Design for Web

15 / 10 / 13

STUDIO BRIEF 2

DESIGN FOR WEB

HISTORY OF THE WEB.

Invented in 1991.
While scientist were working in Geneva, Switzerland, they wanted a way to share information with out having to deliver it by hand across the large facilities. It was invented by Tim Bernes-Lee who was a scientist working there at the time.

Websites are hosted within web-servers. The first web server was invented in the form of the Next computer created by Steve Jobs (also the creator of apple). At one time this server housed the entire worldwide web while it was still in its infancy.

In 1992 the first image was posted on the internet. for an image to be uploaded it has to be of a universal format such as a jpeg.



TERMINOLOGY. 
Web browsers are softwares the decode what the created/designer unloads and posts.


HTTP - (Hypertext transfer Protocol) The process of transferring from the web server * * * *

URL - (Uniform resource locator) How you access a web folder on a server that then takes you to the wanted website.

HTML - (Hypertext Mark up Language)

CSS - (Cascading style sheets) this is what makes the website look good.

FTP - (File transfer Protocol) This is when files are transferred using the web.

CMS - ( Content management system) how websites are maintained and updated to remain successful.

SKEUUMORPHISM - Imitating something that is physical (for example, when buttons on screen look as if they are made from materials like metal or wood or a page that turns like a sheet of paper in a book).

Here is an example of Skeuumorphism. Apple got a lot of stick when the created the news stand app which imitates a physical wooden stick of shelves (on the left). Many critics believe that Onscreen design should sit as its own thing rather than using existing predictable imitations. Due to this criticism, when the new apple software IOS7 was distributed, many features were updated showing hardly any skeuumorphism (on the right).


RESPONSIVE - A responsive website is when the information onscreen reaches to the user. This could be through fun graphics but it can also relate to when the onscreen page reacts to the resizing of a window or a rotation of a tablet or phone.



HOW DESIGN A WEBSITE
All websites are made from grids. These have been taken and translated from paper and the rules created by Massimo Vignelli. 

'The grid is the underwear of a book' - Massimo Vignelli


Important things when wanting a website:

1 - WHATS THE POINT?
Is a website needed? will people want/need to use it? is it a suitable for the subject to have a web presence?

2 - WHO ARE THE TARGET AUDIENCE?
Who will be using the website? How will this affect the information given? How will this effect how the information is presented? How will the audience interact with it?

3 - WHAT DOES THE AUDIENCE NEED FROM  WEBSITE?
What is the subject? what information needs to be given? what is relevant or irrelevant?

*  *  *  * 

WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESNT.

EXISTING WEBSITES / FIRST THOUGHTS.

LEEDS COLLAGE OF ART

FIRST THOUGHTS.

- A lot of type, image a colour.
- Very linear down the page, does not make good use of space.

- A lot of different type sizes.
- Not clear on direction of quite sporadic in different information.

BBC GOOD FOOD
FIRST THOUGHTS

- Good use of space.
- Nice imagery/Photography.
- Background seems distracting.
- Colours seem uniform.
- Simple layout, really easily directed.

EVANGEL CATHEDRAL
FIRST THOUGHTS

- Very over the top, busy, headache inducing.
- Confusing, misleading, doesn't seen appropriate for the subject
- too many colours, images and mix of type.

UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS, HELSINKI

FIRST THOUGHTS

- Very appropriate, Imagery
- Good Balance of image and type.
- Easily directed.