Thursday, March 10, 2011
Week 7 Reading
The iSO technology provides unique features for their users such as multitasking, printing, and VoiceOver. To create an application (app), it is vital for the builders to understands every detail, even the artwork, icons, images, buttons; to work with the iSO system well together. The dimension for each Apple devices may vary, so it is to watch out the sizes of what the app is designing for, also making it work on every devices. For iPhone and iPod touch, the home screen can be display in one orientation only. So if one is designing an app for these devices, he or she has to keep the orientation portrait. It won’t matter for iPad when it works on both portrait and landscape.
It is also vital to understand all types of gesture that Apple users will perform when they use the devices. They are tap, drag, flick, swipe, double tap, pinch open, pinch close, touch and hold and shake. So for one to understand those gestures well, they can design app to work with those gestures.
There are two types of software that run in iOS, which are iOS apps and web content. The instructions also provides some guidelines for builders to be aware of when they design the app, first is to create all a list that includes all the features that one thinks the users might like; targets the audiences; the filter the features through the audience definition; and keep the cycle going.
There are certainly a lot of things to consider when we build an app, the instructions are certainly helpful for us who had never build an app before. It is difficult for us to combine the functions and the look together, sometimes you want an appeal display then you have to forgo some functions. I will say it is a good lesson for us to learn how to balance in between.
* iPhone app design mistakes
* iPhone app design mistakes
Week 8 reading
In chapter 12 the author gives a detail explanations of not asking the users too much information, especially personal data, just get what you really need for the task. If one force the users to give out a lot of information, it is what might happen: they will give out fake information; you will get fewer complete information in return; and more importantly, it made you look bad. Instead, what one ought to do is to: only make the users provide what you really need to use; do not give out too many options; and show the users something in exchange for what they gave out.
Over whelming graphics and sound effect site does not work well on any kind of websites, except entertainment sites, pure branding sites, and portfolio sites for web developers. Other than those on the list, sizzle effects, crazy graphics would not work do well on the other sites. It is more important in terms of function that “looking good” on a site sometimes when it is for people to get things done on there. If a site contains sizzle graphics and it takes a long time to load up, it will probably not provide an excellent experience to the users.
The author however, is not asking us never to do those things when we practice. It is to depend on what we are working on, when we are sure of what we are doing and always test it before it launches.
I enjoy reading the letters of this chapter since I can certainly learn a lot from the author. It is also helpful to imagine yourself using the site when you build it, how would you feel if that problem occurs to you. It is also vital to get feedback form everyone else because sometimes you would get lost in your own work.
* Selling the steak, not the sizzle
* How much information is reasonable?
* Do not ask for too much sign up data
* How much information should you ask?
* Selling the steak, not the sizzle
* How much information is reasonable?
* Do not ask for too much sign up data
* How much information should you ask?
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
iPhone App project statement
Project Statement
Background
A leading smartphone app company wants to develop a clothing application for use on the iPhone. The application should allow users to search for clothes using photos taken from their camera. This will appeal to people on the go who see an article of clothing that they like and are interested in getting product information about it. The user snaps a picture of the item, and uses the clothing application to find prices and store locations.
Target Audiences
The application will be specifically designed around women ages 15-25, but the application will appeal to a larger range of people and will likely be used by both genders. The application will also appeal to:
- People who like unique applications
- People who like fashion and clothes
Objectives
- Create a useful and successful clothing application
- Out-sell other applications in its genre
- Flexible enough to be adapted for use on Android phones
Obstacles
Application should conform to Apple’s iPhone standards. This includes using the set iPhone dimensions along with incorporating the iPhone’s UI elements. People may be hesitant about buy an application when so many can be downloaded for free.
Key Benefit
The user will love using the application and will leave a positive review recommending it and rating it highly.
Tone
The application will be fashionable, cute, and fun.
