1. An App that allows you to adjust / manipulate the narrator's voice for Audio Books.
Sometimes, when we are listening to audio books, the voice of the narrator does not appeal to the audience, or simply does not fit with the style of the book. This particular application would allow for people to manipulate certains aspects of the voice, ranging from tamber to pitch.
2. A website that works directly with a movie production to be able to incorporate subtitles for many different languages.
Oftentimes, I find myself wishing I could know the script of a movie in a different language. Also, I do enjoy many foreign films and sometimes, they don't have subtitles in English. Finally, there are many movies that many foreign people enjoy that don't have their own language in subtitles. This site would be able to work in realtime with the movie.
3. A website that is used as a search engine repository for inspirational works of art.
There are many projects I have done that required specific works of art for inspiration, but there is no site or search engine that truly delivers what we, as artists, are looking for. This site would be directly linked to any artist's server, where all of their public works of art would have specific search word parameters for people to see, without the hassle of surfing through endless pages of search engines.
4. App/Website that works as your personal chef.
There have been many times that I have looked in my cupboard, wondering what to make and having no idea what ingrediants work with each other. This app would work as a personal chef, where you could list what ingrediants you have and the system would generate possible meals to make.
5. App where you could take a picture of something and the program would give you a definition of the object in the picture, much like a visual dictionary. This would work on the same lines as the program that listens to music and identifies the artist and song. However, this would be more complicated, as you could take a picture of a structure, like the Pantheon, and the program would list the definition and description.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Unit 6 Reading Response
Designing for the iOS seems daunting to me, as I have trouble with designing with clarity for such small devices. Using Vector graphics has helped me through this particular apprehension; however, it still seems difficult to manage, as I always want to cram as much information into something as I can. Steve Jobs accomplished a great feat by stripping things down to the bare minimum and finding out what the core experience consists of. And he did it very well, obviously.
Just as the message in Don’t Make Me Think is clearly keeping things simple, so too, does it appear to be a prominent theme in this particular selection. The idea of not using gradients or bezels or even drop shadows in app content is a great one, considering that it can often disorient and confuse. The same is applied into negative space. I feel that when I first started designing, I was afraid of negative space, but after seeing it utilized correctly in many different areas, I see how useful it can be to truly bring out the important content on the screen.
Keeping a design simple makes it easy to use and most people are not looking for ostentatious; they are looking for easy, especially since the modern society appreciates every convenience afforded to it.
In regards to the article discussing Skeuomorphic design, I did not find the subject very interesting. Reason being, design is something that is ever evolving and trying to define which “style” is better seems unnecessary. Personally, I enjoy the Skeuomorphic design for certain things that make me feel nostalgic, or if I want to “feel” the atmosphere of a certain site. However, it is not necessary, and to paint the design world with one single brush seems like an ignoble action.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391521,00.asp
http://www.instapaper.com/iphone
https://developer.apple.com/library/iOS/referencelibrary/GettingStarted/RoadMapiOS/index.html
http://www.whatech.com/mobile-apps/498-news/18755-do-you-know-about-global-effect-of-iphone-app-development
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Project 02_further notes
Target audience: Female 15-25
General interests are fantasy romance; not looking for any storyline that is too deep in emotions.
Not complicated storylines. Simple to understand. cover design for the book implies a childhood fantasy. The petals of the ivy look almost mechanical, as if they are made out of metal strands. With this is mind, we should continue to convey this idea into the website.
The Header should only have a few different choices, as this is going to be a scrolling page, with parallax scrolling for the nav only.
The background will have sparkling stars. Not too overpowering, so it doesn't take away too much attention from the book itself / product itself. Color scheme will remain the same (blue and gold).
Typography should be similar to the font used. Can't really use the actual type for the book as this is more Hero-Type than body-copy. But, the theme will still be whimsical and fantastic.
