Monday, August 2, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Concept Statement Project
Create a list of all users that may visit your site (not from the WWW but those you’d invite).
- Prospective employers: interior design and architectural firms
- Interior designers
- Interior design students
- Friends and family
- Customers
What will each of those users want to see in order to enjoy their visit to your site?
Prospective employers:
- Professionally displayed projects showing the range of my design and concept skills
- Easy to navigate and well-organized web site that reflects my design aesthetic and philosophy
- High quality images
- Well-designed and complete resume
- Contact information (easy to find)
Interior designers:
- A variety of portfolio pieces that show skill, originality, and overall design aesthetic
Interior design students:
- Renderings and drafting methods
- Layout of projects and of the web site itself
Friends and family:
- Projects that display my design sense and growth as a designer
Customers:
- Range of skills and overall design sense
- Examples of real projects
- Contact information
Name your intended audience (the person(s) you need to persuade.)
My intended audiences are prospective employers and customers seeking interior design services.
Describe what you need to inform and persuade them of:
Promote my: design skills (concept, space planning, hand and computer drafting, hand and computer renderings, layouts and graphics), knowledge of different mediums, techniques and computer programs, and my work ethic, creativity, and professionalism.
Goals of the site are: promote who I am as a designer and perhaps even find employment.
My ultimate message/philosophy (about who you are): a focused, creative and highly skilled designer with a strong work ethic.
What is the story you are telling: Through my website I want to promote myself as a talented interior designer with various skills and great design sense. The website needs to reflect my interest in modern, luxurious and sustainable design.
Write a 200 word concept statement based on the user, your persuasion, navigation and the assets.
I was born and raised in France and have always felt a great connection to architecture and art. Growing up in a surrounded by many different cultures and great buildings has given me an appreciation for timeless and lavish design. I am currently a student at the Art Institute of Seattle and will graduate with my Bachelors of Fine Arts in interior design in December 2010.
I have experience with both residential, kitchen and bath, and commercial projects, as well as with sustainable and historical preservation issues. As a designer I love to mix modern elements with luxurious ones, and create elegant environments while emphasizing sustainability through clever space planning and green materials specification. I am often inspired by nature and use space and light to reflect an integration of the interior to its surrounding.
My academic achievements and portfolio are a testament to my work ethic, my ability to follow instructions, and my attention to detail. I am adept at carrying out a variety of design and development projects independently and in a collaborative environment, and can readily conceptualize new and innovative ideas. I am proficient in creating conceptual designs, developing architectural drawings and plans, generating detailed construction plans and specifications, selecting colors and materials, and producing high-quality presentation boards.
This website is a collection of my best design work while attending school and includes sketches, renderings and complete projects.
List the assets you need to persuade the user:
Organized and easy to navigate website
Good colors and lots of contrast
Text has been spell-checked
Use high quality scans and images
Include a resume and contact information
Projects:
I. Residential:
Bathroom project- inspirations, floor plans (CAD), RCPs (CAD), rendered elevations (CAD & Photoshop), perspective renderings (sketch up, podium, & Photoshop), materials and furniture selection.
II. Commercial design studio:
Dance Fusion Ballet Studio: inspirations and sketches, floor plans (CAD), RCPs (CAD), interior elevations and sections (CAD & Photoshop), details (CAD), perspective renderings (sketch up and hand rendered), materials and furniture selection.
III. Sustainable design studio:
Fremont community health clinic: inspirations and sketches, floor plans (CAD), RCPs (CAD), interior elevations and sections (CAD & Photoshop), details (CAD), perspective renderings (sketch up and hand rendered), materials and furniture selection, sustainable strategies.
IV. Global perspectives:
Alice Spring Community Center: inspirations and sketches, floor plans (CAD), RCPs (CAD), interior elevations (CAD & Photoshop), exterior elevations (CAD), interior and exterior perspective renderings (sketch up, podium and Photoshop), materials and furniture selection.
V. Hand drafting (architectural drawings):
Drafting 3: floor plans, interior elevations, details, and finish schedules.
VI. Renderings
Hand & computer renderings
VII. Model making
Pictures of model (and process)
Pictures of the Seattle Architecture Foundation’s Annual Architecture Model Exhibit (Fall 2008) where modeled was chosen to be displayed.
