Wednesday 9 March 2011

CI - PERSONAL PROJECT - ENTRY 9

I wanted to create a web page offering translators' services. My idea was to use symbols commonly associated with translations, as: type, books, texts, fonts, typewriter. As well as cross out words in text, as these things people do when they translate something. My approach was to simulate to the web page viewer the work of translator. Mainly I chosen this way, because this type of web page is pretty much online business card – not filled with huge amount of content. Therefore, I was highly needed to create mainly visually attractive page.

Challenging for me was to use HTML 5, and jQuerry scrolling in the page. The scrolling is making the page definitely more enchanting. I have added there PHP for sending files to translator directly from web page, because I think is handy you do not have to log-in to you email account, attach file, type the recipient address and send. That is to many steps to achieve same thing when you already on the web page.

According to design, I am pretty much satisfied by the way it looks. Although there are still thing which I want to take through, like creating fancy numbers for the part where are prices. On the page have been changes during last three months of working on it, and I am sure they will be more, as test version is still on on web. Still, this was second web page I ever did and in these therms I can see big improvement.

In design layout I wanted to play with Dada style, as first name of translator is Dada. This I feel I am still failing a bit, I need to use it in the text more, especially of type. However, many tests I did were just not right in therms of web page. So to find messy combination, which would look clean enough for web page it's harder than I though.

Other thing in this project was, that I was not only creating the layout, illustrations, and coding. I was also leading what should be should not be in the page, how it should be written to attract and target people. With all this it was much more complex project than it would seem, I was in role of creative agency, business department, designer, coder etc. On the other hand, this was great as I have full control of the project.

I have sorted out as well licenses for used fonts, textures etc. I credit all people in the footer of the page. As I think this always should be done, even when people forget about this often – but would they forgot credits if it was film? Also this way I am sure, the future owner of my creation would not get into any copyright hassle. I am not paid for this job, but is good to accompany professional manners already.

In general conclusion, I have happy with the work I done, as I know what I have none experience (except one web page) in this field. Therefore, I see how much work I done. Nonetheless, I still see thing which must be improved to keep the design complete. Which I will continue to work on.

Tuesday 8 March 2011

CI - PERSONAL PROJECT - ENTRY 8

1) PROGRESS REPORT:

I have finalized the sending form menu (on HTML, as well as the PHP for it). I am waiting for the hosting to be provided (domain name was bought). I have arranged all licences on stuff which was not original mine.

2) RESEARCH GENERATED:

I was searching for the SEO optimization, I found good reading materials for free. It was done for Google search engines, so after I finished reading it I implement changes into the page.


3) CRITICAL SELF ANALYSIS:

Biggest problem for me is I have to do the test. So I need the actual hosting to do so. However, I need to do the language mutation too. For this I am waiting to get the content in needed translations. So these days is all mainly stuck on technical arrangements, which I depend on, but I can not progress without them.


4) PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GENERATED:


Friday 25 February 2011

CI - PERSONAL PROJECT - ENTRY 7

1) PROGRESS REPORT:

I was working mainly on design improvements. Applied new textures, changed fonts, added some new elements. Also, I did the page jquery srolling.


2) RESEARCH GENERATED:

I have found vintage textures. As well as other elements and texture I found which I will use in the layout (all of them I will credit in the web page footer), list is here:
http://princess-of-shadows.deviantart.com/art/vintage-grunge-textures-79040200
http://fedekiller.deviantart.com/art/Old-Book-Pages-Brush-30032336?q=boost%3Apopular%20old%20book&qo=0
http://wilddoug.deviantart.com/art/Underwood-Typewriter-81986373?q=boost%3Apopular%20underwood%20typewriter&qo=11

Best tutorial for jQuery Sroll: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6pzabpUmoc

I have also requested permission to some Monospace typeface from this page http://www.ceskefonty.cz/kategorie/monospace-strojove/ as I will need to have the web page in Slovak also (that means I need font with all the punctuation marks)


3) CRITICAL SELF ANALYSIS:

Midterm analysis in class, was productive as I am not so skilled in some stuff - so it was helpful to be pointed out things which I should be aware of. According to design I had great conversation after class with http://embee.cz/, he mentioned design things which were not communicated well, and I had agree immediately as these were part which I was not happy with, but I haven't seen them so clearly - Thank you!


4) PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GENERATED:

Tuesday 15 February 2011

CI - PERSONAL PROJECT - ENTRY 6

1) PROGRESS REPORT:

Navigation works as supposed to. I add the typewriter as well as text above it into white window - to simulate paper coming out of the typewriter.

2) RESEARCH GENERATED:

After brake due to illness I started study the scrolling again. Also I was consulting new texts used in the web, as well as gaining texts to be used in background image, but this I will do after finished coding.

3) CRITICAL SELF ANALYSIS:

A I mentioned in my earlier post, I really have to speed up. It is not so complicated page for to take so long time. At the moment I am happy to see some changes in the page. And to realise my mistakes in coding to move on a bit. Also I had to re-change sizes of object to keep it all in one window.

4) PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GENERATED:

Saturday 22 January 2011

CI - PERSONAL PROJECT - ENTRY 5

1) PROGRESS REPORT:

I did not do any. Except that navigation is displayed on the page.

2) RESEARCH GENERATED:

I was studying a little of the scrolling, I found demo version on the internet. Web page: http://flesler.blogspot.com/2007/10/jqueryscrollto.html I am trying to use it. Also I started reading Jose Pijoan’s History of Art vol.9 about Dada movement, but it has not really helped me by now. The movement is more about the manifesto than any straight forward idea which I could use. However, front cover of Marcel Duchamp’s Dada bulletin No.6 and Dada bulletin No. 7 I find inspiring for my purpose. They play with text and various fonts. This led me to decision that I need more texts in background. Maybe even the text with correction marks (to support the idea that someone is translating the text) I will make bigger, as the way it is now is quite small to realize what is in it.

