I suppose I should start off this week by explaining this weeks title. Or maybe I'll just leave you in suspense until a bit later...
All in all this week has been an interesting week. On Monday we had the usability tests for our A5 - 'Builder' websites. This proved quite useful in bringing up a couple of issues that have now been addressed. I'm feeling quite happy now with my 'Easy As Pie' website. I feel it's simple design and layout lends it to it's target audience of 'Silver Surfers'. Just a few bits of touching up to do over the next couple of weeks and it'll be complete. I also need to spend time reflecting on the results from the usability tests and how this may influence my final product.
During the building of the website I've been 'teased' a bit by CSS. Using it for defining text only has given me a preview of what it can do, and I'm looking forward to learning more about it in the coming months. As a play around, as well as a learning exercise, I spent a bit of my limited free time over half term building a test portolio site using CSS. Take a look and let me know what you think. Unless you're Gary, in which case I already know you don't like it!
Tuesday morning brought a lecture on Newspaper devices. Following this came our second timed task: a job advertisement for Vodafone, to be displayed in a Newspaper. As with the last task, I enjoyed the process of designing and producing the advertisement. It has to be said, the time was cut close at the end as I went to the very end trying to get the product finished to as good a standard as possible. I suppose while it could be said that cutting time close is a dangerous thing, it also allowed me to make full use of the time available to us. Maybe next time 2 minutes to deadline might be a bit close though!
In the afternoon we had our practice presentations in our seminar groups. This is where the 'touching' comes in. I know this from the last presentation, but when I'm stood in front of people talking, I tend to touch my face and shoulder. Quite a strange habit to have, but it's there nonetheless. Other than this, I thought the presentation went OK- just a few amendments needed, and a lot of practice to get it perfect for the final presentation. Over the next week, I'm also going to amend the handout as I'm still not happy with it's design.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
I too enjoyed the timed task on Tuesday and even though you used the time that was available, I think you did leave it a bit too close to the deadline as you was running to get it in.
I don’t think touching yourself when talking in front of people is a ‘strange habit’. I have a similar habit were I touch my face and brush my fringe to the side a lot. I think a lot of people do this and is something you have to stop yourself from doing.
After reading your post twice (your title put me off the first time), I think I can relate to your comment about wanting to be able to use CSS more in future assignments.
Touching yourself or fiddling with things seems to be a common factor with presenting in our class. In the practise on tuesday I started messing with my handout, so I put it down to stop myself. I also like fiddling with pockets on my trousers - to which steve suggested that i wear trousers without pockets.
I think if you're aware of the little things you do in presentations they become fixed on your mind and you'll become sub concious about them, hopefully meaning you'll stop doing them!
Superb title Tom! And remember admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery!
In all seriousness though I think a lot of your nervous habits were caused because you didn't feel confident in what you had to say. I'm pretty certain once you have throughly learnt your presentation you can turn your attentions to perfecting your delivery.
The way I used to think of presenting was that for however many minutes I was standing there I would try to make the most of it for the audience. After all they're never going to have that time again.
So try to make it interesting and entertaining for them. I guess the best way to do that is to find it interesting and entertaining yourself. Be enthused about the typefaces you're talking about sell them to the audience.
I enjoyed the task this week to. I think its good that none of the task are anything like each other. I think that you made good use of your time but its allways a good idea to get your work in a little bit earlyer.
Hi Tom
I think presentations will always be enhabited by strange things such as "touching" i my self stand perfectly still like a officer in the army or somthing.
I think a lot of it has to do with nerves and the stress it can cause, but i will see how the second years cope and jot down notes for when its my tern.
Thanks, Martyn
When looking at your portfolio website I can see that your becoming quite sucessful with the use of various languages. Something what I personally struggle on. I'd really like to see you start getting graphic with it though. Doesn't even have to be too much, but touches all around your site to bring the whole layout together would be nice.
I'm glad you used lightbox, it's been something I've raved about since the beginning of the course. I think it just adds a certain feel of professionalism and smoothness to a website.
Post a Comment