WEBSITE

Wednesday, 11 February 2009

Construction

Evaluation

The objective for our project was to produce a website for a specific charity. I decided to choose a charity for performing arts. I chose this because due to my research of charities ( highlighted in research post) there were very few / minimal amount of charities supporting performing arts.I found doing a less popular charity better as there was a wider range of information to give.Whilst constructing my website i found that the video for this website and charity would be significant as many charities such as the NSPCC use the videos to explain and visually capture an audience.I wanted this same affect whilst consisting my video as there would be a closer link with the audience and charity such as that of a professional site.
My Evaluation
Our aim for this media task was to create and produce a website for a specific charity. It was important to capture the aspects of the charity so we could produce a website which replicates an actual charity website.
My media takes elements of web design and features to create a realistic site. I decided to first research and plan on other charities as I thought this was important as this would make my final website easier to access and follow conventions of other websites. I decided to research websites such as the Big Issue as these social organised sites would attract many viewers due to their attractive design and easily accessible pages and navigation throughout. I thought this would help my site as being influenced by these features of other sites would help me produce a realistic site myself for a charity.
After analysing these website closely, I knew what my specific charity would be. After deciding I would choose an organisation within the society about charities to do with performing arts I chose to start my logos. My audience for this charity is aimed at the younger end of society as getting them to be a part of my performing arts group would benefit society.
I decided to attract my audience by making them feel part of the organisation and feel a part of my charity. I have learned from my experience with creating a website that you have to go into a greater depth of planning and research to create a better website. I now know that it is important to create a website with the conventions and elements of other professional websites such as navigation bars and correct info. From the preliminary task I have learned to change my designs to better my overall website design and attraction to others.
Feedback
The website is very good and looks quite professional, and follows most of the key concepts of website design. The analogue colour scheme goes well. The navigation bar looks very good. what could be improved is the vast amount of white space could have been utilised better, and also the animation graphic in the corner could be improved to look more professional.
start from bottom to top*
Website p.4 - My final website

After creating my designs and creating my website i finally published the finished product.There could be some minor improvements but i believe it went well, to read about what i have done view my evaluation above as this shows my positive and negative parts of the website and project.

Below are some screen shots of my finished website, page by page - which i believe showed key concepts of web design

home page -

This worked well as i believe i used several key features within my home page.I tried to capture these throughout my website to overall i could produce a more professional website with a great knowledge of understanding and professionalism.

My about page -

This page worked well for my website as i included a video as well to create a greater sense that it was a charity website.I also included again key features of web design to create a realistic web page such as the nav bar and layout.This overall created a consistent layout which created a professional website.

Donate page -

My donate page differs from the others with content.I used a functional paypal webpage to donatae. This feature benefitted my overal website as it helped again become more professional as it works well.This Donate feature is also used due to when i researched and planned i realised many other websites included a donate page for their charity.I found it important to keep my individuality on my website features of colour and layout but found the donate feature important as it was an important aspect of the charity.

My contact page -

My about page again showed key aspects of web design and with the use of google earth created more depth to my chosen charity as there was more information such as contact details and address with location.The use of google earth as viewed above creates more realism as my actual charity has a British location.These key features created an overal better website as it was therefore more realistic of that of a real charity website.

Website p.3- After creating my logo , marquee, a nav buttons on my website i decided to create my website video. Below you can seen a screen shot of my video.I uploaded the video and edited it using movie maker. After the finishing of my trailer i decided to include a google earth map. I found this important as then they would find the charity location easily as this replicates a real website.

Website 2 - The second part of my web design was to organize my nav button together and start a clear structure throughout. This could be easily achieved due to the master page as this therefore followed and kept a consistent style to the web design.

How this web design i decided to include a animated marque. I decided to add this as then the information for my website and chosen charity would appear, again giving a greater professional look.

Before Marque* After Marque*- You can view this on my website.

My website

Final Logo
I have decided to create a final logo from my first designs.Here are my first designs

My final logo is on the above.I decided to create a logo which contrasts to the colour, happy logo's. This is due to the seriousness of my charity and how we all need to raise money. Its simplistic image creates a clear view of the charity for Performing Arts.

Other Logo's

I decided that my other logo's weren't good enough due to these reasons.

This logo is just to simplistic.It is clear but shows little insight or trade mark logo towards the charity.

My Third logo also had little relevance and the colour didn't seem positive for my charity.

Here are my nav buttons and extra information on my web site.

After creating myanimated marquee and the nav buttons which i decided to include on the left side of my website. This was done as there would be an easy layout to my website.My next task was to include addictional information to my website. I covered this information across all my pages to express realism as i earlier( in my research and planning) i found more people like a good amount of information before they donate towards a charity.Here is the chart showing as i asked 10 people the majority favoured more information than basic or abit of info.

