project_1_final_jcowan

[Fatkid53]

For my project one "web page layout" I started with my thumbnails as usual to discern a solution for the problem of selecting a style to display links between both local and remote information in the website we are constructing. In my thumbnails I weeded out the content heavy designs and tried to establish a reasonably elegant layout for a general design while also designing a good set of bones for functionality. After stripping away most of the unneeded content or flashy gimmicks I chose two designs with a basic setup, a center heavy concept and a justified left concept. I chose the justified left design for a few reasons as my final design; First I settled on a US based design with a menu on the left, the left side menu will be in constant view of the user urging them to explore further into the site and discover new content. By using a dynamic digital drawing in the background I am trying to provoke a sense of excitement in the user as well as a curiosity to what else the site holds. I chose a noodle based serif font for easy readability and while I left the titles and links in all caps to establish their dominance of importance I strayed a bit from design-norms by using a drop caps version in the body copy with adjusted kerning and leading to promote readability. In my final version I also applied some effects to promote continuity with the background image and lift the text from the canvas so it establishes a separation from the background image simultaneously. When I was considering color I looked to a previously designed logo I use, the soft blue pushed the yellow in the logo to the forefront and I used hints of these colours in the blending on the main title as well. The drawing behind the text is also designed to lift the foreground images from the page without over exciting the user. To further comfort the user I also balanced the layout of the titles, links/buttons, and the body copy to give things a chance to breath on the main page and so the do not crowd each other when condensed into my mobile version. As for my mobile version, I have design for what my site would look like when condensed as opposed to a completely different mobile layout. I am hoping as the class progresses to establish the ability to stack my justified left concept into a more center orientated format when it scales. I hope the design is pleasing to the eye and that you enjoy it.

My thumbnails:

For my resources:
In general when I am looking at movies, articles, or websites I am constantly breaking down the design of things, and for that reason I have a bookmark list that is maddenly dense. I will bookmark everything from the trivial, like a castle I like for illustration reference, or the germain, like a bunch of websites where I enjoy the imagery or the layout, with that being said here are four resources I have used regularly and enjoy for content and creation...

I love CB for anything graphic or art related and it's a great place to find new artists and designers. I personally am a fan of design as well as a designer and I find inspiration in the other designers I view.
https://www.creativebloq.com/
I found Studio Malvah a while ago when I was looking to redesign my site. Their web features are definitely unique, original and inspiring.
https://malvah.co/
When I find myself static in my workflow I like to flip through eight25media's site. They have a section called case study that actually details their design process for their bigger clients and it has helped me rethink a few projects.
https://www.eight25media.com/
For the last of my resources I chose Design Resources. They have been a great help at finding bits and pieces as well as helping find programs that work for certain functions throughout my design workflow.
https://www.designresourc.es/

[Cole_Richards]

Hi James, these look awesome! They are really nicely done, I love the use of the picture in the background contrasting the text up top. For the mobile design I would maybe change the layout a bit so that you can bring the About me section in there since it's missing in this design, otherwise great job!

[Mike_Chavez123]

I like your mobile and desktop versions, they’re very similar looking.

[zandrews]

Hey James!

Wow! I really love your final layout - it is so fun, engaging and really just pops off the screen with the illustrative background! My favorite part is how the "Curiosity Shop Designs" is transparent with the illustration but alters the colors of it through the letters, giving me an almost psychedelic, trippy vibe while still being very easy to read and it adds so much pop to your logo/site title! Speaking of the illustration, awesome artwork!

As for your layout, your elements are are very well spaced and place across both the desktop and mobile. The margins, the spacing, everything is excellently thought out and lines up for a very clean, professional looking layout. Also, I love your logo stamp of the lightbulb and how that is the header of the navigation, creating a fun visual play on the "Curiosity" portion of your brand name. Honestly theres not much I would change except perhaps maybe rethinking your body copy font as it's a little hard to read in a paragraph form like that versus your Header/Subhead which works well on it's own. The body copy is still readable of course but just from a glance standpoint, I have to really focus in to read it.

Other than that though, this layout is very eye catching and super fun to look at. Looking forward to your final build of this. Fantastic work!

[Samantha_Thomas]

Ah, I remember the one that creeped me out, and it isn't a bad thing.
I like how you did it and how you can see everything pretty clearly, and the head title is also excellent in its path.
Speaking of the title portion is a bit hard to see; it's a cool effect, but my brain took a minute to figure out what it said with the white and green appearing from the background.

[kpargs]

Hi James,
dope, dope, dope! For having busy artwork as a background, it still has space and is fun to look at. Awesome job.

[Megan Greaves]

Hello James,

I like that you chose/created this, um, interesting background image that serves as the only image in the design (except for the logo), leaving the text and layout to be simple and informative. I also like the way that you created your headline text by brightening the image laying beneath. Everything has great margins and space between and groups itself nicely without you having used actual boxes or lines. I am impressed that you have already received degrees. Are you taking classes again to refresh your knowledge or for fun? I think it's really cool either way. Sadly I can't think of anything to offer advice on, since I can't think of a way to change what appears to be a perfectly functional layout.

[yenny]

Hey James,

I really like the choice you made! I really like the changes to your mobile design, it's really clever and cool. I think the picture in the background is really cool and it works really well. The logo stands out really well. I think the organization of it all is really well done! I also really like the picture shown through the text!

[Elle Barre]

James, I could hardly find your name on this version! I found it, it looks like a byline for a columnist, not THE GUY this website belongs to. I think your name should stand out more. In my mind's eye, I 'remembered' your name being the one --actually another student in here -- done in a big, contrasting 3-D font, real outstanding. Since I do remember the original where the art is very clear and unobstructed, I like the fact that it's obstructed FOR the wrong reasons: I am glad it was obscured because it's a creepy image to me--I have six brothers most of whom drew detailed pictures like this of --well, views inside their heads: blood and gore and wart hogs and exploding bombs. I've been near traumatized by blood and gore--Did I mention, I was raised in the country with horses cattle goats turkeys chickens rabbits and a few chinchillas, and one day I came home from school and there was a dead grizzly bear hanging upside down from a big tree branch, skinned. What a horrible sight! Well, it was the steer we had, not a bear, turns out, and the professional meat locker guy was doing what he does to turn the steer to food on the table--we did raise animals for food, except the horses. I wanted to explain my queasiness about your subject matter in your very excellent art. I appreciate the professional completeness and polish of your technique. Your talent is clear. One other thing: I think that the see-thru letters should be bigger and fatter so more of the art behind it was showcased. I know this kind of art has a great audience, so, show them! Give it some room to breathe! Don't darken and block it ALL out of existence.

[squidgola33]

I think this looks great. I love the overall simplicity of the design. I like how you used some very vivid imagery but found a way to mellow it out to make your website icons stand out. this looks super cool.