

The fonts used on ebay gives the personality of someone professional with clear easy to read fonts. The target market for this website is aimed at all ages who wish to sell their stuff. Using simple fonts stops/reduces confusion for those who visits the website first time.

The fonts do well for me as its easy to read and feels friendly to visit.

Free Elective

This is the first test post