VIII. Real projects (next quarter)
Studio Cayenne: floor plans (CAD), interior elevations (CAD), perspective (sketch up), materials and furniture selection, before and after pictures.
IX. My cakes (different aspect of my personality and creativity)
Pictures of cakes, cupcakes and pastries I have baked
- Prospective employers: interior design and architectural firms
- Interior designers
- Interior design students
- Friends and family
- Customers
What will each of those users want to see in order to enjoy their visit to your site?
Prospective employers:
- Professionally displayed projects showing the range of my design and concept skills
- Easy to navigate and well-organized web site that reflects my design aesthetic and philosophy
- High quality images
- Well-designed and complete resume
- Contact information (easy to find)
Interior designers:
- A variety of portfolio pieces that show skill, originality, and overall design aesthetic
Interior design students:
- Renderings and drafting methods
- Layout of projects and of the web site itself
Friends and family:
- Projects that display my design sense and growth as a designer
Customers:
- Range of skills and overall design sense
- Examples of real projects
- Contact information
Name your intended audience (the person(s) you need to persuade.)
My intended audiences are prospective employers and customers seeking interior design services.
Describe what you need to inform and persuade them of:
Promote my: design skills (concept, space planning, hand and computer drafting, hand and computer renderings, layouts and graphics), knowledge of different mediums, techniques and computer programs, and my work ethic, creativity, and professionalism.
Goals of the site are: promote who I am as a designer and perhaps even find employment.
My ultimate message/philosophy (about who you are): a focused, creative and highly skilled designer with a strong work ethic.
What is the story you are telling: Through my website I want to promote myself as a talented interior designer with various skills and great design sense. The website needs to reflect my interest in modern, luxurious and sustainable design.
Write a 200 word concept statement based on the user, your persuasion, navigation and the assets.
I was born and raised in France and have always felt a great connection to architecture and art. Growing up in a surrounded by many different cultures and great buildings has given me an appreciation for timeless and lavish design. I am currently a student at the Art Institute of Seattle and will graduate with my Bachelors of Fine Arts in interior design in December 2010.
I have experience with both residential, kitchen and bath, and commercial projects, as well as with sustainable and historical preservation issues. As a designer I love to mix modern elements with luxurious ones, and create elegant environments while emphasizing sustainability through clever space planning and green materials specification. I am often inspired by nature and use space and light to reflect an integration of the interior to its surrounding.
My academic achievements and portfolio are a testament to my work ethic, my ability to follow instructions, and my attention to detail. I am adept at carrying out a variety of design and development projects independently and in a collaborative environment, and can readily conceptualize new and innovative ideas. I am proficient in creating conceptual designs, developing architectural drawings and plans, generating detailed construction plans and specifications, selecting colors and materials, and producing high-quality presentation boards.
This website is a collection of my best design work while attending school and includes sketches, renderings and complete projects.
List the assets you need to persuade the user:
Organized and easy to navigate website
Good colors and lots of contrast
Text has been spell-checked
Use high quality scans and images
Include a resume and contact information
Projects:
I. Residential:
Bathroom project- inspirations, floor plans (CAD), RCPs (CAD), rendered elevations (CAD & Photoshop), perspective renderings (sketch up, podium, & Photoshop), materials and furniture selection.
II. Commercial design studio:
Dance Fusion Ballet Studio: inspirations and sketches, floor plans (CAD), RCPs (CAD), interior elevations and sections (CAD & Photoshop), details (CAD), perspective renderings (sketch up and hand rendered), materials and furniture selection.
III. Sustainable design studio:
Fremont community health clinic: inspirations and sketches, floor plans (CAD), RCPs (CAD), interior elevations and sections (CAD & Photoshop), details (CAD), perspective renderings (sketch up and hand rendered), materials and furniture selection, sustainable strategies.
IV. Global perspectives:
Alice Spring Community Center: inspirations and sketches, floor plans (CAD), RCPs (CAD), interior elevations (CAD & Photoshop), exterior elevations (CAD), interior and exterior perspective renderings (sketch up, podium and Photoshop), materials and furniture selection.
V. Hand drafting (architectural drawings):
Drafting 3: floor plans, interior elevations, details, and finish schedules.