Media
- iPhone
- iPod Touch
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Week 6 Reading
Goodwill
When it comes to practicing a website, it is all about goodwill, as if maintaining a user-friendly site for the users. At the beginning of the chapter, the author told a story of his own to bring out the problem of most of the existing websites. They hide the information that users want to see; to avoid troubles. It is however, making the users frustrated and lower the likeliness to continue using the website later on. If most of the users come to one site to do some specific tasks, the web builders should make those tasks easy to access so one can go through them right away. After all, it is for the users to use the website the way that benefit them, and it keeps the web site running.
In the chapter after, when most of the people thinking they had created a website useful for everyone, they have to make sure it is assessable. That is, to make the site easy to use for people with disability as well. There should be a lot of tools helping disable people to use the site better on the page, for example, blind people has to go through all of the lines on the page and listen to find some keywords that would probably lead to what they are looking for. To make that step easier, the web builder should put a link on top of each page "skip to main content" so that person can save a lot of time of listening irrelevant contents. If a website is already confusing for the average users, then what about the people with disabilities? One shocking number that the author suggested is that 65% of the population has a disability, so the web designer and developer should not ignore that large portion of people. They might have money to spend and it is the law to benefit them. It is the right thing to do after all, just a bit more effort then they could make life easier for people. I believe there is nothing wrong with that.
Chapter 11 is really inspiring, most of us, average people might not notice how people with disability live their daily life. Some tasks that seem easy for us may take them a much longer time to complete it.
Just as when we are using the computer, it is really easy for us to scan through the whole page and look for the content we want, but for blind people, they have to turn up their speakers, listening closely to each word on the page to find something. With the advanced technology today, I believe it is easier to create assessable website for everyone than a few years ago. When I build a website, I must keep in mind that the users include people with disability as well.
* Designing Accessible Websites
* Accessible and Attractive Websites
* How to maintain accessible Websites
* 50 tips to build user friendly sites
* 50 Beautiful and user friendly navigation menus
When it comes to practicing a website, it is all about goodwill, as if maintaining a user-friendly site for the users. At the beginning of the chapter, the author told a story of his own to bring out the problem of most of the existing websites. They hide the information that users want to see; to avoid troubles. It is however, making the users frustrated and lower the likeliness to continue using the website later on. If most of the users come to one site to do some specific tasks, the web builders should make those tasks easy to access so one can go through them right away. After all, it is for the users to use the website the way that benefit them, and it keeps the web site running.
In the chapter after, when most of the people thinking they had created a website useful for everyone, they have to make sure it is assessable. That is, to make the site easy to use for people with disability as well. There should be a lot of tools helping disable people to use the site better on the page, for example, blind people has to go through all of the lines on the page and listen to find some keywords that would probably lead to what they are looking for. To make that step easier, the web builder should put a link on top of each page "skip to main content" so that person can save a lot of time of listening irrelevant contents. If a website is already confusing for the average users, then what about the people with disabilities? One shocking number that the author suggested is that 65% of the population has a disability, so the web designer and developer should not ignore that large portion of people. They might have money to spend and it is the law to benefit them. It is the right thing to do after all, just a bit more effort then they could make life easier for people. I believe there is nothing wrong with that.
Chapter 11 is really inspiring, most of us, average people might not notice how people with disability live their daily life. Some tasks that seem easy for us may take them a much longer time to complete it.
Just as when we are using the computer, it is really easy for us to scan through the whole page and look for the content we want, but for blind people, they have to turn up their speakers, listening closely to each word on the page to find something. With the advanced technology today, I believe it is easier to create assessable website for everyone than a few years ago. When I build a website, I must keep in mind that the users include people with disability as well.
* Designing Accessible Websites
* Accessible and Attractive Websites
* How to maintain accessible Websites
* 50 tips to build user friendly sites
* 50 Beautiful and user friendly navigation menus
Homepage for Classic Closet.
I want to add in a bit of high end fashion touch and yet funky looking/ style into the new Classic Closet page, I hope this homepage can help you imagine.