Use of colour circle

I used the colour circel to decide which colours went well for my website.

In the end i decided to use triad colours as they would complement each other but be striking at the same time. Below is the wheel i used for my website design with use of colours.

My final logo needed to show what the charity was all about more as there was little relevance about the charity for performing arts.

After creating my nav buttons i decided to create my animated marquee.I decided to use a marquee on my charity website as this would display more information about my web updates. I used this as i found from research other professional websites used a similar layout and web technique, bringing more detail to my charity website.

After my website layout i decided to create nav buttons, above are the ones seperate to show how i changed their design so when you scroll across them they each are underlined to show your option. You can view this on my charity website.

I decided to change my website design my including a darker bar to highlight the text and also i decided to create four colourful nav buttons as this would help again create a better website.

My updated version showing the difference in layout. Overall this gave a better looking website and format for my charity website.

The steps above show these in action.

First i created my nav bar - i later changed this to circular shapes as i found it would look better with a rollover also.

Creating my website -

When creating my website i decided to use web plus 10. This programme enabled me to create a more professional website for my charity.Above are the steps i took in creating my website.

My next task after the logo designs is to design and create my website.I decided to draw up my designs and create a simplistic website to help with the overall easily navigational website.

Wednesday, 7 January 2009

More of my Research and Planning

what makes a good logo?
This was my thought when creating my own logo as i had to construct a design which was easy to the eye and easily representative of my chosen charity.The importance of the logo made this challenge of actually creating one more exciting as i had more things to be aware of whilst planning out my logo design. The three key concepts that i found to be important in creating a good logo were
colour - This is important when planning a good logo as there has to be a balance between multi colours used.The use of a colour wheel helps decide which colour go well ( generally those within the complementary colour scheme as they help enthasise and make the logo stand out more than the analog).I later found after planning the colour scheme was a key concept and was something i had to plan in greater detail. I had to think of other concepts of colour which i would usually consider when creating something as there was a greater sense of symbolism through the logo which would hopefully give a positive vibe towards the audience so they could possibly consider furthering their knowledge of my chosen charity.Whilst planning my logo colour design i decided to research into other charities and their colour schemes as i found this would be important to the overall final creation of my logo. When researching charities about their colour of logo i discovered several key examples which benefited and influenced an audiences attention.One of these charities was tickled pink.The logo ( shown below ) only had one colour scheme due to the charity of pink. This works well as it relates to the actual website and it is easily recognisable to the public as it is simplistic.This feature was one i wanted to create when planning and then creating as it would therefore be recognisable and symbolic to the charity. I later used pink within my logo as it was light and positive and helped brighten my logo due to the colour scheme used.

shape-My second key concept of the creation of my logo was the shape.Even though this sounds such a basic requirement of any logo it was something to consider as this therefore would create more problems if the shape was too complex due to it then being more complicated to re- create and would be less recognisable as it should always be simplistic.When researching i found more websites used logos which used simplistic shapes such as ovals as this makes the logo more recognisable and helped give a 'basic' feel to the logo. A prime example of the use of simplistic shapes is ' sports relief '. The simplistic red oval with contrasting white writing created a simple, recognisable website logo which would show the charity without complicating it.This key feature i found was important in the creation of my logo as i found it easier to create a professional logo using an oval , simplistic shape.
Recognisable-My final key concept which makes a good logo is due to it being recognisable. This is an important part of the creation and planning of my logo as it was something i personally found important towards the planning and research of my logo.I found this concept important as recognisable were those which attain new audiences as they are more attractive due to being memorable therefore making the public familiar with the charity. This was something i tried to create when planning my logo as the logo design was the true symbol of what my website was all about and the public image of my charity. Design logos such as the RSPCA attained uniqueness and individuality which i thought was important in my logo as it is a key aspect of logo design. All together these three key concepts of logo design helped by the use of research made my planning of my logo better as the importance of my website logo would therefore promote my website charity.

Key logo examples with the use of colour , shape and being recognisable.

The Dogs trust logo shows all these three key elements of logo design.There is a clear image which symbolises the aim of the charity and the colours combined well together.When planning my logo i took this into account as it was a good example of logo design.The simplistic shape benefitted the logo as it was clear and not too complicated.With the use of the simple image and text combined with colour it is therefore easily recognisable as a logo to represent the charity.

The oxfam logo again shows a clear layout and logo design such as that of the Dogs Trust.The white and green copliment each other as the text is clear and readable.With the use of basic shapes and a clear outline it makes it more professional and therefore more recognisable to the public.Due to the use of the three key concepts of logo design the logo is clearer and consise than that of a logo which does not follow these three rules.