The parallax scroll for the nav will use ivy, and as the user scrolls down the page, the ivy on the sides will "grow" inward, as if stretching towards the center. As the user scrolls up, the ivy will recede. Simple animation will be used.
Background Images:
star-explosion-glow-hd-wallpaper-69708.jpg451 KB
7760722-star-galaxy-seamless-background.jpg126 KB
Infant-Stars-in-the-Milky-Way.jpg266 KB
Not complicated storylines. Simple to understand. cover design for the book implies a childhood fantasy. The petals of the ivy look almost mechanical, as if they are made out of metal strands. With this is mind, we should continue to convey this idea into the website.
The Header should only have a few different choices, as this is going to be a scrolling page, with parallax scrolling for the nav only.
The background will have sparkling stars. Not too overpowering, so it doesn't take away too much attention from the book itself / product itself. Color scheme will remain the same (blue and gold).
Typography should be similar to the font used. Can't really use the actual type for the book as this is more Hero-Type than body-copy. But, the theme will still be whimsical and fantastic.
The parallax scroll for the nav will use ivy, and as the user scrolls down the page, the ivy on the sides will "grow" inward, as if stretching towards the center. As the user scrolls up, the ivy will recede. Simple animation will be used.
Background Images:
star-explosion-glow-hd-wallpaper-69708.jpg451 KB
7760722-star-galaxy-seamless-background.jpg126 KB
Infant-Stars-in-the-Milky-Way.jpg266 KB
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Unit 05 Reading Response
Unit 05 Reading Response
I found these two chapters to be very helpful for someone who is wanting to get into the world of website development. What I have noticed about this book is that it has a great way of bringing out the obvious which we often take for granted. We know that simple is what we all want, but for some reason, designers want to make things look flashy, complicated, and ostentatious. The result is the exact opposite of what we want.
Likewise, in this chapter, the idea of a focus group always sounds like a good idea, because the concept is what's been bred into our minds as the "correct" way to approach infallible design.
I was always under the impression that it was a focus group that was needed to make a nice website. However, over the course of the past few months, I have noticed that it's not been a focused group that I have been showing my site to for direction, but rather random people I work with who have very different objectives and hopes. Without realizing it, I have been using my coworkers as Usability testers. And, without realizing it, they have been helping me solve the most glaring issues. I have always been worried about taking care of the minute details, when I should have been focusing on fixing the main issues.
I loved reading the test script at the end of the 9th chapter. This was quite enlightening, as it shows what matters to everybody. The fact that the test subject talked about color first shows that designers should be focusing on the big things that are important to people, rather than focusing on the minute details that most people might not see, or ignore, or even disregard. Color is the most important aspect when it comes to design, and that was her first comment. Had it been a color of which she did not approve, she might have simply left without looking at what is important to the business / website itself.
For my project in this class (Portfolio Website) I have been using too much gray tones and shades, when I have been ignoring colors. I have also been trying to mix up textures and patterns as means of separation, when I should be keeping things simple and organized. This chapter was very helpful and I enjoyed reading it immensely.
Useful Websites:
http://www.gravitatedesign.com/blog/designers-and-developers/
http://www.two-cat.com/oldsitestuff/articles/developer.htm
http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/07/5-pet-peeves-developers-have-with-designers-and-how-to-avoid-them/
http://designmodo.com/designer-vs-developer/
http://visual.ly/web-designers-vs-web-developers
I found these two chapters to be very helpful for someone who is wanting to get into the world of website development. What I have noticed about this book is that it has a great way of bringing out the obvious which we often take for granted. We know that simple is what we all want, but for some reason, designers want to make things look flashy, complicated, and ostentatious. The result is the exact opposite of what we want.
Likewise, in this chapter, the idea of a focus group always sounds like a good idea, because the concept is what's been bred into our minds as the "correct" way to approach infallible design.
