Mackenzie and Karen
CAL Classroom, December 2001

Mackenzie:

• Created a call for entries (made posters and forms for submissions)
• Collected artwork and statements from artists (a lot of running around)
• Worked with Karen on initial site design and architecture-on paper
• Reviewed all materials-chose appropriate art work (with Karen)
• Scanned and prepared all images-each image in a small and large form, made thumbnails
• Took pictures of art and artists
• Held general discussion with parter-worked together to make critical decisions
• Designed header and splash page in photoshop

Karen:

• Created all templates
• Worked from zip-saving all completed pages
• Was responsible for most uploading and defining sites from the computers we worked from
• Spent time manipulating things like borders, spacing, and layout decisions
• Created all links and was successful at linking all pages in a uniform fashion
• Remembered all the little (important) details such as provenance updating, email links and naming pages
• Experience with dreamweaver helpful in completing a functional site
• Used decision-making skills to create a well-designed, formal layout and navigation bar

Final Site Report: BSU Student Art Gallery

Purpose

We did not stray from our original purpose as stated below:

"The primary reason for creating this site is to help Bemidji State University students increase exposure of their art to a wider audience. In this site, we will include contact and biographical information, so that people who are interested in the artwork can contact the artist and the site designers to find out more information. The secondary reason for creating this site is to create meaningful connections between various programs. We want to exhibit the different kinds of communications skills that we as students use daily. This includes computer skills, language, the sharing of ideas, and visual statements."

One omission that we made was to drop the biographical information about the artists. We felt that the artist stement was enough information for a viewer. Along with the images, the statements function as narratives about the artist. The indivdual artist page works well to highlight the talent of the students we selected. In fulfilment of our original goal, we did create an email link for each artist.

We feel that the artwork we chose as well as the way in which we chose to display it relates directly to the second part of our goal. In creating the site we communicated with many talented students in various programs and and with professors that had knowledge to share with us. We gained new skills in computer use, image preparation, and organization.

Design

Meeting goals/purpose through design

• Focus on art from simple design
• Splash page relates to the visuality inherent in a gallery site
• Individual artist pages highlight the body of work of one artist
• Continuity between pages relates to a sharing of ideas and a large vocabulary of visual statements.

Our design is simplified and clean. Our heading and our simple layout are basic so as not to detract from the artwork. The artwork is the main content of the site and we were determined to keep that the main focus throughout. The artist pages retain continuity between each other and the home pages. We strove for organization in design, file arrangement and page naming. We named each of our pages after the artist so it is easier for the viewer (and us) to navigate and bookmark.

Originally we did not want to use a splash page because they are generally annoying and take a long time to load. The splash page we created takes under 15 seconds to load. We used images from each of the artists' work as well as parts of pictures we collected for the site. The image speaks effectively about what the viewer will encounter once he/she enters the site. Our splash page speaks volumes about tone, medium, process, content, pattern, and design that a simple introduction cannot relate.

Problems

Collection of content was a bit of a struggle. We tried to get everything pulled together at once, but it was not possible. We had to run around to get email addresses, titles of the art, and pictures.

A few minor issues came up using the dreamweaver software. Practice and experimentation were key to learning what we could do with it. Assistance from the instructor was always appreciated in ironing out the kinks.