Time to Get Online - Class Website Feedback and Personal Evaluation - 7.2.19

Class Feedback:

• Image quality - play with the edges of the images. Make sure they are big and bold.
• Image consistency - Have a colour scheme. All images the same within the portfolio by could go into a project which means the colours diverge. 
• Keep it simple.
• Mission statement should reflect on website.
• Have a clear line between how you write about yourself and how you are.
• Experiment with layout.
• Homepage should be linked.
• On Ready Mag you can vote on the best websites on their page - could look at portfolios for reference.

Own Evaluation:

• It is possible that I have too many varied pieces of work on the website. They have been divided in 'exhibition/event design', 'publication design' and 'illustration work' and by not having a consistent approach this may effect the overall experience. However, the photographs are largely consistent and by dividing the projects into sections it means there is less disruption.
• The bio of the website is quite general and perhaps more of my own personality needs to be injected into it, whilst still being professional.
• (need to figure out how to link homepage icon)
• Perhaps the images could be shot again so that they all have colour backgrounds. This could be useful for instagram account too. By using several consistent colours this could mean the work is more satisfying to look at.
• In general perhaps the layout is too safe? Although with this website software it is tricky to diverge from this. Could either explore further or look into new software.

Tutor Advice:

Use http://commission.studio/ for reference and make the photography displaying the work varied, creative and thoughtful. By having it all in a simple and obvious layout and background, the designs become repetitive and boring. This should be something that is applied to my Instagram too.

Time to Get Online - Website Design

6B2/6C2/6D2

https://www.hazelthacker.com/

For the colour scheme of my website, I made the primary colours a soft pink and deep turquoise which are the main colours used in my existing personal branding. I made sure the umbrella pencil logo was placed on the top banner of the website and on the footer. I also spent some time inputting the umbrella as a favicon for the website tabs. This branding is furthered by the use of the statement 'Invest in an umbrella, it's RAINING ideas' - which derived from the word 'brainstorm'. This branding is something I would like to develop and refine later on, but for the purpose of this website it was consistent throughout.

Also on the front page of the website, I have an engaging bio. 'Hazel Thacker: Designer, Illustrator, Brainstormer. Brimming with creative passion and enthusiasm to make your design experience smooth, easy and satisfying.' This is something I will likely change in future, as in some ways it doesn't feel personal enough and it others its seems unintentionally suggestive. However, it still gives an enthusiastic and adaptable impression. Below this some of my best portfolio pieces have been exhibited, allowing the viewer to click on one and be taken to that product's page. Because my work is quite varied at the moment, I decided to divide it into 'exhibition/event design', 'publication design' and 'illustration work' - displayed in pictograms. Clicking on one of these would then lead the viewer immediately to their area of interest, allowing them to have a more tailored experience.

Below this there is an 'about me' section, which explores my practice and interests and experience further without having bombarded the viewer at the top of the page. Then there is my business hours and lines of content. The 'send me a message' feature makes it even easier for individuals to get into contact. The photo next to it gives the impression of being in a creative environment, but also being friendly.

On the website there is also a portfolio tab, which has the same dividing pictograms then leading to the page of interest. Below the 'exhibition/event design' tab is shown, with images that fill the page and can be clicked on for further information. If the cursor rests over the image it reveals the title of the piece, giving more context and creating further interest. Once a product is clicked on, it reveals some intriguing copy, a slideshow of 4 images, then further information about the final design and some more images that could be of interest. This means there is a strong body of information, yet presented in a minimal and palatable way - the design is not overwhelming. There is project pages for 9 pieces of work, since I have three subheadings. This could perhaps be condensed in future so that there is less of divide in attention.

How to Build a Blog Seminar - Sarah Bates - Start Up Wednesday

6B2/6C2/6D2

In order to become more informed about how to create content for a website or blog I attended a 'Start Up Wednesday' session by Sarah Bates. One of the key pieces of information I gleaned from this was to create a personal brand and to keep it consistent though-out, making it clear who you are and what you can offer from the outset.

http://www.sarahbatesdesign.co.uk/ - Sarah Bates' Website

The most important thing to do is to identify your audience before you build the blog.

Benefits of blogging:

1. Promote work.
2. Engage with the customer on a facing level.
3. Express yourself and your passion.
4. Build a professional network.
5. Build an online portfolio.
6. Earn exposure for commissions, employment and projects.  

Follow some websites and blogs to inspire your own blog, e.g. eye magazine, the design blog (TDB), Shillington Education.

Make sure you have a benefiting statement rather than just who you are, how you will be able to help them.

Think about the hierarchy of information, different thicknesses, italics, column lengths, pictures - if it's not engaging people will click away. The chunks of text should be in small paragraphs with headings, minimum of 300 words for a post.

The information needs to be accessed quickly and easily.

Stay away from one solid background colour, go with white and then soft greys and blacks for the headers.

Don't display the date if you're not going to be posting regularly. 

Tag all images in order for people to find your work.

Avoid swearing, people don't like it in a professional capacity.

Think about the values of your business and make sure the website reflects this, it should be consistent and personal to the business. There should be select key words that people can type in, and your business will come up as something associated with that. The blog should be filled with that key phrase.                      

Make sure the titles of the blogs are considered and interesting, this is what will come up initially, it's what the public and google will judge you by. 

Make sure that if you are linking to other pages, link specific words - don't paste the actual URL. This is ugly and distracting and will detract from the content.

