Mock up pages: indesign file

With regards to my mock pages (indesign file) I need to mention that I do realise that they are not exact/as taken care of/paid attention to other years but thats simply for two reasons in previous years I used photoshop this year I used indesign which is no biggie but I found/discovered that I much prefer to it in photoshop, as I seem to like to get things more exact using that software for website versus indesign. In this year my indesign file is a rough indiction of how I wanted things to look/feel where layout wise they should be roughly but not exactly, so thinking back and analysing this, in future I think I would be better off to keep using photoshop or at be prepared to make myself a lot more picky when using indesign to do layouts in. Another great factor which I am sure I have mentioned earlier is that this year due to work cirsumstances and family circumstances I could not devote as much time as I would have liked to school, I just hope that its not going to come and bite me in the butt, guess just have to wait and see. Getting back on topic a big factor also in why indesign file not better taken care of is big I made a couple mistakes at the begining and didn't think at the time to stop and fix them and just continued which was not a very smart move, however the indesign file is not really as important as the actual flash site files, and they are exactly as they need to be, so hopefully that will be enough to get me through. 

Reasons why: behind the design

Just wanted to quickly mention some of the reasonings behind some of the design choices made for the site

The navigation bar has pastel type colours to reflect/ fit in with target - bring into mind babies.

Backgrounds whites and grey's mostly because did not want it to be too gender specific however having said that on the girl names pages the image of the soft toy cat has a pink ribbon because don't want to be too extreme either of breaking 'custom/tradition'. The reason why a cat and a dog soft toy image were chosen for the girl and boy name backgrounds is because very often then not girl and boys are said to be complete opposites and cats and dogs fit the bill with this regards. The reason for choice of stars in the background which I have briefly mentioned in workbook (hard copy) is that its not gender specific and has a lot of positive connotations/associations for both children and adults. 

The site is aimed to be a basic intro to couples who are considering on embarking on this new journey/part of their life and therefore did not want to make it too overwhelming, so keep the design clean and simple, also didn't want it to be too graphic or too descriptive in text to gross/scare people off. 

1000 word plus writing exercise

Thought it important to mention that I think I may have over done it a bit with my time and effort into that particular outcome, but thought it a good opportunity to learn more about something always been curious about once and for all- Twins/other peoples perceptions etc, why is it such a big deal at times to some??? But also thought it a good opportunity to practice/learn how to express self in writing. 

I have made more notes with regards to other considerations etc of what was thinking of writing before settling on this particular topic of twins in the hard copy workbook that is handed in on my desk for the tutor. 

Also I have far exceeded the word count, but hopefully that will not be a disadvantage, because it is a topic in which 1000 words would not have sufficed into seeing more then a handful of peoples perspectives. 

Web pages - some sample of finished website

Thought that couldn't really have a blog that didn't at least have some of the actual finished website on it. So that is why I have included them along the side bar of this blog for easy quick reference:).

Factors

I think part of the factors influencing my work is that I think I spent way to much time and energy into research and content eg: checking out sites, getting info from people, taking lots of photos for the content myself etc and I think as a result didn't achieve to the level that would have liked, however think that its still a passable level in my opinion as I wouldn't be hesitant to show a potential employer the site, and in fact the great news is that the place I got my graphics printed, liked my graphic work and wanted to see my web work once I finish it, so hopefully it will be at least to their expectations:P.
Every single photo/image on my site I have gotten permission from the parents/photographers to use so Im happy with that!.

About end result

I think even though I feel could have done better overall. Think its still a well functioning site,
that does the job well enough and has a consistent look and feel that would work for the target audience and is appropriate/fitting with the topic at hand.

why no game/quiz

Think need to mention why I decided to do rid with have a quiz type game etc, thought given that its a information based site that most likely the targets are not looking at getting quized on something that they can't really know about due to the fact that still not parents and that they just be using the site for some general knowledge on the subject in the different areas.

WHY Layout Simple of site

I think I better mention WHY I have kept the layout design of the site very simple/plain looking, felt that given its a information based site regarding pregancy targeted at first time to be parents its better not to over whelm them. Plus 99% of the sites that I checked out that were info based eg: anyting related to pregancy, childre, baby names etc were so busy and cluttered, and didn't want to to that.

Finally updating- hard copy visual diary also on desk.

Just realised that I havent really been updating my blog as I long along with my project hmmmmm however I have been keeping a hard copy visual diary so I will hand that in with my assignment, I will just leave it on my desk with a note on it for the web tutor.

I really feel that I have let things slip a bit this year due to circumstances/situations outside of tech, just hope that the end result doesnt suffer to much from it as a result, at this stage I would be happy with just a pass because I know that I couln't/didn't give it my usual 110% time and effort.