I was always under the impression that it was a focus group that was needed to make a nice website. However, over the course of the past few months, I have noticed that it's not been a focused group that I have been showing my site to for direction, but rather random people I work with who have very different objectives and hopes. Without realizing it, I have been using my coworkers as Usability testers. And, without realizing it, they have been helping me solve the most glaring issues. I have always been worried about taking care of the minute details, when I should have been focusing on fixing the main issues.
I loved reading the test script at the end of the 9th chapter. This was quite enlightening, as it shows what matters to everybody. The fact that the test subject talked about color first shows that designers should be focusing on the big things that are important to people, rather than focusing on the minute details that most people might not see, or ignore, or even disregard. Color is the most important aspect when it comes to design, and that was her first comment. Had it been a color of which she did not approve, she might have simply left without looking at what is important to the business / website itself.
For my project in this class (Portfolio Website) I have been using too much gray tones and shades, when I have been ignoring colors. I have also been trying to mix up textures and patterns as means of separation, when I should be keeping things simple and organized. This chapter was very helpful and I enjoyed reading it immensely.
Useful Websites:
http://www.gravitatedesign.com/blog/designers-and-developers/
http://www.two-cat.com/oldsitestuff/articles/developer.htm
http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/07/5-pet-peeves-developers-have-with-designers-and-how-to-avoid-them/
http://designmodo.com/designer-vs-developer/
http://visual.ly/web-designers-vs-web-developers
Monday, February 10, 2014
Unit 4 Reading Response
Unit 4 – Reading Response
There is an undeniable theme in this book that the author is desperately trying to convey: Simplicity is the key to a successful website. In this day of digital wonders, the majority of people have attention spans that can be measured in blinks, and despite fireworks and special effects capturing attention, it doesn’t mean that a user will stay at a website if there is no content. What is most important is to convey the main message in a way that is easily noticeable and read.
I especially love the four questions that need to be asked when looking at a webpage, and have found that over the years, I have chiseled my homepage dramatically from the ostentatious to the simplistic, as I should be letting my content do the proverbial “shock and awe.” The Homepage should be drawing people in, no doubt, but it has be easy to understand and legible. Plus, there has to be a purpose to the site for the alleged product or service. Too much glamour can easily confuse people and is often used as a smokescreen for things that are shallow.
The dissection of many Homepages is very important, as it allows us to see what works and what doesn’t. It also allows us to be able to learn from others’ mistakes. The idea of utilizing taglines for different media is also enlightening. It never occurred to me that a tagline that works for media will not necessarily work for the web or for radio. I always assumed the opposite. However, it stands to reason that since a TV ad is essentially reading the content to the viewer, it is an entirely different situation when the viewer has to read it for themselves.
The section on Pull-Down Menus is very interesting. It has some good points as to why a designer should choose to use them sparingly, as they have very noticeable “cons” associated with them. The idea that they are twitchy and hard to scan is very valuable to know, and proves the earlier point that even though it looks advanced, the message can get lost in the prestige.
In summary, the author wishes to maintain his stance that a clear and concise message is the best way to go. Special effects and glitter can capture attention, but if there is nothing behind it, or if the message and intent of the page can’t be seen, than it’s all smoke in mirrors.
Reference sources:
https://www.hchoo.com/
This is voted as one of the best home page designs, yet, I wonder why. First, it comes off as a search engine (that part is pretty clear), but then, it also has several different links to different kinds of social media. As social media is ubiquitous, why do we need a third party to get us to the sites? Seems to be a superfluous use of a website, that has too much going on.
http://besthomepageever.com/
Another example of a search engine, but the tagline is very clear on what the page intends to do. It is a simple service that acts like an address book to the most popular sites. This eludes to the importance of a tagline, especially one that is clear and concise.
http://coolhomepages.com/
As the name suggests, this is a site that is used as a source of inspiration for budding designers. And, like the above-captioned site, the tagline is simple and concise: “Design Inspiration.” Simple and to the point.
