Tuesday 5 February 2008

Regaining clarity

Firstly, I’d like to say thank you to those of you who commented on my previous blogger. I especially found Craig’s point useful about relative font sizes, accommodating larger fonts within the design. Secondly, I would like to thank Steve for re-directing my stubbornness and restoring my focus.

Although previously discussed at tutorials, I naively thought keeping a web page under 50K was and easy task. The realisation of how difficult this is now a reality. Without altering the initial designs I have considered using hotspots, background repeat CSS and table borders.

What is more important, keeping to the original design or keeping to the set goals?

Reluctantly, I have adapted my initial design and revised it inline with the set goals. I find all technical re-considerations frustrating probably because I am so used to completing a piece of printed work that is WYSIWYG. In conclusion this week has given me clarity. Now with more confidence than before, I feel I can do it. Validating the template to XHTML Strict 1.0 is tricky, although all problems have solutions, or do they?

My targets to complete this week include:
  • Uploading my website for testing
  • Gaining feedback from the dasforum and elderly users
  • Identifying possible improvements

3 comments:

Tom Smith said...

I'd definitely consider the goals more important than the design. After all, the designs were created with the target of fulfilling the project goals.

The concept of having project goals is to give the rest of the project a final target; something to move towards. In essence, not reaching these goals would make the whole project in some ways a failure. Seems harsh but in my understanding that's the case.

Mark Torrington said...

Totally agree with you Tom. Not achieving the goals that you have personally set means that you fail yourself and the project goals.

Craig Burgess said...

I'm glad I could be of help Mark, and I don't envy you trying to validate your design! It's a difficult process to begin with, but remember that validating the code isn't the be all and end all of web usability and accessibility; in many ways it's only the beginning.

I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to you coming from a print background trying to understand that things don't display exactly how you want them to. However, you must be applauded for throwing everything you've got into the course and website. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with, so don't forget to post it to your blog!