Web Design & New Media

Week 1 Lecture:

During the first lecture, unfortunately I was absent as I took Video Editing instead of Web Design at first.

Week 2 Tutorial:

We were split into groups and asked to research 6 good websites and 6 bad ones, and to explain why. For more, please see my exercises post here: http://beatrixillustrationdesign.blogspot.my/2018/02/web-design-new-media-exercises.html

Week 3 Lecture:

We continued presenting as not all the groups had finished presenting yet. We learnt about web standards and the different ways of accessing the web, as well as how the disabled can access the web. We also learnt about the various issues that can arise when seeing websites from different platfotms, thus the importance of web standards. We were introduced to html elements such as elements, tags and attributes.

I chose to remake https://www.shop-potions.com/ (product) and http://www.1utama.com.my/ (service). Potions is a local skincare company while One Utama is a shopping mall. 

I felt that Potions needed a remake because the website was very cluttered and unclear. There were too many unnecessary elements placed all around and it wasn't very clear. The One Utama website was too short (it is only one page long) and was not appealing enough.

After receiving approval from Mr Shamsul, I proceeded to sketch out the layouts of the remake.

Sketches

Potions remake- 1st try

 I tried to make the Potions website more streamlined and cohesive in the colour scheme as well as neater.

One Utama remake- 1st try

For the One Utama website, I chose to make it longer and more appealing by adding a panel structure.

Feedback:

Potions:

The spacing of the header is too little. The header/navigator should be all caps or first letter caps. Add more detail into the product description and review boxes so it would be clearer. The search bar should not be transparent so that it can be clearer. Instead of putting "...more" it could be "more" with an arrow instead. Includes enough information.

One Utama:

Mr Shamsul advised me to make the social media buttons colour to match the theme of the website (Red). Also, make sure there's enough space for the header and footer. Footer looks a bit empty and should include more copyright information. Search bar should not be transparent as well. Website inclues enough information.

Experience:

Recreating a website landing page was an interesting experience. It requires a lot of thought to make sure the design is user friendly and accessible for viewers. However, it was a bit challenging managing all of the different layers in Photoshop.

Observations:

I observed that the main thing bad websites had in common were that they were too cluttered- websites were much better if they were simpler, thus easier to navigate.

Findings:

I found that making the layout clean and not cluttered was key to making it attractive. I also found that quite a majority of local websites do not have a very good design, there is definitely room for improvement.

Week 10:

In this class, we submitted our Project 2. Ms Lilian gave us a lecture on an introduction to magazine design, showing us different genres of magazines and how magazine design developed over the years. After this, we proposed our ideas for our magazines to Ms Lilian.

Week 11:

We had a group discussion where we showed our sketches and digitization of our mastheads that we were asked to complete at home the week before. After showing our mastheads, we were given feedback by Ms Lilian and our classmates on how we could refine it further. After this we had our individual consultation to discuss the concept of our magazines with our research, text formatting and thumbnail sketches.

Week 12:

We had individual consultations today, so we showed Ms Lilian our first drafts of the magazine and she helped us choose which layouts to work with so we could proceed with a next draft.

Week 13:
We showed Ms Lilian our refined drafts again in individual consultations. Based on her feedback, we proceeded to work on our final draft.

Final Project & Portfolio (40%)

The Brief

Magazine Design

Duration of Assignment

5 Weeks (Briefing on Week 9)

DEADLINE

Week 13 (29 Nov 2017) Printed Magazine

Week 14 (04 Dec 2017) Online Magazine

Description

You are required to design a magazine based on any chosen topic but within the field of creativity.
For example it can be on Performance Art, Creative Individuals, Art & Craft, Photography etc. You will need to brainstorm ideas on the topic chosen, content of magazine, look & feel, concept,
typography as well as the magazine’s name.


You have to take into account the best approaches in designing the identity and branding of the
magazine. Define the purpose or function of the layout, the magazine’s audience, and the information that needs to be communicated. In order to visualize this task, you will be need to be
creative and selective in the application of relevant elements for your magazine design. (ie. design
and layout, color palette and treatment, grid system, visuals and typography).


The magazine should have at least 16 pages but not more than 32 altogether, including the front
cover, content, editor’s note & credits, contributors and resource credits, main feature,
review/shorts, single page spread and back cover. Advertising space is optional. A detailed
research on the chosen topic is essential and project management skills are vital in order to
secure successful completion of this project.

The final magazine should contain information and visuals in order to communicate with the target
audiences. You are responsible in every aspect of its pre-production and production including research, concept, content, design elements and the final execution. Remember, you must establish unity across the entire format as identity and concept is essential to a magazine’s representation. Successful magazine layouts must not only be legible and readable, it also needs to be aesthetically pleasing as well as able to offer information in a creative and often conceptualized manner.

You will be guided through lectures, demonstrations, tutorials and feedback sessions throughout the duration of the project in response to the design process of designing a magazine. This includes masthead design, thumbnail sketching, drafting and refining layouts as well as final proofing. You will use Adobe InDesign in your execution of the magazine’s layout and design. Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop is a must.

Requirements
The size of the magazine must be A4. You are required to print the magazine layout in full colour and assemble a realistic mock-up for final submission. Subsequently the magazine will be digitized and uploaded online. Please credit all sources where necessary. Additionally, you must document your entire design process as your portfolio submission. This includes but are not limited to:

Research
Research conducted for this project including visual, articles, edited visuals, notes, photographs, mood boards, references, typography, grid system etc.

