Digital Media Tools- Designing our Website

Over the past couple of lessons we have been going over the main principles of website design and how to produce an effective and user friendly website. We were taught how to use HTML, which is responsible for delivering the layout and balancing the webpage. This gave me an insight into just how much effort goes into making a website and I was shocked at the amount of time which goes into a process which we take for granted every day when browsing the web. After learning about HTML, which I am now quite familiar with, we were told that a solid structure and accessible content is key in designing a successful site. We were also taught of the aesthetics of web design, and certain 'rules' such as the use of neutral backgrounds and not to use sound or striking, luminous colours which are sure to deter any user. As I am a keen music fan and constantly browsing various sites regarding music, I have came across many different pages which have caught my eye and influenced me in my design. I would love to achieve something like this by the end of Semester One: http://www.nathanfake.co.uk/content/

Creativity and Concept

Our current Creativity and Concept brief requires us to deliver a presentation on a new exhibition/event at the Liverpool Museum which appeals to a certain visitor group, in our case- Gardening Fanatics. This group task allows us to put our lateral thinking tehniques to work in order to come up with an original and innovative idea. Since given the brief, I have visited various museums such as the world museum and of course the new Liverpool Museum for inspiration and also to explore the surroundings in order to utilize the space in the best way possible. In addition, I have also been watching gardening programmes on tv such as Young Gardener of the Year which has given a useful insight into the various aspects of gardening. In previous classes we have came up with different concepts for our exhibition with the aid of De Bono cards and other tools, which will soon be put into ideas. Some of these are shown below:

Wikis and Maps- Contemporary Media Issues

Social Networking

Session 16 presented us with the task of creating another Wiki, only this time we had to explore how social networking is employed to engage audiences. In groups, we were given various topics, ours being 'Legalisation of Drugs' and each individual had a different aspect of this topic to explore. These were as follows: Social networking and identity, Collective Intelligence, The creation of communities, Social networking and democracy and Social networks as a market / distribution mechanism. I chose Social networking and identity and here is our wiki showing each individual thread: http://contemporarymediaissues.wetpaint.com/page/Legalisation+of+drugs

I felt that utilising a wiki was the best way to communicate such an issue as it not just outlines each individual's thoughts on the matter, but also allows for the opportunity to voice your opinion on other people's threads in a clear and approachable manner.

Presenting our Google Map

Last Wednesday we finished our location based narrative brief and presented our Google Map to the class. We decided to base our map on the life and achievements of Steven Gerrard, which proved successful due to the feedback from the class. In our map we included locations from London to Ukraine, which each included some information and either a picture or video to accompany. I thought this was a dynamic and interactive way to deliver a narritive and I fully enjoyed sharing the 'story' with the class. I also enjoyed the'Street view' application which offers an interactive opportunity allowing the user to pin point the location and view the actual surroundings. For this brief we achieved a grade of 58. I thought the idea of basing our map on a biography was a breath of fresh air, and the class agreed also. Our project was described as having a 'tactile nature'- "like flicking through an album or unfolding a map" which I felt was a good way of explaining it. However, if we were to do the map again I would take Sarah and Mark's advice to include more media, as our photos and videos consisted mainly of Gerrard's football outcomes. Therefore, basing the map around a less well-known character would allow for more to discover.

This is the link to our map: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=203481394485836462880.0004b6cadc9eeaa54cd6b&msa=0

After the brief, I searched for other examples which make use google maps in the same way and came across this 'Scenefly' group on facebook. The group offers an easy to understand view local events, musical talent and people who share your interests using Google Maps. I see this as a massive internet advancement as it provides a platform for common interests which branch off to wider possibilities.