I did not do as much as I planned due to illness and finalizing other paid work.

3) CRITICAL SELF ANALYSIS:

I really need to speed up, and build the page properly including the scrolling. When this will be finished I can spend time on re-designing the images. I also can feel, I did not build page since school. I am so slow.

4) PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GENERATED:



CI - PERSONAL PROJECT - ENTRY 4

1) PROGRESS REPORT:

I extended and changed few times the illustration. I have also coding the setting up the main body of the page.

2) RESEARCH GENERATED:

I have attended 3rd funeral in short period of time. I’ve been to classical catholic funeral of an old man, catholic of a young man and cremation of mother of my friend, where was very affectionate speech how she influenced her children to love art, and both have succeeded in this field. This was quite busy time, but I had little time to read Computer arts mag.

3) CRITICAL SELF ANALYSIS:

Background illustration feels to full, I moved the books down. I want slightly cleaner look, as this cannot be proper Dada style, as web page has to be intuitive and easy navigated – the main core is to use the translation service. In the coding I realized that I forgot a lot, and I take me twice the time.

4) PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GENERATED:

CI - PERSONAL PROJECT - ENTRY 3

1) PROGRESS REPORT:

I extended the idea for displaying active content in a white window which will demonstrate an empty sheet of paper as footer will be typewriter, this will appear on home page. Also navigation buttons will be circles, as that is not common. As text in background I have chosen part of poem by E.A.Poe for representing the English part of translations. And I draw there some correction in text, to simulate work with it (when you cross words, or make other notes in text you translate) I made first version of illustration used in background.

2) RESEARCH GENERATED:

I have attended 3rd funeral in short period of time. I’ve been to classical catholic funeral of an old man, catholic of a young man and cremation of mother of my friend, where was very affectionate speech how she influenced her children to love art, and both have succeeded in this field. This was quite busy time, but I had little time to read Computer arts mag.

3) CRITICAL SELF ANALYSIS:

First version was dark, as in beginning my idea was to have white background with bit of text and black circle buttons navigation, and then I thought of see-through bits of text on background. Later it appeared that it was quite depressive choice and I made other versions, also I added more elements to the typewriter (gradient, and some easy shading). Final choice of colours is light green with light brown, because these are not that typical colours used in web pages, even when blue version is brighter.


4) PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GENERATED:





CI - PERSONAL PROJECT - ENTRY 2

1) PROGRESS REPORT:

I have created wireframe. I started to draw/thing of the illustration.

2) RESEARCH GENERATED:

Research result were disappointing, pages of translators are usually not nicely done. However, I got the idea to have PHP form for sending directly files for translation to the translator. For which I create Send button in navigation. Another thing that have had inspired me was JQuery.js scrolling, this means that you click of button and instead on jumping the part, you scroll through the page image. I want to add this to my page.

3) CRITICAL SELF ANALYSIS:

Body of the project is still same, just the “skin” is crystallizing and I am starting to visualize the character of the page. Just BIO I changed for About me, as it was more appropriate if there were no dates of achieving titles. The navigation bar will be: About me / Home / Translations and Prices / Contact.

4) PHYSICAL EVIDENCE GENERATED:

Wednesday 19 January 2011

CI - PERSONAL PROJECT - ENTRY 1

1) What is it that you propose to create?

I will create webpage offering translation services of Ing. Dada Warenichova, domainname: dadareadymade.com. As “dada” is name of the licensed translator, I have initiated to use it in the domain name too. I want to do it in little bit Dada style. To have more innovative approach in creating the web page compare to standard layout.

2) What form will it take?

It will be a HTML5 web page, as I’d like to learn it, also the will be some use of PHP, JQuery.js etc. I want to do it in little artistic layout, as translator works a lot with books, font, writing and these thoughts I immediately see as parts of books, bits of hand written text from the first time in background. I will prepare illustration, plus other elements for the web page in illustrator, photoshop.

3) What is the scope of the project?

I want to create onepage web, which will be in 3 languages: Slovak, English and Italian, as these languages translations will be the translator offering.

4) What is your conceptual basis behind creating the piece?

I want to learn using HTML5, and study bit more about using SEO or PHP and JQuery.js. Also it is a good chance to create easy navigating, but still creative web page, which I could you as reference of my work. This is open project, so I can choose freely the look of the web. Not to forget mentioning that I like the theme of letters and languages. For many years I enjoy looking at sings, shops names and other things with various use of letters and font. Web page for translation service should be about it too. When I imagine translator at work, I see something between writing transcriptor Mickey sitting with his frozen hands on a high chair in animated Mickey Christmas Carol and the underline idea of Jim Jarmuschs’ film Lost in Translation.

5) A production Planner.

Week 1 – research about web pages of other translators, looking of prons and cons, implementing what’s good into the project brief. Developing the approximate content to get the idea how much text it will have.

Week 2 – developing wireframe, later layout, drawings (background illustration, buttons or other elements)

Week 3 - layout, drawings (background illustration, buttons or other elements), plus content correction

Week 4 – start building the page, eventual corrections of images used in web. Studying the HTML5, or other coding needed for the page.

Week 5 – keep coding, correcting element or changing what’s not working well for the page.

Week 6 - keep coding, correcting element or changing what’s not working well for the page.

Week 7 – testing the page (displaying in different browsers, sending files etc)

Week 8 – final test, handing over the project