EVALUATION:

To begin, many issues occured with the user interface. I was unable to produce links, as I forgot to slice the text in Photoshop. This was very time consuming trying to figure out where I had gone wrong. I also had a huge problem with the images, as I created many images to go on each seperate page. These images related to each topic in hand. However, these could not be used. As I somehow managed to code the website so that one image is consistant throughout it all, I feel this was done as I created my Index (Home Page) then saved this as a template, which I inserted into every new document I opened. Due to the limitations of time, I could not fix this mistake. Therefore I created one image which connotes a slight aspect of all the topics; events, talents, advice, contact and fashion.

The user engagment of this website is based on what the niche audience are interested in, therefore the user engagment is active as it was established in the presentation, when I asked my tagrte audience that these subjects illustrated on the website are a valid representation of what the niche audience is looking for. Thus demonstrating the engagment of users by reading the website. Although, in further development of the SocialSpace website blogs will be added as external links so that users can interact with eachother and discuss the topics in hand. This was discussed in the proposal, but due to the time limitations I have had, this had not been produced unfortunatley.

The interactivity is of a high form, especially as the Talents Pae will include Kingston University students uploading their talents, therefore interacting with the website and other users. As there was no raw material of Kingston Students talents, this could not be added to the production. In further production, an uploading of word documents, videos, sounds will be featured on this page.

The concept of colours used for this website entwines with the Kingston website that is already in use, as I have already used SocialSpace to relate to StudySpace I felt it was nesecesary to include the same colour themes which creates consistency. The colours used are blue, black, white and grey which looks extremely modern and high tech.

The layout used also looks very modern and is consistant throughout the whole website therefore making it all look very neat. However as mentioned earlier, the template layour interferred with the different images that could of been used.

The typography used is simple and clear, this also related to the text used in the Kingston University site. Although the header which is featured on top of every page, is vibrant and fun. It connotes the word "space" by its background graphics and also I included the round circle which some letters are placed around, so that it looks similar to the Kingston website which has circles around the logo.

Overall, I feel this website is user friendly and the layout is professional and tidy. However, I do wish I had more time, to discover the technical error in the coding when it comes to the images and also to create the external links, such as the blogs.

New Image:

This is the new image I have had to make in Photoshop by entwining ALL the other images that were meant to be on each single page.

Slicing on Photoshop

I had to slice all the page icons on Photoshop, as when I had written the text into Dreamweaver, and tried to highlight each word and create a link to that, the link would automatically be used for all the other pages. This demonstrates that I needed to make separate buttons by slicing the text with the background in Photoshop. These are my following buttons, which I then placed into Dreamerweaver by inserting image into the correct place in the coding script.

Problems Encountered.

I am having problems with the website layout template. I saved the template after creating my home page. Therefore the home page image was saved into the template for all other pages. I have just realised this now, so whatever image I have in the template will have to be a consistent image for all pages. This has now created a BIG problem, as I already had all my images prepared, as seen earlier on in the blog!!!

I am now going to create an image, that combines all the pages together, which will be used throughout the whole website. This had created A HUGE DISADVANTAGE to my website, but due to time I can not fix this right now.

However, in further development of the website, this problem will be solved and the blogs would be attached as external links to each page. This is where students can interact with each other and discuss the topics in hand, but this can not be done right now due to time limits.

Header

This is my header for the actual site and will be featured on each page.
This connotes a space type feeling, which interlinks with the website name.

Images:

The first image is featured on the homepage, the second is on the talents page, third is used in the fashion page, fourth image in events, fifth in contact and last image in the advice link.

My Images for Each Page

Layout

This website layout was designed in Photoshop by using multiple layers. Once this was sliced and exported into Dreamweaver, I had trouble coding this layout due to the distortion of the bars on each side of the page. Therefore these had to be removed. However the header, and SocialSpace logo works extremely well with the website concept.

Feedback from my presentation

McLuhan Theory has now changed!!!