VI. Renderings
Hand & computer renderings
VII. Model making
Pictures of model (and process)
Pictures of the Seattle Architecture Foundation’s Annual Architecture Model Exhibit (Fall 2008) where modeled was chosen to be displayed.
VIII. Real projects (next quarter)
Studio Cayenne: floor plans (CAD), interior elevations (CAD), perspective (sketch up), materials and furniture selection, before and after pictures.
IX. My cakes (different aspect of my personality and creativity)
Pictures of cakes, cupcakes and pastries I have baked
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Good and Bad Website Design
Assignment #1
Good Design features
Text: Make sure the text is the proper size, is easy to read and is not interrupted by background (contrast). Columns of text are narrower than in a book to make reading easier on the screen. If visitors cannot read the text, they will leave the site. The most important information should stand out to show hierarchy of relevance.
Navigation: Site should be easy to navigate and navigation buttons and bars should be easy to locate and use. Navigation needs to be straightforward, consistent and simple throughout the site. A large site needs to have a site map. Make sure the basics of getting to your work, your contact information, and other important parts of your site are simply and easy to use.
Links: Link colors should coordinate with page colors and need to be underlined so they are instantly clear to the visitor. Links should also change color when scrolled over and once they have been visited.
Graphics: Do not use too many graphics. If using graphics make sure they are color coordinated and consistent. Animated graphics need to turn off on their own.
General Design: A good website put the emphasis is put on the work displayed. The site needs to show your best work, and set you apart while addressing the needs and tastes of prospective viewers. The hierarchy of information is perfectly clear and work is categorized
Notes: The most important thing to remember is to make sure to use proper contrast and to stay consistent. Like in interior design, less is more.
Bad Design features
Text: Text that is too small to read, that is crowding against the left edge or that stretches all the way across the page will be hard to read and will make the viewer uncomfortable. Long paragraphs and paragraphs of type in all caps, bolds, italics, or all at once are intimidating and tedious. Do not use underlined text that is not a link.
Navigation: An unsuccessful site used unclear or over complex navigation, with complicated or too many frames, and unnecessary scroll bars in frames. Common mistakes include different types of navigation on the same site, a link to the current page on the current page (home page link on home page), poorly worded links so the visitor doesn't know where he'll go if he clicks, no links back to the home page, and confusing links to the home page.
Links: Default blue links and blue link borders around graphics, links that are not clear about where they will take you, links in body copy that distract readers and lead them off to remote, useless pages. Text links that are not underlined so you don't know they are links and dead link that do not work anymore.
Graphics: Using distracting elements and really bright colors, such animations that do not turn off automatically and blinking objects, including large graphic files that take forever to load, and using meaningless or useless graphics and graphics that don't fit on the screen.
General Design: A bad site is a site that is unclear and cluttered, has a busy or distracting background, lacks contrast, and has no focal point or too many focal points on the page.
Notes: Avoid lack of contrast, clutter and confusion.
Poorly Designed Site
URL of a Poorly Designed Site: http://www.ginasdc.com/
Text: The font chosen is boring, inconsistent (she uses different types, sizes and colors) and hard to read with my glasses and quite impossible without my glasses. Some of the text under the pictures stretched all the way across the page and is extremely small. Some of the pictures did not have any text under them, while some other did. Moreover, the text of the tabs on the front page did not contrast enough with the background and hence was also hard to read.
Navigation: straightforward, but nothing exciting or original about it.
Links: Some words are underlined but are not links (really annoying!).
Graphics: she uses no interesting graphics (but perhaps for the first page). The pictures of her projects are bad quality, obviously amateurish, and cannot be enlarged. The colors chosen are dull and the website does not show much creativity. Some of the pages are almost empty and some have so much text that it is overwhelming.
General Design: the general design of the website is classic, uninteresting and sloppy at times. The text inconsistencies are obvious and make the site hard to look at. The pictures she uses are unflattering and the font choice is poor. Based on the site I would never hire her.
Notes: The purpose of the site is to display the work of an interior designer. It was easy to understand although the first impression of the website is that of a construction store (Home Depot) not that of an interior designer.
Well Designed Site #1
URL of a Well Designed Site: http://www.musadesign.net/
Text: the text is simple, easy to read and very consistent. The font chosen is very elegant while having a great architectural quality to it, shows good thought process, and reflects the work of the firm.