For the logo (on the top right handside of the web page), instead of using the hand drawn logo,
I recreate one on the computer that hopefully will be matching up the style a bit more.
The close ups of the logos are placed underneath the web page image.
For the logo (on the top right handside of the web page), instead of using the hand drawn logo,
I recreate one on the computer that hopefully will be matching up the style a bit more.
The close ups of the logos are placed underneath the web page image.
Hand drawn Logo
Computer rendered logo
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Sketches for Classic Closet webpage redesign (e-commerce site)
Sketches for web page
Sketches for Logo design
Wek 5 Reading
Chapter 8 indicates the difficulties to have a conclusion when professionals from different fields are working together. Each person has a strong belief in what they think it would work, therefore it is very hard to have a compromise. Given an example of a designer and a developer, if one asks them to build a website, the designer would pay attention on graphic details and design of course; and the developer would focus on functionality. It is because everyone tends to think others would like what they like, they think everyone else are just like them. Therefore the author suggested to let the people outside the team to test out the site, to see what the web users really want from the site. In chapter 9, the author suggested a lot of details on having a usability test. He claimed that there are an expensive way or a much cheaper way to commit the test; just depend on the company's need. In stead of hiring professional people to attend the test, he said, everyone that is a web user should be able to do the test perfectly. All they need is someone that would use the internet, it could be anyone. Moreover, the author suggested to do the test one morning once a month; the earlier the better( in terms of the website development process). The team should have a small meeting after the test the same day at lunch, so that everyone can come up with some problems and how to fix them.
Chapter 9 is an interesting chapter, it is all about how to cut cost and still do things professionally. It could be helping the small company a lot on saving cost, doing things easily and effectively. After reading the chapter, I realize how important it is to conduct a usability test because when we are the builders, the website seem to make sense to us in every way. Yet when the users test it out, loads of problem could be found. When we get too used to the project we are working on everyday, we cannot find any problems on it anymore, it is when the test come into place.
* seven common usability testing mistakes
* 8 guidelines of usability testing
* Usability 101
* Website usability tips
Chapter 9 is an interesting chapter, it is all about how to cut cost and still do things professionally. It could be helping the small company a lot on saving cost, doing things easily and effectively. After reading the chapter, I realize how important it is to conduct a usability test because when we are the builders, the website seem to make sense to us in every way. Yet when the users test it out, loads of problem could be found. When we get too used to the project we are working on everyday, we cannot find any problems on it anymore, it is when the test come into place.
* seven common usability testing mistakes
* 8 guidelines of usability testing
* Usability 101
* Website usability tips
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
for E-commerce site redesign (project 2):
Classiccloset.com has a wide selection of vintage clothing that are retro inspired and from a woman named Niki’s closet. There are many items needed for an ensemble and even ensembles put together on the site. Niki chose items for her website with after being prompter by her husband to decrease the massive closet size she had built up over time. Pieces from her husband’s collection were also collected and are in the category Men’s Department. The look of the page is simply organized with no landing page. Clothes are immediately viewable on the homepage. A consistent navigation is available in the form of a strange retro tweedish cheetah print purple pink and black texturized diagonal rain pattern. The text and graphic of the website takes on a patriotic theme in color red blue and white. A declaration of independence typeface is used for the "classic" while a bauhaus typeface is used for the "closet". Topped off with an outerglow effect! The most effective piece of the header are the retro hippie flowers in orange and yellow. Although poorly placed, the can be worked with and reformatted to make a nice statement for the site. That speaks to the identity of the site with color shape and style. The sans serif type face used for the rest of the page is simple. Possibly a little large in the body text and not differentiated well enough for the rest of the page. A little contrast in body type would be nice. This would help the navigation of the page.