https://www.pinterest.com/
I may anger a few people with this one, but the concept of Pinterest is beautiful, but the explanation as to the reason for it’s existence is no where to be found. You pin inspiration…a concept that was explained to me by my wife, as I couldn’t figure it out. Like many social media engines, pinterest assumes that people “should just know what their about”, leaving those of us not in-the-know feeling old and in the dark.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Publishing Information for The Chaos of Stars
http://www.amazon.com/The-Chaos-Stars-Kiersten-White/dp/0062135929/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391549928&sr=8-1&keywords=the+chaos+of+stars
Publisher: HarperTeen (part of Harper Collins)-- 2013
Book Designer is not known at this point, despite the many attempts made on finding the credits. We even tried reading the Kindle and Nook versions and could not access the credits. Will need to go to Barnes and Noble to get this information.
(even the main page for Harper Collins does not list the designer)
Found here: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Chaos-Stars-Kiersten-White/?isbn=9780062135926
The inside cover states that the Typography is done by Torborg Davern. However, no mention of the graphic or layout designer.
There is a website that is listed on the Publisher page: www.epicreads.com
Upon further exploration, we found that this website seems to be a large-scope review board and shopping cart.
Target Audience / Demographic is going to be female from age 15-25. Most of the blogs revolving around this book are authored by young women in their early twenties.
Author has a few other series that are out: Name is Kiersten White. She has mostly young-adult fiction/fantasy books. This particular cover design is different from her other books, as the others seem to have characters or other profiles on the cover.
*******
Book Cover Designer Websites:
http://bookcoverarchive.com/
>This particular website promotes a variety of book designs. This is an archive website.
http://www.ccrbookcoverdesign.com/
>This is a site for an actual designer who designs covers for vanity-presses. A good place to look where self-publishers will go to get help with cover design.
https://www.hiretheworld.com/how-it-works/contests-employers/
>This website allows people to write a brief explaining what you need in the way of design; artists submit their design, the customer chooses which one to use and payment is issued.
*******
Here are a few examples of different kinds of ornate typography used in book designs:
Publisher: HarperTeen (part of Harper Collins)-- 2013
Book Designer is not known at this point, despite the many attempts made on finding the credits. We even tried reading the Kindle and Nook versions and could not access the credits. Will need to go to Barnes and Noble to get this information.
(even the main page for Harper Collins does not list the designer)
Found here: http://www.harpercollins.com/books/Chaos-Stars-Kiersten-White/?isbn=9780062135926
The inside cover states that the Typography is done by Torborg Davern. However, no mention of the graphic or layout designer.
There is a website that is listed on the Publisher page: www.epicreads.com
Upon further exploration, we found that this website seems to be a large-scope review board and shopping cart.
Target Audience / Demographic is going to be female from age 15-25. Most of the blogs revolving around this book are authored by young women in their early twenties.
Author has a few other series that are out: Name is Kiersten White. She has mostly young-adult fiction/fantasy books. This particular cover design is different from her other books, as the others seem to have characters or other profiles on the cover.
*******
Book Cover Designer Websites:
http://bookcoverarchive.com/
>This particular website promotes a variety of book designs. This is an archive website.
http://www.ccrbookcoverdesign.com/
>This is a site for an actual designer who designs covers for vanity-presses. A good place to look where self-publishers will go to get help with cover design.
https://www.hiretheworld.com/how-it-works/contests-employers/
>This website allows people to write a brief explaining what you need in the way of design; artists submit their design, the customer chooses which one to use and payment is issued.
*******
Here are a few examples of different kinds of ornate typography used in book designs:
Unit 3 Reading Response
Unit 3 Reading Response
When my wife and I were traveling in London, there was one thing that we could not stand: Their street-naming convention. It was awful. All of the street signs were on the sides of buildings (some of the time, they did not even exist), and most of the time, they were hidden by trees. Suffice to say, we had to ask for directions many times and had to have a map on us at all times. This being said, I love the fact that the author points out the same thing with Los Angeles. We need big street signs when we are driving and we need to feel safe with where we are going, and web navigation should be no different.
