To start, a little fun. This is the website I told you killed the computer last year. PLEASE DON’T LOAD IT RIGHT NOW!

TODAY1)Quick reminders2)Mod 1 grades: any questions? 3)More on Ugly Websites: Read

This! 4)Photoshop Activity5)Let’s talk about it6)Forecasting next week7)Homework/Twitter Exit Question

REMEMBER1)The due date for Module 3

changed due to us running over a bit on our presentations. It’s now next Thursday, the 24th

2)Your final project proposals are also due soon (March 1st). The full directions for that are on the website, under “modules,” as we talked about last week.

MODULE 1You should have received an emailed grade sheet for your Module 1 yesterday. All and all, you did a good job with the project, and I hope that you will all take a look at what the other groups did so you can benefit from their research.

Does anyone have questions before we move on from Module 1? We will revisit careers (with a discussion based on the questions you asked at the end of last class) later in the semester, but is there anything we’ve talked about that you have questions about?

MOD 3: EWW?To start off our activities today, I want you to read this:

http://www.smartisans.com/articles/web_ugly.aspx

TO BE FAIRWhat I have given you to read is not a “new” piece. This is from circa 2000. What I wanted you to see, though, is that some of the things we can discuss about a bad website are constant over time, but what was once considered an “expert” clean-up of a site can now look almost as ghastly as the bad site initially did.

Why does this matter? Because we’re talking in this class about building a set of skills. The ability to determine what is bad design is a skillset you can build that will not be outmoded by technology. Specific fixes, as you can see, will be.

I ASKED YOU…To come to class today with a website that you felt had a decent enough design but had some color problems.

Here’s my example (hint: you’ve seen it):

AS YOU WORKConsult with the page here: http://www.webmaster-designs.com/how-to-create-a-web-2-0-type-web-hosting-template-with-psd/

We will do a similar reading later in the semester as well, but this shows you how to build the graphic elements for a page (and really an advanced wireframe) in Photoshop.

This is particularly useful when you’re in heavy design mode and don’t want to get hung up in the potential hang-ups of coding (which you can solve later)

ALSO…Make sure to reference the readings for today as you work. Think about what you’ve learned so far about color, and use that knowledge as you think about potential revisions.

A piece of advice: when creating a color scheme for a website, create AT LEAST 3, even if you are partly confined by the need to use a specific color. Give yourself a chance to do one you think is very reserved and safe, one you think is creative, then try one that includes an accent color that initially seems out there but is technically sound.

FOR EXAMPLEIf you’re making an MSU related page, you’re essentially bound to use Spartan Green. It’s hex code 006633. So if we use the color scheme designer from your readings:

MAKE SURE…To save your work if you want to return to this project later. My hope today was mostly to get you thinking about color and tools to let you test out new colors/color schemes.

The method we talked about here today should aid you in working on Module 3. We will talk a bit more about how you might make that work next week.

NEXT WEEKWe take color into the realm of usability. Please read the following for Tuesday: Color Theory for the Color Blind, As Seen by the Color Blind, Color Vision, Color Deficiency, and MSU Web Accessibility Policy.

We will discuss accessibility, look forward to Module 4, and talk a bit more about how to bring Module 3 home.

Your Twitter exit question is this: How comfortable are you using Photoshop as a start to designing web pages?