Time to Get Online - Photography Studio Session

6C2, 6D2

One of the main pieces of advice given to us for a professional website was to rework and re-photograph the best pieces of design in our portfolio. So a few of us booked out a photography studio and spent the evening photographing our pieces. This took a long time but meant we had a body of photographs that were more professional than previously, and a collection which was far more consistent. This consistency was important for both social media and the website, ensuring the brand was cohesive and allowing the viewers to know what to expect from the brand. 

Some of the pieces were photographed on coloured backgrounds, these were either pink or blue. This gave the brand further character and context and will be good for social media, ensuring the brand has an overall aesthetic. These colours were replicated in my personal branding and on my website. In future I hope to experiment further with different styles of backgrounds, I have some plans to improve my social media by photographing my pieces in unusual and unexpected places.

Time to Get Online - Briefing and Web Clinic

6B2, 6C2, 6D2

'In order to cut it as a creative professional, a personal, studio or collective website is essential. This is an online portfolio and a chance to tell the world what kind of a designer/creative you are. You are required to create a live, functioning site, complete with application of your personal branding, a well curated and presented selection of your work, a clear and engaging bio or mission statement and links to relevant social accounts.The site will be judged on its suitability to your practice, its presentation, effectiveness and design.'

Briefing notes

• 2 weeks to get personal website live.
• Due 29.11.18 3pm
• Need URL

Advice

• Consistent application of personal branding.
• Curated selection of work - consider 'repackaging' existing work.
• An engaging bio.
• Include contact details and relevant socials - recommends custom.
• All inbound and outbound links must work.
• Give projects context with intriguing copy. 
• Focus on text and music.
• For every project consider an image that will fit with the project. 

Web Clinic 23/11/19

• Use of images is important - make sure they are clever and refined.
• Context is important, no need to show everything.
• The content of the website should constantly be evolving.
• Think about if you were to remove work - would it loose anything?
• Prioritise what looks visually best.
• Consider including a mailto link.
• Feature the work that represents you best, the opportunities you're going for and who you're trying to impress.

Networking for Headstrong Magazine

6A2/6C2/6D2

My main project of 2018 was to create a feminist publication called 'Headstrong'. This was designed to share feminist thought from a wide selection of intersectional women. As part of this I contacted feminists from around the country that I thought might be willing to contribute articles and ideas for the magazine. This was a good opportunity and meant that the finished magazine was shared further within their circles.

This also involved contacting some professionals that I thought would have some interesting feminist insight into the magazine. Since I had attended a Protest Press workshop I thought it would interesting to do a segment featuring their practice and the type of social justice work they create and inspire. During the workshop I spoke to them about this and received their business card, through this I then emailed them some questions regarding their practice and their thoughts on feminism.

Their response to the questions:

1. What inspired you to start Protest Press? 

We started Protest Press at the beginning of our final year, as five graphic design students united by using design to activate change. It was very simple at the beginning and grew from using the accessible resources and facilities of our university. 

It also came from a place of perseverance and belief that design could positively help to create social, environmental or political shifts. For example, when the Brexit vote result was announced in 2016, we all couldn’t help but feel disappointed that we didn’t do more to support the cause we so believed in. Design holds so much power in forming a better understanding - from reaching a wider audience, to simply covering a message with clarity. 

2. Why do you think it's important to get young people making protest art?

From our workshops we’ve seen the educated and opinionated views of amazing young people. It’s uplifting to see this, especially in the face of what we think is a slightly looked down upon view of young people not having important opinions or understandings, for example voting being restricted for under 18s.

Younger generations hold wondrous skills in creativity and imagination, and its great to see the two pair together through the design methods of Protest Press.  

We think overall it’s significantly important that people realise the value of their voice and use it as active empowerment. 

3. In your presentation you discussed the Suffragettes as one of your inspirations, could you explain a bit more about this?

As five women, we see the Suffragette movement as having paved the freedom that we live and society we live in now. It’s particularly inspiring to see that various forms of communication were used to articulate and circulate messages of hope and equality. 

4. And finally, what future plans do you have for Protest Press? 

Protest Press is a side passion for all of us and something we see shaping a brighter tomorrow. On the horizon for 2019, we see further large workshops but also connecting with smaller community bases. We see a push of possibilities through design methods and a space for greater diverse collaborations. 

Unfortunately I put the magazine into print by the time I had received this response. However, the answers have given me some interesting insight into their practice and have allowed me to have some contact and experience in chatting to a collective within the design industry. Especially as they are a collective run entirely by women, I find this very inspiring and refreshing. Their work is definitely something I want to study further. I could even potentially create a second issue of Headstrong, or perhaps a second addition with more content and send it to them. 

Protest Press Workshop

6A2/6D2

Protest Press is a collective of recently graduated women who run hands-on workshops to engage in a conversation about powerful activism and positive change.

For part of this workshop we were grouped together to formulate activist statements and quickly build on each other ideas. This worked well and meant the group was highly engaged and communicating with each other. We then made posters using just strips of paper to communicate our idea - ours was to have the words 'I'm Okay' but with 'Not' written behind it to reflect the mounting stress of University.

I felt inspired by Protest Press' practice and their discussion of their own inspirations - such as the Suffragette movement's communication through coins, 'Do the Green Thing' platform made by Pentagram and 'Me and the EU' by Nathan and Sam Smith. I also liked the fact they're a collective of independent women, as this is not often the case.

Because of my interest, I decided to talk to them after the workshop and ask if they would like to contribute to my feminist publication. They said yes and gave me their business card. This was extremely useful and I got into contact with them accordingly.