P3 – Illustration Web Site Portfolio & Blog

Here is your opportunity to put together all you are learning during class demos and exercises and create a single website to represent yourself as a professional illustrator.

The following is a check-list of what I am looking for in regards to your final website. There is nothing new here, we have discussed all of this in class and you have completed most of this as part of another exercise. I want to see that you have put it all together. If you have any questions, please e-mail me.

SITE PART

  1. Is the site finished on time?
  2. Does it load quickly? 
  3. Does the homepage (design & content) reflect the overall message of the site? 
  4. Does the site align with your overall goals (as stated in the various exercises)? 
  5. Does the site integrate a professional use of SEO strategies (keywords, meta-tags etc…)
  6. Is there consistency and continuity on design and color elements throughout pages (i.e. recognizable branding from site to gallery to blog)?
  7. Do the links make sense and is it easy to access all points of the site in a logical manner (including linking from the blog to the main site)? 
  8. Do all the links work? 
  9. Is the text visually easy to read and well written? 
  10. Does the site play to the strengths of the illustration portfolio and positively promote it?
  11. Is the quality of picture images professional? 
  12. Does it include working gallery with at least 10 images?
  13. Is the contact page easy to access, include actual phone and/or e-mail?
  14. Does the site link to a working blog with at least 3 blog entries? 
  15. Does the site or blog have an easy to see subscribe button (Email List, RSS, Follow Button, Feedburner.com or other)? 
  16. Does it have a form that is configured correctly (contact or other)?
  17. Does the site or blog link to at least 3 social media marketing sites? (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook Artist page) 
  18. Do all profile links outside the site have a professional illustrator appearance (blog, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook etc…)? 
  19. Are all the necessary items loaded to make the site work properly and does it use the suggested file folder structure? 
  20. Is there consistency and continuity throughout pages (nothing appears to bounce around, consistent use of design style and fonts etc…)? 
  21. Does the footer include a clear copyright notice (and optional additions are Site Map/FAQ /Disclosures)? 
  22. Were suggestions to improve the site taken into action? Does the site display a proficient aptitude and application of student’s web skills? 
  23. Did the Student load screen shots of each page to Dropbox?
  24. Did the Student “turn in” the final site on Dropbox by providing the a live LINK to the final site (TIP: Put it in a word or text doc)?

 

Visit WordPress.org for more tips and tutorials on how to customize your site/blog. It also includes many themes and plugins that you may use as well. I have made a list of some of popular plugins that you may want to use:http://cherishflieder.com/wordpress-plugins/

Also, check the BLOG for more WordPress related help.

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Rubrics:

  • Quality & Organization of CONTENT
  • CREATIVITY
  • Visual Composition & DESIGN
  • Color & CONTRAST Usage
  • Use of TECHNOLOGY & Techniques
  • Guidelines, Deadlines & PROCESS
  • PRESENTATION

Congratulations! I look forward to seeing your finished site on the last day presentation.