INT2038 - Designing for the User
Unit Brief
Research a range of existing paper-based and online magazines. Consider the means used by their publishers to engage readerships, and how they may transfer/transform themselves into a digital medium.
Build a magazine web site, which satisfies the requirements of a particular user group that you have chosen.
Ensure a sample of your intended audience is consulted at all stages of the production process and include both user feedback and competitive research in your design document.
Proposal
I propose to make a web site showcasing five of the top web sites on the internet. It will contain descriptions and screen shots of each site along with a link to contact the author.
Research
I looked at various web sites on the internet that were similar in what they were trying to achieve. Most where done in HTML and only a few implemented in Flash.
Planning
Sketches, mock-ups and prototypes were created before work began on the final web site. A project log was kept throughout the project to record progress. This can be found in the proposal document which is linked to below.
Final Piece
The web site I created can be found at:
http://www.newmedia.lincoln.ac.uk/jgillyon/sites/site-showcase/
The proposal is available as a PDF in the sidebar on the right.
Review
This was my first time using flash and I believe I have done well considering that I'd never used the software before I started this. The final piece is attractive and serves it's purpose. There are a few things which could improve the web site, for example a pre-loader. More details of recommendations for improvements can be found in the proposal document.
