Journal

Goals:

  • created first round of visual mockups from last week’s wireframes
  • researched more possible companies to work for, defined my skill set better, and updated my résumé
  • re-worked color scheme again on my prototype site and began to build out other pages like scan/map
  • updated my social media presence on all of my accounts

Issues covered/Response from advisor:

  • résumé should stand out but be organized enough to allow the reader to scan quickly
  • still figuring out how to get icons to display properly on my prototype
  • learned how to use GitHub to backup and track changes in my prototype

Goals for next week:

  • round two of my visual mockups, polish them up and add interactions
  • continue to tweak prototype visually until it looks as much like my mockups as possible, create a few product pages
  • continue to research the skills companies are looking for in a Front End Web Developer or UI Designer

Prototype Progress

This semester I began building out my actual prototype I would like to present during my Final Review for Gather. After much consideration, I decided to build it out using jQuery Mobile as a Web App and possibly using Phone Gap to get it in the app store. Following my new wireframe design I began to build out my app, I have a long way to go but I am pleased with how it is coming out thus far.

 

Journal

Goals:

  • rework my prototype to show my new wireframe layout and goals
  • continue to evaluate if my home/search screen is practical and usable, conduct basic user testing
  • build out the new homepage and refine search for my prototype

Issues covered/Response from advisor:

  • new direction with layout is well received
  • overcame some issues with jQuery Mobile and became a lot more comfortable with it’s widgets
  • learned to use a new prototyping tool called Sketch
  • attended RWD Summit online this week and learned a lot of skills that can now apply to my thesis project

Goals for next week (week after spring break):

  • make changes to my wireframes based on feedback, show more states and interactions
  • research the job market and job search strategies
  • build remaining pages out on my prototype, figure out the header button issue

Journal

Goals:

  • reevaluate layout and structure of home/search screen of Gather app
  • how can I better design the main page to meet user needs?
  • build out basic layout of product search results pages with minified search bar
  • figure out marketing strategy for myself, what is the competition like?

Issues covered/Response from advisor:

  • continue to push myself and communicate my skills more confidently
  • “A story consists of a beginning, a muddle, and an end. The same often goes for a career. The more you can unravel the muddle in the middle the better you will fare. But circumstances often conspire to keep it as muddle.”

Goals for next week:

  • rework my prototype to show my new wireframe layout and goals
  • continue to evaluate if my home/search screen is practical and usable, conduct basic user testing
  • build out the remainder of the pages for my prototype

Wireframes v1

Here are the first version of wireframes for my new home screen layout, I changed things up quite a bit from my initial design. This version provides more features with better functionality and user experience overall. I am able to provide more filter categories and department options by having a dropdown menu with checkboxes. This means that as new dietary fads and trends appear, which they will, the store can add them without having to redesign of the entire home screen. Doing so freed up a lot of space on the front page for new products and seasonal items, furthering employee product knowledge and discovery.

wireframes_update garcia

 

I included my old home/search screen as a comparison:

home screen

Journal

Goals:

  • clean up and polish logotype designs, then turn in
  • set up structure, SASS files/variables for Prototype, get homepage/search page to look close to my mockups
  • updated my color scheme to be more complementary (yellow-green * red-violet), by brightening up the green and warming up the violet
  • evaluate if teaching at the college level is a good option for me as a future professional

Issues covered/Response from advisor:

  • update color scheme, provided more contrast
  • researched & learned how to successfully set up a SASS project from the bottom up, including compiling with CodeKit

Goals for next week:

  • begin updating my wireframes for Visual Design
  • continue to work on functional prototype, block in the rest of the content and begin styling the base theme
  • evaluate the benefits and pitfalls of starting my own company