Well on the way with my new portfolio!

My context 2 portfolio is coming along nicely! Main things I have included so far:

1- Javascript one page scrolling site! I have finally cracked the devil that is Javascript. Had a look at a few codes for the easing effect on a scrolling site. It wasn't working at first but I've got it to work! 

2- CSS3 transition navigation.

3- Colour scheme - Orange, peach & Grey. I chose these colours as orange is my favourite colour and I feel it best reflects myself. I have used a pastel orange & grey as pastel colours seem to be very current with websites at the moment. 

4- My 4 pages; Home, about, portfolio & contact. On my portfolio page I will be showcasing my web, graphic & other media works. 

When I produced my very first portfolio website during first year, I can remember my feedback being that my website didn't fit in with my moodboard. It was too corporate & didn't go together well because of my bird style logo. I have taken this into account and really toned my website down. I'm happy with the outcome so far and I'm going to be spending a lot of time on it!

Another web design client. - Cupcake Creations by Becky.

Becky Wilkinson is my newest client. She runs her own cupcake business off of facebook and is very popular within her local community. Even though she gets a lot of business through facebook, people who are not part of her page would not know about her and therefore may be losing out on crucial sales. She produces a wide range of cupcakes, from vanilla to baileys, chocolate to Guinness, she has the lot! Even gluten free, dairy free & egg free cakes! All made with free range & fairtrade products (where possible) and of course, some TLC. 

I have a little meeting with her on feb 13th to discuss key elements for her website and to collect my valentines day cupcakes! :D

Her current website is in desperate need of an update, in order to suit her business & include some up to date designs & offers.

Her current website can be found by clicking here
Her facebook page can be found by clicking here
Visit if you dare, you will just want to buy the lot!

Floating practice

After the brief feedback from Giselle on Friday after everyone's restaurant website presentations, she said that it would be essential to use a floated layout if we haven't already. To get used to floating & clearing I have just been having a play about on dreamweaver to get used to doing it. 

My finished restaurant website re-design!

Apple announces iBooks interactive textbooks 19/01/2012

22 months, 1,357 hours, 30 people, 2 ladders, 1 still camera, 288,000 jelly beans

End of the world for a vast majority of people...

Header trouble.

 With text or without? I'm pretty stuck. Also here you can see that i've included the valentines day promotion in the banner :) progress!

Vhojon redesign progress

Slowly getting there. Have a feeling Shaun is going to completely slate my black background & white text! Oh dear :(

The alignment needs sorting out, but the basic coding is almost there!

Things to include in my redesign.

I have come up with a series of components that I wish to include in my website.

-The colour scheme will be black, white & red to follow the theme of the sign they have in the car park.

- Use a calligraphy style font to add some sophistication to the website & follow a similar font to what they have on the restaurant signs. 

- Include the jquery image gallery on the home page, but add in the free delivery & valentines day promotions to help grab attention. 

- Move the navigation to the left hand side, possibly make buttons. 

- Get rid of the awful header & footer! Make something a bit more interesting. 

- Make a new image gallery on Adobe Bridge.

- Include a booking form?

Let's get started!

Main points to consider for my restaurant website redesign.

After looking through a number of different restaurant websites I've identified some key points I need to include & consider when doing my website.

1) When looking at a restaurant website, people want to know about the food! Including a menu for people to look at would be a key point of the website, it needs to be clear & easily accessible. 

2) People may not know where the restaurant is, so include plenty of information about the location of the restaurant.

3) In order to book a place at a restaurant, you need to know some form of contact number! No contact details = less potential customers.

4) Because restaurants attract a wide range of ages, the website needs to be appealing to all, easily accessible & easy to use.

5) Images & offers that are displayed immediately can help to grab the user's attention, so these may be key components of the home page.

6) Use colours that work. Come up with a nice colour scheme, don't include too much colour & try to avoid using a lot of green. In my opinion, green just reminds me of mould and I don't want to be seeing a lot of that at a restaurant!

7) Consider feedback forms, contact forms and even a booking form so people can book a table without having to pick up the phone!

8) Make sure the website is consistent, the name is clear & there isn't too much information on one page.

I think these points will be the key to creating a successful restaurant website. More updates to follow!

