The Power of CSS & Design

This blog has so many amazing tips and links in it -- for this week I want you to read it. And then visit a few of the extra links.

Write about the extra links you visit. Were they helpful, confusing, insightful...? Did you try any of the information they covered?

Power it up with CSS

http://coding.smashingmagazine.com/2009/10/05/mastering-css-coding-getting-started/

And if you are wondering about becoming a web designer and had any questions you would want to ask... This blog is about that:

6 Questions & 50 Designers
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/09/05/50-designers-x-6-questions/#more-185

Check them out, think about them and do a write up about your reaction, thoughts, and if you tried something new because of what you read. Inspiration is what leads us down the path to better design, better coding.
20 pts possible

Positioning in HTML

Here is a great little tutorial on positioning
Absolute, relative, static, fixed and inherit

http://www.barelyfitz.com/screencast/html-training/css/positioning/
Positioning in HTML

Combining Type Faces Effectively & Using Effective Web Design

Thanks to Sharon Decaro -- we have this link to share with the class on how to choose fonts to combine so the end result is a great design.

http://www.noupe.com/design/a-crash-course-in-typography-principles-for-combining-typefaces.html

Crash Course in Typography

Check it out, think about it, and start putting it to good use.

Once you have read about Typography-- the next natural step is to consider Effective Web Design

Visit Smashing Magazines blog about this topic
10 Principles Of Effective Web Design

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/01/31/10-principles-of-effective-web-design/

Read both articles, think about them. Write about them in your blog - what makes sense to you, what you think you can utilize in your Project One website. And then USE the tips the offer.

I also have an article I have posted on the MAT 125 part of my website that has some great tips in it.

7 Website Improvements

http://www.claudiafaulkdesign.com/MAT125/websiteimprovements.html

Week Two: Finding Resources

The field of Graphic Design and Web Development is constantly changing. Because technology and practices change, designers need to find ways to keep themselves up to date. They learn to find sites filled with information, inspiration and resources.

Your Task this week: Find a resource and share. The site should provide information, tutorials, stock resources (photos, audio clips, movies, etc), articles, advice, design tips, or links to well designed and inspiring sites. Tell us what the site is about and how it is useful. Include a link to the URL.

Here are a few resources that you can use as a starting point:

• Adobe Support Center http://www.adobe.com/support/
• A List Apart a href="http://www.alistapart.com
• Lynda.com http://www.lynda.com/
• Smashing Magazine http://www.smashingmagazine.com/

Week One: One Page Websites

This week -- I want you to check out examples of some one page websites. I hope it inspires the design for your Exercise One work.

1. Please visit all the linked websites. They all contain a series of one pages websites. Out of those, choose a few that you find interesting.

2. Include a link to the websites you choose and write in your blog:
- why you like them (or don't like them)
- what works
- what doesn't

Although we are working strictly with HTML and CSS for this exercise, the Flash websites do hold great design elements that you can learn from

One Page Love

http://onepagelove.com

CSS Zen Garden

http://www.csszengarden.com/


Web Design Ledger

http://webdesignledger.com/inspiration/40-inspiring-single-page-websites

Feel free to explore beyond this list, just be sure to include the url so we can check it out too.

Summer 2011

Welcome to the summer MAT165 Web 2 Class. Lots of adventures will be packed in to the next 8 weeks. I am looking forward to the journey. Hope you all are too.

~ Claudia