I love tabs and feel that I need to incorporate them more in my web sites. They are safe, easy to use, and very familiar, which is one of the subjects in the last chapter. Familiarity goes a long way.
In addition, the idea of site-mapping is very useful. This is not referring to a designer making a site-map for their proposal (which is something they should be doing, regardless); however, this is referring to users being able to have a “breadcrumb” bar that shows them exactly where they are. Much like the navigation bar in Windows Explorer, this allows users to not only see where they are at, but also allows them to use one click to go back to any point in their search, may it be one backward step or five.
The Trunk Test is a great invention, and I used it many times after reading it. I intend to continue to use it to make sure that my audience never feels lost in my site and that they have the ability to safely charter through the waters of my pages.
http://builtbybuffalo.com/
>A great and simple design for a designer. Navigation is always in the same place; there is not too much noise, and the user feels like they know where they are at all times.
http://www.fullyillustrated.com/
>This is a beautiful website that really illustrates how divisions and subdivisions of navigation can truly work together. Also, the simply animation that occurs during hover really looks nice, as well.
http://www.cognigencorp.com/index.php
>Great use of tabs. The hover effect really pulls out the attention and there is no mistaking where the user is at. Simple navigation and clear use of tabs.
When my wife and I were traveling in London, there was one thing that we could not stand: Their street-naming convention. It was awful. All of the street signs were on the sides of buildings (some of the time, they did not even exist), and most of the time, they were hidden by trees. Suffice to say, we had to ask for directions many times and had to have a map on us at all times. This being said, I love the fact that the author points out the same thing with Los Angeles. We need big street signs when we are driving and we need to feel safe with where we are going, and web navigation should be no different.
I love tabs and feel that I need to incorporate them more in my web sites. They are safe, easy to use, and very familiar, which is one of the subjects in the last chapter. Familiarity goes a long way.
In addition, the idea of site-mapping is very useful. This is not referring to a designer making a site-map for their proposal (which is something they should be doing, regardless); however, this is referring to users being able to have a “breadcrumb” bar that shows them exactly where they are. Much like the navigation bar in Windows Explorer, this allows users to not only see where they are at, but also allows them to use one click to go back to any point in their search, may it be one backward step or five.
The Trunk Test is a great invention, and I used it many times after reading it. I intend to continue to use it to make sure that my audience never feels lost in my site and that they have the ability to safely charter through the waters of my pages.
http://builtbybuffalo.com/
>A great and simple design for a designer. Navigation is always in the same place; there is not too much noise, and the user feels like they know where they are at all times.
http://www.fullyillustrated.com/
>This is a beautiful website that really illustrates how divisions and subdivisions of navigation can truly work together. Also, the simply animation that occurs during hover really looks nice, as well.
http://www.cognigencorp.com/index.php
>Great use of tabs. The hover effect really pulls out the attention and there is no mistaking where the user is at. Simple navigation and clear use of tabs.
Unit 2 Reading Reponse
Unit 2 Reading Response
It is safe to say that the most prominent message in these collections of chapters is to Keep Things Simple. When I was first designing webpages, I was using Netscape Composer…that’s how long it’s been since I have been designing sites. I was always under the presumption that people will want to read absolutely everything that I had to put in my website. I could not have been more mistaken. It’s true: we scan, we don’t read. I am guilty of it myself and will come by it honestly. When I go to a website, I navigate the way I shop: I know what I want and don’t need anything else.
I enjoy the fact that the author also points out many times that a fast-loading web site is the best way to go. This was a subject matter that I addressed when I first got into game asset design. I always thought that if we can make something look gorgeous with as much detail as possible, we should. Then I was taught what a data ceiling is and what “low-poly” count is. This applies to web design as well. Making something look beautiful does not necessisarily mean to make it filled with data. Simplicity can be beautiful, as well.
