We've decided on a site map. All Pages (excluding the home page, will include a main nav bar along the top, and a page relevent right hand side nav).
Monday, September 29, 2008
2nd Session - Site Map
We've decided on a site map. All Pages (excluding the home page, will include a main nav bar along the top, and a page relevent right hand side nav).
2nd Session - Layout
We looked at several online ezines, including artreview.com, DazedDigital.com, Wonderland, Icon, GQ.com and Nylon.
We decided that we liked the more centralised layouts, with a discreet right-hand nav bar, a page title across the top, and a slim main nav underneath. On the individual pages, we decided that we wanted page headers underneath the main nav, but not extending completely across the page (not going above the right-hand nav.
To summarise, we're looking at an inverted-L layout.
We also decided that we wanted to keep the layout fairly simple, avoid making it too 'busy' as this becomes hard to look at and detracts from the kind of atmosphere we wanted from the site.
When looking at the individual main pages (i.e. arts homepage, literature homepage) we decided to have the articles separated by rules and discreet grey lines, though having 2-4 articles displayed per horizontal table. An example of this layout can be seen on DazedDigital.com.
When looking at actual content pages, we'll keep the right nav layout, have centralised content running down the page with a text-wrapped thumbnail gallery at the top right, and underneath have a user generated area with comments. The gallery can be clicked on to expand onto it's own page.
We decided that we liked the more centralised layouts, with a discreet right-hand nav bar, a page title across the top, and a slim main nav underneath. On the individual pages, we decided that we wanted page headers underneath the main nav, but not extending completely across the page (not going above the right-hand nav.
To summarise, we're looking at an inverted-L layout.
We also decided that we wanted to keep the layout fairly simple, avoid making it too 'busy' as this becomes hard to look at and detracts from the kind of atmosphere we wanted from the site.
When looking at the individual main pages (i.e. arts homepage, literature homepage) we decided to have the articles separated by rules and discreet grey lines, though having 2-4 articles displayed per horizontal table. An example of this layout can be seen on DazedDigital.com.
When looking at actual content pages, we'll keep the right nav layout, have centralised content running down the page with a text-wrapped thumbnail gallery at the top right, and underneath have a user generated area with comments. The gallery can be clicked on to expand onto it's own page.
1st Session - Rationale
We've decided to do an Arts & Literature online ezine. This is a personal preference for both of us, based on our inclinations toward the arts, and the vast amount of books we both seem to have consumed recently.
By keeping the site light, not based on hard news, it gives us a bit more freedom in terms of writing style. Furthermore, it creates a better atmosphere in our eyes, and gives the site a nicer feel.
At this stage, we plan to have the two main sections, Arts and Literature, as well as a homepage, and an 'about us' page.
The Literature page can be split into reviews of books, potentially 'what's new' and 'what's not, but you should have read', and also a personal contribution page where the editors can either post general opinions on happenings in the literature world, or possibly short stories, etc. This opens up the interactive aspect of the site in that users can comment on the reviews, stories, opinions, and potentially post their own.
The Arts page can be split much the same, reviews of current works/exhibitions and potentially past works that people should go and look up, and a personal contribution page where the editors can either write opinions on art world happenings, or submit their own works. This again opens interactive options for site users as they can post comments against the works or submit their own work.
When considering a 'news' based element, we can either find news specifically related to our chosen fields and then link to them (much as MSN links to SKY Sports for its sport news), or just include a simple RSS field which would enable people to see general news whilst they search the site.
In terms of cross-convergence with the other units, we're looking at potentially assisting the TV unit with their YouTube channel set-up and graphic composition. Whether or not we include work produced by the other modules is dependant on whether or not they produce anything relative to our target market.
Our target market is 18-35 year olds, who are interested in contemporary art and literature, but need some direction as to what they should be looking out for/reading next. We want to avoid being high-brow, whilst not writing to a lowest-common denominator.
By keeping the site light, not based on hard news, it gives us a bit more freedom in terms of writing style. Furthermore, it creates a better atmosphere in our eyes, and gives the site a nicer feel.
At this stage, we plan to have the two main sections, Arts and Literature, as well as a homepage, and an 'about us' page.
The Literature page can be split into reviews of books, potentially 'what's new' and 'what's not, but you should have read', and also a personal contribution page where the editors can either post general opinions on happenings in the literature world, or possibly short stories, etc. This opens up the interactive aspect of the site in that users can comment on the reviews, stories, opinions, and potentially post their own.
The Arts page can be split much the same, reviews of current works/exhibitions and potentially past works that people should go and look up, and a personal contribution page where the editors can either write opinions on art world happenings, or submit their own works. This again opens interactive options for site users as they can post comments against the works or submit their own work.
When considering a 'news' based element, we can either find news specifically related to our chosen fields and then link to them (much as MSN links to SKY Sports for its sport news), or just include a simple RSS field which would enable people to see general news whilst they search the site.
In terms of cross-convergence with the other units, we're looking at potentially assisting the TV unit with their YouTube channel set-up and graphic composition. Whether or not we include work produced by the other modules is dependant on whether or not they produce anything relative to our target market.
Our target market is 18-35 year olds, who are interested in contemporary art and literature, but need some direction as to what they should be looking out for/reading next. We want to avoid being high-brow, whilst not writing to a lowest-common denominator.
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