I have discovered from my presentation that McLuhan's concept of the world is a "global village" relates to my website concept rather than the theory of the "medium is the message".

I thought the "medium is the message" was based on what the websites messages was trying to connote to the audience. This demonstrates I lacked in my research earlier, but I now understand that the mediums are technologies such as, a television, laptop or an expensive car; which promotes a certain message and relates to an individuals identity.

Therefore my concept relates to "the world is a global village" this refers to how people can connect with each other from the other side of the world. People can also gain information of global affairs even if they do not live there, this is done via the internet or world news featured on television. Thus, my website is connecting Kingston University students togeth er, sharing global knowledge and news with a niche audience.

In addition, I asked my target audience (Kingston Students) in the presentation if there were any other topics rather than fashion, events, advice that they would prefer. The students agreed that these topics are fine, although there should be something to interlink Kingston Students. Therefore on the advice page, students can also talk about their degrees, coursework and gain help from one another.

To define this site to be apart of Kingston University, I have used SocialSpace which interacts with the name StudySpace therefore relating to the sites already established by Kingston University. The feedback I gained was to incorporate the word Kingston, to make it clearer to students using this site. Instead I am scrapping the font I have now, and creating one that matches the Kingstons StudentSpace one, which is:

Also the "i" in SocialSpace funny?

When I asked if the layout and font of my "socialspac

e" title was good. Everyone said they liked it, apart from one, who said th e eye was a bit too big. As I am already changing the font, I will make sure this problem does not occur again.

These are now my processes of creating my new SocialSpace title.

This is my FINAL title for the website... it incorporates the colours already used for the Kingston University actual website, which demonstrates how I have entwined the two.

Questions for my PRESENTATION:

Above is the website layout demonstrated in my presentation.

The Questions I asked were:

Do you think there are any other topics, rather than events, fashion etc that will be more appealing to Students?

Is there anything I can add or improve on when it comes to the colour scheme and layout of the website?

Target Audience: Is a NICHE audience:

• The target audience for this website are Kingston Students

• Kingston Students vary from ages of 18 onwards.

• They can be outgoing. Therefore attending local Kingston clubs, bars and restaurants.

• If they are not into the clubbing scene, they are interested in particular talents, such as music, art, drama and so on. This is where the talent page relates to this part of the audience.

• Kingston Students will also log-in to this site to gain advice on any problems they have.
  

• Fashion trends for boys and girls will also be updated weekly, therefore students will gain advice on what to wear and what is in season. This attracts the students who love fashion.

• This site therefore attracts a variety of different students for many reasons. Some being the passion of fashion, music, arts and attending local events.
  

Fonts for my header:

I have decided on a name for the website. It will be called SocialSpace. This interlinks with the websites already established for Kingston University students, such as, StudySpace. I now have to decide which style I want to use for the website from the four font styles demosntrated below.

http://www.GraffitiGen.com/ - Graffiti Creator - MySpace Layouts - goJoin Sports

This style is colourful and fun. The colours relate to all genders.

http://www.GraffitiGen.com/ - Graffiti Creator - MySpace Layouts - goJoin Sports

This font isn't clear enough therefore this is a disadvantage to this style.

http://www.GraffitiGen.com/ - Graffiti Creator - MySpace Layouts - goJoin Sports

I like this style, it is simple and clear although it is not very vibrant.

http://www.GraffitiGen.com/ - Graffiti Creator - MySpace Layouts - goJoin Sports

This style is fun, vibrant but does not interact as many colours as the first font style. Therefore from all the font styles shown, the first one is the style I feel interacts with all target audiences. It is clear, fun and vibrant.

Content in each page:

Latest Gossip Page:
This page will show articles on celebrity gossip, sports updates and local news along with Kingston university news.

Events Page:
This page will include a list of events in Kingston for the week. It will then display events outside of Kingston that students can attend, this will be clubs in Central London, and outer London. Events will also include restaurants, amusement parks and other attractions. This page will be updated weekly.

