Website: UX Testing & Feedback

 I created a UX Testing and Feedback form that I added to my website so that I could test and get feedback before assessment.  I will go through the questions and responses here

Here, I got a mixed response to the website design therefore I do need to consider whether this needs to be altered - what I think I may do it wait for more responses to gauge whether there is a design issue

Mostly a good response but there does seem to be an issue with the flipbook and this maybe why the responses in some cases are as the flipbook did not work - at present the book is not published and this could be the issue as the link for the mock up was just a practice - I intend to publish the completed work this weekend with the final images and this should fix the book issues.

Mostly people thought this was good and I also got a just 'okay' from one respondent therefore I will relook at the about section - I had a look below and reread and considered this section - I am unsure exactly what people do not like however this could be just a personal subjective view - I will have a further think about this though

The portfolio design is mostly good however again the book itself was not working so this response is expected at this stage. 

As above this is still a work in progress!

I was quite pleased that the responses here were all good/excellent as the contact page can be a little boring and I am hoping that it is at least well designed and a pleasure to use. 

This was mostly excellent/good and all the social links are clearly working so this very good

Again really pleased with this feedback as it means the site as a whole works and people are enjoying it!

All respondents used a desktop so I do need to test the mobile view further 

Really liked these comments as it was true the tree was overlapping the writing and by subheading had misaligned - I have now fixed this and attached the subheading to the header so it does not move and in the editor I have moved the quotation so that it does not overlap the tree.

I thank everyone who has given me feedback as this has been really useful and I will continue to get more feedback and hopefully make this website the best it can be. 

Photoshop Graphic Design Concept Board

 I was creating a Graphic design concept board for my project 'Owl Publishing'  I began by create a canvas by clicking on 'File and then 'New' in the top menu on Photoshop and then I went to the dialog box clicked on 'Print' and 'view all presets' and then clicked on A4.  I chose portrait orientation, 300ppi resolution for high quality and then just a white background.

I wanted to design the background so I wanted something not too distracting so I chose a pale abstract design from Unsplash.  I then open this in Photoshop.  Went to 'Select' and then Select All' in the top menu and the 'Edit' and 'Copy'  I then went back to my original canvas and clicked on 'Edit' and 'Paste'.  I then used the transform controls to move the design over the whole canvas and then lowered the opacity to 75%.  I then added a title and subtitle using the text tool from the left hand menu.  I clicked into the canvas and I used Footlight MT Light 60pts for the Titles and the same font at Footlight MT Light 48pts for the subtitle

I then added a logo I had made on Adobe express by opening this file with removed background to Photoshop and again using Select All and copy and paste into the design. I placed this in the top right hand corner. 

I then added my image using the same method as above and used transform tools and gridlines on the page to place this correctly in a position that I thought would make this work as a layout.

I then added my main bost of text just by going back to the Text tool and ensuring that the font and the size worked in on the board. 

I made three boards in total with the idea I can really sell this brand through brand story and logo design

I quite liked the brand story here and if I was completing this as my project I would have a more diverse range of logo designs for the publishing company that I could showcase to the client.

Photoshop Concept Board/Flipbook

 Today I created a fashion concept board using Photoshop for my fashion Collection 'Dandy 'Rock'

I began by creating a canvas, I clicked on 'File' and then 'New' in the top menu on Photoshop and then I went to the dialog box clicked on 'Print' and 'view all presets' and then clicked on A4.  I chose portrait orientation, 300ppi resolution for high quality and then just a white background.

I wanted to design the back ground and my collection had a orange colour in the design so I went unsplash and chose an orange abstract image.  I then open this in Photoshop.  Went to 'Select' and then Select All' in the top menu and the 'Edit' and 'Copy'  I then went back to my original canvas and clicked on 'Edit' and 'Paste'.  I then used the transform controls to move the design over the whole canvas and then lowered the opacity to 75%.  I then added a title and subtitle using the text tool from the left hand menu.  I clicked into the canvas and I used Stencil Regular font at 48pts for the Titles and the same font at 24pts for the subtitle

I then added a logo I had made on Adobe express by opening this file with removed background to Photoshop and again using Select All and copy and paste into the design. I placed this in the top right hand corner. 