Keeping things simple continues to be a prominent theme in the following chapters that discuss hierarchy and search-architecture. We don’t want to have to think too hard to get the message. Web designers should always keep this in mind, for we are scanners, and if it is hard to scan or there are obstacles that keep us from doing easy reads, we are more than likely to simply exit the site and never come back. This also applies to actual design. It someone is going to be avant garde and try to make something new, they have to get to know the giants before climbing on their shoulders. People are subject to routine…we are slave to it. We will tend to like a NAV more if it is familiar than if it is new and strange. There has to be a seen transition that makes the move from tried and true to new and exciting a smooth move.
The final chapter of this particular unit continues to go down the theme of simplicity. Do not use needless words. This will create the abovementioned obstacles and will disallow people to read easily. Also, instructions on how to use a website are needless, as well. If it needs instructions, it’s not simple.
http://www.racket.net.au/
>A great example of avant garde navigation that keeps things simple. This is a company that does web design and production. Simple scroll that goes to a few different scrolling frames.
http://casestudies.labforculture.org/flash/main.php
>This site is a fascinating site, where the NAV for the homepage is in the center, but when you click anything, it goes to a fixed position on the left-upper side. This is one that I truly find to be intriguing, is because it creates a sense of direction. You don’t feel lost, which is easy to do for this kind of a subject matter.
http://www.cathybeck.com/
>Another beautiful use of navigation in a unique fashion. It is very easy to identify, as the menu items are very recognizable and have terrific animations for the hover effects.
http://www.ign.com/
>with such easy navigation for so much data, IGN has been one of my favorite sites to go to for my entertainment fix. With so much data, one would think their site would always crash, but the designers have done a magnificent job in keeping IGN going strong.
It is safe to say that the most prominent message in these collections of chapters is to Keep Things Simple. When I was first designing webpages, I was using Netscape Composer…that’s how long it’s been since I have been designing sites. I was always under the presumption that people will want to read absolutely everything that I had to put in my website. I could not have been more mistaken. It’s true: we scan, we don’t read. I am guilty of it myself and will come by it honestly. When I go to a website, I navigate the way I shop: I know what I want and don’t need anything else.
I enjoy the fact that the author also points out many times that a fast-loading web site is the best way to go. This was a subject matter that I addressed when I first got into game asset design. I always thought that if we can make something look gorgeous with as much detail as possible, we should. Then I was taught what a data ceiling is and what “low-poly” count is. This applies to web design as well. Making something look beautiful does not necessisarily mean to make it filled with data. Simplicity can be beautiful, as well.
Keeping things simple continues to be a prominent theme in the following chapters that discuss hierarchy and search-architecture. We don’t want to have to think too hard to get the message. Web designers should always keep this in mind, for we are scanners, and if it is hard to scan or there are obstacles that keep us from doing easy reads, we are more than likely to simply exit the site and never come back. This also applies to actual design. It someone is going to be avant garde and try to make something new, they have to get to know the giants before climbing on their shoulders. People are subject to routine…we are slave to it. We will tend to like a NAV more if it is familiar than if it is new and strange. There has to be a seen transition that makes the move from tried and true to new and exciting a smooth move.
The final chapter of this particular unit continues to go down the theme of simplicity. Do not use needless words. This will create the abovementioned obstacles and will disallow people to read easily. Also, instructions on how to use a website are needless, as well. If it needs instructions, it’s not simple.
http://www.racket.net.au/
>A great example of avant garde navigation that keeps things simple. This is a company that does web design and production. Simple scroll that goes to a few different scrolling frames.
http://casestudies.labforculture.org/flash/main.php
>This site is a fascinating site, where the NAV for the homepage is in the center, but when you click anything, it goes to a fixed position on the left-upper side. This is one that I truly find to be intriguing, is because it creates a sense of direction. You don’t feel lost, which is easy to do for this kind of a subject matter.
