D3C Portfolio Blog

So another new design has come about, how long will this one last? and what will the opinions be?

So a new background, created by yours truly, a 1 pixel by 1440 pixel  repeating background, having gained inspiration from a friend for noise themed backgrounds I had a go. Also I have themed the links to create an immediate visual aide for the user in navigating the site.

Keeping a similar layout for the header and placeholder, just changing the colours and imagery, I believe this new design opens up the content even more through negating borders on the main content. The look and feel seems more modern and fitting with a social site.

I also have been working on the user login section more and have created the basic module boxes that will contain the data pertaining to the particular media types. Also have started looking into the possibility of having the modules draggable so the user can change the layout of the data to suit their tastes more, looking into jQuery for that.

ARGH!

Simply put designing mirupa.com is driving me insane, I just cant design! everytime I produce something new It’s just not good enough, I do intially like the new designs and grow in strength from that but it’s always a case of either someone else slating it or later on I come to realise the design is not good enough.

Where do I go from here? well I have started working on a new design, this better be the last time I do, the design is really holding the development back.

Been working very hard this past week, as previously stated I was going to work on a re-design, to which is driving me insane!! am I actually going to start developing this site! Can really see now why the need for dedicated designers and developers within a web design agency, no one person can truly achieve to excel in both areas, your either a developer or a design, least average at both and never excelling in one.

So I was talking about a re-design for mirupa.com, well I started that and feel the design has come along, have kept a similar layout but changed the colours, images etc.

Having had a slight change to the site/layout I have also started working on the user login page, I had to start thinking about what types of information and functions the user would want to  read and use.

• All media types, books, films, games, music & tv
• Ability to request a media title and write a review for it
• Searching media
• Having friends
• Top 10’s
• Profiles
• Accounts
• Read Reviews

Had a tutorial with Jay this week and after a discussion regarding the site itself, his opinion was that the theme gave him instant impressions of a gardenning website, with all the green. After this I endevoured to set out looking into a new site design.

Hopefully I will have some new designs come next week.

Damn I hate designing

Sadly done no extra work on Mirupa.com this week, been far too busy working on the client project.

So progress keeps going at a very slow pace, the design is such a problematic issue! I suppose that’s just part of being a developer and not a designer, cannot be great at both. (well least I cant)

Implemented the theme colour changer this week, decided to try a jQuery route, before I have achieved this via PHP but wanted to try something new; keeps me interested. I had the function changing the main colours for the header, placeholder, text and borders.

Mock up #2

Mock up #3

After creating this element for the website I then endured to get feedback from my peers which colour theme they liked most, as some people had warned me against having a green themed website.

So things are starting to move along quickly now, feeling more confident with the current design has meant I’ve been encouraged to start building the site proper. Working on the CSS file and index.php file getting some of the links working etc.

Had some feedback on the possibility of the user being able to pick different theme colours, say if they don’t like green. Going to work on that over the next week.

So x-mas and new year over! so happy new year everyone Been a hectic couple of weeks and in all honesty not so much work done. But come on, we do need to have some relaxing and time off studying dont we

Have been playing around with the layout colours and have changed the types of greens. In my opinion it works better, the greens are more vibrant and draw more attention to the sections.

Really starting to enjoy working on this project now, seems the design is starting to become good.

Off University at the moment and not working, simple post to relay this.

Last week before we break for Christmas and its all stations go! Again like my last post I find myself in the situation where it just doesnt seem viable to spend time on my FMP project when we have two other projects nearing deadline, thats time I can spend improving and aiming towards a better grade for the former.

If I am being totally honest I cannot see myself working on the FMP project until mid January.