Imaging and Design for the Online Environment

• website - Collection of publicly accessible, interlinked web pages
• website is also called site
• Reasons people visit websites

  1. to learn
  2. to buy products or services
  3. to be entertained
  4. to gte information
  5. to stay connected
• Phases of creating websites

  1. Information gathering  

           2. Planning  

           3. Contract

           4. Design

           5. Building

           6. Testing

           7. Launch

           8. Maintenance
• strategies and tools of creating websites

  1. determining the site purpose and content
  2. using text and graphics
  3. choosing editors and software
•          2. Using text and graphics

               a. Respecting copyright

               b. Gathering graphics
•          3. Choosing editors and software

               a. web editors

  b. graphics software

  c. web colors
• Web page - A document with text, graphics, media and hyperlinks accessed through a web browser
•  Domain - The website name registration that points to a specific IP address
• HTML - Standard markup language to structure and present content on web pages
• Mockup - Visual model with textures, logos, images resembling final website design
• Wireframe - Basic visual guide showing page layouts and content flow
• UI - User Interface determining how a website looks and functions
• Cache - Temp data storage accelerating site performance
• Reasons for Visiting Websites and Using Apps  

  • Learn - pandemic caused shift to online education 
  • Buy - ecommerce purchasing became vital during lockdowns
  • Entertainment - sites, apps and social media filled leisure time  
  • Information - news sites provided latest pandemic updates
  • Inspiration - creators sought ideas during confinement at home
  • Stay in Touch - virtual connections substituted for face-to-face 
•  Information Gathering (Discovery Phase)

  Focuses on understanding the purpose of the website, the target audience, and the content that will be featured.
• Planning Phase

  Involves developing a site map, determining the layout, and planning the navigational structure of the website.
• Contract Phase

  Outlines the scope of the project, including financial agreements, time frames, and deliverables.
• Design Phase

  Creative decisions about layout, color schemes, and content organization are made.

  A mockup design is created to serve as a blueprint for development.
• Building Phase

  The mockup is converted into a functional web page.

  Web graphics are created and optimized, and dynamic capabilities are added using programming languages like JavaScript.

  Browser and device compatibility are ensured.
• Testing Phase

  The website is tested across different browsers, devices, and operating systems to ensure functionality and compatibility.
•  Site Launch

  The website is uploaded to a host server, and the URL is submitted to search engines and social media.
• Site Maintenance

  Ongoing updates are made to keep the website relevant, such as adding new content or enhancing features.
• Information Gathering Phase  

  • Critical first phase focused on client needs and project requirements
• Planning Phase

  • Prioritize site map and structure based on information gathering
• Contract Phase  

  • Official project proposal provided to client outlining:

     - Project scope and key milestones

     - Specific services and deliverables 

     - Timeline with major checkpoints

     - Budget breakdown and payment terms
• Design Phase  

  • Visual presentation and site architecture created
• Building Phase   

  • Mockup design turned into functional site by developer
• Building Phase  

  • Ensure site works properly on all major:

     - Browsers

     - Devices

     - Operating systems
• Testing Phase   

  Thorough evaluation performed to catch errors pre-launch 

  • Check user workflows, site navigation, forms and applications
• Launch:

  • Upload site files onto live hosting server
• Maintenance:

  • Provide ongoing support addressing issues
• Determining the site purpose is a crucial step in the website development process.
• 1. Creating a Statement of Purpose:

     - This is a brief summary of the goals for the site.
• b. Building Site Image:

     - This projects the unspoken identity or personality of your website to visitors.
• c. Determining Site Content:

     - This involves planning the actual content that will appear on the site.
• 1. Copyright Respect:

     - The file strongly emphasizes always respecting copyright, regardless of where images are sourced from.
• Methods for Gathering Graphics:

     1. Create your own graphics

     2. Hire freelance artists to create graphics
• Royalty-Free (RF) images:

        - These usually involve a one-time fee.
• Use Rights-Managed (RM) images:

        - These are licensed photographs and artwork with exclusive usage rights for a given period.