Concept development
Brainstorm sheets together with notes and sketches or any evidence of formatting, conceptualizing as well as putting content into perspective. Include also a rational on the name chosen as well as the identity and branding of the magazine.

Idea generation
Initial thumbnails, plans, sketches, draft layouts that document the visualization of the concept chosen as well as the pace of the magazine. Evidence of typographic exploration documenting the process of refining the magazine’s typographic identity, layout and grid system.

Design development
Document the process you undertook to produce your project including layouts, refined ideas, pre
finals as well as final proofs. Including notes in your layout to justify the design decisions you’ve made along the way is recommended.

Final Artwork
Your final magazine must demonstrate your solution for the brief.

Submission
1. 16-32 page magazine of a professional finishing and quality not only in look but also in
content.
2. Research and design process filed chronologically, in an A3 portfolio.
3. Design report on e portfolio.
4. Online magazine.
5. CD archiving .indd and .pdf files.

Objectives
1. To develop students knowledge and understanding in print media.
2. To develop students ability to create layout for a different application and experience.
3. To develop students familiarity with the dynamics of design and its components.
4. To develop students confidence in working through the design process
5. To develop students time and project management skills

I did some research on various magazines online and in real life to get a better sense of how I would want my magazine to look like. Please find them in my pinterest board below:

http://beatrixillustrationdesign.blogspot.my/2017/12/publishing-print-media-exercise-4.html

Feedback //

Week 10:

None

Week 11: 

Good thumbnail sketches. Continue with the first drafts by using a combination of the two thumbnail sketches layout. Change main article to be about Gold Coast rather than beach living, so that I can use the Gold Coast photographs which are the best visuals.

Week 12:

For the main article, use two columns. Good use of the wave picture, use it for the spreads. Make review and short article more "crowded" and the feature less crowded. Keep white space consistant for single page images. Play with the short article and main article header to make it more interesting. Add pull quotes.

Week 13:
Centerize the header properly. Change the page number format in the content page. Remove one of the spreads as not necessary to repeat pictures. Uppercase first three words of the article. I need to fic the orphans and widows as well. Change the text alignment of the pull quote and the alignment of the review text.

Observations:

Throughout this module, along with all the other modules, it seems like the workload is incredibly heavy and can only be completed by not sleeping (which I have to resort to sometimes in order to finish all assignments on time). Having such a heavy workload also reduces the amount of time we can spend on each module/project which reduces our quality of work as well.

I noticed that there are many important aspects of magazine design and layout that tend to be overlooked. For example, just the way you crop the image can give the same picture many different looks, feels and dimensions. Just adjusting the font of your pull quote can give the spread a completely different look.

Findings:

Week 9:

After the group discussion and conducting my own research, I decided to publish my online magazine via embedding it in my blog through Google Drive. In addition, I published my magazine via InDesign's publish online function.

Published Online Magazine (Google Drive):

Published Online Magazine (InDesign):

Feedback

Reflection:

Experience:
Publishing the magazine online was probably the fastest and easiest part of the module so far. As we had everything done already, all we needed to do was to find a suitable platform to upload it all in. All in all, it was quite a seamless experience.

Observation:
I observed that many online publishing platforms require a payed subscription, those which have more functions tend to be the ones requiring the subscription. However, it seems basic solutions are often functional and practical-- such as embedding it as a pdf or publishing it via InDesign.

Findings:
Throughout this exercise I have become aware of the importance of changing the resolution and colour mode accordingly to if the medium is print or screen. I have learnt different methods of publishing material online which I'm sure will be useful in the future.

Week 11:
We had a group discussion where we showed our sketches and digitization of our mastheads that we were asked to complete at home the week before. After showing our mastheads, we were given feedback by Ms Lilian and our classmates on how we could refine it further. After this we had our individual consultation to discuss the concept of our magazines.

Pinterest research

Pinterest research

https://www.pinterest.com/beatrix_lyw/publishing-magazine/

Brainstorming

First page sketches

Second page sketches

Scan of header

Exploration

Digitalised version, version with shadow, version with colour (final)

Week 6:

The brushstrokes look carefree and suitable for my theme, very hand done feeling. However when I digitalised them initially it is too perfect as I tried to adjust the kerning/position of the letters, I should just stick with the original placement of the letters (how it is in my sketchbook originally).

Experience:

It was fun to design my own masthead, it was something I haven't done before. It didn't occur to me before how much thought and effort has to go into designing a masthead. Doing this exercise really made me appreciate how even something small like a masthead requires a lot of effort in the design world.

The six hour classes are very exhausting. At the beginning of the class, I can get quite a lot of work done but after a couple of hours I get too tired and hungry so I'm no longer able to do my work well and I notice myself working even slower and making silly mistakes or forgetting how to do simple things. I noticed based on feedback as well as my own opinion, the original sketch of my masthead worked well but when I digitalised it I made it too perfect by adjusting the spacing when the original was fine- I guess this is a lesson to not overthink things!

Findings:

I found this exercise to be pretty fun and it was a good way to start designing our magazine because I feel how my masthead turned out influenced the rest of my magazine in terms of the design and feel. The experience of digitalising brushstrokes came into handy as I used a similar technique for the section headers of my magazine.