I think for beginners it’s a good system to come up with your own design idea that you develop yourself, then find a template that meets your layout demands and form your design to work into the dimensions of the template. The template has it’s advantages and saves time, but having the knowledge to be able to design a template from scratch within a CMS would be ideal. With that kind of know-how, you could just edit the workings of the template instead of having to work around them.

FreeCMSTemplates.com

www.freecmstemplates.com

I thought freecmstemplates.com was an awesome resource for downloading free CMS templates. No thought required here, the first thing you see is the three big CMS applications: WordPress, Joomla!, and Drupal.

The themes are broken into “series,” that are broken down further into different variations and color modes of that theme.

CMSTheme.net

www.cmstheme.net

This site had a ton of free themes as well as commercial themes to choose from. I liked the variety of themes I found here. They offered themes in Blogger, Drupal, Joomla!, Magento, Moveable Type, Textpattern, WordPress, e107, and phpBB.

CMSTutorials.org

www.cmstutorials.org

This site had Lots of great tutorials for CMS Systems, but most of them were for WordPress. You could sort the tutorials by system and there were also other tutorials for things like PHP, CSS, HTML, and Javascript

HV-Designs.co.uk

www.hv-designs.co.uk

I really liked this tutorial website. There were Photoshop tutorials, coding tutorials, WordPress tutorials, jQuery tutorials, freebies, videos and articles. I really liked the design of the site itself too, it was very well put together.

Modified Template

This is an image of the template we used for the ArtSpace site:

http://www.themes2wp.com/?s=zdesign&x=0&y=0

This was the only image I could find of this template, the demo seems to have been removed from the server. We chose this template because the layout suited our needs in color scheme, features, and layout. After some modifications, the template now looks like this:

websmx.com/dme/artspace/wordpress

We haven’t settled on a background yet and the slide show doesn’t work yet, but the drop down menus are working.

That’s about it for CMS templates. Thanks for reading!

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Sometimes  web design lingo makes it into the main stream. When this happens, you end up with clients who want things “above the fold“,  and for you to only use “web safe colors“. You also end up with clients asking you to make their site “search engine optimized”, when they really want improved search engine marketing/visibility. Lucky for them, I was going to make their site search engine optimal anyway; but they really want search engine marketing, it could cost them.

Search engine optimization means you are building a site while keeping in mind how search engines work, and catering to their algorithms; in effect, allowing the search spiders to catalog your site appropriately. A designer can do things like using web standards coding, headings, image alt tags and titles, meta tags and practicing comprehensive use of technologies. This helps a site come up in the first few returns when someone searches for your site contextually, but if a client wants their site sitting in the top three or four, they’re going to have to go a few steps further. Things that help a site’s SEM are being in manual directories that have a good reputation, back linking with contextually appropriate links, frequently adding new content, using AdSense or some form of paid search advertising, and keeping a social media site somewhere like Facebook or Twitter.

In the end, clients really want Search Engine Visibility/Positioning for the most part. This just means that people will find their site when they search for their forté, or relevant area of expertise. Once the site actually achieves SEV through proper SEO and SEM, make sure there are nice and accurate page descriptions so searchers will chose their site; because once good search engine positioning is achieved, that’s what will then be the deciding factor.

There are certain CMS apps that make SEO and SEM easier. Some apps will automatically new information and blog entries to a social networking site as well as bulletins. There are apps that check your code and provide SEO tips and suggestions.  Apps like JoomSEF for Joomla can:

• Rewrite Joomla URLs to be more “Search Engine Friendly” and understandable by humans
• Provide multilingual content support using JoomFish
• Provide URL internalization
• Provide a wide range of editable meta tags for any of your Joomla URL’s
• Provide fully customizable URL’s
• Provide ability to customize the 404 page
• Helps handle 301 redirects

MODx is another CMS that has built in apps that allows complete control of all metadata and URL structures for SEO purposes.