Restaurant website redesign - My chosen restaurant.

It didn't take me long to find a website that was pretty piss poor. Considering how good the restaurant is that I have chosen, the website does it no justice at all.

My chosen Restaurant website is that of Vhojon restaurant, my favourite Indian restaurant back at home that I go to quite often when my boyfriend and I fancy a meal out. We both love curry a bit too much.

I couldn't help but laugh to myself at how crap the website was. Finding the company that made the website gave me even more laughs when I looked at other websites they had made. What a joke. 

The Restaurant website - www.vhojon.co.uk

So this is the so called home page. I hate everything about it. The background colour is vile, the title looks like it's been made in some shit old version of word, the navigation is nothing special & its font is horrible, the special offer bit has just been stuck onto the header, the header isn't even in line with the website and it just looks gay. Way too much pink for my liking. However, it has a nice jquery image gallery at the top of the page, but it's not really necessary to have it on EVERY page.

 

The promotion for valentine's day isn't displayed very well. Personally I think it would be better to advertise it in the animated banner along the top. I don't like the footer either. Boring, plain & pointless.

 

The image gallery is completely pants too. There are 2 pages of images and both pages are different. One has an arrow and the other has a word as navigation. They don't follow the same design as the rest of the website and the images are a bit confusing as you can only scroll over them. Think the image gallery needs improving a lot in order to make it look any good.

Hate the cheesy picture on the about page. This definitely needs removing & replacing. & why is there any need for the gay pink background? TOO MUCH PINK.

 Even though the menu is very clear to read and each part of the menu is set out separately, they've brought back the hideous pink background  and the links for each part of the menu is just utter rubbish.

The contact page is a good way of contacting the restaurant as people use the internet more as a form of communication. The telephone number & address could be more clearly set out. The facebook link is completely random & unnecessary, it needs to be placed on it's own and the free delivery promotional image looks horrible & you don't see it straight away. This promotion could also be included in the animated banner on the home page.

All in all, it's a pretty horrible website & needs a lot of improvements. The restaurant itself when you go in is very modern, it's contemporary, it's smart, it's sleek. It's not pink & gay and unorganised. A sophisticated establishment such as Vhojon Restaurant needs a website to reflect this. I have a big job on my hands I think!

Just so you lot can have a laugh too, here is the company that made Vhojon's current website. http://www.creativeend.co.uk/

Well done creative end, you absolute knobs!

Context 2 notesss

Started my Context 2 Portfolio

Here is what I have so far...

There is still a long way to go, but so far I like my design :) Further development will be posted in time.

Logo for Bitter Strings - Initial idea

Needs developing, but the guys said they liked it which is a brilliant start!

My artist for the second DP3 project.

Bitter Strings are a three piece rock/indie band consisting of, Ben McConnachie (Lead Singer/ Guitarist), Mike Smith (Bassist) and Luke Pratt (Percussion). The band were formed in 2011 and are due to release their EP in February, an early 1980's 16" tape recorder. Bitter Strings are influenced by 60's rock music and their name originates from a 1960's British Film.

I have worked with them in the past on a photoshoot and loved working with them. I contacted them about working with them again on this DP3 project. They also want me to make a website for them! I can't wait to get started!

Happy new year! Now it's time for action...

Due to the disappointment of my abysmal voyage project I have got myself motivated for an amazing 2 terms packed full of self study, hard work, freelance opportunities & applying for potential work experience placements. I really need to kick it up a gear! Now that I have got all work & home issues sorted, it's time to really crack down on my work.

So what's my plan?

The second assignment for context 2 is to make an online portfolio showcasing my work within my pathway. I have already thought about what sort of site I want to do, and I have downloaded Adobe Illustrator so that I can add that personal touch to my website in a professional way. (hand drawn graphics are so last term).

The next DP3 assignment is to Design and build an artist / arts organisation mobile website / app. This needs to be based on a real client & can be anyone from the arts industry. I have already found my client & I have organised to keep in contact with them so they can see my development of my design. My client is a local band consisting of 3 members that only started in 2011. Details on them will be posted at a later date :)

I'm actually really excited about these two projects. Working with people is right up my street as I love the satisfaction of making something for someone!