My main intention for the site was to create an space that presents the process we all have to go through to get to what we end up with-- I really wanted a timeline that told a story and didn't show just the end result, but some of the steps it took to get there too. With everything on the same timeline you're not only able to view the process in each individual design, but compare and contrast projects that were happening at the same time and hopefully see some of my process as a designer, too! Because of the nature of the timeline and horizontal scrolling, I had to find an easy way for the user to go navigate through it: hopefully visitors can do that without too much work because of the "hot spots" on the left and right.
Strangely enough, going through the process helped me learn a little bit about myself throughout the past couple of years. What projects I had the most fun in, where I felt successful and not as successful. Kind of a nice exercise to go through before our presentations next week. Multimedia Experience wise though: in designing an "experience" for someone, there's really a lot to consider. Not being as knowledgeable in "borrowed scripts" from various websites, it's hard to control how they're working or be able to mold them to the experience you want your user to have. Another thing is: I think this site would be a real pain to update, unless I had a more strategic means of coding it (which I didn't, largely because of all the scripts acting funny, I had no idea how it was going to come together in the first place). I'm pretty sure my code would make any kind of programmer cry. It even makes me cry. It goes without saying: but planning ahead is important. And probably easier if you understand everything you're doing, and not just flying blindly and hoping things will work out okay.
I'm proud of the fact that I got as much figured out as I did! It was definitely an uphill battle though (on an icy mountain with banana peel shoes) and most of my time and struggles were spent on getting coding that I didn't write to do what I wanted it to do. There are some functionality problems that I still need to work out (and a number of things I'm not yet happy with, but that's usually the case): the obvious examples being the never ending space on the right side, and the fact that when you view a a project larger in a new page, it doesn't take you back to the same spot on the timeline when you return.
Also, for my classmates who will be checking it out: to see the projects that actually lead to larger views, check out the Ziba final or the Spark final. Thanks!
2 comments:
Alicia, to begin with, I think you did a great job in getting this to work, you made to the top of the mountain (with banana peel shoes!) I like the reasoning behind the time line idea, and being able to view the process that we go through to get to our final result. It is almost like your blog has been turned into a website. It might be kind of fun to incorporate your contact info into the time line (start off with year you were born and that's your about section?) but then the question comes up of how to access it when you are at a different point on the time line...
I wonder why the first four section are so narrow and everything else gets wider.
Other than that, good job :)
This is a really great site. I like how simple it is to use (minimal clicks/easy mouse overs for scrolling). I dig the idea of the timeline, it's a cleaver way of categorizing your work. I also like seeing the progression of your work - how you have evolved as a design... but, this could be a disadvantage. I (actually laura) think(s) it could be a good idea to start your timeline from most current to oldest work. This way, when visiting your site, I can see your best work right off the back (assuming your best work is you most current). Just a thought.
Yeah, you're pretty set on your navigation. As for the future of this site, I'd suggest continuing your language throughout the site, like y probably ou have in your about section - very nice, and it seems to speak to me like you design does.
Also, if you can, customizing the arrow can be nice (I still think you running could be fun...too cheesy). Maybe mentioning that you can click to make the scrolling faster - I like that feature quite a bit.
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