Goldfactory: Disable Images

These are screen shots of how the site looks when images are turned off in the browser. Suprisingly the site works well even like this and all information is still accessible.

Cross Browser Fixes-Damn you IE!

Notepad++

Since I can't download IE6 into my mac to investigate cross browser problems I went to download this as its a recommended WUSIWUG program. When I visited the site I got a little distracted however by the navigation panel. When hovering over each link a different iguana rolls out with sub categories. I found this really grabbed your attention and is quite a unique method of navigation.

Line Height
PNG fix

The main problems I have encountered when opening the site in IE are line height and the transparency of PNG images. However I have quite painlessly overcome these by the gem that is google! Follow these links for instructions and more info:

Favicon

Another thing I have learnt during this project is favicons. The little logo that appears alongside the address in the navigation toolbar and also in the tabs. This is a very simple process which basically need a bit of code in the head of each page which links to an ico file. As long as the corresponds to the The browser then will automatically display the favicon. There are many sites that will convert a 100x100px .jpg image to an .ico file however this one will allow you to edit it and also add transparency.

Goldfactory Update

The site is far is going well, and is very nearly there. Just need to tweak a few things, sort out cross browser problems and get confirmation from our client Paul before we finish it entirely.

Due to a lot of PNG-24 images needed in the layout, file sizes are getting quite large so we have sacrificed the idea of replacing the font with the handwriting style as this will slow the website down even more.

After reading a few hints and tips from nettuts+ I have put javasript for lightbox at the bottom of the page to combat loading times and also used header tags rather than paragraph tags to hopefully increase SEO results.

For editing purposes we have used an include php statement so Paul can edit the page without coming into contact with HTML. This basically extracts text from a text file and puts it where you have specified. Obviously it would be better to have something more swish like what Will's group have got but as there isn't much text and editing shouldn't need to be done that regularly this will be fine.

Goldfactory: Page Designs

Today Sarah and I finalised some of the page layouts and discussed how these will convert into HTML.

Goldfactory: Take 5

Homepage: Following feedback from our client Paul, I have tried to create a homepage that combines elements of all our designs. I have used Vikesh's background image and logo and combined this with one of the exhibition posters which was an idea mentioned in one of our meetings with Paul. I wasn't too keen on the torn paper used for navigation on Vikesh's design with this layout (sorry mate!) so I used a strip of dymo which i think carries on the scrapbook theme. However i'm not sure the logo stands out enough...

I wasn't sure what heading to use on the notepad for the short blurb. It seems like it needs one but didn't think it was necessary to repeat 'Goldfactory' again and having 'About' might confuse the user as there will be a separate page for this that goes into more detail. The exhibition poster would be changed to future exhibitions once we have one, but just put an old one there for now..
Artists Profile Page: Here are 2 screenshots of the same layout but with different backgrounds. I am actually starting to prefer the desk to the floorboards now as it is a lot lighter colour which gives more contrast to the content. I thought by having the exhibition poster relevent to the artist could tie things together quite nicely. It follows a very close layout to the homepage which adds a sese of connuity and flow. I have also straightened the things up a bit as Paul suggested.

Goldfactory more designs

These are messier version of possible homepage and exhibition pages. Vikesh found a nifty tool on dreamweaver that allows you to have any shape button which will definately help with some layout issues regarding this very unstandardised layout. Still we're going to have issues with the text being wonky though. It makes life easier that we have a image based design further into how to combat this.

Golfactory: Nearly there!

We have decided to go along the sketch book style for our Web page. This is influenced by Paul's work and also Shaun encoraging us to break away from the standard formal layouts we are so used to. This is an exhibition website and so we need to reflect the subject matter in the design.

On our last meeting with Paul, we showed him our designs and he was very keen on Vikesh's design so since we have been developing this. One problem that we have encountered has been the fonts. We would've liked a handwriting style, however we are aware not may people will have this font available to their browsers so we have had to replace this with a typewriter font 'Courier' with is much more widely used. This is a shame because I think the previous font did suit the design much better how ever it is a sacrifice we must take.

Homepage: I think this looks a lot more rigid than the other pages but i was trying to combat issues such as introduing the method of navigation. It looked a lot better with the the notepad on the bottom right and the exhibition poster at top left however, I think this way the user will notice the navigation tabs a lot quicker as we read left to right. I am also starting to worry a little about how we are going to code this as divs only allow you to be at right angles. This design would be much easier to convert into Flash. I also think it need something extra; this age doesn't look ery dynamic especially for a homepage...


Artists landing page: The polaroids would act as links to artists that have had the most recent activity and the rest having text links on the notepad. The notepad might have to end up being more square on the page dueto the limitations of HTML and CSS.

Artists Profile Page: This would have a polaroid picture of the artist or an example of their work along side a short bio of the artist. Their work would be view using lightbox. The current site already uses this and it will allow for short captions under each image.
Exhibitions Landing Page: I have started to make things a bit more square on the page. I think this is a shame but maybe we could make a flash version at a later date?? I am also aware of the posters disappearing into the background. This needs to be combatted so they stand out more either using white paper behind or by encorporating the polaroids because i think they work really well.

Tomorrow we are going to have a meeting and finalise a design the send the mock ups to Paul for conformation. In the coming weeks we will focus on the HTML and CSS. Not sure yet how we will section these pages off but we will also discuss this so we can get cracking!

Goldfactory Designs