Thanks for all of the helpful input from last week’s presentation. Much of the information will allow me to find more appropriate pictures and objects for the proposed site.
After the suggestion from Professor Cohen, I looked at the Google site to find out how to integrate a customized Google search for the site. It appears to be idiot proof, but I will put that theory to a test when I try to do a customized search among the links that I will highlight in my web site.
The site will continue to be text heavy which I think is unavoidable. I will try to find an appropriate logo when the site is actually done. I will continue to keep the colors muted, because I believe that lively colors are inappropriate for the topic. I will use colors to distinguish page headings and coordinate with navigation buttons on each page.
Using the customized Google search is creating somewhat of a tension about the purpose of the site. I continue to believe that the innovation of the site is the attempt to find persons who can add intimate knowledge of free persons of color in antebellum Virginia. I want to keep this focus as the purpose of the site. Having the site also become an searchable archive of other links does not necessarily detract from this purpose, but it adds a new dimension to the site that may change the abstract somewhat.
Curtis
November 23, 2008 at 9:36 pm
I am finally getting to post my comment from last week’s presentations. Again, I don’t want to be “nit-picky” but I do think that taking some time to line up the links with the verbiage will help improve the overall layout design. Believe me, I certainly understand your lack of patience when it comes to drawing with PowerPoint.
Based on your blog entry, it sounds like you have benefited from the comments in class. I think you are on the right track with “muted colors” and “more appropriate photos.” I think your site will fill a gap that exists in the study of Free Persons of Color in Antebellum Virginia, and contribute significantly to the history field.
November 23, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Thanks for your input. I agree that the pages need to be cleaner looking. My ability with power point is only a little better than my drawing ability which was the other alternative for me. Obviously most people are well ahead of me in the ability to use technology, but making a nice looking web site is not one of the things I expect to have etched in my tombstone as a life accomplishment.
Curtis
November 23, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I definitely agree that collaboration is the strength of your site. With the added confusion of the google search and your appropriate attention to other uses, I feel it is important to emphasize you desire for contributions in your design. You might do this with a featured contribution or updates on the progress of your project on the home page.
I know this was already discussed in class, but images do not have to be directly related to content. For example, if you were discussing marriage in some way you could have an image of lace, a wedding cake, a china pattern or a wedding ring. Like Professor Cohen suggested there are many examples of material culture during you time period that you might use. They don’t have to have been actually used by your subjects, but could merely suggest a visual representation of one of you themes. Blurring objects or making them transparent can have the effect of making images seem more like suggestions or representations than actual artifacts.
November 26, 2008 at 5:05 pm
I agree with Andrea, Curtis, in that the search function is probably not what you want to emphasize, but the contributions of the public are definitely your primary objective. I think her idea of a “featured contribution” is a good way to show users right on your homepage what you’re after and why.
Perhaps you could tie in some 19th-century perceptions of the people you’re studying? This may give you a bit more text but it may open up some of the image options you’re looking for, too. It’s tough to come up with antebellum stuff, tho, but I’ll keep my eyes open for ya.