A summary on a landing page of the categories made available to the shopper will be created. Instead of reading through a poorly differentiated list of items categories. A broader sweep of items will be made. A grid system will be more defined for the clothes pages by creating container shapes to define separate elements of the page. A new header space will be created including more cohesive typestyles for all parts of the site. Also, a large color change will take place. The black body currently dominating the page will be made funkier and more vintage-esque without competing with the pieces on the site. The container shapes will help define the pieces. Category text will have a character color and feel that separates them from the body text on the page.
Week 4 Reading
Building a homepage for a website is certainly not an easy task. Chapter 7 concentrate on how to create a close-to-perfect homepage, using clear directions for the users like search box, welcome blurb, tag line, and the organization of the details. Each elements takes an important in terms of the design, helping to give the users an idea of how to use the website wisely. For example, creating a tag line, to provide a brief explanation of the website place next to the logo on top; is not the same as a motto, it is to give the user a brief idea what the website is basically about. The author also suggest the web builder to show the website to someone outside the team so that person can see what is missing when no one in the team would be able to; in that way, it could make the website easier to use for everyone. He also suggested the website should contain clear information about what it does (purposes of the site); how can one get started(navigation) ; what can one find on there (content) ; and why should they go on there ( differentiation). Again, the homepage should not carry way too much information to confuse the user, instead, it should gives a clear direction to the user whether they want to browse, search, or surf to get started. At the end of the chapter, the author redesign 2 existing homepages on how to send a clear message to users and also better organizations.
I found this chapter very useful on behalf on the coming project, I did not realize that there are so many thoughts behind a homepage design. Now after reading this, I have a better understanding of building basic web pages, and how can I build things to help people use the site easier. The design or outlook is vital, but it is more important to create a user-friendly page. If one find it benefits them, it is more likely for them to come back and visit in the future. This book focus a lot on the details, it certainly helps me a lot on understanding how to build/create a basic e-commerce website.
* Building a homepage
* Tag line
* How to write a welcome blurb
I found this chapter very useful on behalf on the coming project, I did not realize that there are so many thoughts behind a homepage design. Now after reading this, I have a better understanding of building basic web pages, and how can I build things to help people use the site easier. The design or outlook is vital, but it is more important to create a user-friendly page. If one find it benefits them, it is more likely for them to come back and visit in the future. This book focus a lot on the details, it certainly helps me a lot on understanding how to build/create a basic e-commerce website.
* Building a homepage
* Tag line
* How to write a welcome blurb
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Selections of e-commerce websites for redesigning
http://www.johnlewis.com/Shops/DSTemplate.aspx?Id=334
http://www.littlecaesarsstuff.com/
http://www.msy.com.au/
http://www.lingscars.com/
http://www.webwizz.net/home%20Page.html
http://www.arngren.net/
http://shopgoodwill.com
www.merch.com
www.classiccloset.com
www.shirthunt.com
jaccofashion.com/store
http://www.littlecaesarsstuff.com/
http://www.msy.com.au/
http://www.lingscars.com/
http://www.webwizz.net/home%20Page.html
http://www.arngren.net/
http://shopgoodwill.com
www.merch.com
www.classiccloset.com
www.shirthunt.com
jaccofashion.com/store
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Week 2 Reading
Again, similar to the previous chapters, chapter 3 to 6 are concentrating on several principles that how can we all build a better website. We should arrange things so that it is easy for users to see and tell what is more important and so on; and to eliminate useless information, in other words, give a direct message. Most websites like to give a "happy talk", even the websites today contains a lot of useless words that are just wasting the space of the page and the user's time reading them. I found it very interesting how the author can erase half then another half of the words on a website, then still could make up a direct message using the remaining words. It proves that often we see the long paragraph on the page either to welcome you, or for instruction, does not need to be that long. Sometimes we would be more likely to scan it even skip it, but to cut it down, it would be easier for us all to read it.
