AHOY

Brenna Yelenich

Allison Hitt

Writing as Information Design

25 April 2016

Class Reflection

Introduction

            First, I want to clarify that this paper will not have information about previous assignments. I have already voiced what I had done and why in their own reflections. This reflection will be about my final portfolio and what it is about and why. It will also be about how I feel about the class, what I learned in class, and how I know it will help me in the future. This reflection was written in Microsoft Word and copy/pasted from said format to Tumblr text post format. If indentions do not transfer, I cannot do anything to fix it, unfortunately. I have tried in the web browser Firefox to tab-indent, but am unsuccessful to do so.

 Assignment/Class Reflection

            This assignment was quite a bit tricky to me. Making a website can be quite difficult. From choosing a platform to “simply” choosing color scheme, the making of a website is no easy task. There are many website to micro-blogging platforms to first choose from, many of them being free. Some places, such as Wix or Wordpress are “free” in a few aspects. They both can have a free subscription, but with this there are limitations. A person who wants to make a website for free with these places cannot have their own URL with a simple .com after the beginning. The websites require a name.wix or name.wordpress and then a .com afterwards. To get your own domain, you have to buy subscriptions, which are not cheap in any aspect and all “contracts” begin at one year to sign on. After this, one can buy a theme or pick from simple free ones. I chose the platform of Tumblr.com because I knew the layout and how to fiddle with ready-made themes, which are in abundance if you just Google them.

            With Tumblr, one can choose the free themes or Google them, or one can pay $50+ to have access to “elite” themes. I chose a free theme by a simple Google search. I did not have to “reblog” (a way to share posts) the theme from the original maker either, as a link to their blog with the title “theme” is in the homepage buttons on top of the welcome banner. I also knew the theme from my separate personal Tumblr account as well.

            After choosing my theme, I fiddled with the HTML to get it perfect for myself. First, I changed the font style to something I liked. I changed it to “Comfortaa” font, as it pleased my eye aesthetically. It is rounded and much like my own handwriting. The size of the font stayed at 12 point because if it was any bigger, some images were pushed off screen and one was unable to see them. I also added a bit to the HTML as well, changing up the blank background and colors that were initially given. I also added about three more additional links from the three original given to tweak. I also added a title, making it cute so that it seems welcoming. I also wanted to make it cute because I like cute and am cute.

            The colors of the blog are “spacy” and “beachy” as I like blues, greens, yellows, and brown colors together. I also like the concept of space and the numerous stars that one can see in the night sky. The beach is also has a very nice and nostalgic feel for me. I like the colors that go along with the beach and am an avid shell collector. The background is dark blue to so that it is easy on the eyes and batteries of computers. Blue is also known as a calming color, so I have various shades ranging from almost black to a “baby blue.” The yellow color is to reflect the colors that can be seen in stars. I also liked how the light yellow stood out easily on top of the dark blue background. One shade of green is in there to compliment colors as is the brown. Green is also known as a calming and creative color as well. The brown is meant to reflect the color of sand on the beach at night or when it is wet.

            The order of my posts are random. All of my class Tumblr posts can be seen first. It was easy to simply reblog them from the class Tumblr to my portfolio Tumblr and tag them as such. After that I began to upload class assignments from the semester. At first I wanted to put them in order, but accidentally uploaded assignments three before assignment two. I did not fix this mistake as I still have all of my assignments in one place and tag, making them simple and easy to find. This does not hinder any one, except for maybe the small annoyance of the assignments being out of order. I put my resume in its own tag so that it was easy to find, though.

            I was unable to put ALT text because Tumblr’s upload system did not allow it.

            Going through the semester in this class I know I have learned a lot. I leaned what it took to make an infographic, which is as easy as I thought. I also learned a bit how to use Photoshop! This I feel is a big accomplishment because now I can add it to my resume! I also learned a bit of HTML, where things go, and how it works.

 Conclusion

Version 2:

           This version of my resume is simple. I hadn’t planned to change much from my original, but some of it obviously did. The first to change was the fact that I chose a MS Word template for the document type. This changed the name and titles of the sections for easier reading. The next to change was font, as well as size under the References section and under my name.

           The idea for the title sections and the name came from wanting to make sure the eye was drawn to those certain places and to note their importance. I also changed the color so that it was easier on the eyes and so that it drew attention so that the reader would come across those first. The font I chose for my name closely resembles my own handwriting. After that decision, I just wanted to do fonts that were simple and easy to read, while NOT being Times New Roman. Under my name, the font is set at a size 10 because it makes the text wrapping look nicer. I wanted my phone number to stand out from the rest of my information under my name, which is why it is on a line by itself (which was only possible in size 10 font). Bolded text was also to section out its importance after the section to read and analyze was already chosen. The References section is so much larger because it became dwarfed and easily skippable while in a smaller size.