Navigation: the navigation is easy, well organized and quite fun. The text pops out from the side of the pictures when needed. The transitions are fast and consistent. Everything is labeled and planned.
Links: links to different blogs were a different color (red) and hence were easily identifiable.
Graphics: the graphics are very tasteful, dynamic and young, conveying that the firm is energetic and creative. The pictures of the projects are very high resolution and professionally taken. Each picture has information about the location. The picture of the designer is also very beautiful. The simple color choice is contemporary and refined.
General Design: this website is very successful; it displays the work of the firm in a very sophisticated yet modern and interesting way. It’s simple yet eye-catching, lively yet mature and professional yet very fresh. It is easy to navigate, well organized and very pleasing
Notes: the purpose of the website is to show the firm’s projects and publications. It was really easy to determine that this website belonged to an interior design firm.
Well Designed Site #2
URL of a Well Designed Site: http://benhuckerbydesign.co.uk/
Text: the text is simple, easy to read and consistent (bit perhaps on the home page). The font choice is fun and very dynamic, but is the weakest aspect of this well-designed website.
Navigation: transition between tabs is quick, organized and easy. The navigation tab is constant and the tab chosen changes color so the viewer knows where he is at all times. In each tab, sub-tabs appear for easy navigation.
Links: links are easy to identify because they are a different color. Each link is active and takes the viewer to different parts of the website.
Graphics: The graphics are really nice and the website is interactive. The logo of the firm is graphically pleasing and is nicely aligned with the different tabs. The color scheme is modern and playful, and I love the combination of grey with the white font and the touch of purple. The photos of the projects are very high resolution and professionally taken. When the viewer drags the mouth over the pictures the location appears. The pictures of the different firm members were also very fun.
General Design: the overall design of the website is very successful and quite pleasing. The site is inviting and the pictures of the projects are quite sticking. It is very easy to navigate and the color combination and contrast of the text against the background is very pleasant.
Notes: the purpose of the website is to show the British firm’s projects, services and publications. The home page made it very easy to determine that this website belonged to an interior design firm.
Good Design features
Text: Make sure the text is the proper size, is easy to read and is not interrupted by background (contrast). Columns of text are narrower than in a book to make reading easier on the screen. If visitors cannot read the text, they will leave the site. The most important information should stand out to show hierarchy of relevance.
Navigation: Site should be easy to navigate and navigation buttons and bars should be easy to locate and use. Navigation needs to be straightforward, consistent and simple throughout the site. A large site needs to have a site map. Make sure the basics of getting to your work, your contact information, and other important parts of your site are simply and easy to use.
Links: Link colors should coordinate with page colors and need to be underlined so they are instantly clear to the visitor. Links should also change color when scrolled over and once they have been visited.
Graphics: Do not use too many graphics. If using graphics make sure they are color coordinated and consistent. Animated graphics need to turn off on their own.
General Design: A good website put the emphasis is put on the work displayed. The site needs to show your best work, and set you apart while addressing the needs and tastes of prospective viewers. The hierarchy of information is perfectly clear and work is categorized
Notes: The most important thing to remember is to make sure to use proper contrast and to stay consistent. Like in interior design, less is more.
Bad Design features
Text: Text that is too small to read, that is crowding against the left edge or that stretches all the way across the page will be hard to read and will make the viewer uncomfortable. Long paragraphs and paragraphs of type in all caps, bolds, italics, or all at once are intimidating and tedious. Do not use underlined text that is not a link.
Navigation: An unsuccessful site used unclear or over complex navigation, with complicated or too many frames, and unnecessary scroll bars in frames. Common mistakes include different types of navigation on the same site, a link to the current page on the current page (home page link on home page), poorly worded links so the visitor doesn't know where he'll go if he clicks, no links back to the home page, and confusing links to the home page.
Links: Default blue links and blue link borders around graphics, links that are not clear about where they will take you, links in body copy that distract readers and lead them off to remote, useless pages. Text links that are not underlined so you don't know they are links and dead link that do not work anymore.
Graphics: Using distracting elements and really bright colors, such animations that do not turn off automatically and blinking objects, including large graphic files that take forever to load, and using meaningless or useless graphics and graphics that don't fit on the screen.