I then added my image using the same method as above and used transform tools and gridlines on the page to place this correctly in a position that I thought would make this work as a layout.

I then added the main boy of text that describes my concept using the same stencil font at 18pts.

I downloaded and saved this as both a psd file and a jpeg so that I could edit and use easily.

I was quite happy with this design and concept and if I was creating this I wanted to use this still of illustration as I think it is simple and expressive and would be a consistent illustrative style to appeal to the target audience/fashion buyers. 

In class we also practiced adding a flipbook to the website - at present my computer is not working well so I will add this later at home.

Production: First Draft of Photo/Text Book

 I began my production by writing the words to my text book and then thinking about layout and the kind of images I wanted to use in this small project.  I opened Blurb and created a small square book.  I used the layouts and added text and images where I wanted them.  I used the 'Lora' font throughout.  I have saved the project and exported a pdf proof just to review this.  All the words here are my own, the images are all copyright free and I am just using these as a mock up example.

The draft here is okay, this does give the sense of what I want to achieve.  I will be working on the production of images shortly.

Creating a Website: Gallery/Portfolio Page

 I have now created my gallery/portfolio page ready for my project this term 'Still Mortality'.  I began my going onto the Portfolio page on the Wix Editor and I added an Image thar represents my project I clicked on the 'Add' in the tools menu and then clicked un Image and upload image. Then I used transform controls on the page to place image in  the correct position.  I then went back to 'Add' in the tools menu and chose 'Button' I then chose a button and dragged this into the page. I then renamed it the title of my project.  I then went back to the 'Menu' button and created a new page and named this by the title of my project I then placed this under the portfolio page and clicked on the dialog box and chose 'subpage'.  Then I went back to the portfolio page and clicked on the button link to link this to my page

I saved and previewed this to check that the button worked and appeared in the submenu.  I then check the mobile view and checked this worked. 

Once I have completed the project I will add a back button onto the project page so that the navigation is smooth.  I also did a quick mock up of my project page - see below.

I also added a back to portfolio button by clicking on 'Add' then dragging a button into the page.  I then set the link to the 'Portfolio' page and then I saved and tested that this worked well.  I also customised the design to ensure the font and the colours matched my website design.

I also adjusted my mobile view by decreasing the size of the button and text and centering the title and main body of text.  I saved and previewed this and now this should work when we test live next week.

I completed the final updates and added some earlier work so the portfolio is now more populated - the final work is now published on Blurb and is embedded into the site.

Here is the other works I added

I also adjusted my mobile view and now all links and work should be working - for this term I think is now completed!

Blog Update on Project Plan/Website Evaluation

 This post is just an update on where I am with my project plan - there are still a few outstanding items but these should be completed by the end of this week and the beginning of next week. 

• Project Sign Off Post - completed
• Initial Research post - Mikiko Hara - The Fleeting Moment
• Project Plan - Completed on Visme
• At least three research posts on other photographers/writers - Nobuyoshi Araki & Georges Perec, Gregory Crewdson - still need to completed Robert Mapplethorpe
• Development and technical research - Blurb & Flipbook - to be completed
• A post on your target market - Client Profile and Software Practice - Completed 
• at least two process posts (editing software and process) - to be completed
• Technical research post on software you will use - Biteable and Photoshop completed
• Post on creating your portfolio gallery with final Photo/Text Book - to be completed 
• Finalising your portfolio and adding to your website - to be completed

Critically Evaluating My Website

Planning stage:

What were your initial ideas for creating a website? style / name / template

I chose a photographers template that I thought I could customise to the style I had in mind which was originally black and white with black and white photographs on the Home Page.  In the end I chose a digital work in colour for the Home page which I thought suited my style and showed the kind of work I create.

Do you have a tagline on your website? 

I added a quotation that reflected my own thoughts on Photography by Susan Sontag - I felt this enhanced the look of the site. 

Research:

Which designers / artists (relevant to your continuation route) websites did you look for inspiration? 

