Corey Hale's Archive

loved the team based stuff that we did in the learning studio, its nice to have multiple heads wrapped around the same thing. i thought it would make the design process go much smoother tho, but it didnt. not for me anyways. this project presented many many problems, as each seems to. Time management is a huge issue still…maybe ill work on that tomorrow. haha. this project must be my worst though, not only was it rushed, but there were just too many ways to screw up, and i found them all. On the brightside, this leaves a whole lot of room for improvement if i ever revisit it, which i might because there are a few elements that i enjoyed making. at some point i did lose focus with the whole web aspect of the project, i dont know why, but it disappeared. i felt like i was designing something else.

when i think back to the beginning of the semester when i knew nothing of web design, i realize how far ive come. used to i would just avoid an ugly website because it was ugly, not i can look at it, see improvement, and this makes me really appreciate good websites, its funny when im looking for sports scores and i notice how much improved the website is, ill even show people! ha. Also television looks completely different, i see it as web now. especially sports center. and TNT must have an amazing design team working for them, their Inside the NBA show has some ridiculous graphics. but back to my reflection, each project has been a let down, which perhaps is good, because improvements are noticeable, yet i also loathe each creation. the design world frustrates me, perhaps i can make it better WOOHOO!!!

find event and news feeds that his friends have submitted

sort event and news feeds by relevance to what he wants to do

sort all events by categories: arts, music, entertainment, bar, formal, recreation, fast food, restaurant, sports, education

the user wants to see tasks on a map to show each location

can zoom in on current location to see whats near by

can search for events and places by key words

can start own event at a place for friends to see

can login to facebook and find friends already using the app

wants to change account settings to immediately open to either map or news feed or categories

wants to see reviews for a certain place and then after going wants to submit own review

is interested in place so wants to learn more, goes to page for place and finds link to website

event/place page shows user average review score, price, location, directions, and what friends have been

 Kim is a sophmore at ACU and has always had trouble finding things to do in Abilene.  She loves having fun with friends and wants to be able to find more things to do with them.  She is very much into music and loves going to music venues, however doesnt know about concerts until they have already happened or are sold out.  She would really like a way to conveniently find out information concerning concerts in the Abilene area.  Upon downloading the new “In the Lene” app, she attache it to her facebook account which instantly shows all of her facebook friends that also have the app.  Once she has logged in, a news and event feed appears that updates live everytime a friend of hers is doing something in Abilene.  But she wants specific events, so she narrows the event tags to music and entertainment.  YAY! she is really excited. she was able to find an outdoor venue with music she liked other than country.

 Ryan is a senior ACU student in Abilene Texas.  He really enjoys outdoor activities, recreation, and views drinking different types of alcohol as an experience.  Realizing that he is soon to leave Abilene forever, he is worried that he will end up leaving Abilene without experiencing all that the desolate conservative town has to offer.  One day he is in downtown abilene after having a dinner with his lovely girlfriend and decides that he wants to find something close by to stop in at for a drink.  Not knowing his options he tries an app his roomate recommended.  After using his facebook account to login and add all his friends using it, he notices a dropdown menu.  After selecting the map view he zooms in on his current location and narrows his search to drinks and cocktails.  He discovers a place that is only open on fridays, and is near by.  He and his lady decide to go and find out that The Warehouse is an amazing place for couples looking for a semi-formal classy place to hand out and enjoy a few new drinks. YAY! what an amazing app!

The hardest part was coming up with relevant questions that were easily understood by the interviewee.  But most questions just sparked a dialogue that lead to many great ideas. No two interviews gave the same ideas or responses.  One wanted a way to start an event with tasks around Abilene that people can help him with, and perhaps a bartering system on it.  Jordan wanted a way to find things near him that he didnt know about, with closing time and pricing for things they offer.  Some strange ideas were having a newsletter delivered to people to let them know whats new and happening in Abilene, while another wanted to be able to call a person and have a conversation about the information he needed/wanted, while another wanted an internet site to access this information.  Girls typically seemed more interested in the app, while guys were kind of indifferent.  Most if not all wanted the app to be free. And having multiple ways to view the app seemed to be a necessity.  Overall, the interviews went well and offered many new ideas.

well i kinda feel like i took a step backward on this project. as if there was no progression or improvement in skills.  this is my fault tho. i wanted to set a defined feel for the blog, one color, no shadows, no gradients, as few grays as possible, minimal fonts, minimal in style…however i found that forcing myself into an unnecessary scenario might be a bit much especially when a different treatment would offer a better solution.  maybe its good that im challenging my self, but perhaps im doing it without cause or benefit.  who knows…i sure dont know.  

one for is certain, this project was definitely a challenge.  id like to do it again. and again. and then again. there are so many ways this project can be handled that i have a hard time picking or deciding on a single direction.  which again, might be where the forced direction came from.  

it would be nice if i didnt procrastinate as well…that would be a huge help.  sleep deprivation isnt good for designing im sure.  i just have a hard time thinking that homework or a project is worth doing until it absolutely has to be done. ha. lame.  

i need to work on fonts…deciding on fonts. implementing effective fonts. idk. again its one of those that if theres a million choices, i will have one hell of a time picked a single one. yay me. i was impressed with mostly everyones in the class. which is good. i like having good work around me. gives the design process more of a push for me knowing that there are others around me progressing steadily while i am staring at a blank page, or blank site map, or blank wire frame, or crapy inspiration. 

however…i am still enjoying the work.  just lots i need to learn. lots. lots. lots. lots. lots. lots. so much, my fuzzy little head might explode. and this soap on the desk im at smells horrible.  its so strong. super strong. its taking over my nose. geez

aslkdgjhaghiqogh ummmmmmmmmmm im hungry. havent eaten in forever! havent slept in days! but atleast im gonna be in austin for the weekend. wooohohohohoooo. its like LA for Texans. is that a good thing tho? LA? hmm…
nCAA basketball didnt go well yesterday…not for me anyways. stupid Arizona, not like i like Duke, just should be Texas in the elite 8. bummer

but blogs are awesome, and i need to get one, i should make one. but im lazy…why am i lazy? 
as long as im doing work tho, im learning.

looking for something simple. no gradients, no textures. but it seems sometimes that can be too simple. some of these are close, but still include these elements in a non hindering way. loveit

i really like simple ones. but i would like to find one that has a bit more going on in a simplistic manner.

templates:
Black Minimalism
iTheme 
PaperTreeDesign

well i think i did a much better job of following the grid this time. i used it throughout the design process, referring to it when i created new elements. the last project i just used the grid at the end, which created conflicts and unnecessary headaches. so that was a plus this time around. the biggest difference is between redesigning and starting from scratch. the aiga was, easier? im not sure, i havent decided yet. but i think i prefer redesigns better, its a shorter process for me. i do not know why that is, i need to work on process work, thats fo dang sho. conceptually, i need to work on designing and arranging with text and paragraphs, how to treat paragraphs especially. the length and arrangment of the paragraphs is a definite struggle, especially when the overall feel is quite simple and minimal. need to do more sketching. need to explore more with computer roughs also, hard to get a feel for a direction without comping it on the computer. a real weakness i think is not exploring directions or options. anything worth popping into my head i should atleast make an effort to see it conceptualized within the roughs, or final even. i need to learn to work with the computer. instead of dreading it. running out of things to write about…just need to sit behind a computer more, learn photoshop besst. wireframes! wireframes! wirerames!