http://www.cathybeck.com/
>Another beautiful use of navigation in a unique fashion. It is very easy to identify, as the menu items are very recognizable and have terrific animations for the hover effects.
http://www.ign.com/
>with such easy navigation for so much data, IGN has been one of my favorite sites to go to for my entertainment fix. With so much data, one would think their site would always crash, but the designers have done a magnificent job in keeping IGN going strong.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Week Four
Websites that Inspire:
http://www.danbrown.com/#author-section
Dan Brown is a fantastic author, who is not afraid to bring up topics that are both controversial and enigmatic. His website portrays this particular enigmatic ideal with how the foreground panels and frames move slower than the background, which makes it seem like an ancient machine.
http://www.stephenking.com/index.html
I am actually using this website as a "what not to do" example. Steven King is synonymous with the word horror, but his website is lackluster and seems juvenile. Even the typography that is used for his name does not give any hint of horror...it seems more like science-fiction. There is no interactivity with the website, nor is there any invention to it. It just does not convey any aspect of an international best seller like him.
http://www.leegoldberg.com/
Lee Goldberg is a prolific writer, probably best known for his works for the hit show, Monk. His website is very fluid and has several different areas for users to peruse. The interactive hover-sequences for his site are also very nice, as the icon turns into a magnifying glass, and the image itself of the book becomes blurry, suggesting a mystery in itself. Very well put together, and easily navigable. This is one to which an author can aspire.
http://www.eljamesauthor.com/books/fifty-shades-of-grey/
E. L. James has made herself very famous with her "50 Shades" books, and though I am not a fan of her work, I will definitely say that her website is a good-looking site. The aspect that is most pleasing is the small movie/narration on the homepage. It is a good use of mechanics to get the audience more interested. Visuals are very important and this site uses them well.
http://www.cassandraclare.com/
Cassandra Clare is the best selling author of the Mortal Instruments series. Her website is beautiful, to say the least. There is a nice balance between all of the elements; her NAV is situated in a way that is unorthodox, and therefore pleasing and intriguing. There is a great deal of navigation for the audience to enjoy and the background imagery creates a fantastic harmony between the content and the atmosphere.
Websites that Inspire:
http://www.danbrown.com/#author-section
Dan Brown is a fantastic author, who is not afraid to bring up topics that are both controversial and enigmatic. His website portrays this particular enigmatic ideal with how the foreground panels and frames move slower than the background, which makes it seem like an ancient machine.
http://www.stephenking.com/index.html
I am actually using this website as a "what not to do" example. Steven King is synonymous with the word horror, but his website is lackluster and seems juvenile. Even the typography that is used for his name does not give any hint of horror...it seems more like science-fiction. There is no interactivity with the website, nor is there any invention to it. It just does not convey any aspect of an international best seller like him.
http://www.leegoldberg.com/
Lee Goldberg is a prolific writer, probably best known for his works for the hit show, Monk. His website is very fluid and has several different areas for users to peruse. The interactive hover-sequences for his site are also very nice, as the icon turns into a magnifying glass, and the image itself of the book becomes blurry, suggesting a mystery in itself. Very well put together, and easily navigable. This is one to which an author can aspire.
http://www.eljamesauthor.com/books/fifty-shades-of-grey/
E. L. James has made herself very famous with her "50 Shades" books, and though I am not a fan of her work, I will definitely say that her website is a good-looking site. The aspect that is most pleasing is the small movie/narration on the homepage. It is a good use of mechanics to get the audience more interested. Visuals are very important and this site uses them well.
http://www.cassandraclare.com/
Cassandra Clare is the best selling author of the Mortal Instruments series. Her website is beautiful, to say the least. There is a nice balance between all of the elements; her NAV is situated in a way that is unorthodox, and therefore pleasing and intriguing. There is a great deal of navigation for the audience to enjoy and the background imagery creates a fantastic harmony between the content and the atmosphere.
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