I completed a website evaluation of two photographers websites - Mikiko Hara and Nobuyoshi Araki and this gave me further ideas about what I wanted and did not want for my own site - in the case of Araki's the site was quite old and there was too much scrolling but Hara's site was new and gave me ideas about how to present my own gallery of work 

How many pages did you want to make on your website and why?  Did that change as you progressed onto the research / designing stage?

I created four pages - Home, About, Contact and Gallery/Portfolio Page.  The portfolio page will lead to other pages as I will have several projects to add to this throughout the year and these will become subpages so that the navigation bar is kept simple with just the four tabs. 

Content:

What is the purpose of your website?

To attract a new audience to my art/photographic work.  It is also a place where interested users can contact me and send comments about my work.  At present this site is not commercial as I am not selling my work but this could be added later if I wished to do this and then this could be promoted on social media.  I could also add a live blog/events calendar of where my work might be shown

Who are your potential website users?

Probably Generation X/Millennials who would enjoy this kind of photographic/artwork as per my client profile 

Why do you think it is important to have a digital portfolio website?

You cannot be an artist/photographer without a website as this is how most consumers will access my work. I need to ensure the mobile view is very good as this is where most users will connect to my site.

Design:

Which design elements / tools did you use? (e.g.: infographics, fixed header, static background image, navigation menu design, text boxes, image galleries, social media feed) and why? 

For my home page I used a static background of a piece of Digital Art I had created from my series 'The Army of Dolls' I will use image galleries for my Photographic work and I will also just use designed pages to embed my text/photo book works, there will also be video pieces included that are linked to YouTube. I added text boxes on The About Page, Contact Page and Home Page , I also designed my navigation bar so that it was clear and easy to use.  I used Playfair Display font throughout for consistency in text design. I also added copyright in the footer and social media buttons that live in the header and will appear on each page

Which template did you use in Wix and why?

As stated earlier I used a Photographers website template that was for fine art photography

How many pages does your website have and why?

Four as stated above

Navigation:

Does your website have working social media icon links?

Yes there are four social media links and they are in the header and appear on each page they are, Blogger, Linkedin, X and YouTube.  I have checked in the preview that these links are working and I will check again when the site is UX tested. 

Are your pages connected / interlinked?

They will be more connected when I add back buttons and links throughout to make this smoother and more accessible navigation once my project has been added 

Is it easy to navigate?

Yes, I think it is very clear navigation throughout

Does the “Contact” page / email link work?

Yes this works in preview but this will be tested again in UX testing 

I will add UX testing next week once this has been completed after the site has been published and is live. 

Further Research: Gregory Crewdson Genius or Overblown Ego?

 In this research post, I will be discussing the work of Gregory Crewdson and his methodology and contrast this with my own working method.  I will begin by examining the image below and others, from the Twilight Series (1998-2002) and the methods that Crewdson employs to capture these set up, highly stylised images that Crewdson creates.  Crewdson's photographs in this series are; 'eerie photographs of suburbia at dusk require set-ups as elaborate as a film shoot.' (Helmore, 2006) Crewdson's sets and crew are expensive, the sets are made from scratch whole streets have been blocked off for the time of the shoot, every detail is considered just as in a film set. The images in this series are exposing suburbia and the strange nature of its inhabitants.  In this image a man is seen scrubbing a floor and he is illuminated by strange tunnels of light coming from above, are these bullet holes from a shotgun? Is he cleaning up blood? Why can we see the wardrobe of clothes behind him and what is the significance? Crewdson states that; 'I'm not really that interested in the before or after. I want the story to remain unresolved' (Helmore, 2006). Perhaps this is why audiences enjoy this work as the image can lead you anywhere to different stories, ideas and resolutions. In my own work, I do like the uncanny, the eerie, the strange but in a much more understated way, I also like the use of the set up image but I do think it is far more 'real' in that it tends to use familiar environments, the domestic and often myself rather than any model.