If a client came to me and wanted to improve their SEO or SEV without breaking the bank, I would tell them to do a cheap online marketing campaign through Google or get their site into a couple manual online web directories. I might even tell them to create a profile on a social media network and make sure they use it actively or pay me to do it for them.  Google has many tools to help with SEO and SEV that I would point clients toward, like AdSense, AdWords, Google Website Optimizer, and Google Content Network.

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CMSimple and Websitebaker are the first two content management systems I’ve ever used. With the experience from playing around with these two software, I found the means of editing sites in a content management system to be oddly roundabout. Consequently you have to raise your awareness of the contents of the install folders that the systems give you and get a grip on the file structure before you can competently edit them. In this respect, I found that CMS was easier to understand right off the bat, but I felt like Websitebaker had more options and features to toy with once you can understand it. This tipped my favor only slightly to Websitebaker.

Installing the systems isn’t a problem, though I definitely had a harder time installing Websitebaker. Setting up CMS is as easy as drag and drop, but Websitebaker actually requires an installation process to set up the system’s files. This not only makes CMS easier to set up, it makes it easier to move and change file structure. I’m going to have to further explore setting both systems up on my domain, as I’ve heard Websitebaker has some problems getting set up on Fat Cow, which is what I have. This would only add to the difference in ease of installation between the two systems, making you work harder for those few extra features of Websitebaker.

When I was first learning Websitebaker, it seemed like everything I was changing was taking place in this mysterious location that I couldn’t see or understand. Once I got the concept that pretty much everything was taking place through PHP, I found the PHP files that I were actually changing and I was able to make changes pretty easily. CMS didn’t take so much to learn simply because it’s closer to the structure I’m used to working with, a good’ol HTML document. However, there are still parts of the Websitebaker PHP code that, to me,  don’t seem to be there for any reason, yet when I take them out the whole page goes blank.

My favorite feature of CMS was the drag and drop installation, leaving the WYSIWYG editor to be my least favorite component. However, this discrepancy rests solely on the outdated look, I think they could stand to bring the GUI into the 20th century. My favorite part of Website baker was the droplets. I loved how easy they were to use as well as their usefulness. I also really liked how easy Wb is to back up.  There wasn’t much I didn’t like about Websitebaker, I guess that’s why it became my favorite. I’ll have to use it more until I find something I actually don’t like.

Currently, If I were to use either CMSimple or Websitebaker for a client, I’d use Websitebaker. I have a couple main reasons. I want to learn PHP better, and Wb uses a lot of PHP in its makeup.  I feel like Websitebaker has more to offer, it has many more components available, and it’s droplets are fun and useful.  I also found the backup process for Wb to be easy and efficient.

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The basic features of a CMS that I think are essential are the abilities to log in and edit/create content as well as change the presentation of the document. File management would also be a feature I consider essential to a CMS, there should also be an inherent content hierarchy to the system.

Features that back up the changes you’ve made to the content of the page and added security features can be nice, but not essential to a CMS. Plug-ins can also be useful but are not an essential element. XML sitemap generators can help boost search engine recognition but aren’t necessary either.

One should keep in mind the level of ability the intended editor of the CMS has, as well as the things required from the site itself and logged-in abilities of the editor. If there are any specific things the site will need to do, plug-ins and add-ons should be taken into consideration. Clients/designers should also consider the level of security and editing control hierarchy they want.

If the CMS accommodates it, it can support SEO with features like static-looking URL’s, Keywords in URL’s, RSS feeds, Pings, Tagging, Customizable H1/title tags, and multi-level categorization structure.

If clients want it, it’s my job to supply it. CMS’s are growing in popularity and more people are asking about them. If I want to compete in the field, it’s important that I get to know them. The best way to learn this is trial and error combined with research.

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As designers, we all know how important efficient use of space and interactivity is. This is exactly why jQuery is such a powerful tool to have in your arsenal. The first time I ever heard the term jQuery was in a phrase like this, “jQuery, I love jQuery.” This roused my interest enough for me to look into it last semester, and since then I’ve decided that I love jQuery too.

