Since my last blog post, I started working on my in-class presentation.  I created a powerpoint and started working on a few slides – about my fount choices, design decisions, and overall ideas for the project.  I also looked at the questions from the book to guide my presentation.

Why I Did It

I am presenting on Friday, so I needed to start thinking about and working on my presentation.  Looking through the questions and thinking about things like rhetorical decision, design, and audience will help me to create an effective powerpoint.

In class today, I created a timeline for my story remix:

• 4/15 – Create my mock-up or storyboard and maybe create a sketch of my infographic
• 4/17 and 4/20 – Work on my infographic and have a significant amount finished for peer review
  • This will include collecting images, fonts and graphics; creating an outline of what my graphic will look like; and creating the actual infographic
• 4/22 – Peer Feedback
• 4/24 and 4/27 – Incorporate feedback from peer review and prepare for presentations
• 4/29 – Presentations start, continue finishing up my project
• 5/6 Project due

I also thought more about how I want to remix the story.  I think I will create a timeline kind of infographic, and it will be something that looks like it could come from a history book or a website.  I will create it like it’s something that “witches and wizards” will read when they’re learning about history and Hogwarts.

Why I Did It

My timeline will help me stay on track and manage my time well.  This is especially important at the end of the year when everyone is so busy, so I tried to make my timeline detailed.

Continuing to brainstorm for my infographic will make my progress quicker when I begin to work on it.  I also have a better idea of what I’m aiming for and what I would like my final product to look like.

I created the navigational structure for my project.  I added pages for each section of my web essay, and I created links between the pages.

I also worked on my web essay.  I focused on the rhetorical analysis portion of interrogating my interface, and I was able to write an overview of audioBoom incorporating this information.

Why I Did It

The links and navigational structure make it easy for readers to find information and follow the project.  I also wanted to split up the information clearly.  This divides up the information by topic and prevents a page that is too text-heavy.

The section of my web essay that I worked on gives some background on audioBoom.  This gives readers a foundation for understanding the interface’s affordances and constraints.  This section also addresses the purpose author, audience, genre, and context.

Today I looked through audioBoom more, and I started answering and thinking through the writer/designer analysis questions.  I mostly focused on the rhetorical analysis questions (which cover the audience, purpose, context, and author).

Why I Did It

This helped me to understand the purpose and readers/writers involved with my interface.  Looking back at these questions will give me an outline for my web essay and help me when I’m putting together the draft.

I worked on creating my site information page today.  I wrote about using WordPress and selecting a theme and widgets.  I also started reading about how to add links to a page and how to add a gallery.

Why I Did It

Working on my site information page was something I needed to do after peer review.  I would also like to add a page with some samples of graphic design work I have created.  This is why I learned about adding links and galleries.  This would add some interest to my site, and it would include other kinds of digital communication.  One I create this page with a gallery, I can link it to my about page, where I mention my interest in design.

Today I added pages to my site for site information and for projects.  I also edited the menu to show these pages.

I added another widget to the bottom to display posts by category, and I edited the categories for my previous posts.

Why I Did It

I made each project page a subpage of the overall “projects” page.  This helps keep the site organized, and it prevents me from having so many options in the menu.  I created a clear menu at the top where everything is easy to find.  The additional widget at the bottom of the page also helps for easy navigation.  In a couple examples I looked at from past blogs, it was difficult to find things, and the menus were hidden.  I want my site to be clear and easy to navigate.

I decided on the theme “Chunk” for my blog.  I also played around with menus and widgets.  I decided to add an archives widget to the bottom of my home page, which will link to blog posts archived by month.

Why I Did It

Though it doesn’t have a pretty name, I really like the layout of the theme I selected.  I especially like the large titles and fonts.  I also like that it’s simple, with only a few colors and no visual distractions.  I think the black and teal look classy.

I experimented with some widgets that I ended up not using, but it was interesting to see how they work.  If I ever decide to create another blog in the future, it will be helpful to know how to link it to my Instagram account.  I decided to use the archives widget because this makes the site easier to navigate.  If I’m looking for an older post, I only have to click on the month at the bottom of the page.