Untitled (2001) by Gregory Crewdson, Digital C Print

Crewdson's sets are like film sets and his use of light is beautifully orchestrated in each image. ight is the key in all photography however I do enjoy the happy accident, the light dancing and moving and overexposing is what can be interesting in an image. Photography is a lonely business, just you and the camera, Rena Silvereman states; 'Mr. Crewdson projects his own solitude in how he works. His three-part process — preproduction, production and postproduction — establishes his organizational removal. Photographing from a cherry picker, he removes himself from his subjects physically.' (Silverman, 2016).  It is true that Crewdson's images ooze solitude but this idea that he is alone, does not really ring true when he has a whole crew to make his final image and although he may have placed himself above them all he is just the ringmaster and the final shot is at his discretion. This could be considered that he thinks himself to be God, the creator of these images which all photographers' are in a sense but there is a point where there is over-control of what is being made and when no mistakes are allowed, do we lose that creative spark? 

Untitled (2001) From the Twilight Series By Gregory Crewdson 

In this second image the girl stands almost naked and cold in front of the car, the woman gets out with the shopping, is this her daughter? a stranger? The people in the image almost look unreal like statues, maybe the still image has gone too far? Avant Arte states; 'Much like a painting, the artist decides every detail. Crewdson's photographs call to mind a tableau by Edouard Manet. People, objects and phenomena coexist in meticulously arranged, quasi-candid moments. With each life-size diorama, he subverts the truth we expect from a camera.' (Avant Arte, 2023).  It is true they are more like paintings, objects and people moved into place correctly so that the camera can mechanically record the scene - the made up scene (like a Tableaux). Avant Arte states that it subverts the truth of the camera - but this is a difficult statement as then we have to question what truth?  the scene is obviously concocted and we know it is a fiction and the days where it was stated 'the camera never lies' are now long gone.  Sharon from the Open College of the Arts argues that Crewdson's' images are vague and ambiguous to the point of having no meaning  she also states; 'So what was Crewdson’s motivation behind this intensive process?  He says his work is all about the blending of fact and fiction but I find it hard to see much of real life in his images.  It seems to me his work is actually about fantasy and fiction, but that’s another matter.  Who has seen a fully naked, pregnant woman standing in the middle of the street at the perfectly lit twilight?  No?  Me neither. So my question for you today is: Does it matter what the photographer’s intention is in creating meaningful photographic art?' (Sharon, 2012) clearly disagreeing with the artist about his work, I agree with Sharon that this is pure fiction there is no reality here, Crewdson expects the audience to 'fill in the gaps' to find meaning when perhaps the artist had none in the first place. What is clear is that Crewdson loves the process, the precision, the exacting light the hyperreal.  These pictures often make me think of the emptiness of modern life, the world is a screen and we are now just reflections in that screen but we are not creating anything new or interesting. 

The problem with these images is that they lack heart, I do not believe Crewdson is really bothered about his subject or theme, he is just God moving the parts to see what will become of them in his final imagery where they like Araki states 'are murdered'. My own work I believe comes entirely from the heart, wanting to express the inexpressible in ordinary life.  In my own images I will present images that have meaning and soul. I also will enjoy the happy accident, the wrong light, the mistakes that make everything just that little bit more human. 

 

References

Gagosian (2018). Gregory Crewdson: Twilight, Beverly Hills, June 29–August 3, 2002. [online] Gagosian. Available at: https://gagosian.com/exhibitions/2002/gregory-crewdson-twilight/ [Accessed 18 Nov. 2024].

Avant Arte (2023). Gregory Crewdson’s Twilight: 25 Years on. [online] avantarte.com. Available at: https://avantarte.com/insights/articles/gregory-crewdson-25-years-of-twilight [Accessed 18 Nov. 2024].

Helmore, E. (2006). Gregory Crewdson, Twilight: Photography in the Magic Hour, V&A, London. The Guardian. [online] 4 Oct. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2006/oct/04/photography [Accessed 18 Nov. 2024].

Silverman, R. (2016). Alone, in a Crowd, With Gregory Crewdson. [online] Lens Blog. Available at: https://archive.nytimes.com/lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/01/25/alone-in-a-crowd-with-gregory-crewdson/ [Accessed 18 Nov. 2024].

Sharon (2012). Is it a case of style over substance in cinematic photography? [online] The Open College of the Arts. Available at: https://www.oca.ac.uk/weareoca/photography/gregory-crewdson-phillip-lorca-dicorcia-style-or-substance-in-cinematic-photography/ [Accessed 18 Nov. 2024].