The idea behind jQuery is to provide an easy, lightweight way to emphasize interaction between JavaScript and HTML. From the mouth of the official site, “jQuery is a fast and concise JavaScript Library that simplifies HTML document traversing, event handling, animating, and Ajax interactions for rapid web development.” Implementing this tool allows users to show or hide extra information with the click of a mouse; also, these actions can be animated, highlighted, or hidden to create even stronger connections in the user’s mind. This library is so powerful and efficient, a ten page website can be squeezed into one page and still be as easy to understand and sort out as the ten page layout.

jQuery was released in 2006 at BarCamp NYC by a man named John Resig. According to Wikipedia, jQuery is used in about 20% of the 10,000 biggest websites, making it the most popular JavaScript library in use. A free, open source software that is only 157Kb for the uncompressed version, jQuery is duel-licensed under the MIT License and the GNU General Public License, Version 2.

This groundbreaking library allows for:

• Document Object Model (DOM) element selections using a cross-browser open source selector engine called Sizzle
• DOM traversal and modification with support for CSS 1-3
• Event handling
• CSS manipulation
• Cool effects and animations
• Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax)
• Plug-in extensibility
• Other utilities like browser version and the each function

With a snippet of code as simple as [$("p.neat").addClass("ohmy").show("slow");]you can create a window of information that animates open by clicking a button.

Big companies like Microsoft and Nokia are planning to include jQuery in their platform bundles.  Other big companies that are using the library are Google, Dell, Bank of America, MLB, dig, NBC, CBS, Netflix, Technorati, Mozilla, and WordPress. jQuery’s wide range of use is due to its flexibility and compatability.

Plug-ins can also be created on top of the JavaScript library, allowing developers to create low-level interactions and animations. More advanced effects and high-level, theme-able widgets can also be created for the more skilled users. jQuery is worth taking a look at for any web developer looking to ad dynamicism and interest to their work.

This is a simple example of what jQuery does; this particular example is known as an accordion effect:

This non-assuming list can have its topics expanded to look like this:

There are also different hover effects that can be performed to add information and click incentive:

I’ve been sold on the idea of jQuery for a while now; hopefully this information has been useful and will lead you to look into the subject more if you haven’t already. The implementation of this technology is only limited by ones imagination, and like all things, it takes a bit of learning to grasp it. However, the rewards can be great and it’s easier to learn than many alternatives. Hopefully I will be demonstrating some examples of how jQuery can be used in my academic future. Thanks for reading.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JQuery

http://jquery.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajax_%28programming%29

http://www.webdesignerwall.com/demo/jquery/

http://jqueryui.pbworks.com/

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Change Agents

Digital media and interactive multimedia have on main difference, interactivity. Interactive multimedia allows users to change around the content in a way that is appropriate for its use and purpose. Regular digital media is only viewable; it cannot be modified by the user.

I consider myself a change agent because I try whenever possible to change things for the better. Change is imminent, it’s the future. To not change is to stagnate and die, so why not embrace what has to happen and guide it towards something positive? When there’s something I don’t like about an interface or site or whatever, I immediately start thinking of how it could be made better, and this makes me a change agent.

If I were to look into the future of my career, the technologies I see creating the largest impact on my career would be the continued growth of the internet, nanotechnology, and energy technologies that would make energy cheaper and more sustainable. I also think 3D desktops like the one prototyped by Bumptop will change the way we handle computing. Bumptop makes file handling more visually intuitive and easier for more right brained people, as well as inexperienced users, to understand.

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Blogging by the Numbers

In my blogging research, I found that two-thirds of all bloggers are male, 60% are between the ages of 18-44, 75% have college degrees, and 86% have been blogging for at least a year. Among the motivations for bloggers, 71% say they blog to speak their minds, 72% say they blog to share their expertise, 61% say they blog in order to supplement their income, 53% hope to attract new clients, and 72% of self employed bloggers say they blog to attract clients.

2009 blogs have 68% more ad tags installed than in 2008. 70% of bloggers talking about brands in their blogs are doing so without corporate dissuasion. 71% of all respondents who keep a blog for a business report to have increased their visibility within their industries through their blog.

