Thursday 16 May 2013

Graphics Update

In preparation for the launch of the website, I've created distinct headers for each post type. These are all formed ready to simply add to each post when needed. Each is colour coded so hopefully they can be identified from the blogger front page.



I've also made some temporary changes to a possible heading. Some crits and comments have suggested brighter colours and initially we did talk about a Neapolitan ice cream type feel. So I've tried this variation of the title out. It's pretty simple and introduces some of the recurring colours of the headers. Let me know what you think, it may all be too much but we have some time to try it out before next week.


The next stage is to get the thumbnail headings done, then sort out any final tabs etc. Thoughts and ideas about this final stage would be great. I'm adding a video to this post to try and fill out the page, giving an idea of load times etc will help when implementing.


More updates soon.

7 comments:

  1. Funky colour designs, good way of keeping with the recurring colour headers. Maybe have the '&' in the mini logo white as well like its big version? Looks cool!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Really like the 'ice-cream' title, Jordan - and yes, I think keeping the '&' white on the smaller version of the logo is a good idea. The only further observations I'd make re. the banners is maybe standardising the logic of them a bit more - so, for example, on the PWTM you've got some nice cropping going on, but's still a star; so if that same logic were to be applied to the Alumni one, so that the hat is cropped by the frame in some 'it's still recognisable as a hat but it's also a strong shape' style. Likewise The Tune - I think maybe if you chose a simpler dotted crotchet - and cropped it dynamically no the banner, that would feel like it was in the same family of icons:

    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CQhvlVhlx-s/TgQORgLuULI/AAAAAAAAAOc/s6ICwUnYCuU/s1600/Dotted+crotchet.jpg

    This is as true of The Supplement; if The Supplement is for 2d/trad art, then maybe a painters palette-style solid graphic might be used instead?

    http://us.cdn2.123rf.com/168nwm/jara3000/jara30001107/jara3000110700002/10075180-palette-silhouette-eps-8.jpg

    or an easel, perhaps?

    http://www.artsupplies.co.uk/img_item/loxley_bamboo_studio_easel.jpg (you get the idea).

    Essentially, I'd just suggest you need to extrapolate a sustained logic from the successes of the 'cropped star' graphic approach, and apply it everywhere else: so for example, the 'question mark' for misc. could and should be a big, 'printed' shape that is cropped dynamically by the banner dimensions, and so on. What do you think?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Joey, thank you for the feedback. The white "&" makes complete sense and I can't believe I missed it. But I'll fix that :)

    And thank you Phil, all good feedback. I was trying to get the banners all set up quickly so this is a good way to start finalising. I definitely agree that they need unifying and this simplistic approach seems best. I'll update the banner with the colour version and any more comments on improvements would be great.

    ReplyDelete
  4. oh yeah - forget to say, if we could have discrete year 1, year 2, year 3 tabs across the top so students can find any messages from us re. briefings etc. and timetables - I know we discussed this earlier but I forget to add it to the list of 'non-decorative' tabs that students wanted to see - tabs that collate year-specific posting - also we need a 'myUCA' tab. We also talked about having a decorative button for the course showcase (as opposed to gallery). Anyway - if I haven't yet shown true appreciation for all the work you're doing on this, I'm showing it now... :D :D :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, all the tabs and sidebar are still to be finalised. What are the opinions on the ice cream colour scheme? Is it only me who feels like it looks a bit childish? That may just be the desaturated grumpy side of me. Either way, not a problem doing this. Will be good to see the blog revitalise with some new life.

      Delete
  5. Edit - Quick update, I've deleted the coloured bars which I think were my big hang up. This seems a little more professional but still has the ice cream colour tones.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. grumpy is good in this respect - it was maybe a bit vintage seaside as was, but this banner is friendly and nostalgic.

      Delete