Version 3 (Photoshop):

           For my final version of my assignment my document got an entire redesign. The colors and fonts are completely different than those of my version 2. Pictures were also incorporated. The spacing of sections is completely different than before, as well. My information is the same, for the exception of italics not utilized.

Memo:

TO: Allison Hitt

FROM: Brenna Yelenich

DATE: March 7, 2016

SUBJECT: Cryptids of the Southern States

Introduction to Topic

For the topic of my infographic, I have chosen to look at cryptids. Specifically, I have chosen to take a look at cryptids in the southern states of the United States of America. Cryptids are defined as “an animal or plant whose existence has been suggested but has not been discovered or documented by the scientific community.” This definition comes straight from the online resource of the Oxford Dictionary. To put this simply, cryptids are usually along the lines of “animal”-like or related urban legends.

Cryptozoologists, not a truly recognized science, is the study of these creatures. For the infographic itself, I plan to shorten the title to “Southern Cryptids.” The southern states are specifically comprise of, going left to right of an image, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. If more than one state has the same idea for a cryptid, I plan on doing a “catch-all” image with lines connecting to which state that cryptid “belongs.” In the infographic, I plan to landscape the image initially to see how I can fit all of the states on the image properly. Beyond these basic measures, I plan to work more in depth when I begin to work on the infographic itself.

Discussion of Sources

Firstly, I have chosen a few sites from where I get my “list” of what cryptids should be in the infographic. They were all chosen because the website has been updated within the past year. Chosen sources: http://bit.ly/1TYE1qJ, http://bit.ly/1h4qlSk, and http://bit.ly/1QYFVRR.

Secondly, I found to research the definition of “cryptid” from several different sources. My first came from Wikipedia, then the online Oxford Dictionary resource, then from History TV’s own website. I chose to look around for a viewer appropriate, and shortened explanation of Wikipedia’s initial definition.

Chosen sources: http://bit.ly/24KKTvE, http://bit.ly/1R28Kmz, and http://bit.ly/1R28RhX.

Purpose/goals of Infographic > What Story Will It Tell?

For my cryptids of the south infographic, I chose the location of the states simply because Arkansas, my home state, is part of the region. I also chose the region because I felt focusing in on a smaller area would be easier to make sense of the subject. I also plan to introduce the idea of what a cryptid is with the definition somewhere (most likely at the top near the title) in the infographic itself.

Reflection:

Introduction

Upon choosing my topic, I chose to do an infographic on cryptids. Specifically, cryptids of the Southern states. While this idea was my initial “image,” I soon figured that without the grounds of anything on the topic relating to Information Design, I would have to change. After this, I decided to instead limit my topic to just one cryptid. Originally, I still wanted to focus on a cryptid from the south. Without any of them being well-known, I scrapped the idea quickly.

Keeping the focus of the idea of a cryptid, I chose one that I knew the color scheme of I would like (as I like water-centric and related colors). With this knowledge of what I wanted to do, I chose the cryptid the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately also known as “Nessie." I chose Nessie because I have always thought her (or its) nickname was cute. I knew then that I also wanted to choose the topic of how Nessie’s image changed throughout the years. This I had decided was like Information Design as a topic because as technology advanced, clearer images of how she should look as a character advanced. From a “creepy” monster to one of an “loveable” and “cute” representation of Loch Ness (the actual lake) and how it is known throughout the world.

Memo

           For the memo, I decided to go with a structure I learned previously in another class. This became more of a formal representation of what I wanted to present. While I completely veered away to another subject, I kept the same main idea of cryptids. Since I didn’t know how to relate my original idea of “Southern Cryptids” as related to Information Design, I simply explained my chosen topic. This made the memo somewhat clunky and chunky in appearance, much to my dismay.

           I knew from the start that I wanted to explain what a cryptid was. This idea was scrapped along with the main part with a simple explanation of who Nessie is. This I felt also simplified and kept myself on topic for the finished product. Along with explaining what a cryptid was, I wanted to explain what kind of cryptids I wanted to present. I went with the southern states to narrow down my choices. This list was taken from the government census website word-for-word. I had a few questions in the back of my mind to what made some of the states southern (like Delaware for example), but wholly avoided the subject for the sake of simplicity. I never quite got to why or how this topic was related to Information Design in the memo. This decision left me stranded for ideas overall.