The author also emphasis on giving the users a mindless thought on the website, such as what is click-able, or how to find what they are looking for. Most of the time when web users surf on the internet, is to save time, or looking for things in a hurry. No one would want to think twice to make a click on the internet, they want to just go "bang!" and get what they seek for. Overall, it is important for us web builders to understand what web users need and look for, as to design a user-friendly site. It would keep them coming, as they find it easy to preform and helpful.
As we are starting to construct our personal website, I think the book is guiding us what to put on there to attract more users to browse our website. I would stay simple, leaving only important words and information on there and users can find things that they want in just one click!
*Visual Hierarchy
* Keep it Simple, Stupid
*Take Out Useless Words
The author also emphasis on giving the users a mindless thought on the website, such as what is click-able, or how to find what they are looking for. Most of the time when web users surf on the internet, is to save time, or looking for things in a hurry. No one would want to think twice to make a click on the internet, they want to just go "bang!" and get what they seek for. Overall, it is important for us web builders to understand what web users need and look for, as to design a user-friendly site. It would keep them coming, as they find it easy to preform and helpful.
As we are starting to construct our personal website, I think the book is guiding us what to put on there to attract more users to browse our website. I would stay simple, leaving only important words and information on there and users can find things that they want in just one click!
*Visual Hierarchy
* Keep it Simple, Stupid
*Take Out Useless Words
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Week 1 Reading
The book "Don't make me think" states a few essential facts that we have to consider when building or intend to create a website. First, the website has to be self-explanatory, since the web users do not want to think when they are surfing on the web. Second, it should be user friendly, and extremely easy to use, the purpose to use a website is to save time; therefore it should allows web users to scan through to page and get what they want. The better the website work for the web users, the higher the possibility that they will come back and use it again. When we design a website that contains clear directions, recognizable tools, and working fast, when web users finds what they want, they are likely to stick with it. The author restates these few points in the introduction and chapter 1 and 2.
I found this book written in a really interesting that it keeps me reading, just as the information he gives out, it is important to keep your web users keep coming back and stay in your web site. I like how to illustration in the text makes it much easier to understand the whole concept. Sounds simple as it seems, creating a user-friendly website may be a bit of the challenge. We all know how to pick a good website that we like and stick to it, but when it comes to our hand to build one, it may not be as simple as it looks.
After reading the first few chapters, I found out we can view things at different points of view to make things a bit more interesting and understandable. It is always good to absorb information from different points of view to find out whats best. I am getting excited to create my first personal website, ever!
INSPIRING PORTFOLIO SITES ---
* No Days Off
* Jesse Kirsch
* Paul Lee Design
* A Good Company
* Oskar Kron
* Salad Design
* Louis Beaudoin
* Celeste Prevost
I found this book written in a really interesting that it keeps me reading, just as the information he gives out, it is important to keep your web users keep coming back and stay in your web site. I like how to illustration in the text makes it much easier to understand the whole concept. Sounds simple as it seems, creating a user-friendly website may be a bit of the challenge. We all know how to pick a good website that we like and stick to it, but when it comes to our hand to build one, it may not be as simple as it looks.
After reading the first few chapters, I found out we can view things at different points of view to make things a bit more interesting and understandable. It is always good to absorb information from different points of view to find out whats best. I am getting excited to create my first personal website, ever!
INSPIRING PORTFOLIO SITES ---
* No Days Off
* Jesse Kirsch
* Paul Lee Design
* A Good Company
* Oskar Kron
* Salad Design
* Louis Beaudoin
* Celeste Prevost
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sketches!
A rough draft of the website design, I am aiming to make it very "me".
I have struggle picking a theme that I want,
I kind of want to make a bit of everything (since I like a lots of different styles), well, that may not be a good idea after all. Simple and modern looking designs always appeal to me, therefore I am designing it toward that direction.
Friday, January 14, 2011
---Mood Board---
In order to create the mood and style that represents me, I selected a number of images that appeals to me, but more to what is looks like, it helped me explain my personal style other than just words.
i will put all the sources of the images that i used in this moodboard in the next post.
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