Advice Page:
The advice page will offer a confidential page in which students can write their worries and concerns to a person who will respond and offer advice. This will be done once the website develops more. For now, the page will offer articles on eating disorders, binge drinking and drug abuse. This will further lead to links that deal with these issues.

Fashion Page:
The fashion page shows pictures and articles on the latest fashion trends. Varying from clothes that students can wear on a night out to daytime clothes that are in season. Accessories will also be shown on the page, alongside articles on how students can bargain and shop less for more.

Talent Page:
The talent page is a page that offers the facility for students to upload videos, lyrics, paintings and so on to gain feedback from other students. This will be further linked to MySpace.com where students can create a professional profile for their talents. The main purpose of this page is for students to gain feedback on what people think of their talents and how to maybe improve. As the website is not real, this page will upload talents from established artists for now.

McLuhan - The message is the medium...

http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/media/topics/342-1814/

This web address takes you to a video of McLuhans' description of" the world is a global village" and "the medium is the message". This video discusses the effect of mass media on societies behavior and thought processes. He explains the term global village by the example of, if there is an earthquake, everyone will know about this, as the message is sent through the medium. McLuhan also says that the telephone brings the world closer together.

However my perception is that the new technologies, such as the telephone and internet make the world more antisocial. More teenagers rather stay at home and watch television and talk to their friends on Facebook rather than going out and socializing with them.

http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/media/topics/342-1818/

In this clip, McLuhan states how television is a low definition medium as it offers less information and relies on the participant creating their perception of the images viewed. He explains that when a participant reads a book this is a high definition medium which gives the readers a lot of information "at a level of lower sensory participation." ( http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/media/topics/342-1818/)

This establishes how different mediums produce a certain amount of information. This leads to different levels in which the participants contribute to that message. For example, there are occasions where two viewers watching the same television advert will gain a two different messages. I personally believe that the variety of mediums such as television, the internet, phones and so on have in a way "dummed" down society. Television is especially becoming less educational and more reality based.

"According to McLuhan, television is the canvas for a new environment of all human association and perception." ( http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/media/topics/342-1818/)

These quotes arrives from,

The CBC Digital Archives Website.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Last updated: Aug. 19, 2008.

Flow Chart:

From the flow chart it is shown that the homepage is linked to all the four pages; events, advice, talents and fashion, which are further linked to blogs where students can interact. These pages are then linked back to the homepage and to each other. Each page is also then linked to external websites that relate to the topic. This enables the users to get to their chosen page as quick as possible, making the website user friendly, as there will be a main menu bar at the top of each page, stating: Home, Advice, Events, Talents and Fashion page, alongside contact information.

Research: Influences:

PEREZHILTON.COM is the site that helped inspire my website idea. This website is surrounded on celebrity gossip and latest news. This relates to my website, as it is based on the latest news and events for a niche audience of Kingston Students.

The site shows pictures of celebrities that sometimes are shown with funny remarks on them, for example the image below is of Lindsay Lohan, the caption with it says; "Fall in love with a sandwich" This demonstrates the website is there to stay in touch with the latest gossip as well as making fun of them. Website users can then comment on articles and pictures. This will be done for my website so that students can interact and discuss events, fashion trends and other topics.

Facebook is also another huge influence to my website concept, as it is a socialising network. It is very organised and clear compared to the other image below it, which is unclear and NOT user friendly.

Proposal

Project Proposal – Designing for the Internet

The concept for this idea is surrounded around McLuhan’s dictum that “the medium is the message.” As McLuhan says, society is forming into the “tribal man” this means that everyone is bringing their thoughts together as “one” whereas in earlier society when technology did not exist, it was a man and a book alone with his personal thoughts and perception. This has now transformed into a “whole” as the communities thoughts are the same, because so many mediums, such as television, radio and the internet re-produce the same meanings for the audience. Therefore creating the “tribal man” and demonstrating that “the medium is the message”.