The British Skin foundation logo differs slightly from the other logos i have researched.Its actual shape is less simplistic and shows other elements of logo design, however due to the use of a simple colour scheme of navy and white with its recognisable factor this still uses two of the key concepts within creating a logo. This logo is less restricted as its form shows a clear set design therefore eliminating a complex logo design. This works well as it is easily recognisable due to the hand as this is symbolic to the actual charity.

other charity research-

The Big Issue was launched in 1991 by Gordon Roddick and A. John Bird in response to the growing number of rough sleepers on the streets of London. Roddick, who also co-founded The Body Shop, was inspired by a newspaper called Street News, which was sold on the streets of New York. Upon his return from America he enlisted the help of Bird, who had experience in the print trade and who had himself slept rough. The two believed that the key to solving the problem of homelessness lay in helping people to help themselves, and were therefore determined to offer a legitimate alternative to begging.This they did when the magazine hit the streets in September of the same year, initially as a monthly publication sold by ten vendors in London. In June 1993 the title went weekly, and regional editions soon followed. There are currently 5 editions of the magazine which collectively cover the whole of the UK - Big Issue Scotland, Big Issue Wales, Big Issue in the North, Big Issue South West & the original Big Issue.

The British Heart Foundation was founded in 1961 by a group of medical professionals who were concerned about the increasing death rate from cardiovascular disease.
Their aim was to raise money to help fund extra research into the causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of heart and circulatory disease.
Since then there have been vital major advances in the treatment and prevention of heart disease.In 1986, the BHF become more involved in public education, and in 1990 moved into rehabilitation.Heart surgery is now commonplace and thousands of people are healthier and live longer thanks to new drugs.The BHF plays a vital role in funding pioneering heart research in the UK, which in turn has an huge impact around the world.Many of today's new drugs and treatments might never have been possible without the existence of the BHF.

In the late 1970s a young man called Stewart Yesner broke his neck in a car accident. Like many others before him he was told that nothing could be done to treat his condition.The consensus of medical opinion at that time was that a successful treatment for spinal cord injury paralysis was unlikely, hence research into finding a cure for spinal cord injury was almost non-existent.Stewart decided to set up a charity with one simple aim - to raise money to fund research into ending the permanence of paralysis caused by broken necks and backs. He tracked down a small number of scientists around the world who were working with the central nervous system and started raising money to fund research. In 1980 this young visionary registered the International Spinal Research Trust with the Charity Commissioners in London.From its humble beginnings Spinal Research has raised over £12 million and now plays a leading role in the worldwide research effort.

Research and Planning

When designing my charity logo i have decided to create one which stands out from the rest! This therefore helps the charity becomne easily recognisable due to its different design. I have decided to produce this Logo for my own European second chance charity. I decided to produce a logo which is symbolic to this cause with the use of new life within the growth of a flower represented using a hand, this therefore showing my interpretation of the charity aim for ill patients, foster children , older people within the society to have a better life and with many have a second chance in their life. The money goes to the charity for fund raising and towards medical research into many illness's and helping children start and achieve even in though cercumstances benefitting the community.

These Charity Logos give an element of recognition in any charity or organisation.When creating a logo we have to consider what affect will happen and how simplistic t

he logo must be. Due to the companies simplistic logo is makes it easier to familiarise and become recognisable within the " Family Home".When creating the logo there must be a link between the logo and company. With recognition therefore this simplistic logo helps create a proffesional company using there trademark symbol to affect.

My chosen charity im supporting and evaluating with reasearch is The Big Issue. About

The Big Issue was launched in 1991 by Gordon Roddick and John Bird in response to the growing number of rough sleepers on the streets of London. Roddick, who also co-founded The Body Shop, was inspired by a newspaper called Street News, which was sold on the streets of New York. Upon his return from America he enlisted the help of Bird, who had experience in the print trade and who had himself slept rough. The two believed that the key to solving the problem of homelessness lay in helping people to help themselves, and were therefore determined to offer a legitimate alternative to begging.

Analysing the website. When first looking at this website we see a clear outline and division of colour and information throughout. The logo is a clear blue contrasting against the pink with a simplistic but effective Nav Bar across the Website.This website gives a positive vibe for those who need it.

My second Website is Dogs trust. This animal charity throughout its website contenet shows clear layout with again contrasting colour coded webpages all with simple Navigation options.Keeps linked with the Char

ity at all times and helps give clear indications and detail throughout the website.

My third chosen option for a charity website is the British Heart Foundation.As this is one of the main leading charities within the uk it shows features benefiting the audience viewing the site due to easy Navigation , simple linked colours and a simple theme for easy viewing.

My final charity is cancer research.This uses many element

s of web design attracting viewers do to positive colours attitude and aiding the country in cancer research. With the use of mutual colours the less complecx the easier it is to follow. Also including easy navigation this gives a clear search option around the website.