Week 8 Blog Assignment: Reflection
I have learned a lot about communication technologies this quarter that I believe can benefit me throughout my life and my career. Having the ability to use basic design programs such as Adobe InDesign or Photoshop and knowing how to design a website could benefit me in many different areas of life in the future. These skills are extremely beneficial if I wanted to start my own business or make my services known to the public. Having a little bit of knowledge about so many different kinds of technology, including podcasts, social media websites and design programs, will help me keep up in an ever changing and progressing world. For my Week 6 blog assignment I had the opportunity to create an account on a new social media website. I chose to create a LinkedIn account because I have heard that they are beneficial in the business world for making connections and getting my name out there. Many of my peers have LinkedIn accounts which is why I thought it would be a good idea to make one as well. Luckily I had an assignment in another class to make a LinkedIn account, but because of the blog assignment in Jason's 350 course I had already began making mine. I think that LinkedIn is a wonderful tool for making business connections and searching for employment.
Having a blog has been an interesting experience. I had never had one before Professor Lind's 350 course and I think it was another good experience in the technological and social media fields. While I might not continue with this blog because it pertains to a specific college course, I definitely might start another blog about my travels or personal anecdotes in the future. I think that it is a good way to get ideas out into the world and have others give you feedback. This course as a whole has very beneficial and applicable to real world experiences. I would recommend this course to anyone thinking about taking it!
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Week 7 Blog Assignment: Basic Layout and Design Principles
A layout is the process of planning and arranging in detail something such as a book or webpage to be produced. There are two types of layouts, symmetrical and asymmetrical. Layouts can be designed by figures, forms, and colors to produce an aesthetically pleasing result. In relation to design, there are several principles that aid in producing a visually appealing outcome; proximity, visual hierarchy, repetition, unity, contrast, dynamics, and emphasis. These basic design principles are utilized to organize the structural elements of your website and will assist in communicating the key themes of your composition. Most sites from which I gained pertinent information stressed the importance of either symmetry or asymmetry. Just because you are not using symmetry does not mean you are using asymmetry; it is possible for the elements of your website to be completely unbalanced and turn out looking messy. Designing an aesthetically pleasing and easily navigable website is crucial to the success of what you are attempting to communicate. C.R.A.P. as discussed earlier in the quarter, refers to contrast, repetition, alignment and proximity. These elements, in accordance with the aforementioned elements as well, will produce a successful site that viewers will want to visit again and again. With these layout and design elements in mind, I can produce my own, successful website.
"Basic Layout Principles." Basic Layout Principles. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. http://www.slideshare.net/SherwinM/basic-layout-principles
"Basic Design Principles." Swinburne Multimedia Design Tutorials -. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. http://www.swinburne.edu.au/design/tutorials/design/design/
"Principles of Design and Page Layout." Principles of Design and Page Layout. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. http://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/graphics_design/mitchell_S96/chap1_3.htm
"How C.R.A.P Is Your Site Design? - Treehouse Blog." Treehouse Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. //blog.teamtreehouse.com/how-crap-is-your-site-design
A layout is the process of planning and arranging in detail something such as a book or webpage to be produced. There are two types of layouts, symmetrical and asymmetrical. Layouts can be designed by figures, forms, and colors to produce an aesthetically pleasing result. In relation to design, there are several principles that aid in producing a visually appealing outcome; proximity, visual hierarchy, repetition, unity, contrast, dynamics, and emphasis. These basic design principles are utilized to organize the structural elements of your website and will assist in communicating the key themes of your composition. Most sites from which I gained pertinent information stressed the importance of either symmetry or asymmetry. Just because you are not using symmetry does not mean you are using asymmetry; it is possible for the elements of your website to be completely unbalanced and turn out looking messy. Designing an aesthetically pleasing and easily navigable website is crucial to the success of what you are attempting to communicate. C.R.A.P. as discussed earlier in the quarter, refers to contrast, repetition, alignment and proximity. These elements, in accordance with the aforementioned elements as well, will produce a successful site that viewers will want to visit again and again. With these layout and design elements in mind, I can produce my own, successful website.
"Basic Layout Principles." Basic Layout Principles. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. http://www.slideshare.net/SherwinM/basic-layout-principles
"Basic Design Principles." Swinburne Multimedia Design Tutorials -. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. http://www.swinburne.edu.au/design/tutorials/design/design/
"Principles of Design and Page Layout." Principles of Design and Page Layout. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. http://www.siggraph.org/education/materials/graphics_design/mitchell_S96/chap1_3.htm
"How C.R.A.P Is Your Site Design? - Treehouse Blog." Treehouse Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. //blog.teamtreehouse.com/how-crap-is-your-site-design
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Week 6 Blog Assignment: social media & website builders
I recently joined the social media website LinkedIn, used for social networking for professionals. LinkedIn was founded in December of 2002 and launched in May of 2003. In 2013 LinkedIn reported having more than 225 million users in more than 220 countries throughout the world. LinkedIn is highly beneficial for professionals in search of employment and supplies a sort of virtual resume with the ability to add additional parts of user's lives. However a downfall with any social media site is that you may get requests to connect with individuals that you do not know personally and that may not reflect or support your business ventures. I have enjoyed my experience with LinkedIn thus far. I have the ability to put my professional profile on the internet for potential future employers to view, and I have the ability to connect with and follow the accounts of professionals and companies that share my desired business ventures.
Through building a group website on the various clubs at Western Washington University, we have been experimenting with the use of wix and weebly, personal website builders that you can use for free or pay for to get a more advanced set of tools to create a more advanced website. Wix is very user friendly and easy to use, however it does not offer the ability to use HTML code, so it is not geared to the more advanced website creators.
Key, J. R. (2012, Oct 04). Linkedin has pros and cons. Retrieved from http://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/business/article_018e1ab4-0e5f-11e2-843b-0019bb2963f4.html
General intsructions . (2011). Retrieved from wix.com
I recently joined the social media website LinkedIn, used for social networking for professionals. LinkedIn was founded in December of 2002 and launched in May of 2003. In 2013 LinkedIn reported having more than 225 million users in more than 220 countries throughout the world. LinkedIn is highly beneficial for professionals in search of employment and supplies a sort of virtual resume with the ability to add additional parts of user's lives. However a downfall with any social media site is that you may get requests to connect with individuals that you do not know personally and that may not reflect or support your business ventures. I have enjoyed my experience with LinkedIn thus far. I have the ability to put my professional profile on the internet for potential future employers to view, and I have the ability to connect with and follow the accounts of professionals and companies that share my desired business ventures.
Through building a group website on the various clubs at Western Washington University, we have been experimenting with the use of wix and weebly, personal website builders that you can use for free or pay for to get a more advanced set of tools to create a more advanced website. Wix is very user friendly and easy to use, however it does not offer the ability to use HTML code, so it is not geared to the more advanced website creators.
Key, J. R. (2012, Oct 04). Linkedin has pros and cons. Retrieved from http://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/business/article_018e1ab4-0e5f-11e2-843b-0019bb2963f4.html
General intsructions . (2011). Retrieved from wix.com
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