The idea of this website is orientated around Kingston University updates, where students can log into the site using their Kingston user ID and password. Once this is done they can view pages of latest news, advice, events, talents and fashion.

The motivation of this idea is to create an exclusive site for university students, which enable each student to relate and talk to others. This then brings the students of Kingston more entwined. This idea was inspired by the website http://www.perezhilton.com/, where Perez Hilton, a man in America produces articles about celebrities and gossip forums. Another inspiration was Facebook as it represents a “global village”, where people from all around the world can interact with each other and share the same hobbies. However this website idea differs from both these websites as it is more focused on issues and forums rather than gossiping or socialising.

The website idea clearly demonstrates the target audience will be a niche audience, limited to only Kingston students. This website is suitable for the audience as they gain knowledge of other student’s experiences and latest events in their area. The audience will vary from different ages, as do the students of Kingston. Their interests will be orientated around the student lifestyle, of studying, partying, eating out and keeping up with the latest fashion trends.

The pre-production is based on gaining knowledge on university events, fashion trends for students, the latest clubs which hold personal appearances by artists, and advice that students may need on any issues. This knowledge is easily obtainable as I am a university student myself. This will be done by creating a questionnaire which asks students particular questions relating to what will appear on the website and what they think should appear on the site. This may lead to the pages that are decided on being changed to ones which students would prefer more. This questionnaire will be completed by the end of March.

The production itself, involves using software such as Dreamweaver, Flash and Photoshop. To create a website template, Dreamweaver will be used; this is where the process of designing the homepage and four other pages will take place. Once this process begins, the graphics and design of the site will be created; deciding on the look of the website, whether it needs pop up buttons, what images to use, what music should be added and other forms of media. This will be done by the software Flash and Photoshop, for example to manipulate and edit images.

The postproduction stage enables any problems that are demonstrated to be fixed and to gain feedback from university students so they can suggest what needs to be improved. The website will then be analysed and reviewed and any amendments will take place. This stage will take place in April.

The product will involve a main page featuring the latest celebrity gossip. This will then have links to another page which is the blog where students can write embarrassing stories about themselves and share their experiences. This demonstrates that students will be able to interact on each page, and post comments and replies, this will be done by creating a blog which they can enter by a link from the topic page itself, this will be further demonstrated by the flowchart.

The first page features the latest club events that are held in Kingston and Central London. This will also have a link for students to write their reviews and opinions of clubs they have been to. Also other links will be available where students can see photo galleries from clubs such as Oceana and MkCluskys.

The advice page, where students can discuss anything from drinking, drugs, to their subject courses will also feature a separate link to the blog. Articles by the administrations relating to issues within the Kingston Students community will also be posted, for example, alcohol abuse or drug abuse awareness will be featured on the pages that are relevant, such as the advice link. Many other links will be available, taking students to sites surrounded around eating disorders, drugs, peer pressure and many others.

Another website page will entail students demonstrating their talents. Students can post videos of them singing, rapping, acting or even upload modelling pictures. Therefore other students can interact and produce feedback.

Lastly there will be a fashion page for the boys and girls of Kingston University. This fashion page will lead into more links such as shopping sites, for example http://www.asos.com/.

These pages will constantly be updated weekly to keep up with the latest news and fashion trends and so forth.

The websites activity will be monitored by an administrator and any blogs or talents that are posted will have to be approved by the administrator before appearing on the website. This is done so that there is no slander, discrimination or racism on this site. Although the forums and comments will be posted immediately therefore one administration will be monitoring all the time, and if any students have complaints a link will be available where they can contact the administrator.

Flow Chart:

From the flow chart it is shown that the homepage is linked to all the four pages; events, advice, talents and fashion, which are further linked to blogs where students can interact. These pages are then linked back to the homepage and to each other. Each page is also then linked to external websites that relate to the topic. This enables the users to get to their chosen page as quick as possible, making the website user friendly, as there will be a main menu bar at the top of each page, stating: Home, Advice, Events, Talents and Fashion page, alongside contact information.