Infographic Draft

           The draft of my infographic was mainly made to present my main idea and what I wanted the overall graphic to look like. It was in no way a picture of my finished idea or product, as I changed many things throughout finishing the infographic. This was hastily done a day before the submission date. I do feel as that I got my point across of what I wanted my idea to be, though.

Final Infographic Product

           I knew what I wanted the big picture and the overall image to look like, but was unsure of how to get there. I decided quickly on the name of my project as just simply “Nessie” to make it short and to the point. I wasn’t in love with it, but eventually it grew on me. I knew I wanted to also have a nice pastel-ish color palette as the softer colors are better looking to my eyes. The colors were also the choice of a “beachy” or “watery” theme, as Nessie is a water-dwelling monster. The blue background was meant for an air of calmness as well as a nice color that wasn’t so bright one’s eyes were uncomfortable.

           After choosing these colors, I came up with my title image. I wanted something cute, which is the whole idea behind adding image of Nessie behind her name. I also wanted to put a face to the project as well, and a happy, smiling, cute one to make the image more light and happy itself. I knew I also wanted a curly, cutesy text because I liked how it looked in my mind. I also felt it went with my “female” image of Nessie as well (to round out her cuteness factor).

           The light color of the arrows and map pointers was meant to stick out on the darker background and because I felt as though they were a bit too bright for a larger scheme on one’s eyes. Darker blue boxes around the text were meant for easier reading. The wavy line to make the timeline was meant to mimic the look of a sea serpent or a wave (the blue color). The seaweed was just a cuteness factor to make a border. Nessie’s cute little image was also just for cutesy images on the corners as well as to take up an empty space and round everything out.

For this assignment, I chose the icons that relate to the movie Elf. I chose this movie because it is one I watch every year before Christmas innumerable times. This movie is very special to me because it never fails to make me laugh and me and my boyfriend both love it. Along with laughing, I am always in love with how the story goes and by Will Ferrell’s acting in the movie. It is the only movie I like this actor in.

 In the first icon, the picture is a baby. I chose this icon because the movie opens up with baby Buddy the Elf in the orphanage (why he is there is also important to the story). It is Christmas Eve in the opening scene as well. Eventually, Santa is introduced as a character when he comes down the chimney. Baby buddy makes his way out of his crib and into Santa’s sack. He is then toted off to the North Pole where he grows up.

The second icon is a couple of goofy minor characters in the story. They are known and introduced as “Arctic Puffin” and “Mr. Narwhal.” I chose these two because they say goodbye to buddy as he leaves the North Pole to look for his dad. These two can be surmised as Buddy’s cute animal friends because he calls them by name. Also, in one part before Buddy leaves the North Pole, Arctic Puffin asks if Buddy wants to “pick snowberries.” Then, Mr. Narwhal can be seen as Buddy’s friend because he wishes him well and “hopes he finds his [Buddy’s] dad” as Buddy leaves the North Pole.

For the third icon, I have a plate of spaghetti with maple syrup being poured on top of it. I chose this because in one scene Buddy is seen pouring the syrup all over his spaghetti. This scene is important because it is Buddy’s first night with his father’s family, who eventually become Buddy’s family as well. He also expresses his delight in how much he loves the sugary taste of the syrup and that it is part of the “four main food groups” of “candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup.”

Buddy’s hat, a shoe, and an elf ear make up the fourth icon. These are integral parts to the story. Throughout the entire movie, Buddy never changes his elf outfit. This marks him as a stranger in New York City. Also, the added elf ear is to symbolize that he was raised by elves in the North Pole.

Upon the choice for the style, I went to my boyfriend to ask if he would draw the icons for me. He is actually a graduated art student with a Bachelor’s degree. He draws very well and I knew he could draw cute and cartoony enough for what I wanted. The cartoon-ish style was chosen mostly for the aesthetic appeal. In further inspection and reflection, I feel as though it also fits within the uplifting, happy, colorful, and fun nature of the film. The color is also to go along with the feel of the movie and choice of color. The blue background is also mostly an aesthetic choice along with the calm feeling of the color.

The arrangement of the icons is basically within the narrative of the movie’s storyline. The film begins with Buddy as a baby; then has him leaving the North Pole and saying goodbye to his friends; also, after these scenes is Buddy putting syrup on his spaghetti. The fourth icon is mostly to represent how Buddy feels at the end of the movie. Eventually Buddy does know he is human, but still sees himself as a true elf (as him, his new wife and baby go to see his foster elf father). The icon is meant to represent that Buddy now knows where he belongs.