Next week in class we will begin exploring cascading style sheets, web typography, and the ever-evolving “personal website.” Please review the class calendar for specific reading assignments. Here are the highlights:
On Tuesday, we’ll talk about using inline styles to change fonts, spacing, colors, etc., on your homepages. We will also work on converting Word files to HTML without using Word’s “Save as HTML” function (which you should avoid like the plague). Make sure you complete the reading assignments in Castro’s book and in the Web Style Guide. Also, you will need to have an electronic copy of your résumé in class on Tuesday. Most of you already have a résumé in Microsoft Word format, and that will do fine. If your résumé is in another program (e.g., InDesign or WordPerfect), just make sure that you can access it in the computer lab. Whatever format you choose, be sure that the résumé you bring is up to date. Some of you may need to spend some time this weekend updating an old version of your résumé. For more information about this first project, please read the Online Résumé assignment page.
On Thursday, we’ll move from inline styles to external style sheets and discuss web typography in greater detail. We’ll also talk about fine-tuning lists and settle the details of our semester-long blogging project. Again, be sure to complete the reading assignments before you come to class, and be thinking about how you want to use your personal WordPress blog.
Finally, complete this mini-assignment over the weekend: Find at least two online résumés or homepages that really impress you. Post links to them in the comments section of this post and tell us why you like them. I’ll kick things off with a first comment to get things going.
If you have any questions about Week 2, drop me a line via email.
on Aug 29th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Here are two online résumés that really impress me:
http://www.karlstolley.com/cv/
http://www.kottke.org/portfolio/portfolio.html
The first link is to Karl Stolley’s curriculum vitae (a fancy term for an academic résumé). Notice how Stolley uses color, indentation, and alignment to give his cv a clean, professional look. The best part about this page? It uses beautiful, standards compliant XHTML code (in your browser click on “View Source” to see the code) and when you print the page, a special style sheet automatically formats the cv for an 8.5×11 page.
The second link is to Jason Kottke’s web design portfolio. This isn’t a traditional résumé, but in the design world, a visual display of your work is often more important than a traditional list of your education, work experience, etc. One simple design decision sets this portfolio apart from others like it: horizontal scrolling. We are used to scrolling up and down on the web, so horizontal scrolling stands out as unique. The design of Kottke’s portfolio is quite simple, but because it defies conventions, it becomes more memorable for viewers (i.e., potential clients).
on Aug 31st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
http://www.brianleeallen.com/default4.asp
The first post is the portfolio for actor/model Brian Lee Allen (don’t worry I had never heard of him either). Ultimately the only reason I chose this one is because of the “home” page on it. The photo is so simplistic, the screen is uncluttered, and since he is seeking a job in modeling he presents the most valuable information upfront– a picture of himself, along with his measurements. simple.
http://www.plattdaddy.com/
This site impressed me for quite a few reasons, none of them good. Don’t get me wrong it’s not all bad, but I certainly wasn’t left thinking this guy was going to impact the world.
First, why you would post your online resume and title the main box “Who’s your Daddy?” is beyond me. Your name is Steve Tchorzewski, your personal site is called “PlattDaddy” and the first thing you want to ask a potential employer is “Who’s your daddy?”
Professional.
Second, can you say: “color”? The black and white picture of my never-heard-of-him model/actor has more color than this page. Simple is good. Overly simple is not.
Third, the frivolous use of scrolling boxes.
on Sep 1st, 2008 at 10:33 am
http://www.triplefastaction.com/
This one is fancy using flash. I think it’s great this person showcases some of their skills in the creation of this site. In addition, their work is nicely displayed and easy to scroll through. It leaves a good impression that this person is creative and knowledgeable.
http://www.theodoreanderson.com/
This is another example of a flash website. It took a moment to load making me worry for a second that it might not be compatible with Firefox, but finally started up. My big criticism is that the text and pictures are too small. I realize the pictures are just thumbnails that are meant to be clicked on, but if I’m a busy employer just trying to get a feel for this guy I may not bother. Otherwise this is a far more attractive website then a lot of them out there.
on Sep 1st, 2008 at 2:13 pm
http://www.swimroom.com/phelp
I am obsessed with swimming and needless to say, Michael Phelps may be the greatest all time swimmer in my mind. Any way I was looking through some swim workouts when I found this “homepage”. I wasn’t really that impressed especially for such a good site and swimmer.
It looks way too much like a Myspace site and isn’t very eye catching.
http://www.karmyntyler.com/
This second homepage caught my attention when I randomly “googled” my first name. The site layout is really simple but having her pictures on the main page helps her out alot. She is looking for a job doing some type of acting and the resume subpages are set up really well for possible employers to scan through. Very simple design yet still very effective.
on Sep 1st, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Some interesting links so far. For those of you who haven’t posted your links yet, try to find sites that you *really* like. There are a lot of terrible homepages out there (and we’ll look at a few of them in class), but to help us on this assignment, we’re looking for examples of *good* personal homepages. It might take a bit of searching, but keep looking until you find two sites that make you think, “I wish I had done that.”
on Sep 1st, 2008 at 5:46 pm
http://www.neilgaiman.com/
I’m a huge Neil Gaiman fan so I thought I’d post his official page since it’s fairly nice. I like that it’s very clean and the simplicity of it contrasts the sucess he’s had as a writer. Probably he could have afforded to have something really flashy done up with all kinds of graphics and such but chose not too.
http://www.brandonsanderson.com/
Brandon is an author I’ve never read but been chosen to finish a series I’ve been following for most of my adult life. His site contrasts nicely to Gaiman’s in it is kind of messy to look at. It’s got colors and somewhat eye catching graphics not of the highest order mind you but it’s there.
