Not So CS-Stressed

Hi again,

It has been a few weeks since my last entry. This is partly down to being busy and also because of the half term holidays. So let me fill you in on the events of the last few weeks.

After the Flash project and the subsequent nightmares, I decided that once I get some spare time (if there is such a thing) I am going to attempt some more flash based work.

I have done some tutorials now online and I feel better equipped to use the software, I also think it would be foolish to fall into the same trap as last time- that being not using it again until really necessary, I am going to try and work with the 'practise makes perfect' theory in mind.

We have started a new project 'On the Job 2' which is a kind of follow on from from the 'On the Job1' project. We are re-designing a website for a fabric company. This I think will give us some scope to use some nice imagery and should make for a nice site.

Looking at our ideas already I am quite happy with the professional feel to them. I can also see the progress that has been made from the earlier days of the course, I think I maybe becoming a little nostalgic with the end of the course in site!


I do think the HND students that are left are starting to work well together, and my only disappointment is that it did not happen sooner. I think each of us has strengths and we all could have benefited from each others knowledge a lot more than we have.

On the subject of CSS my evil nemesis, along with Flash, I have had a breakthrough!

It has been quite a painful process but I bit the bullet, and I wish I had done it earlier. I now feel quite at ease using CSS and even enjoy trying to figure out solutions to layout problems. This is something I certainly did not expect to hear myself saying, in fact it has been such a thorn in my side it has given me stress levels that I really weren't happy with.

That along with some other stresses - the old employment after college chestnut, deadlines, referral work and wondering if I can 'cut it' in the industry have given me a pretty crappy time in the last few weeks.

I am hoping that me getting to grips with CSS, even in a basic way will push me on. After all there isn't long to go, May 15th folks!

My 6 month learning plan has changed in content really, I think I have done tutorials as I have needed to rather than in the order I first laid them out. This has been through necessity though, Flash tutorials and a nice site I found that allows you to edit CSS text, and see the effects on certain elements , have become an important part of my learning.

I plan to list my 'done' tutorials on here as evidence, maybe stating usefulness and content, then if any of you readers would like to, you can just click the links and do them yourselves.

Aims

1. As mentioned above, list my tutorials for next week.

2. Have my 3 CSS layouts for the CiSSy project in place.

3. Have my referral work, 1-2 essays done for next week.

4. I would like to re-design my portfolio site, or find a solution to navigating projects in sections, e.g CiSSy, Mikron and On the Job projects in the web section.


Thanks for reading, any suggestions on portfolio layout would be welcomed greatly.

Mark

FLASH, AHHH ARGHHHHHH! - Painful to All of Us

Hi All,

It has been a very tiring week, the route of all my problems, and I'm beginning to think all evil, is Flash (ahhh ARGHHH!!, I know that's twice, but I can't emphasise it enough!) But from all the pain that 'lovely' piece of software caused me this week, it has also taught me a thing or 2. It has made me realise that I need to put an end time on when I am going to stop trying to figure the software out and go to plan 'B'.

Luckily I had a plan 'B' on this occasion, a good job really as I left it until 12.30 a.m to start to do something different. I was done by 2.30 but not entirely happy with the results. Judge for yourself at http://www.feathermark.co.uk/websites/kiss2/final_web_pages/kiss_start.htm

The original idea was to link all my scenes within Flash, this though was where I had my crisis, it just would not work! I tried and tried and nearly blew the house down with my huffing and puffing. I was so frustrated that at one point I was ready to pack the thing up and walk away from it. But even in the early hours, I had a niggling voice telling me to get my self going again, and it proved wise to listen to the voice, because at least I had a submission.

I genuinely feel as though my work has suffered with this project because of a lack of understanding and maybe a bit of stubbornness on my part, in not wanting to be beaten by Flash.

"You may have won the battle, but this is war!". Needless to say I will be tackling Flash again in the form of tutorials (if there are any left that I did not do on Monday / Tuesday) I will be trying to remain calm and not let myself be wound up.

Anyway I handed something in, hopefully a 'pass' but I think maybe some remedial work will have to be done. Not because I am not capable but because I lost time fiddling. My research was not as thorough as usual, and my written work was not as good as either.

Anyway, that is the 'KISS' project out of the way (for now at least) and on to the next one.

My next priority has to be the CiSSy project, again I am experiencing the resistance to it because I do not know how to do it.

Even after all this time on the course I can't seem to overcome that feeling that crops up when faced with something I have no idea about. I only tend to deal with the issue when confronted like a cornered rat!

But I have dealt with the nasty Flash issue this week, not that comfortably but dealt with nevertheless, and so that seems to have given me a bit of confidence to tackle some CSS this week.

So my aims for this week are:

1. To read my CSS pocket handbook, get the gist of CSS. Maybe start to understand it better.

2. To cement my understanding of the 'box model', I have a basic idea, but I need to try and use it firsthand.

3. To get my portfolio nearer to completion, I want to have some more work up by next week.

4. To make sure my layout of the portfolio site is consistent for next week, as I want to apply for a job I have seen, and showing portfolio work is a must.

5. To refresh myself on ongoing projects, and try give them the attention they should be getting.

The list is a bit bigger than usual, but while the bit is between the teeth, and I am learning to deal with sleep deprivation.......

Anyway no 'Peak of the Week' this time, I haven't had one. It been too stressful!!

Any comments as usual, are welcome, as is feedback on my blog or my portfolio site www.feathermark.co.uk

Thanks for reading.

Mark

Feedback Folly

Hi Folks,

I am looking for some feedback on our latest project. That being 'KISS', the task basically is to come up with an e-card for valentines day.

My ideas are attached.

1. A dog holding balloons, the object being to distract him to release them, and so revealing a romantic message.

2. A 'love me' love me not' type scenario with a flower.

3. A virtual bunch of flowers.

4. A bear that you have to tickle to get the message from.

5. A valentine advent card. Different door, different message.

I would appreciate any comments, feedback or suggestions.

Thanks Mark