Class:MFA Illustration 2018/Week 2
First Week
- Discuss Wiki
- History of the Internet
- How the internet works for us
This Week
- Review First Week & your email/domain questions
- The "size" of the internet
- Image Optimization
Open Questions
Notes
Review Illustration Inspirational Website Submissions
The "size" of the web
Image Sizes Today
- Small - 800px wide
- Medium - 1200px - 1600px wide
- Large - 1800px wide and up
Optimizing Images for The Web
Last semester we covered many aspects/techniques related to optimizing your images for the web.
- Image Format Reference
- There is a tool called Imageoptim for further compressing your images
Hosting Your Email
Depending on the website solution and hosting solution you pick, you might need Email Hosting, or better Email Hosting.
I have created a Email Hosting Services reference page for you here.
Introduction To Digital Portfolio Techniques
This week in class I walked you through a series of slide presentations highlighting the foundation techniques for this semester.
Highlights Include
- Evolution of site design and technologies
- The Magic Poster theory
- Illustrators should NOT have to learn code
We also talked a little bit about Responsive Web Design
- The article that started it all: Responsive Web Design at A List Apart
- 30 Responsive Portfolios For Your Inspiration
- If you are interested, the best place to start is A Book Apart: Responsive Web Design
- Fantastic repository of responsive sites: mediaqueri.es
Hosting Your Sites
Some of you will end up using a hosted web site solution and not need to setup a dedicated web host, others will end up needing to upload your website to a dedicated host.
- Do you need a dedicated host?
- Will you be building your website yourself (HTML/CSS) and uploading it? - Yes
- Will you be using indexhibit or Wordpress to build your website? - Yes
- Will be using a hosted solution like Squarespace or Cargo to build your website? - No
- Even if it is not your main website, will you need to export galleries and post them online for friends/clients to see? - Possibly
It's important to go with a Hosting Provider that you trust, one that you can contact when you need some help.
I have created a Hosting Providers reference page for you here.
Illustration Site Building (CMS) Solutions
There was a time where a Illustrator would build (or hire somebody to build) their website from scratch. Adding and removing content from these websites would require somebody to edit the HTML and upload the changes to a web server. Successful websites are no longer built like this... Content Management Systems (CMS) have redefined how the internet works. These tools are either hosted, or need to be installed on your webserver to run.
This week I introduced the class to the concept of Content Managed Solutions. We will be spending a lot of time looking at these options.
I have created a Site Building (CMS) Solutions reference page for you here.
Video Notes
- Refresher on setting up Kyle's brushes in Photoshop and Adobe Sketch
- Setting up a domain at Godaddy and linking gSuite email
- Illustration website overview and 1st assignment
Assignment
Be prepared next Monday to share show TWO totally seperate website explorations using TWO different website tools (Squarespace, Cargo, Adobe Portfolio, etc..!
- At least 20 images
- Explore the navigation, project hierachy & how you present your contact info
- Your new website should match your new visual design and branding
