shinyoconcepts.com

After weeks of restless nights I can finally say the time is near. My portfolio site is finally here. I learned a lot through this experience. I'm happy with my final results. I can't wait to take on web design head on and take my skills to the next level. Below is my mission slash about me. This is my experiment on SEO since this blog gets more hits when I google my name. :)

shinyoconcepts.com

About me: I'm a front-end kind of guy with a knack for design. I like to create websites that are user friendly, simple and effective. My understanding of brand reinforcement comes from my experience in Advertising and Graphic Design. I'm passionate about creating for the overall big picture, planning every stage from concept to creation and shaping every detail of layout, typography, color, imagery and content.I take unique approaches and strive for innovation.I'm a designer with a purpose.

keywords = web design, website design, web site design,websit designer,Web Design, web site designer, flash designer, flash web designer,graphic designer, salary web designer, web designer freelance, web developer, web page design, web development, graphic web designer, ca web design, best web design, web designer, design portfolio, Steve Chen,Portfolio, San Francisco, California

User Testing: iGARLIKEit

Thoughts: Taken from our user testing. It seems our design successful and our interface is user friendly despite that the site is not fully completed and functioning. The User is able to know what the topic and purpose of the site. This site has potentials and has a great concept.

User: Garrett Gerberding

Age:17

Hobbies: Cooking, Drawing, Flash Tutorials, Airsoft gunning, book reading, track, and nunchucks

Below is a questionnaire that we used for user testing. I asked my brother in-law to test the site.

Front Page = 8

• I like the colors and the picture slide show (THE GARLIC ICE CREAM HAS TO STAY)
  
• The intro text on the right could use a little bit more flamboyance
Recipes = 8

• organized neatly
• maybe make the text the same pink as the recipe button? [there's also an error on that page for my computer, the words are overflowing downward off the screen]
  
Health = 9

• good idea to put this section. I would have read it if it weren't for the lorem ipsum
• maybe put an icon next to each health benefit? (and maybe make the text color the same yellow as the health button)
  
Oh my Odor = 8

• I LIKE THE FART ONE!!!
• The text that you put there needs to be interesting and unexpected or else this page wont seem necessary (but i know its just lorem ipsum for now (unless you guys aren't required to put text and are going to leave it like that (in which case this suggestion is kinda useless)))
  
About = 9

• I like it. It really shows the website's dedication to a dry, smelly, plant
• could use a faded background picture maybe. Just a visual thing to look at
  
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1. Rate the Design

9 I like the colors; it's very nice, neat, and clean; its easy to find everything; the only thing that keeps it from being a 10 is that its not mind blowingly amazing (which, very few things are)





2. When looking at the home page, can you instantly tell what the site is about?

It took about 7 seconds for me to figure out the theme. The garlic bulb and the heart in the iGARLIKEit represent the theme very well. The picture slide show helped the most.


3. Rate the site content

8 Recipes is the only real requirement and it was very well done; the health benefits is an good idea, I would read it if there was stuff to read; the smell one doesn't really seem too important but its pretty funny and, if some interesting stuff is written there, it would really add to the website. The about does its job







4. Rate the navigation/ ease of use:

9 simple and easy to understand. Its not perfect because its not done and some of the errors for my computer make it less easy to





5. The registration/login process (is it easy to use?)

Yes. I'm not sure why I had to lie about being 18 to enter though. There was also a little bit of a problem for my computer to view this part too.





6. Submitting a recipe

Simple and easy to use. I messed up on the ingredients part though. I thought the box on the left was for the ingredient and the box on the right was for the amount of the ingredient.







COMMENTS: i wanna see the done website

Intermediate Web Design: Research

Through research I discovered the idea of creating a site to help users create recipes might be too large for or class. In addition, there might be a big learning curve for us in creating the data base as it might surpass our team's overall skills. I have thought of different approaches and refined the idea.

Concepts:

1. A site that caters for garlic/or something specific (example:mushroom) recipes. Users can search through a library of (garlic) recipes, upload their own recipes. In addition, they can upload video and pictures of their dish. There can also me a "My Creation" section where users can upload unique recipes that they personally created.

2. A site that caters for unique personally created recipes. Users can upload recipes, photos and videos tutorial on their unique dish.These recipes are none traditional and breaks out of the norm. In addition, users can vote and comment on the taste of each dish.

3. A site for healthy eating. User friendly, where navigation categories may include: (Low Fat, Low Carb, Atkin, Vegan, etc. Users can upload healthy recipes, photos, and video tutorial. In addition, it can also allow users to place comments on recipes.

-Research links -

http://www.seriouseats.com/

- categorized by most popular an featured recipes.

-offer other topics ( Eating Out, Column, Shop, Video)

- offers video but not that user friendly

http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/04/10-things-to-do-with-peeps.html

- a link to a funny unique approaches to eating peep.

http://showmethecurry.com/

- great site specifically caters for the curry enthusiast.

- offers really good tutorial and site is easy to navigate

http://www.foodnetwork.com/

- navigation is large and difficult to find what you are look for.

- great videos

http://www.eatingwell.com/

- magazine style layout site

- complicated for you to look for something specific

http://www.cookinglight.com/

- has recipes for healthy cooking

-teaches users how to eat healthy

-magazine style layout site

note: if you are interested in seeing the progress of this idea please visit.

shinyoconcepts.com

Intermediate Web Design: Content Editor

Team Role: Content Editor

As the content editor it is my duty to insure the quality of all written content within the site. I will be responsible for the tone of the site. I will create the copy for the site content. My duty is to create a voice for the website that will immerse the audience and direct them to the message we are trying to convey. It is my job to make sure this message is clear and concise. My goal is to insure that the identity and idea is clear and consistent.

In addition, I will also me involved with the planing for SEO. My efforts will be based on careful, consistent use of keyword language and heading markup. My goal is to make the site as search-friendly as possible.A challenge I might expect with this role is creating a clear and consistent content. Also, another challenge could be to be the creative aspect of the copy.

Reading from Web Style Guide 3rd Edition:

Content Inventory

Building an inventory or database of existing and needed content will force you to take a hard look at your existing content resources and to make a detailed outline of your needs. Once you know where you are short on content you can concentrate on those deficits and avoid wasting time on areas with existing resources that are ready to use. A clear grasp of your needs will also help you develop a realistic schedule and budget.

Shinyo Concepts Logo Design

This is a logo design for my identity as a designer. The logo also is made of initials. My idea was to create a contemporary designed logo. I utilized shapes and line to create imagery.

New Portfolio Site: Shinyo Concepts

Here is a quick mock up of my new portfolio site. It will utilize JQuery to showcase portfolio examples upon mouse hover. Upon mouse hover on each option will slide in the thumbnails of portfolio works through JQuery. As the mouse rest on each option will trigger a fade in and out of each portfolio works. There are only three options in my navigation. Home, Contact and Blog. The Home is where my portfolio work will be showcased. Contact will include information about me and my passion. In addition, it will include contact information for any one who would like contact me. Lastly, the blog will direct the users to my blog site. Which will include my blog about my interest and passion for design.

My CSS ZEN GARDEN

Here is a link to my CSS Zen Garden. I have decided to change my design as a whole. Though it is not completely elastic I am happy with the final results. My approach is to create a site that is purely black and white design. I wanted a show a few type treatments to create a unique approach. The concept is to show a large cartoon comment box in which the whole site is contained. At the bottom is a rabbit character that I have created to present the site. I really enjoyed getting creatice in making the cartoon comment box in CSS3. The triangle at the bottom was created with a border that is enlarged and colorized to create a triangle. Below is a link to my site.

CSS ZEN Garden by Steve Chen