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Prototype of WebsiteThe diagram below is the prototype for my Website. I used this prototype to organize how I wanted to design my website. It served as a brainstorming platform of what I wanted to present to my audience.
Part of the design process was establishing my target audience. Once I knew who would be interested in viewing this website, it became clear what elements of information I wanted to embed in the site and how I wanted to present it. Below is a rough draft of the features I wanted to showcase in my site. I used a web based tool, mywebspiration.com, to create the prototype. 
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Design of Logo
I made over 50 different logo prototypes, using Logomakr.com, before deciding to choose the logo (presented above and throughout this site). I wanted to create a name to go along with the logo, however, I wanted the logo's intention to be understood without text. I also wanted the color scheme of the logo to assist and enhance in promoting the website.
The website was intended to teach others how to create digital stories. "Digi" stands for 'digital' and "tale" is another word for story. When you combine 'digi' and 'tale' it sounds like the word 'digital'. 'Digi' represents modern day lingo (digital), whereas 'tale' is an outdated way of saying 'story'. The 'digi' transcends the 'tale' into the 21st century.
I chose to break up the word with a period (.), because it represents the ".com" world that we live in and the medium in which we present digital stories. The period also helps to distinguish the two words spliced together to create a symbolic word.
When I studied logos from successful companies, and read articles and books related to logo design, one of the themes that kept reoccurring was 'to keep the design simple'. My goal was to create a logo that was simple, intuitive, and representative of digital storytelling.
When I thought about telling stories digitally, I thought of a video camera. When I thought of stories I thought of a book. The image of the book represents the old fashioned way of capturing tales and the digital camera represents the modern day way of capturing stories. Embedding the book in the video camera was intended to have the viewer imagine taking traditional stories and having them reeled into a camera to be viewed digitally.
Based on research, most successful logo designs have just a few color schemes. Some only have one. I wanted to limit the hue to just two colors. I wanted the colors to represent education because the site teaches how to create digital stories in the classroom. I also wanted the colors to be modern, because digital storytelling is modern day teaching.
The green represents education. When I thought of education, I thought of planting the educational seed and seeing the learning grow. When I think of plants growing, I think of green. As I was researching the education color for my logo, I noticed that our local library uses a similar green tone for their website, which confirmed that others felt green represented books and stories.
The blue represents a modern day hue as well as the sky, which has no limits. I wanted the blue to represent transcending education into new heights and realms never thought possible. I also wanted the blue to be modern, not pastel dull, or florescent, but an attractive sky blue with subtle illumination.
Normally, people would think that the book would represent education, and the video camera transcending education. I intentionally made the digital camera green so that it was viewed as the educational tool and I made the book blue so that the book looked like it was transcended into the 21st century.
To make the name digi.tale pop out, I chose to match it with the blue tone. I also wanted to make the name seem modern and so I went with a modern day font, which was called 'Gruppo'.
The website was intended to teach others how to create digital stories. "Digi" stands for 'digital' and "tale" is another word for story. When you combine 'digi' and 'tale' it sounds like the word 'digital'. 'Digi' represents modern day lingo (digital), whereas 'tale' is an outdated way of saying 'story'. The 'digi' transcends the 'tale' into the 21st century.
I chose to break up the word with a period (.), because it represents the ".com" world that we live in and the medium in which we present digital stories. The period also helps to distinguish the two words spliced together to create a symbolic word.
When I studied logos from successful companies, and read articles and books related to logo design, one of the themes that kept reoccurring was 'to keep the design simple'. My goal was to create a logo that was simple, intuitive, and representative of digital storytelling.
When I thought about telling stories digitally, I thought of a video camera. When I thought of stories I thought of a book. The image of the book represents the old fashioned way of capturing tales and the digital camera represents the modern day way of capturing stories. Embedding the book in the video camera was intended to have the viewer imagine taking traditional stories and having them reeled into a camera to be viewed digitally.
Based on research, most successful logo designs have just a few color schemes. Some only have one. I wanted to limit the hue to just two colors. I wanted the colors to represent education because the site teaches how to create digital stories in the classroom. I also wanted the colors to be modern, because digital storytelling is modern day teaching.
The green represents education. When I thought of education, I thought of planting the educational seed and seeing the learning grow. When I think of plants growing, I think of green. As I was researching the education color for my logo, I noticed that our local library uses a similar green tone for their website, which confirmed that others felt green represented books and stories.
The blue represents a modern day hue as well as the sky, which has no limits. I wanted the blue to represent transcending education into new heights and realms never thought possible. I also wanted the blue to be modern, not pastel dull, or florescent, but an attractive sky blue with subtle illumination.
Normally, people would think that the book would represent education, and the video camera transcending education. I intentionally made the digital camera green so that it was viewed as the educational tool and I made the book blue so that the book looked like it was transcended into the 21st century.
To make the name digi.tale pop out, I chose to match it with the blue tone. I also wanted to make the name seem modern and so I went with a modern day font, which was called 'Gruppo'.
Design of 90 second Capstone Video (on Home Page)
The intent of the video from the home page was to promote this site, tell a little bit about the powers of digital storytelling, as well as model how to create a meaningful digital story. I also wanted to incorporate images and sound that were meaningful to me.
The images in the video were personal photos of my life at Silver Pony (my parent's private/alternative/hippie school) and life afterwards as an adult and teacher. The two songs used in the video, "Oh I'd Expect" and "circadian rhythm" were songs that I have rewound and listened to many times when looking for a good tune to pass the time.
I used WeVideo, to create the video and Youtube to access the sound.
The images in the video were personal photos of my life at Silver Pony (my parent's private/alternative/hippie school) and life afterwards as an adult and teacher. The two songs used in the video, "Oh I'd Expect" and "circadian rhythm" were songs that I have rewound and listened to many times when looking for a good tune to pass the time.
I used WeVideo, to create the video and Youtube to access the sound.
Designing through the lens of the Audience
Reading authors such as Baggio and Dervin, helped me focus on presenting my research through the lens of the audience instead of the presenter. At first, the concept sounded cliche, however, after conducting first and second hand research, I am convinced that the power of advertising and engaging audience is by designing your message as if you were the consumer and not producer.
The goal of the designer should NOT be to unload knowledge to the audience as if they were a dry sponge parched for information. The goal of the designer should be to tell a message and how it is presented should depend on the audience's preference.
The design goal of this website, logo, and 90 second video was to connect with my intended audience, whom are educators or anybody interested in transcending the skills of others or their own by creating purposeful digital stories.
The goal of the designer should NOT be to unload knowledge to the audience as if they were a dry sponge parched for information. The goal of the designer should be to tell a message and how it is presented should depend on the audience's preference.
The design goal of this website, logo, and 90 second video was to connect with my intended audience, whom are educators or anybody interested in transcending the skills of others or their own by creating purposeful digital stories.