Many of the studies I found claimed that blogging is good for companies. Blogging is said to raise a companies intellectual standing in it’s industry as well as it’s industrial visability. This is awesome from a PR perspective. Of course, the blog has to be good. Blogging is also a good way for companies to inform the general public about things going on with sales, news, specials, etc. If the blog allows comments, it lets the clients feel more like they take part in the product they may have or intend to buy, also not bad for a companies image. This can be a double edged sword if users feel like making nasty comments about the company, in which case a blog moderator can be hired to watch out for trolls and approve comments. Business blogs allow a business to develop a reputation as an expert in its field, they also allow employees within the company to collaborate easier and more efficiently by updating a blog on the project. Blogs are also breeding grounds for great ideas to be processed in real time that can be very useful to the company.

A company that only fills its blogs with nothing but self promoting ads and press releases is a recipe for stagnace. A business blog shouldn’t necessarily promote it’s product directly. A better idea is to offer information of value to existing customers and possible customers. Businesses should also already have a body of resources on hand backing and/or supplementing the information in the blog, like prewritten papers and reports, or links to research and studies. A business blog should provide incentive for people to read and keep up with the blog like insider information that can only be known through the blog and/or company newsletters. Sending out a “launch email” is another good idea for expanding and improving a business blog. Keep in mind that this email shoudn’t necessarily try to sell any products directly, an email which is intended to get customers to a landing page is more likely to get people on the blog than one that immidiately tries to sell the companies product. This landing page can then direct users to subscribe to the blog, view the blog, or view other company aspects. Once you have people subscribing, make sure you deliver. An email service or RSS plugin can be used to inform subscribers about news and updates.

Personally, I’ve discovered a useful technique for creating seamless background tiles. It can be done in most image editing software, and upon discovery I had the inclination to share the process sense I couldn’t find a free application that does the same thing. This would go well in a blog for my business because it’s useful information that would make me appear knowledgeable, experienced, and helpful to potential customers. I’m also helping readers save money in an area that doesn’t hurt my income. Forming this kind of relationship with a customer base can’t be beat in the business world. It keeps businesses vital, aware, and in good standing with it’s customers.

Sources:

http://thefuturebuzz.com/2009/12/10/blogging-stats-facts-data/ – (State of the Blogosphere report by Technorati)
http://www.betterbusinessblogging.com/what-is-a-blog/#6
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13846_3-10200669-62.html
http://www.copyblogger.com/business-blog-launch/

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Blog Tools Survey

www.movabletype.org

Moveable Type is a professional publishing platform that was developed by a company called Six Apart. Announced on Sept. 3rd, 2001 and relicensed as free software under the GNU General Public License in 2007; Movable Type is an open source publishing platform that offers a very flexible blogging experience. This blog site offers open source plugins to help with things like spam and filtering out .exe files. Movable Type offers static page generation, dynamic pager generation, or a combination of both. The main language used by Movable Type is Perl, and supports the use of MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite. Dynamic page generation is supported by Smarty.

www.wetpaint.com

This company provides social network service and wiki hosting service. Wetpaint was founded in Oct. 2005. Domains created on this site are often a subdomain of wetpaint.com but users can also create custom domains. The site is geared toward less savvy internet users who collaborate over the internet. Wetpaint added social networking features in 2008 to bring their site more into the blogging spotlight. Wetpaint allows users to create a custom template design that functions within the site, these sites seem to be mostly fansites for TV and games.

www.squarespace.com

Squarespace is a fully hosted, completely managed environment for creating and maintaining a website, blog or portfolio that can be acquiesced for as low as $8 a month. This site is geared toward anybody who is looking to spread the word or promote anything. Users are given full control over the content of their site, and they claim that their platform can do things ten times faster. You don’t get as much hosting space or email addresses as regular hosting sites, but you do get a powerful content management system. Squarespace allows you to present your blog without any mention of the Squarespace association, and you can brand it as your own. Squarespace uses modules that can be edited in a WYSIWYG editor.