General Design: A bad site is a site that is unclear and cluttered, has a busy or distracting background, lacks contrast, and has no focal point or too many focal points on the page.
Notes: Avoid lack of contrast, clutter and confusion.
Poorly Designed Site
URL of a Poorly Designed Site: http://www.ginasdc.com/
Text: The font chosen is boring, inconsistent (she uses different types, sizes and colors) and hard to read with my glasses and quite impossible without my glasses. Some of the text under the pictures stretched all the way across the page and is extremely small. Some of the pictures did not have any text under them, while some other did. Moreover, the text of the tabs on the front page did not contrast enough with the background and hence was also hard to read.
Navigation: straightforward, but nothing exciting or original about it.
Links: Some words are underlined but are not links (really annoying!).
Graphics: she uses no interesting graphics (but perhaps for the first page). The pictures of her projects are bad quality, obviously amateurish, and cannot be enlarged. The colors chosen are dull and the website does not show much creativity. Some of the pages are almost empty and some have so much text that it is overwhelming.
General Design: the general design of the website is classic, uninteresting and sloppy at times. The text inconsistencies are obvious and make the site hard to look at. The pictures she uses are unflattering and the font choice is poor. Based on the site I would never hire her.
Notes: The purpose of the site is to display the work of an interior designer. It was easy to understand although the first impression of the website is that of a construction store (Home Depot) not that of an interior designer.
Well Designed Site #1
URL of a Well Designed Site: http://www.musadesign.net/
Text: the text is simple, easy to read and very consistent. The font chosen is very elegant while having a great architectural quality to it, shows good thought process, and reflects the work of the firm.
Navigation: the navigation is easy, well organized and quite fun. The text pops out from the side of the pictures when needed. The transitions are fast and consistent. Everything is labeled and planned.
Links: links to different blogs were a different color (red) and hence were easily identifiable.
Graphics: the graphics are very tasteful, dynamic and young, conveying that the firm is energetic and creative. The pictures of the projects are very high resolution and professionally taken. Each picture has information about the location. The picture of the designer is also very beautiful. The simple color choice is contemporary and refined.
General Design: this website is very successful; it displays the work of the firm in a very sophisticated yet modern and interesting way. It’s simple yet eye-catching, lively yet mature and professional yet very fresh. It is easy to navigate, well organized and very pleasing
Notes: the purpose of the website is to show the firm’s projects and publications. It was really easy to determine that this website belonged to an interior design firm.
Well Designed Site #2
URL of a Well Designed Site: http://benhuckerbydesign.co.uk/
Text: the text is simple, easy to read and consistent (bit perhaps on the home page). The font choice is fun and very dynamic, but is the weakest aspect of this well-designed website.
Navigation: transition between tabs is quick, organized and easy. The navigation tab is constant and the tab chosen changes color so the viewer knows where he is at all times. In each tab, sub-tabs appear for easy navigation.
Links: links are easy to identify because they are a different color. Each link is active and takes the viewer to different parts of the website.
Graphics: The graphics are really nice and the website is interactive. The logo of the firm is graphically pleasing and is nicely aligned with the different tabs. The color scheme is modern and playful, and I love the combination of grey with the white font and the touch of purple. The photos of the projects are very high resolution and professionally taken. When the viewer drags the mouth over the pictures the location appears. The pictures of the different firm members were also very fun.
General Design: the overall design of the website is very successful and quite pleasing. The site is inviting and the pictures of the projects are quite sticking. It is very easy to navigate and the color combination and contrast of the text against the background is very pleasant.
Notes: the purpose of the website is to show the British firm’s projects, services and publications. The home page made it very easy to determine that this website belonged to an interior design firm.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Skills inventory
Name: Fanny Idoux
Department:Interior Design
Are you Graduating this Quarter? No
If not, current graduation date by Quarter/Year: December 2010
Online Social and Professional networks: Facebook
Website URL (if already developed):N/A
What software experience do you have? (explain all that apply)
Photoshop: Proficient
Fireworks: N/A
Illustrator: Proficient
Flash: N/A
Dreamweaver: N/A
HTML: N/A
InDesign:Proficient
Tell what your objective for the class to the best of your knowledge:
Learn iWeb? Why not...
Publish web site? Yes, definitely
Revise and update current site? No, don't have a website.
Begin the process of a professional web presence? Yes
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