One thing I’ve noticed with alot of writers these days is they tend to blog on their home sites, Brandon’s page I found particularly interesting that he keeps updateing his writing progress on various works.
on Sep 1st, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Scott Adams
I follow Scott Adams’ (the author of the “Dilbert” comic strip) personal blog. The clear and clean design, as well as the fun and sarcastic artwork, of the blog and his ‘about me’ page complement the witty and biting content perfectly.
Gary Vaynerchuk
I originally found Gary Vaynerchuk because of his excellent internet TV show wine library TV. He has an extremely energetic personality that shows in the design of his personal homepage, both in the photo of him at the top and in the color scheme he uses for the site.
on Sep 1st, 2008 at 10:36 pm
http://www.qixingzheng.com/Resume/resumeShort.html
I really like this resume because its pretty simple and to the point but its still colorful and shows a little personality without taking away from the information.
http://www.jessicahannondesigns.com/
Again its a really simple design but it has its information and she is a design student so its pretty and i really like her homepage altogether.
on Sep 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
I might be a little bit biased, but I decided to review my own portfolio site:
http://www.mollyallgood.com.
It features readily available contact information on the first page as well as a panel of links to some of my work and a self-portrait as the main background. I think in the future I will try coding the site from scratch, but for now, most pages are embedded as images.
I think the overall look of the site represents me well – keeps a fresh and modern appeal, and of course I’m always looking to make it more intriguing in the future and plan on dabbling with some Flash designs as well as featured links.
The second site I reviewed is by a musician named Andy Landers:
http://www.andrewlandersproject.com
The image layout is well-crafted and the overall navigation of the site is kept simple, which is also great. I found it virtual impossible to not find what I was looking for as far as contact information, upcoming shows, etc. The content appears to be up-to-date – I am quite pleased with the site.
on Sep 2nd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
The first resume site I found is by Claude Jones at:
http://cjones2.home.znet.com/index.html
It has his resume and many examples of his work. I’m kind of frightened of his About me section which shows pictures of him in a Speed-o. We can do without that.
The next one is by Brad Garland at:
http://www.bradgarland.com/career.html
It has very quick links and is fairly basic and is not distracting. I feel it could have more to it but it has all the necessities to be an online resume site.
on Sep 2nd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I liked both of the following e-portfolio’s because they are personalized, with clear themes. Also, they are both easy to navigate and are visually attractive.
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~mks/index.html
http://www.engr.psu.edu/AE/THESIS/portfolios/2003/kas408/default.htm
on Sep 2nd, 2008 at 2:21 pm
http://www.foxhead.com/us/
I love action sports and graphic design. The layout and design of the homepage is very artistically designed which really stands out to me. I also like the way the main picture cycles through the different action sports involved in the apparel company.
http://www.kreymedia.com/resume/
Very professional website, and their is a lot of great graphic design content.
on Sep 2nd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Hey all…doing this in class, as I’ve just joined today. Here’s at least one that I’ve found so far:
http://www.sebdesign.eu/
I have no idea who this fellow is, but he came up when I searched “graphic design online resume.” I really like the simple layout of the site, and thought it was nice that everything I might’ve looked for about the artist and his work – a bit about him, where his work has been featured, and his portfolio, are all right there. I thought the color choice was good, with the dark background making he work he’s done really stand out.
on Sep 2nd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
The first site is a homepage of a friend of mine showcasing his photography work.
http://www.danmcclanahan.com/
I like that the page is clean cut and has scroll-over capabilities. The site is organized well and depicts the different kind of photography he has done. The site also features a bit “About” him, as well as a link to his blog to showcase his writing talents.
The second example I found was for Steve Jobs.
http://homepage.mac.com/steve/Resume.html
The resume is very casually written, which could be positive or negative depending on the job he is applying for. The other links on the website lead to things unrelated to his job and again, could be a good or a bad thing. The layout is clean, but could be more creative considering online capabilities.
on Sep 2nd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
http://chris.taulb.org/
This is a website/resume of a web designer. I like that he has examples of websites he’s made and they’ve been posted for people to see.
http://sarawaters.com/resume.htm
This is a link to a graphic design resume. It’s a pretty plain page when you open it up, but there are several links to her homepage, and examples of her work.
on Sep 3rd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
http://martinkelley.com/martin/resume/
This resume works because it’s straight forward and professional. It has headers and lines to group the information and make it easy for the reader to follow. Its not detracting and gets to the point.
http://www.hooverwebdesign.com/freelance-web-designer.html
This resume is very unique because it lists quite a few links to her work examples and also contains client testimonials. Its design demonstrates here ability for web design. i also like how the page length isn’t incredibly large.