Week 12
08/12/08
Space for yourself v.2
This week I have been finishing off the website for our client, Clare Byrne.
Below is a link to the finished site for the client.
Improvements to the site
I've made a few changes from last weeks site.
After speaking to Nick I decided to go with the colour backgrounds instead of the grayscale ones. The background will still change if the user refreshes the page but the backgrounds all feature the same vibrant colour schemes.
A php contact form has been added although this isn't much use on the university servers but it's included anyway.
I tidied up the content a bit and removed the logo from each section and replaced it with a heading instead. I've kept the links at the top of each section because I feel it eases navigation for the user.
Added a print style sheet to the site which removes things such as the links and footer for printing.
Guest Speakers
Paddy Donnelly & Andy McMillan pay a visit
We had the pleasure of having Paddy and Andy at the lecture this week. It's good to get some sort of talk from someone who's been where we are in the case of Paddy. It is also good to hear the other approach from a freelance designer in the case of Andy. I've had a Paddy's blog a while back and also Andy's good on paper. What gets me every time is how do they find the time to write all these blog entries and twitter all day and yet stay on top of their work?
This is a skill I am yet to develop.
Twitterific
Everyone keeps going on about how important networking is and how you should be on Twitter. Well, I've finally got round to joining it and following a few people. I'm sure I'll get hooked on it over xmas when I should be doing my major project proposal. It's so easy to use and I've already found so many people on it. I even found Stephen Fry! Stephen Fry on Twitter? What's going on?
So come follow me on it, @ryanmcmurray
Final weeks web hunting
Crammed a lot in this week
I have tried to have a look at a lot of websites that I have in my notes this week for inspiration.
Grids are a must
We've talked about the importance of grid systems previously so it's about time I statrted collecting resources on the correct way to use them. Came across this site that we were shown in the lecture from Antonio Carusone (Aisle One). It's pretty much the only grid resource I'll need.
Cartlidge Levene
Chris mentioned this in a lecture last week but I cant remember what it was for. This design company produces some brilliant work. I love the signage they did for the Barbican Arts centre. Really striking work. Check out their site.
24 Ways
I took at this last week and have been following it each day to see what the next article is going to be. Some really great tutorials each day with tips and tricks for web design and development. Cant promise I'll follow it religiously just before xmas but I've bookmarked it and hope to go back and look at it another time.
Acejet 170
We talked last week about collecting things and how everything has it's use at some point. Acejet 170 is a site from an english designer who now lives in Belfast. His site documents stuff he has found or collected over the years. There are some wierd things on it but it's a really well thought out site.
Redhead Studio update
Finally got round to putting up a holding page for my portfolio site. It's pretty basic but at least now there's some information rather than a blank screen.
xmas gift idea
Came across this site and thought it would make a nice mas present for somebody. Basically you make words out of individual letters which are photos of various things that resemble the shape of the letter. I'm crap at explaining but the words look nice framed and mounted on the cream card. Check it out.
Season's Greetings...
Yeah right!
Well I would like to say I'm goin to have a good xmas this year but there's still a mountain of work to do so drunken nights will be replaced with my laptop and cans of red bull this xmas.
Thanks Chris and Nick
Happy xmas and new year people........
