ah teaches web design & development (Being the Unicorn lecture)

Setup

For today's critique session please:

1. Make sure your website is uploaded to your filespace
2. Open up Firefox or Chrome with your website
   • Within the browser also open a tab with the validator (ah1.ca/validate)
   • Within the browser also open a tab with the responsive viewer (ah1.ca/rv)
3. Open up Safari or Edge with your website

Once finished setting up, please work on completing a teamwork reflection.

Process

Please make sure to include your names as part of your comments and be clear what you were commenting on (in case people need to follow-up).

After each prompt you will:

• Move to the computer with the next number (+1).
• If at the end of the row, move one row back.
• If at the back/right end class, move to the front left corner.

Valid HTML and CSS

Open the validator at http://ah1.ca/validate

Run the website through the validator. Comment on any frequent concerns.

Validator password is:

You have...

Semantic Elements

Are the following elements used appropriately?

You have...

Ordering Headings

You have...

Appropriate Alt Text

Do your images have appropriate alt-text? Does it describe the content or the function of the image?

Does it describe its function or content?

You have...

Labels Tied to Inputs

Are labels associated with inputs?

You have...

Clear Interaction Cues

Can we tell what is a link, and when we use the mouse and keyboard to navigate to it, does it visually cue us?

You have...

Clear content

Are there concerns with any of the following, and if so why or why not?:

• Are labels for interactive elements specific?
• Do photos 'suit' the site, or do they feel like stock?
• Are icons understandable or supported with text?
• Do headings help you understand the structure?

You have...

Consistency

Do the elements used — buttons, images, headings, text, inputs, etc — feel like a cohesive set? Why so or why not?

You have...

Responsiveness Testing

Let's see how things are working responsively. Please head to ah1.ca/rv.

You have...

Device Testing

Let's see what things look like on your own smartphone. Go to ah1.ca/339sites for faster access.

You have...

Browser Testing

Let's see what things look like in Safari (Mac) or Edge (Windows)

You have...

Progressive Enhancement

Let's disable Javascript and see what happens. muahahahahahahahahahahaha

You have...

Critique complete

In a moment you will be permitted to return to your projects.

Please take some time to review the feedback you have received.

Becoming a Unicorn

Step 1: Apply waffle cone to forehead

What makes you different?

1. Who do you want to work for?
2. What 'makes you unique' (but employable)?
3. How do you reconcile all these years of us telling you to be programmers, but designers, but artists, but content strategists, but makers, but animators, but sound designers, but cognitive scientists, but architects, but creators of virtual worlds, but game designers, but storytellers, but video editors, but photographers, but creative entities, but researchers, but ...?

Creating an Ethos

This week's labs

A(n) ethos is the understanding, characteristics and definition of oneself as a ____________.

Visuals

Who are you visually?

Let's look at a couple of examples:

• Moh Robati's Portfolio
• Lauren Wickware's Portfolio
• David Hellmann's Portfolio

Showcasing Your Work

Help us understand why it is good

Ensure your project overviews cover:

• What is the project?
• What was the context?
• Who was involved, and what did you do?
• Show us your process
• Tell us why it matters (i.e. what did you learn or accomplish)

Language

Speaking like your professional self

The process analysis allows us to guide potential employers through our process. It should:

• Describe the project
• Analyze and explain the project
• Identify problem(s) and resolution(s)
• Evaluate the effectiveness

Process Analysis

A process analysis:

1. Describes the project
2. Analyzes the process
3. Identifies problem(s) and solution(s)
4. Reflects on the solution(s)

Step 1: Describe

1. How would you describe and explain P2?

Step 2: Analyze

1. How would you describe and explain P2?
2. What might be some 'problems' encountered?

Step 3: Evaluate

1. How would you describe and explain P2?
2. What might be some 'problems' encountered?
3. What did you learn?

Why Should I Care?

Industry and learning

Portfolios are all about reflective practice, and learning well always involves self-reflection.

P3: What Do They Want?

How employers approach applications

How employers approach your application:

1. Skimming the cover letter (5s): Well written and custom?
2. Look at the resume (10s): Well designed, clear branding, good typsetting?
3. Read the resume (20s): Have skills and experience relating to job?
4. Look at web portfolio (30-60s): Want custom URL, non-templatey website

Care of "Burn Your Portfolio"

An Extreme Do-not-do Example

Let's head over to The Worst Portfolio Ever.

More coming soon!

This slide will be up shortly.

Sameyness

Make that framework less framework-y

"I'm sick of seeing the same damn buttons. I'm sick of seeing that same damn toolbar up top. It's driving me crazy."

Personality

Identifying how you want others to see you

How might you communicate that you are 'efficient' without using text?

Code Plagiarism

Be wary

You are allowed to use frameworks (ie. Bootstraps or Foundation web UI frameworks), JavaScript libraries to make working on the site easier, but the final design must be your own work. All materials must be cited.

When in doubt, ask the TA or instructor.

Self-Plagiarism

Be wary

If you have a pre-existing portfolio that you are revising or redesigning for this project you are required to provide a URL to the original by Nov 17. This just helps us ensure that there is no self-plagiarism occurring in the project.

Self-plagiarism will result in grade of zero. No exceptions.

Identifying employers

Remember every website has an audience, in this case your potential employer is your audience. Hence we'll be having you identify who you might want to work for in the future, to help you focus your site.

Keep it real

For the employers you look at and the job descriptions you find, please be realistic.